# US 2018/0021037 A1 · Skin expansion system

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- Number: US 2018/0021037 A1
- Document ID: US20180021037A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/548,459
- Filed: 2016-02-05
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06
- Assignees: Medical Innovation Developpement
- Applicants: Medical Innovation Developpement
- Inventors: Olivier BEATRIX
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180021037A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/0466: {Suture bridges}
- A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)}
- A61B 17/0487: {Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks (suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122)}
- A61B 90/02: {Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue (implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00)}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A skin expansion system (1) for reducing a wound surrounded by tissue, the skin expansion system (1) comprising; an elastically deformable tie (5) intended to extend between the tissues surrounding the wound in such a way that tension in the tie (5) produces traction along the tissues surrounding the wound in order to bring said tissues closer together, the tie (5) having first (5a) and second opposing ends, a tensioner (10) suitable for maintaining tension in the tie (5), in which the tie (5) is suitable for suturing the wound by passing directly through the tissues surrounding the wound in at least two suturing points, the tie being made from a biocompatible material and comprising a suture needle (6) rigidly connected to the first end (5a).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Skin expansion system to reduce a wound surrounded by tissues, the skin expansion system comprising:
an elastically deformable tie intended to extend between the tissues surrounding the wound in such a way that tension in the tie produces traction along the tissues surrounding the wound in order to bring said tissues closer together, the tie having opposed first and second ends, the tie having at rest a length between the first and second ends and being elastically stretchable to move the first and second ends away from each other,
a tensioner adapted to maintain tension in the tie,
wherein the tie is adapted to suture the wound by passing directly through the tissues surrounding the wound at at least two suture points, the tie being made from a biocompatible material and comprising a suture needle rigidly connected to the first end,
wherein the skin expansion system also comprises at least one spacer intended to be inserted between the tie and the tissues surrounding the wound, the spacer having a bearing surface adapted to rest on the tissues surrounding the wound, and a guide surface opposite the bearing surface adapted to receive a portion of the tie.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein the tie is made of a polymer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein
the tensioner comprises:
a body fixed to the second end of the tie, and
a blocking device that can be moved relative to the body between an inactive state in which said blocking device releases a passage for the tie between a blocking portion of said blocking device and the body, and an active state in which said blocking device keeps a portion of the tie at a distance from the second end between the blocking portion of said blocking device and the body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface does not have an anchor member adapted to pierce the tissues surrounding the wound and penetrate into these tissues.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is shaped such that when at rest, the bearing surface has a convexity in the direction opposite to the guide surface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein the guide surface extends along a guide axis and is concave around the guide axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, wherein the spacer comprises at least one guide opening with a lateral surface around a central axis and adapted to enable the tie to pass through, the lateral surface forming at least part of the guide surface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Skin expansion system according to claim 7, wherein the spacer comprises at least two guide openings separated from each other by a break-off portion.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Skin expansion system according to claim 1, in which the spacer is made of a polymer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 2)

Skin expansion system according to claim 2, wherein the tie is made of silicone.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

Skin expansion system according to claim 9, in which the spacer is made of silicone.