Clinical and Surgical System and Method for Moving and Stretching Plastic Tissue

• US 20080147115A1
• Filed: 02/29/2008
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canica Design Inc.
• Original Assignee: Canica Design Inc.
• Inventors: Henderson, James, Bell, Michael S.G., Maxwell, Timothy, O'Malley, Michael T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,663,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/216
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• 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 17/085 with adhesive layer

Abstract

A system and method of moving and stretching plastic tissue using dynamic force. A preferably non-reactive force applying component is adjustably attachable to one or more tissue attachment structures for securing the force applying component to the plastic tissue, providing a self adjusting system that is capable of exerting relatively constant tension over a certain distance.

Claims

1-123. -123. (canceled)

124. A method for stretching plastic tissue comprising:

(a) evaluating the needed direction of stretching of the tissue;

(b) determining a number of anchors to employ;

(c) installing at least one anchor;

(d) securing at least one force applying component to the at least one anchor without knotting the force applying component;

(e) adjusting tension by removing and re-securing the at least one force applying component to the at least one anchor.

125. The method of claim 124 wherein the installing the at least one anchor further comprises attaching the at least one anchor to the tissue with at least one staple.

126. The method of claim 124 wherein the installing the at least one anchor further comprises attaching the at least one anchor to the tissue with at least one suture.

127. The method of claim 124 wherein the installing the at least one anchor further comprises attaching the at least one anchor to the tissue with surgical adhesive.

128. The method of claim 124 further comprising dressing the area of application prior to securing the force applying component.

129. The method of claim 124 wherein the force applying component is an elastomeric component.

130. The method of claim 129 wherein the elastomeric component is at least one monostrand elastomer having two ends.

131. The method of claim 130 wherein the securing the force applying component further comprises securing one end of the elastomer to a cleat in a first anchor, lacing the elastomer around a hook of a second anchor, and securing the other end of the elastomer to a cleat in a third anchor.

132. The method of claim 129 wherein the elastomeric component further comprises a tension indication feature.

133. The method of claim 129 wherein the tension is infinitely adjustable within an elastic limit of the elastomeric component.

134. The method of claim 132 wherein the adjusting tension further comprises referring to a tension application table to determine extension needed to apply a desired force.

135. The method of claim 124 wherein the adjusting tension further comprises referring to a tension indication feature of the elastomeric component.

136. The method of claim 124 wherein the force applying component comprises at least two elastomers each having two ends.

137. The method of claim 136 wherein securing the force applying component further comprises:

securing one end of a first elastomer to a first anchor and securing the other end of the first elastomer to a second anchor; and

securing one end of a second elastomer to a third anchor and securing the other end of the second elastomer to a fourth anchor.

138. The method of claim 136 wherein securing the force applying component further comprises securing one end of each elastomer to a first anchor and securing the other end of each elastomer to a second anchor.

139. The method of claim 124 wherein the force applying component is a suture.

140. The method of claim 124 wherein said securing the force applying component further comprises securing a first end of the force applying component to a first anchor and securing a second end of the force applying component to a second anchor.

141. The method of claim 124 wherein the at least one anchor further comprises prongs that bend and engage the tissue, attaching the anchor to the tissue.

142. The method of claim 124 further comprising a plurality of anchors attached to a strip of surgical adhesive.

143. The method of claim 124 wherein the at least one anchor further comprises a cleat for securing the force applying component.

144. The method of claim 124 wherein the at least one anchor further comprises a hook for engaging the force applying component.

145. The method of claim 124 wherein the at least one anchor further comprises an eye.

146. The method of claim 124, wherein evaluating the needed stretching of the tissue comprises evaluating the needed stretching of healthy tissue.

147. A method of stretching plastic tissue comprising:

(a) securing at least one anchor to the tissue; and

(b) securing a monostrand elastomer to the anchor without knotting the elastomer to exert force on the anchor.

148. The method of claim 147, further comprising:

(c) following passage of an interval of time, removing and re-securing the monostrand elastomer to the anchor to change the force exerted on the anchor.

149. A method of applying approximately equal quantities of force to two pairs of tissue locations, comprising:

(a) stretching a first elastomer between the first pair of tissue locations and noting the separation between indicia on the elastomer; and

(b) stretching a second elastomer like the first between the second pair of tissue locations such that a pair of indicia on the second elastomer are separated by a distance equivalent to the noted separation.