WOUND CLOSURE DEVICES, KITS, AND RELATED METHODS

Abstract

Wound closure devices and related methods. In one example, a wound closure device includes a release liner and several wound closure meshes held in a removable fashion to the release liner. The release liner includes a main body and several tabs, with the tabs secured in a detachable fashion to the main body. Each wound closure mesh is held in a removable fashion to the main body of the release liner and at least one of the tabs, with the tab including a portion that extends outwardly from an outer perimeter of the mesh to which it is held.

Claims

1. A wound closure device, comprising: a release liner, the release liner comprising a main body and a plurality of tabs, wherein the plurality of tabs are secured in a detachable fashion to the main body; and a plurality of wound closure meshes, wherein each mesh is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one tab including a portion that extends outwardly from an outer perimeter of the mesh to which it is held.

2. The wound closure device of claim 1, wherein each mesh is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least two of the plurality of tabs, the at least two tabs including portions that extend outwardly from the outer perimeter of the mesh to which they are held.

3. The wound closure device of claim 2, wherein the main body comprises a plurality of arms, wherein each mesh being held in the removable fashion to the main body comprises each mesh being held in the removable fashion to one of the plurality of arms.

4. The wound closure device of claim 3, wherein each of the arms comprises a wider portion and at least one thinner portion.

5. The wound closure device of claim 4, wherein each mesh being held in the removable fashion to one of the plurality of arms comprises each mesh being held in the removable fashion to the wider portion and to the at least one thinner portion of the arm.

6. The wound closure device of claim 3, wherein each mesh comprises a central area, wherein the plurality of arms extend across the central areas of the meshes.

7. The wound closure device of claim 6, wherein the two tabs associated with each mesh extend along sides of each mesh.

8. The wound closure device of claim 7, wherein the wound closure device is configured such that each of the meshes can be removed from the main body while retaining the two tabs extending along the sides of the mesh.

9. The wound closure device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of meshes comprise a plurality of self-adhering mesh patches.

10. A wound closure kit, the kit comprising: a wound closure device, comprising: a release liner, the release liner comprising a main body and a plurality of tabs, wherein the plurality of tabs are secured in a detachable fashion to the main body; and a plurality of self-adhering wound closure mesh patches, wherein each mesh patch is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one tab including a portion that extends outwardly from an outer perimeter of the mesh patch to which it is held; and an adhesive applicator, the applicator containing a liquid, topical skin adhesive.

11. The wound closure kit of claim 10, further comprising a sealed package containing the wound closure device and adhesive applicator in a sterile fashion.

12. The wound closure kit of claim 10, wherein each mesh patch is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least two of the plurality of tabs, the at least two tabs including portions that extend outwardly from the outer perimeter of the mesh patch to which they are held.

13. The wound closure device of claim 12, wherein the main body comprises a plurality of arms, wherein each mesh patch being held in the removable fashion to the main body comprises each mesh patch being held in the removable fashion to one of the plurality of arms.

14. The wound closure device of claim 13, wherein each mesh patch comprises a central area, wherein the plurality of arms extend across the central areas of the mesh patches.

15. The wound closure device of claim 14, wherein the two tabs associated with each mesh patch extend along sides of each mesh patch.

16. A wound closure method, comprising: selecting a first wound closure mesh from a wound closure device, the wound closure device comprising: a release liner, the release liner comprising a main body and a plurality of tabs, wherein the plurality of tabs are secured in a detachable fashion to the main body; and a plurality of wound closure meshes, wherein each mesh is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least one of the plurality of tabs, the at least one tab including a portion that extends outwardly from an outer perimeter of the mesh to which it is held; removing the first wound closure mesh from the main body using the at least one tab removably held to the first wound closure mesh; positioning the first wound closure mesh on a wound; and removing the at least one tab removably held to the first wound closure mesh.

17. The wound closure method of claim 16, wherein removing the first wound closure mesh from the main body comprises: bending the wound closure device to expose an edge of the at least one tab removably held to the first wound closure mesh; and pulling the edge of the at least one tab away from the main body to separate the at least one tab and the first wound closure mesh from the wound closure device.

18. The wound closure method of claim 17, further comprising, after positioning the first wound closure mesh on the wound, pulling on the at least one tab to approximate the wound.

19. The wound closure method of claim 18, further comprising, after approximating the wound, applying a liquid adhesive to the first wound closure mesh.

20. The wound closure method of claim 16, wherein each mesh is held in a removable fashion to the main body and at least two of the plurality of tabs, the at least two tabs including portions that extend outwardly from the outer perimeter of the mesh to which they are held.

21. The wound closure method of claim 20, wherein the main body comprises a plurality of arms, wherein each mesh being held in the removable fashion to the main body comprises each mesh being held in the removable fashion to one of the plurality of arms.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0020] FIG. 1 shows one example of a wound closure device.

[0021] FIG. 2 shows the wound closure device of FIG. 1 from the opposite side as FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 3 shows the wound closure device of FIG. 1 in cross-section.

