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AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsMarco Rolandi, Vittorio Ruvolo, Ronald J. Berenson, Chase Ruebel, Jungho Jin
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The present invention relates generally to wound closure devices comprising one or more microstructures. The devices are designed such that the microstructures are able to grip the skin or tissue surrounding a wound, optionally closing the wound, or securing the tissue or skin in place. Also provided are wound closure systems that comprise one or more microstructure wound closure devices along with other components, such as protective covers and wound healing therapeutics. A variety of packaging specifications are disclosed, as is a dispenser apparatus configured to enable simple one-handed application of the wound closure devices. Methods described herein provide for the closure of various wounds with the wound closure devices and systems.
A wound closure device comprising a backing having a longitudinal axis, flexible portions of the backing attached to two or more microstructure arrays, each microstructure array comprising at least two microstructures wherein the two or more microstructure arrays are separated by a non-stretchable isthmus forming a non-stretchable portion of the backing such that the flexible portions of the backing supporting the two or more microstructure arrays and the non-stretchable portion of the backing forming the non-stretchable isthmus are co-planar and such that the non-stretchable isthmus has a width transverse to the longitudinal axis, the width narrower than the two or more microstructure arrays such that the wound closure device is configured to form a gap between the non-stretchable isthmus and an adjacent isthmus of an adjacent wound closure device when the wound closure device is positioned adjacent the adjacent wound closure device, and wherein the wound closure device is capable of being stretched laterally.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.