Bandage for wound or incision closure
OwnerMichael Lebnerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a bandage for closing a wound or incision, and methods for the use of same. The bandage comprises a first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more first elongated connectors extending in an offset manner from one edge thereof in a first direction. The bandage further comprises a second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more second elongated connectors extending in an offset manner from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction. Pulling elements are joined to the first and second elongated connectors. Means are provided for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component.
Claims21
A two-component bandage for closing a wound comprising:
- a) a first component comprising a substantially inelastic first flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a plurality of first elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a first direction;
- b) a second component comprising a substantially inelastic second flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more second elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to the first direction;
- c) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge;
- d) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge;
- and
- e) means for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component.
The bandage of claim 10 wherein the edges of the first and second flat flexible components are angled or curved to evert the skin edges.
A method for closing a wound or incision comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a bandage for closing a wound comprising:
- i) a first substantially inelastic flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and a plurality of first elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a first direction;
- ii) a second substantially inelastic flat flexible component having adhesive on a lower surface and one or more second elongated connectors extending from one edge thereof in a second direction generally opposite to said first direction;
- iii) a first pulling element joined to said first elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the first flat flexible component toward a wound edge;
- iv) a second pulling element joined to said second elongated connectors and adapted for lateral translation of the second flat flexible component toward the wound edge;
- vi) means for attaching the first elongated connectors to the second flat flexible component and means for attaching the second elongated connectors to the first flat flexible component;
- and
- b) attaching said lower surface of said first flexible component to a patient's skin along a first side of a wound;
- c) attaching said lower surface of said second flexible component to the patient's skin along a second side of said wound;
- d) pulling simultaneously said first and second pulling elements until said elongated connectors are subjected to a tension sufficient to close the wound or incision;
- e) attaching said first elongated connectors to said second flexible component;
- and
- f) attaching said second elongated connectors to said first flexible component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.