Wound Closing Device
First Claim
1. A wound closure system adapted for closing a wound, said wound closure system comprising a forceps device includinga first leg and a second leg adapted to close toward each other into a proximate position in response to a squeezing force applied to the forceps, the first leg having an opening therein;
- a ratchet strip connected to the second leg by a hinge and passing through the opening in the first leg,the lower edge of the opening formed as a ratchet pawl for engaging the ratchet strip, thereby providing a ratchet mechanism,whereby engaging the ratchet mechanism maintains the proximate position of the forceps.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wound closure system comprises a forceps including first and second legs adapted to close into a proximate position in response to a squeezing force applied to the forceps. The forceps also includes a ratchet strip connected to the second leg and passing through an opening in the first leg. The lower edge of the opening is formed as a ratchet pawl for engaging the ratchet strip, thereby providing a ratchet mechanism. Engaging the ratchet mechanism maintains the proximate position of the forceps; rotation of the ratchet strip about the hinge causes it to move upward, thereby disengaging the ratchet mechanism. The forceps may also include a safety latch connected to the first leg by a hinge. Rotation of the safety latch about the hinge inserts a portion of the safety latch into the opening to contact the ratchet strip and thereby prevent disengaging of the ratchet mechanism.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wound closure system adapted for closing a wound, said wound closure system comprising a forceps device including
a first leg and a second leg adapted to close toward each other into a proximate position in response to a squeezing force applied to the forceps, the first leg having an opening therein; -
a ratchet strip connected to the second leg by a hinge and passing through the opening in the first leg, the lower edge of the opening formed as a ratchet pawl for engaging the ratchet strip, thereby providing a ratchet mechanism, whereby engaging the ratchet mechanism maintains the proximate position of the forceps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A wound closure system adapted to closing a wound, said wound closure system comprising:
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a first adhesive shoe having an adhesive on a surface thereof for affixing to a patient'"'"'s skin and thereby configured to adhesively affix adjacent to a first edge of the wound; a second adhesive shoe having an adhesive on a surface thereof for affixing to a patient'"'"'s skin and thereby configured to adhesively affix adjacent to a second opposite edge of the wound, said first adhesive shoe and said second adhesive shoe separated from each other on opposite sides of the wound; and a forceps device comprising a first leg adapted to couple with said first adhesive shoe and a second leg adapted to couple with said second adhesive shoe, the forceps device further including a ratchet mechanism adapted to hold said first and second legs in position when they are drawn together by closing said forceps device, thereby approximating the first edge of the wound to the second edge of the wound while the first adhesive shoe and the second adhesive shoe remain separated from each other without a mechanical connection above the wound other than by said forceps device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification