Method of controlling post-operative leakage associated with tumescent liposuction
AssigneeXomed Surgical Products, Inc.
InventorF. Barry Bays
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of controlling fluid leakage from an incision following tumescent liposuction and other surgical procedures where large amounts of fluid are introduced into the body includes placing a highly absorbent pad composed of a softened polyvinyl acetate sponge over the incision and holding the pad in place using a flexible backing with adhesive on one side. The softened polyvinyl acetate sponge material can be placed over the incision in either an unexpanded dry state or an expanded dry state. In one embodiment, a liquid impermeable layer is formed on one side of the pad and positioned on the adhesive side of the backing to prevent the absorbed fluids from infiltrating the backing.
Claims16
A method of controlling postoperative fluid leakage from a patient's body following a tumescent liposuction surgical procedure during which large volumes of a tumescent solution are infused into fat tissue, said method comprising the steps of
- providing a bandage having an absorbent pad formed of expanded polyvinyl acetal sponge material with a softer outer texture than dry, rigid polyvinyl acetal sponge material;
- placing the expanded absorbent pad over the opening of a tunnel formed in the fat tissue with a cannula as part of the tumescent liposuction surgical procedure;
- holding the expanded absorbent pad against the tunnel opening using a flexible backing with adhesive on one side so that at least a portion of the flexible backing is affixed to the patient's body via the adhesive and tumescent solution from the tunnel is absorbed by the expanded absorbent pad;
- and
- containing the absorbed tumescent solution within the expanded absorbent pad by interposing a liquid impermeable layer between the expanded absorbent pad and the backing.
A method of controlling postoperative fluid leakage from a patient's body following a tumescent liposuction surgical procedure during which large volumes of a tumescent solution are infused into fat tissue, said method comprising the steps of
- placing an expandable absorbent pad in an unexpanded, dry state over the opening of a tunnel formed in the fat tissue with a cannula as part of the tumescent liposuction surgical procedure;
- holding the expandable absorbent pad against the tunnel opening using a flexible backing with adhesive on one side so that at least a portion of the flexible backing is affixed to the patient's body via the adhesive and tumescent solution leaking from the tunnel is absorbed by the pad as the pad expands from a dry state to an enlarged wet state;
- and
- containing the absorbed tumescent solution within the enlarged absorbent pad by interposing a liquid impermeable layer between the absorbent pad and the backing.
A method of performing tumescent liposuction comprising the steps of introducing a tumescent solution into fatty tissue in a patient's body;
- removing fatty tissue by forming one or more tunnels in the fatty tissue via an opening;
- placing a bandage having an adhesive and containing a softened polyvinyl acetal sponge over the opening so that at least a portion of the bandage is affixed to the patient's body via the adhesive;
- and
- absorbing tumescent solution leaking from the opening in the sponge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.