Patent ID: 7931662

Claim:
A surgical marker/connector for installation in a patient, comprising: a closed, thin ring of fixed dimensions lying substantially in a single plane and having an absence of hooks or barbs, the ring being made of a biocompatible shape memory alloy material suitable for fluoroscopic marking and having a strength suitable for connecting tissue; the ring having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter defining an opening of a size and shape suitable for being pierced by an endoscope or a trochar when the ring is installed in a patient; a plurality of suture attachments disposed about the periphery of the ring and lying in the plane in which the ring lies, the suture attachments being disposed on the inner diameter of the ring, the outer diameter of the ring, forming a portion of the ring, or combinations thereof; and the suture attachments being in the form of small loops, each loop defining an opening of a size and shape through which a needle and suture can be passed, the area of each of the loops being substantially smaller than the area of the opening defined by the inner diameter of the ring.