METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MENDING SKIN OPENINGS

• US 20090177227A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter D. Warren D. Warren
• Original Assignee: Peter D. Warren D. Warren
• Inventors: Warren, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,591,835 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/217
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/085 with adhesive layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00411 actuated by application of energy from an energy source outside the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00889 antimicrobial, disinfectant
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/081 Tissue approximator A61B2017/1103, A61B17/8866 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/088 Sliding fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0807 Indication means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/92 coded with colour

Abstract

A zipper-type wound closer attachable to the skin around a skin opening and zipped closed to pull the skin opening closed. The wound closer includes two elongated connecting strips whose feet are pre-coated with adhesive and attached to the skin around the skin opening. The edges of the wound are trimmed flush with the interior sides of connecting strips, and the strips are then zipped together by moving a slider along the connecting strips to join the strips together like a familiar zipper. The wound zipper forms a continuous, toothless seam to prevent seepage of fluid through the seam. By holding the freshly trimmed edges of the skin opening together immobile in a clean, firm, closely aligned connection, the wound closer recreates the conditions under which scar-free healing of the skin can occur naturally; useful for repairing wounds and removing existing scars.

Claims

1. A device for closing and promoting scar-free healing of an opening in living skin tissue, comprising:

a first elongated connecting strip configured to adhere to the skin on a first side of a skin opening comprising a first inner face configured to permit a knife to pass along the first inner face to trim the skin adhered to the first connecting strip flush with the first inner face;

a second elongated connecting strip configured to adhere to the skin on a second side of the skin opening comprising a second inner face configured to permit a knife to pass along the second inner face to trim the skin adhered to the second connecting strip flush with the second inner face; and

a slider configured to slide along the first and second connecting strips to zip the connecting strips together to form a seam with the first inner face held adjacent to the second inner face and the skin trimmed along the first and second inner faces held together in a butt-joined relation to promote scar-free healing of the skin opening.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a first knife guide disposed along the first connecting strip configured to receive a guide follower on a knife as the knife is moved along the first connecting strip with the guide follower engaged with the first knife guide to trim the skin along the first connecting strip flush with the first inner face; and

a second knife guide disposed along the second connecting strip configured to receive a guide follower on a knife as the knife is moved along the second connecting strip with the guide follower engaged with the second knife guide to trim skin along the second connecting strip flush with the second inner face.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first and second connecting strips, when zipped together, form a continuous, toothless water-tight seam to prevent seepage of fluid through the seam.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive located in the seam formed by the first and second connecting strips that sets in response to energy applied to the seam.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more substances located in the seam formed by the first and second connecting strips that changes color in response to a condition selected from the group comprising:

the seam being properly closed;

an adhesive in the seam being properly set;

application of energy to cure an adhesive in the seam; and

a passage of time sufficient for wound is healed.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein one or both of the connecting strips comprises a microporous substrate configured to allow passage of air and block passage of fluids.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein each one or both of the connecting strips or a coating carried by one or both of the connecting strips comprises one or both of an antibiotic or an anaesthetic substance.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive bandage adhered to the connecting strips.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the adhesive bandage comprises at least a portion of the adhesive bandage configured to be positioned between the connecting strips and the skin.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the adhesive bandage comprises a microporous structure configured to allow passage of air and block passage of blood components.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein the adhesive bandage or a coating carried by the adhesive bandage comprises one or both of a medically active substance or an anaesthetic substance.

12. A system for closing and promoting scar-free healing of an opening in living skin tissue, comprising:

a wound closer comprising a first elongated connecting strip with an adhesive foot, a first knife guide disposed along the first connecting strip, a second elongated connecting strip with an adhesive foot, a second knife guide disposed along the second connecting strip, and a slider configured to slide along the first and second connecting strips to zip the connecting strips together to form a seam holding skin adhered to and trimmed along and flush with the first and second connecting strips together in a butt-joined relation to promote scar-free healing of a skin opening underlying the seam; and

a knife comprising a guide follower configured to be positioned against the knife guide of each connecting strip to position the blade adjacent to the connecting strip to guide the knife to trim the skin opening as the knife is moved along the connecting strip prior to zipping the connecting strips together.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first and second connecting strips, when zipped together, form a continuous, toothless water-tight seam to prevent seepage of fluid through the seam.

14. A method for closing and promoting scar-free healing of an opening in living skin tissue, comprising the steps of:

providing a wound closer having a first elongated connecting strip with an inner face, a second elongated connecting strip having a second inner face, and a slider configured to slide along the first and second connecting strips to zip the connecting strips together to with the first inner face held adjacent to the second inner face;

adhering the wound closer around the skin opening with the first elongated connecting strip adhered to the skin adjacent to a first side of the skin opening, the second elongated connecting strip adhered to the skin adjacent to a second side of the skin opening, and the first inner face opposing the second inner face;

trimming the skin along the first connecting strip flush with the first inner face;

trimming the skin along the second connecting strip flush with the second inner face; and

promptly after trimming, zipping the connecting strips together to pull the skin opening closed by sliding the slider along the connecting strips to bring the first inner face adjacent to the second inner face and fasten the connecting strips to each other to form a seam holding the skin trimmed along the first and second inner faces together in a butt-joined relation to promote scar-free healing of the skin opening.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

providing a knife with a guide follower;

providing a first knife guide disposed along the first connecting strip;

trimming the skin along the first connecting strip by placing the guide follower of the knife against the knife guide of the first connecting strip and moving the knife along the first connecting strip while holding the follower against the knife guide;

providing a second knife guide disposed along the second connecting strip; and

a slider configured to slide along the first and second connecting strips to zip the connecting strips together which then remain closed together;

trimming the skin along the second connecting strip by placing the guide follower of the knife against the knife guide of the second connecting strip and moving the knife along the second connecting strip while holding the knife follower against the knife guide.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

configuring each knife guide as an elongated channel extending along the connecting strip and configuring the guide follower as a tab configured to be received within the channel;

providing one or both of an antibiotic or an anaesthetic substance in the adhesive coating; and

providing connecting strip that comprise a microporous substrate configured to allow passage of air and prevent seepage of fluid through the seam.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing connecting strips that, when zipped together, form a continuous, toothless water-tight seam to prevent seepage of fluid through the seam.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of applying a seam sealer to clamp or set an adhesive in the seam.

19. The system of claim 14, further comprising the step of including one or more substances located in the seam formed by the first and second connecting strips that changes color in response to a condition selected from the group comprising:

the seam being properly closed;

an adhesive in the seam being properly set;

application of energy to cure an adhesive in the seam; and

a passage of time sufficient for wound is healed.

20. The device of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

affixing the connecting strips to an adhesive bandage;

providing one or both of an antibiotic or an anaesthetic substance in the adhesive coating; and

providing connecting strip that comprise a microporous substrate configured to allow passage of air and prevent seepage of fluid through the seam.