Tissue expansion and approximation device
AssigneeProgressive Surgical Products Inc.
InventorsRalph Ger, Robert Oddsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device applies continuous tension to skin adjacent an ulcerative area, to expand and approximate this skin until it covers the ulcerative area. The new device includes a frame which defines a path in which sliders move under the force of a constant tension spring. Each slider includes a hook-like element that engages and pulls the skin until the skin on opposite sides of the ulcerative area comes together.
Claims40
A constant tension tissue expansion and approximation device for helping to restore skin to an open wound area of a patient who has relative healthier skin outward of and surrounding the open wound area, the device comprising:
- a) a frame including means thereon forming boundaries which define a path that extends in an axial direction, the path having remote and near ends, the frame having an exposed surface positionable to overlie the patient's skin,
- b) a slider coupled to said frame and movable along said path, where said boundaries of the path define and control any non-axial displacement of the slider when it is moved axially along said path,
- c) engaging means carried by said slider for releasably engaging the healthier skin, and
- d) force application means urging said slider to move in the direction from said remote end of the path toward said near end of the path, said force application means providing a generally continuous force of generally constant magnitude on said slider regardless of the location of the slider along said path.
A constant tension tissue expansion and approximation device for helping to restore skin to an open wound area of a patient who has relatively healthier skin outward of and surrounding the open wound area, the device comprising:
- a) a frame including means thereon forming boundaries which define a path that extends in an axial direction, the path having remote and near ends,
- b) a slider coupled to said frame and movable along said path, where said boundaries of the path define and control any non-axial displacement of the slider,
- c) engaging means carried by said slider for releasably engaging the healthier skin, and
- d) force application means urging said slider to move in the direction from said remote end of the path toward said near end of the path, said force application means providing a generally continuous force of generally constant magnitude on said slider regardless of the location of the slider along said path.
A method for treating a patient's open wound which is surrounded by healthier skin, comprising:
- a) engaging at least one edge of the healthier skin,
- b) urging said engaged edge of skin in a direction to cover said open wound, where said urging comprises applying a generally continuous force of generally constant magnitude to said edge of skin, and
- c) applying said generally continuous force of generally constant magnitude slowly for a period of time until said edge has extended and at least partially covers said open wound.
A constant tension issue expansion and approximation device for helping to restore skin to an open wound area of a patient who has relatively healthier skin outward of and surrounding the open wound area, the device comprising:
- a) a frame including means thereon forming boundaries which define a path that extends in an axial direction, the path having remote and near ends,
- b) a slider coupled to said frame and movable along said path, where said boundaries of the path define and control any non-axial displacement of the slider,
- c) engaging means carried by said slider for releasably engaging the healthier skin, and
- d) force application means urging said slider to move in the direction from said remote end of the path toward said near end of the path, said force application means providing a generally continuous force of generally constant magnitude on said slider regardless of the location of the slider along said path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.