Safety fastener for tissue apposition

A fastener, comprising:

• a male fastening member having a substantially straight elongate base plate with first and second posts extending therefrom, each post having a tissue-piercing tip, the first post being positioned adjacent to a first terminal end of the base plate and the second post being positioned adjacent to a second terminal end of the base plate;
• a protective member coupled to the male fastening member and having first and second preformed openings, the protective member being movable between an open position in which the tissue-piercing tips are enclosed within the protective member such that the tissue-piercing tips are prevented from penetrating tissue, and a compressed position in which the tissue-piercing tips are exposed to penetrate tissue;
• a female fastening member configured to receive and enclose the tissue-piercing tips of the first and second posts to mate to the male fastening member to engage tissue therebetween;
• and
• a biasing element disposed around the first and second posts and extending between the base plate and the protective member, the biasing element configured to bias the protective member with respect to the female member to the open position.