IMPLANTABLE TISSUE SCAFFOLD

Biodegradable scaffold for wound closure including a central rod and upper and lower plates that each at least partially circumscribe the central rod. Each of the upper and lower plates is attached to the central rod and includes an upper section and a lower section that are connected by a helical middle section. The upper section and lower section of the upper plate respectively include first and second bottom surfaces and the upper section and lower section of the lower plate respectively include first and second top surfaces that are respectively spaced apart from and face the first and second bottom surfaces. The first and second bottom surfaces and first and second top surfaces may lie in different planes that are each perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the central rod.