Medical device for applying force on biological tissue, or the like
Inventors
Eaves, Felmont F. • Knight, Gary W.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11246595-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-15
Expiration Date
Abstract
A medical device for at least partially covering and applying force on tissue includes a body having a spanning structure and struts respectively connected to lateral portions of the spanning structure. Inner ends of the struts extend into an area over which the medial portion of the spanning structure extends. The medical device is reconfigurable between extended and retracted configurations. The inner ends of the struts are closer to one another in the retracted configuration than in the extended configuration. The inner ends of the struts are closer to the medial portion of the spanning structure in the retracted configuration than in the extended configuration. Each strut includes an engagement zone configured to engage and apply force on the tissue, at least while the medical device is in the retracted configuration. A web can be connected to the struts and span between the inner ends of the struts.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a medical device for at least partially covering and applying force on tissue, including biological tissue such as wounds and scars. The device includes a body with at least one spanning structure and first and second struts connected to the spanning structure, and at least a portion of the medical device is flexible and multistable so that it is reconfigurable between at least first and second stable equilibrium configurations, with at least one unstable equilibrium configuration between them.
The multistable reconfiguration positions the inner ends of the first and second struts closer to one another in the second stable equilibrium configuration than in the first stable equilibrium configuration. The flexible, multistable portion defines a first concavity comprising curved arcs extending crosswise to one another in the first stable equilibrium configuration and a second concavity comprising curved arcs extending crosswise to one another in the second stable equilibrium configuration.
In further embodiments, the spanning structure and the struts are polymeric-film-based and include adhesive material. The spanning structure is biased toward a first stable equilibrium configuration and biased toward the second stable equilibrium configuration in the recited configuration ranges, and cooperative configuration among the spanning structure, the first strut, and the second strut causes the inner end portions of the first and second struts to become closer to one another in response to transitioning the second strut through unstable equilibrium.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a flexible, multistable medical device with a spanning structure and first and second struts that move inner ends closer together between first and second stable equilibrium configurations. The coverage also includes concavity definitions with curved arcs, multi-portion multistability with biasing toward selected stable equilibrium configurations, and a polymeric-film implementation with adhesive-bearing struts.
Flexible multistable covering and force-applying medical device with stable and unstable equilibria and strut convergence
A medical device for at least partially covering and applying force on tissue, including biological tissue such as wounds and scars, with at least one spanning structure and first and second struts connected to the spanning structure, wherein at least a portion of the medical device is flexible and multistable so that it is reconfigurable between at least first and second stable equilibrium configurations and has at least one unstable equilibrium configuration between the first and second stable equilibrium configurations, and the inner ends of the first and second struts are closer to one another in the second stable equilibrium configuration than in the first stable equilibrium configuration.
Concavity definition with crosswise curved arcs in first and second stable equilibrium configurations
The flexible, multistable portion of the medical device defines a first concavity comprising curved arcs that extend crosswise to one another in the first stable equilibrium configuration and a second concavity comprising curved arcs that extend crosswise to one another in the second stable equilibrium configuration.
Portion-based multistability with bias toward selected stable equilibrium configurations
A medical device having a first portion configured to have the at least one unstable equilibrium configuration, the first stable equilibrium configuration, and the second stable equilibrium configuration, and a second portion configured to have a plurality of configurations comprising a second unstable equilibrium configuration between third and fourth stable equilibrium configurations, wherein the second portion is biased toward the third stable equilibrium configuration and biased toward the fourth stable equilibrium configuration in the recited configuration ranges.
Cooperative strut and spanning-structure configuration driven by second strut transition past unstable equilibrium
The first strut has the at least one unstable equilibrium configuration, the first stable equilibrium configuration, and the second stable equilibrium configuration; the second strut is flexible and has a plurality of configurations comprising a second unstable equilibrium configuration between third and fourth stable equilibrium configurations; and the spanning structure, the first strut, and the second strut are cooperatively configured so that the inner end portions of the first and second struts become closer to one another in response to the second strut transitioning past the second unstable equilibrium configuration toward the fourth stable equilibrium configuration.
Polymeric film spanning structure with adhesive-bearing struts and biased stable configurations
A medical device comprising at least one spanning structure comprising a polymeric film and first and second struts connected to the spanning structure, wherein the first strut comprises a polymeric film and adhesive material and the second strut comprises a polymeric film and adhesive material, and the spanning structure is flexible and multistable, biased toward the first stable equilibrium configuration and the second stable equilibrium configuration in the recited configuration ranges, and defines first and second concavities comprising curved arcs that extend crosswise to one another.
Across the independent claims, the core coverage is a flexible multistable tissue-covering medical device with a spanning structure and first and second struts whose inner ends converge between first and second stable equilibrium configurations separated by unstable equilibrium. The claims also require concavity geometries defined by crosswise curved arcs, and additional independent claims specify multi-portion multistability with biasing and cooperative configuration such that transitions past an unstable equilibrium drive strut inner-end convergence.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
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