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US 12,082,998 B2Granted
Collapsible structure for wound closure and method of use
AssigneeSmith & Nephew, Inc.
InventorAllan Kenneth Frazer Grugeon Hunt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some embodiments, a negative pressure wound closure system and methods for using such a system are described. Certain disclosed embodiments facilitate closure of the wound by preferentially contracting to exert force on the tissue. Some embodiments may utilize a collapsible structure with a plurality of cells.
Claims18
A method of treating a wound, comprising:
- placing a collapsible structure in or over the wound so that a length of the collapsible structure is aligned with a length of the wound, wherein the collapsible structure comprises:
- a top portion and a bottom portion;
- a volume between the top portion and the bottom portion;
- and
- a plurality of elongate cells each having a length and a width;
- wherein:
- at least one of the cells is inflatable and deflatable;
- and
- placing the collapsible structure in or over the wound so that the length of the collapsible structure is aligned with the length of the wound comprises aligning the length of the plurality of elongate cells with the length of the wound;
- creating a sealed space over the wound;
- providing a negative pressure to the sealed space;
- and
- drawing edges of the wound closer together along a width of the collapsible structure by deflating at least one of the plurality of elongate cells, wherein the collapsible structure is configured for use without any conduits in communication with the plurality of elongate cells.
10 more elements
A method of treating a wound, comprising:
- positioning a collapsible structure in or over the wound, wherein the collapsible structure has a plurality of elongate cells;
- creating a sealed space over the wound;
- providing a negative pressure to the sealed space when the elongate cells are in an inflated state;
- and
- deflating one or more of the plurality of elongate cells to draw edges of the wound closer together along a width of the collapsible structure, thereby facilitating a closure of the wound across a width of the wound, wherein the collapsible structure is configured for use without any conduits in communication with the plurality of elongate cells.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.