Surgical vessel closing pressure device with rotatable base cover

A vessel clamping pressure device, comprising:

• a support structure including a support structure slit extending completely through the support structure from a first side to a second side thereof, wherein the support structure slit interrupts a third side of the support structure, wherein the third side extends from the first side to the second side;
• a spindle positioned within a passageway of the support structure and configured to rotate within the passageway, the spindle including a spindle slit that is configured to align with the support structure slit, wherein rotation of the spindle rotates the spindle slit relative to the support structure from at least one open configuration to at least one closed configuration, wherein in the open configuration the spindle slit is aligned with the support structure slit and in the closed configuration the spindle slit is not aligned with the support structure slit;
• a pressure applying element coupled to the second side of the support structure, the pressure applying surface including a pressure applying element slit aligned with the support structure slit;
• and
• a base cover having a bottom surface configured to contact or at least face skin of a patient and an upper surface configured to be removably attached to the pressure applying element, the base cover including a base slit extending through the base cover, wherein the base cover is configured to rotate relative to the pressure applying element from an open rotational orientation in which the base slit is fully aligned with the pressure applying element slit to a closed rotational orientation in which the base slit is not fully aligned with the pressure applying element.

A method of applying pressure to a sutured incision, comprising:

• providing a vessel clamping pressure device having a support structure including a support structure slit, a spindle positioned within a passageway of the support structure and including a spindle slit, a pressure applying element coupled to the support structure and including a pressure applying element slit, and a base cover having a base slit, wherein alignment of the support structure slit, the spindle slit, the pressure applying element slit, and the base slit enables broadside insertion of a stretched portion of suture threads therein;
• inserting suture threads extending from the sutured incision through a broadside insertion into the aligned slits of the vessel clamping pressure device;
• positioning the base cover against the skin of a patient over the sutured incision;
• pulling the suture threads to tension the suture threads while pressing the vessel clamping pressure device against the patient;
• rotating the pressure applying element and support structure relative to the base cover to partially close the passage for the suture threads;
• and
• rotating the spindle relative to the support structure to engage the suture threads and maintain tension on the suture threads.

A base cover for a vessel clamping pressure device, comprising:

• a bottom having a bottom surface configured to contact skin of a patient at a site of a wound closure;
• a base slit extending through the base cover from an outer edge toward a central region, wherein the base slit is configured to receive suture threads through broadside insertion;
• and
• grip wings extending from opposite sides of the base cover, wherein each grip wing has a grip wing contour configured to facilitate gripping by a user.