Device and method for preventing foreign substance migration through an opening in living animal tissue

Abstract

A relatively permanent barrier device which serves as a barrier to migration of foreign substances, as for example, bacteria or other disease promoting agents, through an opening in living animal tissue. The barrier device also aids in promoting healing of the animal tissue around the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the opening is designed to receive a percutaneous member or similar member for relatively permanent implant in the animal. Generally, the percutaneous member includes a stem which is insertable through the opening and into the subcutaneous facia of the animal with an enlarged head capable of overlying and engaging a portion of the barrier element. This member includes a fastening element shiftable into engagement with a portion of the animal tissue to retentively hold the member in the animal. The barrier device comprises a flexible and relatively compressible element capable of being sufficiently deformable to fully conform to the surface of the animal with which it is in contact and to fully cover the opening in the animal tissue. Thus, the barrier device is sufficiently resilient so as to always engage the surface of the animal tissue surrounding the opening even during any shifting movement or displacement of the animal tissue. The element will also partially conform to a portion of the percutaneous member which is in contact with the barrier element. The barrier device is generally permanently retained about the opening in said animal tissue by the percutaneous member or other retaining member. The compressible nature of the barrier element also allows it to effectively serve as an indication of tightness with which the percutaneous member is held within the animal and to aid in obviating any problem of necrosis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.