Mesh tissue fasteners

Claim 1

A fastener adapted to hold together, in conjunction with one or more other similar fasteners, two portions of mammalian tissue, such as are defined by a wound or incision, to facilitate healing of the wound or incision, said fastener comprising: a fastening member with at least two spaced-apart legs each having a distal end adapted to pass through the tissue portions, each said leg defining on its exterior along at least a portion of its length a plurality of barbs angled rearwardly away from the leg distal end; and a mesh of flexible filaments, said mesh having a generally triangular configuration, said mesh extending between adjacent legs and said mesh extending outwardly from, and generally normal to, each of said legs to define a leg receiving area whereby the legs of one of the fastening members may be passed through the tissue portions from one side of said wound or incision with the mesh being disposed against one of said tissue portions and whereby the legs of another of the fastening members may be inserted through the tissue portions from the other side of said wound or incision with the mesh of said other fastening member lying substantially against the other of said tissue portions so that at least one leg of each of said fastening members penetrates the mesh of the other fastening member with the leg barbs engaging both the mesh and the adjacent tissue portions so as to inhibit relative movement of said fastening members at least in the disengaging directions.