Device for surgical repair, closure, and reconstruction

• US 20070021779A1
• Filed: 09/27/2006
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Surgical Security, LLC
• Original Assignee: Surgical Security, LLC
• Inventors: Garvin, Dennis, Wong, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 7,972,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00792 Plastic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00796 Breast surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• 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: Y10S 24/48 And cavity for guiding movement of formations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3499 Penetrating prong

Abstract

A device and technique for a sutureless wound closure, which limits the risks of rupture and scarring, is described. The device includes a one-piece surgical fastener generally shaped in a curve along the width of the surgical fastener. The fastener includes a tissue insertion tongue with a plurality of tissue attachment points for fixing the fastener to skin tissue. The fastener also includes a clasp for engaging an identical surgical fastener. The surgical fastener can also be a two-piece structure including a male connecting strap and a female connector. Both pieces include a tissue-connecting mechanism for fixing to skin tissue. The female connector includes an engagement clasp for securing the male connecting strap to the female connector.

Claims

1. A one-piece surgical fastener for connecting tissue comprising a tissue insertion tongue having a first upper side, a second lower side, a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one tissue attachment point;

and an engagement clasp at the distal end of the tissue insertion tongue having a connecting mechanism for engaging a similar one-piece surgical fastener.

2. The surgical fastener of claim 1, comprising a marker to assist in the proper alignment of the similar surgical fastener.

3. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the at least one tissue attachment point has a base and a pointed end directed toward the proximal end of the tissue-connecting strap.

4. The surgical fastener of claim 3, wherein the tissue attachment point comprises a primary tissue attachment point and a secondary tissue attachment point wherein the secondary tissue attachment point extends from the primary tissue attachment point in a direction toward the distal end of the tissue-connecting strap.

5. The surgical fastener of claim 1, comprising a plurality of attachment points located on the lower side of the tissue insertion tongue.

6. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the engagement clasp comprises a connecting area including an upper plate and a lower plate defining a cavity therein.

7. The surgical fastener of claim 6, wherein the lower plate includes a cut-away area to assist in the engagement operation of the similar surgical fastener.

8. The surgical fastener of claim 1, wherein the connecting mechanism is selected from the group consisting of ratchets, light curing epoxy including the entire electromagnetic spectrum from gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave radio waves to ultra low frequencies for permanently or temporarily connecting the two straps;

DC electrical curing epoxy for permanently or temporarily connecting two connecting straps;

magnetic forces to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

ultrasonic energy to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

vibration energy to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

heat, including conduction, convection and radiation energy to bond straps permanently or temporarily; and

adhesives, glues, epoxy using either a pressure force or a chemical reaction to bond the straps permanently or temporarily.

9. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one row of ratchets extending from the upper plate of the engagement clasp and at least one row of ratchets extending from the lower plate of the engagement clasp, wherein the ratchets are generally triangular in shape having a dorsal ridge ending in the cavity such that the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the upper plate face the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the lower plate.

10. The surgical fastener of claim 9 wherein the connecting mechanism comprises plurality of rows of ratchets.

11. The surgical fastener of claim 9 wherein the dorsal ridge of the ratchet extends in the direction of the proximal end of the tissue-insertion tongue.

12. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein the surgical fastener is shaped in a curve along the width of the surgical fastener.

13. The surgical fastener of claim 1 comprising at least one pair of separate, mating and identical one-piece surgical fasteners for connecting tissue.

14. A one-piece surgical fastener for connecting tissue, wherein the surgical fastener is shaped in a curve along the width of the surgical fastener, comprising:

a. a tissue insertion tongue having an first upper side, a second lower side, a proximal end, a distal end;

b. a plurality of tissue attachment points, wherein the tissue attachment points have a base and a pointed end wherein the end of the tissue attachment points is directed to the proximal end of the tissue insertion tongue, wherein each of the tissue attachment points includes a primary tissue attachment point and a secondary tissue attachment point wherein the secondary tissue attachment point extends from the primary tissue attachment point; and

c. an engagement clasp at the distal end of the tissue insertion tongue having a connecting mechanism for engaging a similar one-piece surgical fastener, wherein the engagement clasp comprises a connecting area including an upper plate and a lower plate defining a cavity therein, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a plurality of rows of ratchets extending from the upper plate of the engagement clasp and at least one row of ratchets extending from the lower plate of the engagement clasp, wherein the ratchets are generally triangular in shape having a dorsal ridge ending in the cavity such that the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the upper plate face the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the lower plate.

15. A process of engaging a first and second surgical fastener for connecting a patient'"'"'s tissue wherein the surgical fastener comprises a tissue insertion tongue having an first upper side, a second lower side, a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one tissue attachment point;

and an engagement clasp having a first end at the distal end of the tissue insertion tongue and a second end, wherein the engagement clasp includes a connecting mechanism for engaging a similar one-piece surgical fastener, the process comprising;

a. inserting the insertion tongue of the first surgical fastener into the skin layer of a patient;

b. inserting the insertion tongue of the second surgical fastener into the skin layer of the patent such that the second ends of engagement clasps of the first and second surgical fasteners align; and

c. engaging the engagement clasps of the first and second surgical fasteners such that the connecting mechanisms of the first and second surgical fasteners interconnected to prevent disengagement.

16. A surgical fastener for connecting tissue, comprising:

a. a male connecting strap having a proximal end, a distal end, and a tissue-connecting mechanism at the distal end; and

b. a female connector having a proximal end and a distal end and an engagement clasp at the proximal end and a tissue-connecting mechanism at the distal end, wherein the engagement clasp comprises a buckle for securing the male connecting strap.

17. The surgical fastener of claim 16, wherein the tissue connecting mechanism of the male connecting strap and the female connector comprises an engagement clasp integrally connected to the male connecting strap or the female connector at the distal ends respectively, the engagement clasp comprising a forked opening including an upper plate and a lower plate defining a cavity therein, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises at least one row of ratchets extending from the upper plate of the engagement clasp and at least one row of ratchets extending from the lower plate of the engagement clasp, wherein the ratchets are generally triangular in shape having a dorsal ridge ending in the cavity such that the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the upper plate face the dorsal ridge of the ratchets on the lower plate.

18. The surgical fastener of claim 16 wherein the buckle comprises a rotating hinge bar including a post receptor wherein the hinge bar is rotatably connected to a receiving platform by a hinge wherein the receiving platform is defined by at least one post adapted to engage with the complementary post receptor.

19. The surgical fastener of claims 18 further comprising a tissue connecting strap adapted to engage the tissue connecting mechanism of the male connecting strap and the female connector.

20. The surgical fastener of claim 16, wherein the tissue-connecting mechanism is selected from the group consisting of ratchets, light curing epoxy including the entire electromagnetic spectrum from gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible, infrared, microwave radio waves to ultra low frequencies for permanently or temporarily connecting the two straps;

DC electrical curing epoxy for permanently or temporarily connecting two connecting straps;

magnetic forces to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

ultrasonic energy to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

vibration energy to bond the straps permanently or temporarily;

heat, including conduction, convection and radiation energy to bond straps permanently or temporarily; and

adhesives, glues, epoxy using either a pressure force or a chemical reaction to bond the straps permanently or temporarily.