Wound closure product

Inventors

Elliott, Daniel M. • Hoedeman, George M. • Berkey, John J. • Anderson, Paul J. • Wilke, Robert C.

Assignees

Wound Care Technologies Inc

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 patent describes a wound closure system that uses a first skin anchor and a second skin anchor attached to external skin tissue on opposite sides of a wound. Each skin anchor includes a skin-penetrating barb so that the anchors are adapted to be attached to the external skin tissue. A line extends between the first skin anchor and a tensioning apparatus across the wound, and the line is attached to the tensioning apparatus.

The tensioning apparatus is removably attached to the second skin anchor and includes a rotary spool for winding a line. A coil spring is attached to the spool for rotating the spool, and the rotary spool defines a winding axis generally perpendicular to the external skin tissue at the second side when attached. Once the coil spring is wound by a user, the coil spring is adapted to automatically unwind to rotate the spool, providing continuous tension on the line.

The continuous tension is used to draw the first skin anchor and the second skin anchor toward each other, so that dynamic or continuous tension is applied to the line to draw anchors toward each other and toward the wound. This causes external skin stretching over the wound through the mechanics of the line and anchored attachment on opposite sides of a generally linear wound. The disclosed system also includes embodiments with preferred line behavior such as inelastic or non-stretchable line, and alternative elastic-line embodiments, together with described tensioning apparatus structures and anchor structures.

Claims Coverage

The partial content provides one independent claim, with dependent claims that refine structural components and functional behaviors. Across the claim set, the coverage focuses on pairing skin anchors on opposite sides of a wound with a spool-and-coil-spring tensioning apparatus that provides continuous tension via automatic unwinding.

The independent claim coverage centers on external skin anchors with skin-penetrating barbs placed on opposite sides of a wound, combined with a removable spool-and-coil-spring tensioning apparatus that winds and then automatically unwinds to provide continuous line tension. Dependent claims further refine line and spring properties and structural components, including additional anchor barb features and alternative tension line support concepts.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications