# US 11,026,670 B2 · System for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,026,670 B2 - Document ID: US11026670B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/000,662 - Filed: 2020-08-24 - Published: 2020-12-10 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-24 - Assignees: Stetrix, Inc. - Applicants: Stetrix, Inc. - Inventors: David D. Blurton; Mark Buchanan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11026670B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/02: for holding wounds open, e.g. retractors; Tractors - A61B 17/0218: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0281, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 90/80: Implements for cleaning or washing the skin of surgeons or patients - A61F 13/15: Absorbent pads, e.g. sanitary towels, swabs or tampons for external or internal application to the body; Supporting or fastening means therefor; Tampon applicators - A61G 13/122: {Upper body, e.g. chest} - A61B 17/42: Gynaecological or obstetrical instruments or methods {(ligaturing clamps or clips for the umbilical cord A61B17/122; curettage A61B17/320708)} - A61B 2017/00544: {pneumatically} - A61B 2017/00561: {creating a vacuum} - A61B 2017/00889: {antimicrobial, disinfectant} - A61B 2017/00942: {hydrophilic} - A61B 2017/0212: {Cushions or pads, without holding arms, as tissue retainers, e.g. for retracting viscera} - A61B 2017/0225: {flexible, e.g. fabrics, meshes, or membranes} - A61B 2218/007: Aspiration - A61F 2013/15008: {characterized by the use} - A61F 2013/16: {Sanitary towels; Means for supporting or fastening them} - A61F 2013/8414: {with anti-microbic} - A61G 2200/12: Women - A61G 2200/16: bariatric, e.g. heavy or obese - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61G: TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS (appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk A61H3/00); OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES (embalming corpses A01N1/00) ## Abstract A tissue retraction system that allows aeration in a skinfold of a patient needing medical attention may include a flexible frame having a defined body shape comprising an internal facing surface configured to face a crease in the skinfold, an external facing surface opposite the internal facing surface configured to face outwardly and away from the patient, a first tissue facing surface, and a second tissue facing surface opposing the first tissue facing surface. Each of the first and the second tissue facing surfaces may be configured to engage against opposing sides of the skinfold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient, comprising: an elongate frame having an exterior surface and a central hollow core extending therethrough, a non-secured slit extending through said exterior surface and into and communicating with said central hollow core, said slit extending at least for an axial length along said elongate frame, said slit being accessible and configured for receipt of an edge of a sheet of sweat absorbent material disposed within the skinfold of said patient and for maintaining said elongate frame and said sheet in place. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein said elongate frame is cylindrical. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A system according to claim 2, wherein said central hollow core is cylindrical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A system according to claim 3, wherein said slit extends substantially along an entire length of said elongate frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet of absorbent material having a thickness dimensioned for receipt into said slit of said elongate frame. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A system according to claim 5, wherein the said sheet of absorbent material is attached to said elongate frame. ### Claim 7 A system for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient, comprising: an elongate frame having an exterior surface and a central hollow core extending therethrough, a slit extending through said exterior surface and into and communicating with said central hollow core, said slit extending at least for an axial length along said elongate frame; and a sheet of absorbent material attached to said frame, a portion of said sheet being sized and configured for receipt within said skinfold of said patient, said sheet of absorbent material including an edge, said edge extending through said slit and into said central hollow core, thereby attaching said sheet and said elongate frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said absorbent material is selected from the group of materials consisting of vapor permeable, perforated, or containing voids that allow exposure of skin to ambient air outside of the skinfold. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said absorbent material includes copper, silver, or antimicrobial substance therein. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein another portion of said sheet extends around a portion of said exterior surface of said elongate frame. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A system according to claim 10, wherein said elongate frame is cylindrical and said another sheet portion around said exterior surface of said elongate frame defines a sleeve. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein said elongate frame with said sleeve thereon are dimensioned and configured to fit within the skinfold of a patient. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) A system according to claim 7, wherein said elongate frame is configured to be integrated with a vacuum source. ### Claim 14 A system for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient, comprising: a flexible frame having an exterior surface and a cavity extending therethrough, at least one aperture extending through said exterior surface and into and communicating with said cavity; and sweat absorbent material on said exterior surface of said flexible frame in communication with said at least one aperture, a portion of said sweat absorbent material being sized and configured to fit within and separate tissue of a skinfold of a pannus of said patient and to wick sweat or otherwise absorb sweat from the skinfold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one aperture is an elongate slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein there are a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said flexible frame with said sweat absorbent material thereon is dimensioned and configured to fit within said skinfold of said pannus of said patient. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said flexible frame is configured to be integrated with a vacuum source. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein said flexible frame has a plurality of apertures. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein said flexible frame is elongate having opposite ends, and wherein said system further comprises a conduit attached to said flexible frame at one of said opposite ends, said conduit being integrated with said flexible frame and said vacuum source and in fluid communication with said cavity and said apertures. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A system according to claim 20, wherein said conduit is a vacuum hose attachable to said vacuum source. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) A system according to claim 14, wherein said flexible frame is cylindrical. ### Claim 23 A system for absorbing sweat from within a skinfold of a patient, comprising: a rigid frame having a cavity and an attachment feature for attaching an absorbent material, said attachment feature communicating with said cavity; sweat absorbent material attached to said frame by said attachment feature and in communication with said cavity, said sweat absorbent material being sized and configured for receipt within said skinfold; and a conduit attached to said rigid frame and attachable to a vacuum source, said conduit being in fluid communication with said cavity through which sweat from said skinfold may pass. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein a first portion of said sweat absorbent material extends into said cavity, and wherein a second portion of said sweat absorbent material is sized and configured for receipt within said skinfold. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) A system according to claim 23, wherein said sweat absorbent material comprises a sheet having an edge, wherein said attachment feature is a slit extending through said rigid frame, and wherein said edge extends into said cavity through said slit. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A system according to claim 25, wherein said skinfold is a skinfold of a pannus of said patient, a portion of said sweat absorbent material being sized and configured to fit within said skinfold of said pannus of said patient. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) A system according to claim 26, wherein said rigid frame with said sweat absorbent material is dimensioned and configured to fit within said skinfold of said pannus of said patient.