Device for management of an open abdomen

Inventors

De Rezende Neto, João Baptista

Assignees

St Michaels Hospital • Unity Health Toronto

Abstract

A device for management of an open abdomen includes a belt having first and second end portions. The belt is positionable to extend partially around a patient's torso in a taut configuration with the end portions positioned on opposed sides of an incision in the patient's abdomen. A first connector is at the first end portion and a second connector is at the second end portion. The connectors are positionable adjacent each other on the opposed sides of the incision. At least one cinching device is connected to and extends between the connectors. The cinching device is positionable to extend over the incision when the connectors are positioned adjacent each other on opposed sides of the incision. The cinching device is adjustable to cinch the end portions towards each other to hold the incision in an at least partially closed position.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a device for management of an open incision in a patient by wrapping a belt around the patient in a taut configuration such that a first end portion and an opposed second end portion are positioned on opposed sides of the incision. The belt extends partially around the patient, with the first end portion and the second end portion located on the opposed sides of the incision. The device uses a first connector and a second connector positioned adjacent each other on the opposed sides when the belt is in the taut configuration.

Each connector includes a belt lock that holds a corresponding belt end portion, where the first belt lock comprises a clamp adapted to hold the first end portion and the second belt lock comprises a clamp adapted to hold the second end portion. At least one cinching device is connected to and extending between the first connector and the second connector, and the cinching device is positionable to extend over the incision. The cinching device is adjustable to cinch the first end portion and second end portion towards each other to hold the incision in an at least partially closed position.

The invention also provides a kit of parts that includes the belt, the first connector and second connector with belt locks and clamps, and at least one adjustable cinching device configured to extend over the incision when the connectors are adjacent on opposed sides. The clamp structure includes a hinged clamp with an open position and a closed position, and a gripping mechanism that includes spikes and corresponding openings that receive the spikes when the clamp is closed. The disclosed approach addresses an open abdominal incision by bringing the incision sides toward each other into at least a partially closed configuration.

Claims Coverage

The partial content includes three independent claims: a device claim, a method claim, and a kit-of-parts claim, each centered on an open incision management system using a taut belt, opposed connectors with belt locks, and an adjustable cinching device that holds the incision at least partially closed.

Across the independent claims, the shared inventive concept is managing an open incision by using a taut belt with opposed connectors that employ clamps and belt locks to hold belt ends, together with an adjustable cinching device that extends over the incision and cinches the opposed incision sides toward each other into at least a partially closed configuration.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications