Bandage for wound or incision closure

• US 20020099315A1
• Filed: 12/11/2001
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clozex Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Clozex Medical LLC (3M Company)
• Inventors: Lebner, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 6,831,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/54
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0466 Suture bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/085 with adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/086 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 Class Codes: A61B 2090/064 for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension

Abstract

Disclosed is a bandage for closing a wound or incision, and methods for the use of same. The bandage comprises a first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more first elongated connectors extending in an offset manner from one edge thereof in a first direction. The bandage further comprises a second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more second elongated connectors extending in an offset manner from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction. Pulling elements are joined to the first and second elongated connectors. Means are provided for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component.

Claims

1. A two-component medical device comprising:

a) a first component comprising a first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a single first elongated connector extending in an offset manner from one edge thereof in a first direction;

b) a second component comprising a second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a single second elongated connector extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction;

c) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connector and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge;

d) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connector and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge; and

e) means for attaching the first elongated connector to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connector to the first flat flexible component.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein elements a) - d) are produced from a substantially inelastic material or are produced from an elastic material which is reinforced with an inelastic structural component thereby rendering the device substantially inelastic.

3. The medical device of claim 1 which is adapted for removal of the first and second pulling elements following attachment of the bandage.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first and second pulling elements are rigid.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first and second pulling elements are non-rigid, but are reinforced with a rigid element.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein elements a) - d) are die cut from sheet stock.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the edges of the first and second flat flexible components which attach to the skin on opposing sides of a wound or incision are adapted to evert skin edges to promote wound healing.

8. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the edges of the first and second flat flexible components are angled or curved to evert the skin edges.

9. The medical device of claim 1, wherein a portion of each elongated connector is cut away to increase unobstructed surface area above the wound thereby facilitating drainage of exudates and application of medication.

10. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the first and second flat flexible components are adapted for wound closure alignment.

11. The medical device of claim 10 wherein said adaptation comprises alignment marks on the first and second flat flexible components for alignment with each other and/or with marks placed directly on skin.

12. The medical device of claim 1, which is adapted for transdermal drug delivery.

13. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising an elastic tension indication element.

14. The medical device of claim 13 wherein the elastic tension indication element is removable with the pulling elements.

15. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a rigid polymer bar attached to the edges of the first and second flat flexible components which are nearest to and substantially parallel the wound or incision.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

a) removing said first pulling element from said first elongated connector; and

b) removing said second pulling element from said second elongated connector.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:

a) attaching said first pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin beside said second flat flexible component; and

b) attaching said second pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin beside said first flat flexible component.

19. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the elongated first and second elongated connector is sufficiently spaced-apart to facilitate lateral adjustment of the first flat flexible component relative to the second flat flexible component.

20. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the pulling elements have adhesive on the lower surface.

16. A method for closing a wound or incision comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a medical device comprising;

i) a first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a first elongated connector extending from one edge thereof in a first direction;

ii) a second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a second elongated connector extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction;

iii) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connector and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge;

iv) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connector and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge;

vi) means for attaching the first elongated connector to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connector to the first flat flexible component; and

b) attaching said lower surface of said first flexible component to a patient'"'"'s skin along a first side of a wound;

c) attaching said lower surface of said second flexible component to the patient'"'"'s skin along a second side of said wound;

d) pulling simultaneously said first and second pulling elements until said elongated connector is subjected to a tension sufficient to close the wound or incision;

e) attaching said first elongated connector to said second flexible component; and

f) attaching said second elongated connector to said first flexible component.

21. A two-component medical device comprising:

a) a first component comprising a first flat flexible component and a plurality of first elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a first direction;

b) a second component comprising a second flat flexible component having one or more second elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction;

c) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge, the first pulling element having adhesive on a lower surface;

d) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge, the second pulling element having adhesive on a lower surface; and

e) means for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component.

22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein elements a) - d) are produced from a substantially inelastic material or are produced from an elastic material which is reinforced with an inelastic structural component thereby rendering the device substantially inelastic.

23. The medical device of claim 21 which is adapted for removal of the first and second pulling elements following attachment of the bandage.

24. The medical device of claim 21 wherein said first and second elongated connectors are interleaved.

25. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the first elongated connectors are adjacent to one another and centrally located, and the second elongated connectors flank the first elongated connectors at outside edges of the bandage.

26. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the first and second pulling elements are rigid.

27. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the first and second pulling elements are non-rigid, but are reinforced with a rigid element.

28. The medical device of claim 21 wherein elements a) - d) are die cut from sheet stock.

29. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the edges of the first and second flat flexible components which attach to the skin on opposing sides of a wound or incision are adapted to evert skin edges to promote wound healing.

30. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the edges of the first and second flat flexible components are angled or curved to evert the skin edges.

31. The medical device of claim 21, wherein a portion of the elongated connector is cut away to increase unobstructed surface area above the wound thereby facilitating drainage of exudates and application of medication.

32. The medical device of claim 21, wherein the first and second flat flexible components are adapted for wound closure alignment.

33. The medical device of claim 32 wherein said adaptation comprises alignment marks on the first and second flat flexible components for alignment with each other and/or with marks placed directly on skin.

34. The medical device of claim 21, which is adapted for transdermal drug delivery.

35. The medical device of claim 21 further comprising an elastic tension indication element.

36. The medical device of claim 35 wherein the elastic tension indication element is removable with the pulling elements.

37. The medical device of claim 21 further comprising a rigid polymer bar attached to the edges of the first and second flat flexible components which are nearest to and substantially parallel the wound or incision

39. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

a) removing said first pulling element from said first elongated connectors; and

b) removing said second pulling element from said second elongated connectors.

40. The method of claim 38 further comprising the steps of:

a) attaching said first pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin beside said second flat flexible component; and

b) attaching said second pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin beside said first flat flexible component.

41. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the elongated connectors are sufficiently spaced-apart to facilitate lateral adjustment of the first flat flexible component relative to the second flat flexible component.

38. A method for stretching skin prior to a surgical procedure comprising the steps of:

a) providing a medical device comprising;

i) a first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a plurality of first elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a first direction;

ii) a second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more second elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction;

iii) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge, the first pulling element having adhesive on a lower surface;

iv) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge, the second pulling element having adhesive on a lower surface;

vi) means for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component; and

b) attaching said lower surface of said first flexible component to a patient'"'"'s skin;

c) attaching said lower surface of said second flexible component to the patient'"'"'s skin;

d) pulling simultaneously said first and second pulling elements until said elongated connectors are subjected to a tension sufficient to stretch skin to the desired degree;

e) attaching said first elongated connectors to said second flexible component, and said first pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin; and

f) attaching said second elongated connectors to said first flexible component, and said second pulling element to the patient'"'"'s skin.