Skin treatment devices with tensioning features

• US 9,649,226 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2014
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Neodyne Biosciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neodyne Biosciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Zepeda, John A., Jackson, Jasper, Beasley, William R., Follmer, Brett A., Doud, Darren G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Kim M
• Application Number:
  US14/158,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20140135677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 602 53, 602 54, 602 41- 43, 606213-216
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00076 Packaging of adhesive dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/00085 having means for facilitating the application on the skin, e.g. single hand handling facilities A61F13/0259 takes precedence; bandage applicators separate from the bandage or the packaging A61F15/005
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/01038 Flexibility, stretchability or elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/023 wound covering film layers without a fluid retention layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0236 characterised by the application/handling support layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0243 characterised by the properties of the skin contacting layer, e.g. air-vapor permeability
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0246 characterised by the skin-adhering layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0253 characterized by the adhesive material
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0256 characterized by the parametric properties of the adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0259 characterised by the release liner covering the skin adhering layer
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/0266 especially adapted for wound covering/occlusive dressings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/001 Packages or dispensers for bandages, cotton balls, drapes, dressings, gauze, gowns, sheets, sponges, swabsticks or towels A61F15/007 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 15/005 Bandage applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/26 Macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds; Derivatives thereof A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 83/04 Polysiloxanes

Abstract

The devices, kits and methods described may be used for wound healing, including the treatment, amelioration, or prevention of scars and/or keloids by applying and/or maintaining a pre-determined strain in an elastic skin treatment device that is then affixed to the skin surface using skin adhesives to transfer a generally planar force from the bandage to the skin surface. Applicators are used to apply and/or maintain the strains, and some of the applicators are further configured to provide at least some mechanical advantage to the user when exerting loads onto the skin treatment device.

Claims

1. A skin treatment system, comprising:

an elastic sheet, comprising;

a skin adhesive on a first surface of the elastic sheet;

a first attachment structure comprising at least one opening;

a second attachment structure comprising at least one opening; and

a tensioning member comprising a first attachment end and a second attachment end configured to releasably couple to the first attachment structure and to the second attachment structure, respectively; and

wherein the tensioning member is configured to exert a separation force between the first and second attachment structures to strain the elastic sheet, and is removable to release the separation force.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second attachment structures comprises a pocket configured with the at least one opening of the first or second attachment structure.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one opening of at least one of the first and second attachment structures is configured to receive at least one of the first and second attachment ends of the tensioning member.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first attachment structure and the second attachment structure are located on an opposite surface to the first surface of the elastic sheet.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a releasable locking mechanism configured to maintain the tensioning member in a first configuration.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first configuration is a strained configuration.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the releasable locking mechanism comprises a releasable latch.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the releasable locking mechanism is configured to lock at a pre-determined strain of the elastic sheet.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock across a range of tensioning member configurations corresponding to a range of predetermined strains in the elastic sheet.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock across a range of predetermined strains within a range from about 0% to about 60%.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock across a range of predetermined strains within a range from about 10% to about 50%.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning member comprises a spring.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning member comprises a mechanical force applicator configured to exert the separation force.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the mechanical force applicator provides a mechanical advantage to apply the force.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the mechanical force applicator is manually actuatable.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the tensioning member comprises an elastic body configured to releasably couple to the first attachment structure and to the second attachment structure, and to stretch the elastic sheet upon release of potential energy from the elastic body, and wherein the elastic body is removable to release the separation force.

17. A skin treatment system, comprising:

an elastic sheet, comprising;

a skin adhesive on a first surface of the elastic sheet;

a first attachment structure;

a second attachment structure; and

a tensioning member comprising a first attachment end and a second attachment end configured to releasably couple to the first attachment structure and to the second attachment structure, respectively; and

wherein the tensioning member is configured to exert a separation force between the first and second attachment structures to strain the elastic sheet, and is removable to release the separation force; and

wherein one of the first attachment structure or the first attachment end comprises at least one opening to receive the other of the first attachment structure and the first attachment end, and wherein one of the second attachment structure or the second attachment end comprises at least one opening to receive the other of the second attachment structure or the second attachment end.