Wound closure product
Inventors
Elliott, Daniel M. • Hoedeman, George M. • Berkey, John J. • Anderson, Paul J. • Wilke, Robert C.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10893856-B2
Publication Date
2021-01-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The disclosure is directed to a wound closure system comprising a skin anchor mechanically attached to external skin tissue on a first side of a generally linear wound, an anchorable tensioning apparatus mechanically attached to external skin tissue on an opposite side of the wound, and a line extending between the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus to movably connect the anchor to the tensioning apparatus. The line is fixedly engaged with an anchor on one side of the wound while the tensioning apparatus provides tension on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other and toward the wound.
Core Innovation
The wound closure system includes a skin anchor configured to be mechanically attached to external skin tissue on a first side of a wound, where the skin anchor is configured to be attached to skin tissue with skin-penetrating barbs. The system further includes an anchorable tensioning apparatus configured to be attached to external tissue on an opposite second side of the wound and outside a periphery of the wound.
A line extends between the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus across the wound and above the wound along the entire length of the line. The anchorable tensioning apparatus includes a spool attached to a wound coil spring, where the wound coil spring is a coiled-up band placed around the spool, and the line is configured to wind around the spool.
The tensioning apparatus is configured to provide tension via the wound coil spring on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other. The document also describes the invention as a wound closure kit including the skin anchor, the anchorable tensioning apparatus, and the line configured to couple the skin anchor to the tensioning apparatus.
Additional disclosed embodiments include a sub-dermal skin anchor embodiment using undermining and force via a rigid conduit to a remote tensioning location, and a non-wound cosmetic scalp application for male-pattern baldness.
Claims Coverage
The partial claim set provides coverage through two independent claims describing a wound closure system and a wound closure kit. Across these, the main inventive features are centered on a skin anchor with skin-penetrating barbs, an external anchorable tensioning apparatus with a spool and wound coil spring band, and a line that extends across and above the wound and winds around the spool to provide dynamic tension drawing components toward each other.
Skin anchor with skin-penetrating barbs attached to external skin tissue
A skin anchor is configured to be mechanically attached to external skin tissue on a first side of a wound, where the skin anchor is configured to be attached to skin tissue with skin-penetrating barbs.
Anchorable tensioning apparatus outside the wound periphery with spool and wound coil spring band
An anchorable tensioning apparatus is configured to be attached to external tissue on an opposite second side of the wound and outside a periphery of the wound, wherein the tensioning apparatus includes a spool attached to a wound coil spring and the wound coil spring is a coiled-up band placed around the spool.
Line across the wound above the wound that winds around the spool
A line is configured to extend between the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus across the wound and above the wound along the entire length of the line, and wherein the line is configured to wind around the spool.
Dynamic tension via the wound coil spring to draw toward each other
The tensioning apparatus is configured to provide tension via the wound coil spring on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other.
Kit configuration with skin anchor, anchorable tensioning apparatus, and line winding around the spool
A wound closure kit comprises a skin anchor configured for attachment to external skin tissue with skin-penetrating barbs; an anchorable tensioning apparatus configured for attachment to external skin tissue on an opposite side of a wound outside a periphery of the wound, providing dynamic tension to draw the skin anchor toward the tensioning apparatus; a spool attached to a wound coil spring that is a coiled-up band placed around the spool; and a line that couples the skin anchor to the tensioning apparatus, extending across the wound and above the wound along the entire length of the line and winding around the spool.
Across the two independent claims, the coverage focuses on a barbed skin anchor on one wound side, an opposite-side external tensioning apparatus with a spool and a wound coil spring band, and a line that extends across and above the wound and winds around the spool to provide dynamic tension drawing the wound-side components toward each other.
Stated Advantages
Provides tension via the wound coil spring on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other.
Documented Applications
Wound closure system/kit for generally linear wounds using an external tensioning apparatus and skin anchors.
Non-wound cosmetic scalp application for male-pattern baldness.
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