[0023] FIG. 4 shows the wound closure device of FIG. 1 with one of the meshes and its associated tabs removed from the rest of the device.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows the wound closure device of FIG. 1 with one of the meshes and its associated tabs removed from the rest of the device, and one of the tabs removed from the mesh.

[0025] FIG. 6 shows the wound closure device of FIG. 1 with one of the meshes and its associated tabs removed from the rest of the device, and both of the tabs removed from the mesh.

[0026] FIG. 7 shows a main body of the release liner of the wound closure device of FIG. 1 after all of the meshes and their associated tabs have been removed.

[0027] FIG. 8 shows an example of a wound closure kit.

[0028] FIGS. 9-20 show an example of a wound closure method.

[0029] FIGS. 21-22 show examples of alternative designs for tabs of a wound closure device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Wound Closure Device

[0030] FIGS. 1-7 show an example of a wound closure device 100. The wound closure device illustrated in FIGS. 1-7 is exemplary only, and may be modified or otherwise changed without departing from the scope or spirit of our invention.

[0031] The wound closure device 100 includes a release liner 102, with several wound closure meshes 104 releasably held on the release liner 102. In this example, the wound closure device 100 includes four separate wound closure meshes 104, although in other implementations, the wound closure device may include more or less meshes.

[0032] In this particular example, the release liner 102 is generally planar and rectangular, although other shapes and configurations are also possible. In one implementation, the release liner 102 may be paper (78 lb. basis weight) coated on both sides with silicone, while in other implementations, the release liner 102 may be any other material that is suitable for releasably holding the wound closure meshes 104.

[0033] In this particular example, the wound closure meshes 104 are also generally planar and rectangular, although other shapes and configurations are also possible. In one implementation, the wound closure meshes 104 may be made from synthetic or natural materials which can be woven or non-woven fabrics. The meshes 104 may be nylon, polyester, polypropylene or polyethylene, polyamide and cottons. The mesh net-shapes can be square or rhombus and the net-sizes may be from 0.5 to 2 mm. The preferred net-sizes in some implementations are from 0.8 to 1.3 mm. The wound closure meshes 104 may be coated with or otherwise associated with a pressure sensitive adhesive suitable for holding the meshes 104 on the release liner 102 in a removable fashion, and also for temporarily holding the meshes 104 in place on a patient's skin, as discussed in further detail below. In some implementations, the pressure sensitive adhesive may be a rubber-based, silicone-based, or acrylic-based adhesive. In one implementation, the meshes 104 are coated on a single side with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and in use, the PSA-coated side directly contacts the skin to temporarily adhere the mesh to the skin. In some implementations, the PSA is only coated on a portion of the mesh, such as on 20-80% of the area on one side of the mesh, or 30-65% of the area on one side of the mesh.

[0034] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-7, the PSA-coated side of the meshes are the side that contacts the release liner 102.

[0035] In the example shown in FIGS. 1-7, the wound closure meshes 104 are releasably held on one side of the release liner 102, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The wound closure meshes 104 and associated tabs 106 of the release liner 102 may be removed as a unit from the main body 108 of the release liner 102. FIG. 4 shows the wound closure device 100 with one of the wound closure meshes 104 and two release liners 106 removed as a unit from the rest of the device.

[0036] The release liner 102 is scored along score lines 110 (seen e.g. FIG. 2), which allow the tabs 106 to be separated from the main body 108. In some implementations, the meshes 104 may also be scored (e.g. at the corners) so that they shape of the meshes 104 may be altered in use.

[0037] The release liner 102 is configured so that when a mesh 104 and its associated tabs 106 are removed from the main body 108 of the release liner 102, portions of the tabs 106 extend outwardly from an outer perimeter of the mesh 102 while a central area of the mesh 102 is open and uncovered by the tabs 106. The portions of the tabs 106 extending outwardly from the outer perimeter of the mesh 102 facilitate handling of the mesh 102 without requiring direct contact with its pressure sensitive adhesive (which could become undesirably stuck on a surgical glove). As can be seen best in FIGS. 4 and 5, each tab 106 extends along three sides of the mesh 102. In this particular example, each tab 106 extends along the entire length of one of the long sides of the mesh 102, and extends along part of the length of two of the shorter sides of the mesh 102.

[0038] Leaving the central area of the mesh 104 open and uncovered facilitates visualization and alignment of the mesh 104 over a wound, as discussed in more detail below.

[0039] The score lines 110 in the release liner 102 define the shape of the tabs 106 and the shape of the remainder of the main body 108 of the release liner 102 after the tabs 106 are removed. As can be seen best in FIGS. 4-7, the main body 108 of the release liner 102 includes several arms 112. The arms 112 have wider 114 and narrower 116 portions corresponding the narrower 118 and wider 120 portions of the tabs 106 respectively. The wider 114 portion of the arms 112 corresponds to the central area of the mesh 104 when it is releasably held on the release liner 102. The arms 112 extend entirely across the mesh 104 when the mesh 104 is releasably held on the main body of the release liner 104.

