Interested in licensing this patent?
MTEC can help explore whether this patent might be available for licensing for your application.
Publication Number
US-11944291-B2
Publication Date
2024-04-02
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 disclosed wound closure system includes a suture line adapted to pass into body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point adjacent an open wound. The suture line includes a plurality of barbs extending outwardly with respect to a surface of the suture line, and the barbs extend at an acute angle. The system describes barb configurations that are unidirectional or include two-section opposite-direction barbs, with flexible barb behavior that flexes inward and/or outward when passing through tissue.
A housing is configured to house a biasing member adapted to apply tension on the suture line thereby taking up slack while stretching the body tissue toward the open wound. The tensioning apparatus applies dynamic/continuous tension, described as continuous pulling, to maintain a taut suture line and to stretch tissue toward or over the wound. The disclosed embodiments include a tension line wound on a spool and/or an elastic approach in which the suture line is treated as elastic, and the tensioning apparatus includes components for mounting, guiding tension lines, and receiving take-up.
Embodiments further describe a biasing member implemented using a constant-force or nonconstant-force spring rotatably coupled to a spool and/or winding knob, where winding takes up slack of the suture line. The disclosed structure includes a housing with a rotatably coupled spool, along with a locking/releasing mechanism that includes a slidably movable locking button. The description characterizes the device as providing self-regulating continuous tension and reduced need for readjustment compared with static/elastic ribbon methods, while aiming to reduce the risk of excessive point loading from static approaches.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims covering a wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound. Across these independent claims, the coverage centers on barbed suture passage adjacent an open wound and a housing-based biasing member that continuously applies tension to take up slack and stretch tissue toward or over the wound, including features that enable continuous pulling and slack take-up.
Barbed suture line passing adjacent open wound
A suture line adapted to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point adjacent an open wound, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly with respect to a surface of the suture line.
Housing with biasing member applying tension and taking up slack
A housing configured to house a biasing member that is adapted to apply tension on the suture line thereby taking up slack of the suture line while stretching the body tissue toward the open wound.
Reducing wound size by pulling adjacent tissue toward or over wound
A method of reducing the size of an open wound by pulling body tissue adjacent the open wound toward or over the open wound, the method comprising passing a suture line into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly with respect to a surface of the suture line.
Continuously applying tension via housing biasing member
Providing a housing that houses a biasing member that continuously applies tension on the suture line thereby taking up slack of the suture line while stretching the body tissue toward or over the open wound.
The independent claim set covers both a wound closure system and a corresponding method that combine a barbed suture line passing into and out of body tissue adjacent an open wound with a housing-based biasing member that continuously applies tension to take up slack and stretch tissue toward or over the wound.
Stated Advantages
Self-regulating continuous tension.
Reduced need for readjustment compared with static/elastic ribbon methods.
Reduced risk from excessive point loading.
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 housing biasing member that continuously applies tension.
Interested in licensing this patent?