a fastener for securing adjacent layers of body tissue to each other and being configured and composed of a material so as to emerge from the body tissue after a limited period of time . the fastener includes a backspan and at least two prongs extending from the backspan . each prong has a tapered tip culminating in a sharp point . the prongs each include a shaft having a cylindrical portion of uniform diameter . in one embodiment , the prong includes a serrated portion having a plurality of notches spaced apart so as to define ridge portions therebetween .