Apparatus and method for assisting with wound closure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016174982-A1
Application number	US-201514976450-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Dec 22, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An apparatus for assisting with wound closure includes oppositely disposed, and oppositely facing, proximal and distal surfaces separated by an apparatus body. The distal surface is configured for selective attachment to a patient tissue surface. At least one of the proximal surface, the distal surface, and the apparatus body is made substantially from an polymeric material. The polymeric material includes a structurally incorporated ability to self-repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time. A method of assisting with wound closure is also provided.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An apparatus for assisting with wound closure, the apparatus comprising:
oppositely disposed, and oppositely facing, proximal and distal surfaces separated by an apparatus body, the distal surface being configured for selective attachment to a patient tissue surface; wherein at least one of the proximal surface, the distal surface, and the apparatus body is made substantially from an polymeric material; and wherein the polymeric material includes a structurally incorporated ability to self-repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is bio-absorbable.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material is non-degrading and biocompatible.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including an adhesive component for selectively attaching the distal surface to the patient tissue surface.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including at least one of a suturing, stapling, and wiring component for selectively attaching the distal surface to the patient tissue surface.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including at least one user-perceptible marker conveying information to a user via the position of the marker with respect to the apparatus body.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the marker is encapsulated within the apparatus body.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the marker is directly attached to the proximal surface.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus body is comprised of a plurality of stacked body layers.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the proximal surface is made of a first material, and a majority of the distal surface is made from a second material, different from the first material.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , including a coupling feature configured to selectively attach to an installation device.

12 . A method of assisting with wound closure, the method comprising:
providing an apparatus including oppositely disposed, and oppositely facing, proximal and distal surfaces separated by an apparatus body, the apparatus being at least partially made from an polymeric material having a structurally incorporated ability to self-repair damage caused by mechanical usage over time;
selectively attaching the distal surface to a patient tissue surface;
creating a surgical wound through an entire thickness of the apparatus body and into the attached patient tissue;
maintaining the surgical wound open via at least one of interposition of a surgical item through the surgical wound and application of tension to the patient tissue on laterally opposite sides of the surgical wound;
with the apparatus attached to the patient tissue, removing the surgical item; and
with the apparatus attached to the patient tissue, permitting the polymeric material to self-repair the surgical wound through the apparatus body by reducing a size of the surgical wound.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein creating a surgical wound includes:
with the distal surface attached to the patient tissue, creating a surgical wound through an entire thickness of the apparatus body and into the attached patient tissue.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively attaching the distal surface to a patient tissue surface includes providing an adhesive component and selectively attaching the distal surface to the patient tissue surface with the adhesive component.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein selectively attaching the distal surface to a patient tissue surface includes providing at least one of a suturing, stapling, and wiring component and selectively attaching the distal surface to the patient tissue surface with the at least one suturing, stapling, and wiring component.

16 . The method of claim 11 , including:
providing the apparatus with at least one user-perceptible marker; and conveying information to a user via the position of the marker with respect to the apparatus body.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the apparatus with at least one user-perceptible marker includes encapsulating the marker within the apparatus body.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein providing the apparatus with at least one user-perceptible marker includes directly attaching the marker to the proximal surface.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein providing the apparatus includes providing an apparatus body comprised of a plurality of stacked body layers.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein providing the apparatus includes providing the apparatus with a coupling feature, the method including:
selectively attaching the apparatus to an installation device via the coupling feature; manipulating the apparatus into a predetermined installation position with respect to the patient tissue via the installation device; and releasing the coupling feature from the installation device at the predetermined installation position.

Assignees

• Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Inventors

• Yanavitski Marat
• Gao Shengqiang
• Jung Eugene
• Kolosi William

Classifications

• A61B2017/086

  having flexible threads, filaments, laces or wires, e.g. parallel threads, extending laterally from a strip, e.g. for tying to opposing threads extending from a similar strip · CPC title

• A61B17/085 Primary

  with adhesive layer · CPC title

• A61B2046/205

  Adhesive drapes · CPC title

• A61F13/0236 Primary

  characterised by the application/handling support layer · CPC title

• A61B2090/3937

  Visible markers · CPC title