[0040] Wound Closure Kit

[0041] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a wound closure kit 200. The wound closure kit 200 illustrated in FIG. 8 is exemplary only, and may be modified or otherwise changed without departing from the scope or spirit of our invention.

[0042] The wound closure kit 200 may include any number of wound closure devices (in this example, two wound closure devices 100) and one or more adhesive applicators 202 containing a liquid, topical skin adhesive. In this example, each wound closure device 100 is the same as the wound closure device 100 shown in FIGS. 1-7 and described above, although in other implementations they may be configured differently. In the example shown the two wound closure devices 100 are identical to one another, although in other implementations, they do not need to be identical.

[0043] In this example, the wound closure kit 200 is enclosed in a sealed package (e.g. sterile tray 204) containing the wound closure devices 100 and adhesive applicator 202 in a sterile fashion, and the wound closure devices 100 are individually wrapped in envelopes 206. In other implementations, the wound closure devices 100 are not wrapped in envelopes.

Wound Closure Method

[0044] FIGS. 9-21 show one example of a wound closure method. The method illustrated in FIGS. 9-21 is exemplary only, and may be modified or otherwise changed without departing from the scope or spirit of our invention.

[0045] FIG. 9 shows selecting a wound closure mesh 104 from a wound closure device 100. Similar to the wound closure device 100 shown in FIGS. 1-7, the wound closure device 100 shown in FIG. 9 includes a release liner with a main body and several tabs secured in a detachable fashion to the main body, and also includes several wound closure meshes held in a removable fashion to the main body and the tabs. As shown in FIG. 9 (among other figures), the tabs (e.g. tab 106) extend outwardly from the wound closure meshes so that they can be handled without contacting the adhesive on the meshes.

[0046] The configuration of the release liner, including the tabs and main body, facilitate easy removal of a selected mesh from the release liner, and easy handling of the mesh when using it to facilitate wound closure.

[0047] FIGS. 10-13 show removing the selected wound closure mesh 104 from the wound closure device 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the user may first bend the wound closure device 100 so that an edge 122 of one or more of the tabs is exposed. The wound closure device 100 may be bent along a line generally corresponding to the edge 122. As also shown in FIG. 10, bending the wound closure device 100 at the selected portion may separate a tab from an adjacent tab 124 of the device 100. As shown in FIGS. 11-13, the exposed edge 122 may be grasped by the user and pulled away from the main body 108 of the release liner, so that the tabs 106 and associated mesh 104 are separated from the main body 108 of the wound closure device 100.

[0048] FIGS. 14-17 show positioning the wound closure mesh 104 on a wound 300 in a patient's skin 302. As shown in FIG. 14, the wound closure mesh 104 may be continued to be held by portions of the tabs 106 extending outwardly from the mesh 104 as the wound closure mesh is positioned over and onto the wound 300, to avoid or at least limit contact between the user's hands and the adhesive on the mesh 104.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 15-17, the wound closure mesh 104 may initially be placed over and primarily in contact with the patient's skin on one side of the wound 300, with the pressure sensitive adhesive coated side of the mesh 104 in contact with the patient's skin. FIG. 17 shows approximation of the wound 300, with the user gently pulling on the tab 106 on the side of the mesh 104 that has not yet been brought fully into contact with the patient's skin, so that the edges of the wound 300 may be drawn together and closed. In the example shown, the mesh 104 is positioned on the patient's skin such that the tabs 106 are on the underside of the mesh 104, between the mesh 104 and the patient's skin, limiting the amount of adhesion between the pressure sensitive adhesive coated side of the mesh 104 and the patient's skin 302.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 18-20, after the wound 300 has been approximated, the tabs 106 may each be removed and the mesh 104 may be pressed down by the user to more firmly adhere the mesh 104 to the patient's skin 302 over the wound 300. Subsequently, although not shown in the figures, a liquid, topical skin adhesive may be applied over the mesh 104 and the wound 300 to seal the wound 300 and firmly secure the mesh 104 onto the patient's skin 302 to allow the wound 300 to heal. Once cured, the liquid adhesive and mesh may provide a watertight, microbial barrier over the wound 300. The adhered mesh may distribute tension along the wound and prevent gaps from forming during the healing process.

Alternative Tab Shapes

[0051] Components of the wound closure device may be configured in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. FIGS. 21 and 22 show two examples of alternative tab configurations for the wound closure device. In the example of FIG. 21, the mesh is associated with a single, generally U-shaped tab that extends along the entirety of three side edges of the mesh and partially along the fourth side of the mesh. In the example of FIG. 22, the mesh is associated with two tabs that each of crescent, curved inner edges.

Examples Only

[0052] The above-described would closure devices and methods of use are only examples. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other changes and modifications may be made to those examples without departing from the scope or spirit of the inventions reflected in the following claims.