Vascular Access Wound Sealing System and Method

• US 20110245868A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Biolife, LLC
• Original Assignee: Biolife, LLC
• Inventors: Teeslink, Rex, Bettle, Griscom, Keene, Talmadge Kelly
• Application Number:
  US12/750,168
• Publication Number:
  US 20110245868A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/228
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0466 Suture bridges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/04 Materials for stopping bleeding
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/0061 Use of materials characterised by their function or physical properties

Abstract

A wound sealing system and method for closing a vascular access site. The method invisions suturing a single continuous Z-stitch into a skin area around a wound and wound tract while the catheter remains within the vessel; covering the wound and suture holes with a hemostatic powder; tightening and knotting the ends of the suture together in an X configuration, applying finger pressure against the hemostatic powder as the catheter is removed; and twisting the suture ends together to tension the Z-stitch, pulling the skin area into inversion. The wound sealing system includes a powder containment device (PCD) which surrounds wound and catheter and a suture twisting member configured with the PCD to tension the Z-stitch closing the wound and arresting blood flow. The hole in the PCD holds a quantity of the hemostatic agent sufficient to cover the wound and suture holes.

Claims

1-2. -2. (canceled)

3. A wound sealing system for closing and arresting blood flow from and protecting a wound and wound tract after a vascular access procedure comprising:

a powder containment device (PCD) formed of flat plastic material sized to surround a skin area around the wound and a catheter of an I.V. within and extending from the wound tract, said PCD having a hole formed centrally therethrough providing access to the skin area and a Z-stitch around the wound;

a suture twisting member positioned against said PCD and configured to lockingly receive the ends of a suture exiting from two of the four suture holes whereupon rotation of said twisting member tightens the Z-stitch, closing the wound and wound tract, and arresting blood flow therefrom after the catheter is removed from the wound tract;

said hole being sized to receive a quantity of an anhydrous hemostatic agent sufficient to cover the wound and suture holes;

said PCD having a slot formed through a perimeter thereof for installation clearance around the catheter.

4. A wound sealing system for closing and arresting blood flow from and protecting a wound and wound tract after a vascular access procedure comprising:

a powder containment device (PCD) formed of plastic material and sized to cover a skin area around the wound and wound tract and a catheter of an I.V. within the wound tract, said PCD having a hole formed centrally therethrough sized to fit around four suture holes made in the skin area in forming a Z-stitch to close the wound;

a suture twisting member concentrically positioned against and atop said PCD and having spaced teeth which are engageable with mating teeth on said PCD which allow said twisting member to be rotated in only one direction relative to said PCD;

said twisting member having notches formed thereinto which are configured to lockingly receive the ends of a suture exiting from two of the four suture holes of the Z-stitch whereupon rotation of said twisting member tightens the Z-stitch, closing the wound and wound tract, and arresting blood flow therefrom after the catheter is removed from the wound tract;

said hole being sized to receive a quantity of an anhydrous hemostatic agent sufficient to cover the wound and suture holes;

said PCD having a slot formed through a perimeter thereof for installation clearance around the catheter.

5. A method of closing a wound tract of a vascular access site formed into a blood vessel comprising:

forming a skin inversion in alignment with and around the wound tract by suturing a Z-stitch into a skin area around the wound tract, the submerged portions of the Z-stitch extending into the skin area to a depth of the blood vessel and being oriented substantially perpendicular to the wound tract and centered over the vessel access site;

covering the wound and suture holes with a hemostatic powder;

tightening and knotting the ends of the suture together in an X configuration between two of the four suture holes formed by the suture;

twisting the suture ends together to torque and tension the Z-stitch such that the skin area is pulled together into the skin inversion to close the wound tract and arrest substantially all blood flowing therefrom;

removing a catheter from the blood vessel wound tract;

maintaining the twist on the suture ends for a time sufficient to completely arrest blood flow from the wound when suture tension is released.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

applying pressure against the hemostatic powder over the wound as the catheter is removed from the blood vessel wound tract.

7. A method of closing a wound tract of a vascular access site when a catheter is removed from a blood vessel comprising:

creating semi-occlusive pressure along substantially an entire length of the wound tract by suturing a Z-stitch into a skin area around a wound and wound tract and into the skin area down to the blood vessel, the submerged portions of the Z-stitch being oriented substantially perpendicular to the wound tract and substantially centered over the vessel access site;

covering the wound and suture holes with a hemostatic powder;

tightening and knotting the exposed ends of the suture together in an X configuration between two of the four suture holes formed by the suture;

twisting the suture ends together to torque and tension the Z-stitch such that the skin area is pulled together into a skin inversion to close the wound tract and arrest substantially all blood flowing therefrom;

removing a catheter from the blood vessel wound tract;

maintaining the twist on the suture ends for a time sufficient to completely arrest blood flow from the wound when suture tension is released.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

applying pressure against the hemostatic powder over the wound as the catheter is removed from the blood vessel wound tract.

9. A method of closing a wound tract formed by insertion of a catheter into a blood vessel at a vascular access site comprising:

closing the wound tract by suturing a Z-stitch into a skin area around the wound tract, the submerged portions of the Z-stitch extending into the skin area to a depth equal to a length of the wound tract and oriented substantially perpendicular to the wound tract and centered over the vessel access site;

covering the wound and suture holes with a hemostatic powder;

tightening and knotting the ends of the suture together in an X configuration between two of the four suture holes formed by the suture;

twisting the suture ends together to torque and tension the Z-stitch such that the skin area is pulled together into a skin inversion to close the wound tract and arrest substantially all blood flowing therefrom;

removing a catheter from the blood vessel wound tract;

maintaining the twist on the suture ends for a time sufficient to completely arrest blood flow from the wound when suture tension is released.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

applying pressure against the hemostatic powder over the wound as the catheter is removed from the blood vessel wound tract.