Patent ID: 7730889

Claim:
A method of closing a fallopian tube having a wall encircling a lumen, comprising: providing a closure system including a handle, a flexible shaft connected to said handle, and a sterilization device detachably connected to said flexible shaft; said sterilization device including a ring having an inner diameter, a core slidable through said inner diameter of said ring, wherein said core includes a deformation surface defined thereon, and a tissue securing element, at least part of which is positioned between said ring and said core, wherein said tissue securing element includes a plurality of tines with sharpened distal ends configured to penetrate the wall of the fallopian tube; inserting said flexible shaft into the lumen of the fallopian tube and advancing said flexible shaft into the lumen of the fallopian tube; penetrating said tines outward through the wall of the fallopian tube; retracting said tines toward said core; compressing a portion of the wall of the fallopian tube with said sterilization device to secure said sterilization device relative to the fallopian tube; locking said core into place with said ring to maintain said compressing; blocking the lumen of the fallopian tube with said sterilization device; and separating said sterilization device from said tube.