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Publication Number
US-10166021-B2
Publication Date
2019-01-01
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a wound closure system for reducing the size of an open wound by pulling body tissue adjacent the open wound toward or over the open wound. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent the open wound so that it passes into the body tissue at an entry point and exits at an exit point, with the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. The suture line is adapted to directly pass into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points so that the continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue is taken by the immediate body tissue surrounding the entry and exit points.
A housing is provided that houses a spring configured to apply a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound. The spring is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching and keep the suture line taut, and the housing includes a spool rotatably coupled to the housing. The spool is coupled to the spring and adapted for winding the spring for application of the continuous pulling force on the suture line, with the suture line with the plurality of barbs being the only structure passed into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points.
In embodiments, the barbs are configured to act with flexibility during entry and exit through body tissue, and the system includes mechanical winding-related structures adapted to control winding of the spring and indicate full-wind. Additional embodiments include a second line wound around a spool within the housing and detachably coupled to the suture line for applying a continuous pulling force, including a detachable connection via a ball-and-socket joint. The method aspects include suturing adjacent body tissue and automatically applying the continuous pulling force by the spring during stretching of the body tissue.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent claims: a wound closure system claim and a method claim. Across these, at least the core inventive combination comprises a barbed suture line routed through body tissue at entry and exit points and a spring-driven housing with a spool that winds the spring to apply continuous pulling force while taking up slack and keeping the suture line taut, with the suture line being the only structure passed into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points.
Barbed suture line through body tissue at entry and exit points
A suture line adapted to be sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, passing into the body tissue at an entry point and exiting at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line, and being adapted to directly pass into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points so that continuous pulling force is taken by the immediate body tissue surrounding the entry and exit points.
Spring in a housing applying continuous pulling force with slack take-up and taut suture line
A housing that houses a spring configured to apply a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward or over the open wound, the spring configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
Spool rotatably coupled to housing coupled to spring for winding
The housing includes a spool rotatably coupled to the housing, the spool coupled to the spring and adapted for winding the spring for the application of the continuous pulling force on the suture line.
Only the suture line passes into and out of the body tissue at entry and exit points
The suture line with the plurality of barbs is the only structure passed into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points.
Claim coverage is centered on the combination of a barbed suture line passing through body tissue at defined entry/exit points and a spring-driven housing with a spool that winds the spring to apply continuous pulling force. The continuous force takes effect through immediate body tissue around the entry/exit points, the spring takes up slack to keep the suture line taut, and the suture line is the only structure passed into and out of the body tissue at the entry and exit points.
Stated Advantages
Reduced need for repeated readjustment compared with prior static/periodically readjusted methods.
Improved continuous tension for progressive closure.
Documented Applications
Reducing the size of an open wound by pulling body tissue adjacent the open wound toward or over the open wound using the system and method described.
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