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Publication Number
US-11000272-B2
Publication Date
2021-05-11
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
A wound closure system sutures a suture line through body tissue adjacent an open wound, where the suture line passes into the body tissue at an entry point and exits at an exit point. The suture line includes a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line, and the barb configuration supports directing tissue engagement while maintaining the barb angle relative to the suture line surface.
The system includes a housing that houses a biasing member configured to apply a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound. 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, with the continuous pulling action automatically applied during stretching to maintain tautness.
The disclosed embodiments refine the barb and force-transfer structures, including unidirectional barb orientations and configurations with multiple barb sets with different acute angles and directions. Flexible barbs are described as flexing during tissue entry and then catching tissue, and the housing and biasing member are described with a spring-based winding arrangement including a base, cover, spool, and a knob that winds and unwinds to apply the continuous pulling force, with mechanical indication when the suture line is fully wound.
Claims Coverage
The document presents two independent claims, one directed to a wound closure system and one directed to a method. Across these independent claims, two main inventive features are repeated: a barb-equipped suture line and a housing-based biasing member applying continuous pulling force while taking up slack and automatically applying the force during stretching.
Acute-angle barb suture line through body tissue adjacent an open wound
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.
Housing-based biasing member for continuous pulling force and slack take-up
A housing that houses a biasing member configured to apply a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching body tissue toward the open wound, with the biasing member configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching and keep the suture line taut; in the method claim, the continuous pulling force is automatically applied by the biasing member during stretching.
Overall, claim coverage centers on an acute-angle barb suture line sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound and a housing-based biasing member that continuously applies pulling force to stretch tissue while taking up slack and automatically applying the force during stretching.
Stated Advantages
Provides continuous pulling force that keeps the suture line taut by taking up slack during stretching.
Automatically applies the continuous pulling force during stretching of the body tissue.
Self-regulating continuous tension without repeated readjustment.
May eliminate anchors/staples.
Uses the same barbed suture line for both tissue stretching and final 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 a barbed suture line and a biasing member that continuously applies pulling force during stretching.
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