Patent ID: 8070773

Claim:
A device for closing a separation of first and second portions of body tissue, which device comprises: a pair of closure members each having a perimeter and first and second faces; each said closure member including multiple barbs projecting outwardly from said first and second closure member faces; said barbs being adapted to penetrate the first and second portions of said tissue with said closure members positioned at least partly in said separation and with said separated tissue portions engaging said closure members whereby respective faces of said first and second closure members are attached to said first and second tissue portions respectively; said pair of closure members being positioned face-to-face such that respective barbs of each said closure member overlap the barbs extending from the adjacent face of the other closure member; said closure members each comprising a screen with a configuration adapted to admit tissue and body fluids; said closure members adapted to be positioned together in said tissue separation with respective closure member faces engaging; each said closure member including a tubular perimeter member attached to its perimeter and adapted for penetrating tissue adjacent to said separation for securing a respective closure screen therein; an external fluid transfer element adapted to be placed over said tissue separation; said perimeter members being connected to each other over said fluid transfer element such that the perimeter members are adapted to be connected externally of said tissue separation; and said closure member screens being adapted to transfer fluid to said perimeter members and said perimeter members being adapted to transfer fluid to said external closure member externally of said tissue separation.