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. In a first embodiment, the fastener (100) includes a backspan (110) at least two prongs (120) extending from the backspan (110). Each prong 120 has a tapered tip 124 culminating in a sharp point 125. The prongs 120 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 (123) spaced apart so as to define ridge portions (122) therebetween. <IMAGE>
