Wound closure device and method
AssigneePatamra, LLC
InventorsPatrick Smith, Tomas James North
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wound closure device and method are disclosed. The wound closure device includes a housing, a needle driver assembly, a needle guard assembly, and optionally, a bolster. Use of the device and method reduces the length of time it takes to successfully close a wound or incision when compared to manual suturing as well as decreases the risk of complications such as internal organ damage and hemorrhage caused by the suture needles and eventual herniation through the abdominal wall caused by a poorly and ineffectively closed wound or incision.
Claims20
A wound closure device comprising:
- a housing comprising a first end and a second end distal the first end and at least one lumen therein;
- a needle driver assembly comprising at least one needle driver at least partially within the at least one lumen;
- and
- a retractable needle guard assembly, the retractable needle guard assembly comprising one or more needle guards proximate the second end, each needle guard comprising a link end coupled to a link and a free end distal the link end, and a needle guard actuator to cause the one or more needle guards to protract by causing the free end to extend from the housing and away from the first end.
A method of using a wound closure device, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a wound closure device comprising a housing having a first end and a second end distal the first end, a needle driver assembly, and a needle guard assembly;
- activating the needle guard assembly to cause one or more needle guards proximate the second end to protract away from the housing and toward the second end;
- and
- activating the needle driver assembly to cause a first needle to move toward the needle guard and become engaged with the needle guard.
A kit including one or more wound closure devices, each wound closure device comprising:
- a housing comprising a first end and a second end distal the first end and at least one lumen therein;
- a needle driver assembly comprising at least one needle driver at least partially within the at least one lumen;
- and
- a retractable needle guard assembly, the retractable needle guard assembly comprising one or more needle guards proximate the second end, each needle guard comprising a link end coupled to a link and a free end distal the link end, and a needle guard actuator to cause the one or more needle guards to protract by causing the free end to extend from the housing and away from the first end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.