Skin tensioning device
First Claim
1. A skin tensioning device including:
- an anchor member having a first end and a second end and a pair of first suture guide slots formed therein for receiving a suture;
a winder body having a first end and a second end and a pair of second suture guide slots, the winder body including a retaining groove formed at the first end and a beveled shoulder at the second end, the second suture guide slots for receiving the suture;
a reel having an annular retaining flange at a first end, a ratchet at a second end, and a rail intermediate the first and second ends of the real;
the annular retaining flange being received in the retaining groove of the winder body to securely couple the two together, the ratchet engaging the beveled shoulder to permit a ratchet action when the reel is rotated within the winder body, the reel having at least one drive opening formed in one of the first and second ends; and
a drive crank for rotating the reel within the winder body.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a skin tensioning device. The skin tensioning device includes an anchor member having a body portion and a pair of first suture guide slots. The anchor member is positioned at one side of a wound. A winding assembly is coupled by sutures to the anchor member. The winding assembly comprises a winder body having a first end and an opposing second end. Similar to the anchor member, the winder body includes a pair of second suture guide slots. The winder body is positioned at an opposite side of the wound. The suture is looped through the first and second suture guide slots of the anchor member and winder body, respectively, so that the suture also extends through the skin beneath each member and across the wound. The first end of the winder body includes a retaining groove which is formed in sidewalls and a bottom surface thereof. The second end of the winder body includes a beveled shoulder formed therein. The winding assembly also includes a reel having a first end and an opposing second end. A ratchet is provided at the second end and an annular retaining flange, which is received within the retaining groove of the winder body, is formed at the first end. Intermediate the first and second ends is a rail which is disposed parallel to an axis of rotation of the reel. The rail has a catch lip portion which captures the suture as the reel is cranked thereby winding the suture around the reel and drawing the anchor member and winder body toward one another and eventually brining margins of the wound into apposition for conventional suturing.
128 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A skin tensioning device including:
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an anchor member having a first end and a second end and a pair of first suture guide slots formed therein for receiving a suture; a winder body having a first end and a second end and a pair of second suture guide slots, the winder body including a retaining groove formed at the first end and a beveled shoulder at the second end, the second suture guide slots for receiving the suture; a reel having an annular retaining flange at a first end, a ratchet at a second end, and a rail intermediate the first and second ends of the real;
the annular retaining flange being received in the retaining groove of the winder body to securely couple the two together, the ratchet engaging the beveled shoulder to permit a ratchet action when the reel is rotated within the winder body, the reel having at least one drive opening formed in one of the first and second ends; anda drive crank for rotating the reel within the winder body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A skin tensioning device including:
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an anchor member having a first end and a second end and a pair of first suture guide slots formed therein for receiving a suture; a winder body having a first end and a second end and a pair of second suture guide slots, the winder body including a retaining groove formed at the first end and a beveled shoulder at the second end, the second suture guide slots for receiving the suture; a reel having an annular retaining flange at a first end, a ratchet at a second end, the annular retaining flange being received in the retaining groove of the winder body to securely couple the two together, the ratchet engaging the beveled shoulder to permit a ratchet action when the reel is rotated within the winder body, the reel having at least one drive opening formed in one of the first and second ends, means on the reel for catching and winding the suture around the body of the reel as the reel is rotated; and a drive crank for rotating the reel within the winder body. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of skin tensioning, stretching, or closing a wound, comprising:
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preparing a wound on the skin that provides opposed skin margins; positioning an anchor member at one side of the wound resting on the surface of the skin; positioning a winder body at the opposite side of the wound resting on the surface of the skin; suturing through each of the anchor member and the winder body and then through the skin beneath the anchor member and the winder body using one continuous loop of suture material; inserting a reel within the winder body, the reel having a rail intermediate first and second ends of the real, the rail extending outwardly from an outer surface of the reel; and rotating the reel within the winder body so that the rail of the reel catches the suture and further rotation of the reel causes the suture to be wound around the reel intermediate the first and second ends, the winding of the suture causing the winder body and anchor member to be drawn toward each other to eventually bring the margins of the wound into apposition for conventional suturing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification