Patent ID: 7972330

Claim:
A method for closing a layered tissue defect, the method comprising: inserting a first closure device into the layered tissue defect, the first closure device including two conductive elements, the two conductive elements each including an insulated proximal portion, a positive stop, and an uninsulated distal energy transmission portion; positioning the first closure device without penetrating the layers of the tissues so that the positive stops of the two conductive elements engage peripheral limits of the layered tissue defect in order to allow passage of the closure device to a predetermined depth within the layered tissue defect; applying energy to the layered tissue defect with the first closure device at a first position; applying energy to the layered tissue defect at a second position adjacent to the first position so as to substantially close the layered tissue defect along at least a portion of the defect; and removing the first closure device from the layered tissue defect.