• Basket
  • Log in

Join
today

Boliven PRO is more than just patent search

  • Build and save lists using the powerful Lists feature
  • Analyze and download your search results
  • Share patent search results with your clients

New to Patents? Find out more from CambridgeIP ®

Patents »

US5507775: Tissue expansion and approximation device

Share

Share on Linked In Share on Facebook Share by Email

Filing Information

Inventor(s) Ralph Ger · Robert Oddsen ·
Assignee(s) Progressive Surgical Products Inc. ·
Attorney/Agent(s) Rosen, Dainow & Jacobs ·
Primary Examiner Gary Jackson ·
Application Number US8181762
Filing date 01/21/1994
Issue date 04/16/1996
Predicted expiration date 01/21/2014
U.S. Classifications 606/216  · 606/215  ·
International Classifications A61B 1704  ·
Kind CodeA
International Classifications 606148;150;151;212;213;215-218 ·
40 Claims, No Drawings


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.

Independent Claims | See all claims (40)

  1. 1. 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, andd) 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.
  2. 33. 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, andd) 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.
  3. 37. 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, andc) 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.
  4. 40.40. 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, andd) 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.

References Cited

U.S. Patent Documents

Document NumberAssigneesInventorsIssue/Pub Date
US268632 Danforth Dec 1882
USD352356 Life Medical Sciences, Inc. Hirshowitz et al. Nov 1994
US2012755 DE MUTH OTTO De Muth Aug 1935
US2472009 CLEVELAND CLINIC FOUNDATION Gardner May 1949
US3385299 NEW RES AND DEV LAB INC LeRoy May 1968
US3625220 HORIZON IND LTD Engelsher Dec 1971
US3698395 HASSON HARRITH M Hasson Oct 1972
US3825010 MC DONALD B McDonald Jul 1974
US3926193 HASSON HARRITH M Hasson Dec 1975
US4073298 New Research & Development Lab., Inc. LeRoy Feb 1978
US4157085 Dow Corning Corporation Austad Jun 1979
US4265160 MARTINEZ RENATO G Martinez May 1981
US4317451 Ethicon, Inc. Cerwin et al. Mar 1982
US4430998 Thoratec Laboratories Corporation Harvey et al. Feb 1984
US4531522 Ethicon, Inc. Bedi et al. Jul 1985
US4574780 MANDERS ERNEST K Manders Mar 1986
US4723540 GILMER JR RAYMOND E Gilmer, Jr. Feb 1988
US4753237 PUCHY DAVID P Puchy Jun 1988
US4773421 DAVIS EMSLEY A Davis Sep 1988
US4798205 Cox-Uphoff International Bonomo et al. Jan 1989
US4823815 Mentor Corporation Watson et al. Apr 1989
US4881546 Forschungs-und Fabrikations-AG Opti-Patents- Kaessmann Nov 1989
US4896680 HIRSHOWITZ BERNARD Hirshowitz Jan 1990
US4955395 MANDERS ERNEST K Manders Sep 1990
US5109875 City of Hope Gottlieb May 1992
US5165425 Dow Corning France S.A. Vermot Nov 1992
US5176703 PETERSON MELDON L Peterson Jan 1993
US5179964 COOK MELVIN S Cook Jan 1993
US5236438 WILK PETER J Wilk Aug 1993
US5263971 Life Medical Sciences, Inc. Hirshowitz et al. Nov 1993

Other Publications

"Complications of soft tissue expansion", O. Antonyshyn, J. S. Gruss, S. E. MacKinnon and R. Zuker, British Journal of Plastic Surgery, vol. 41, pp. 239-250 (1988).
"Long-Term Histopathologic Evaluation of Human Expanded Skin", L. Matturri, A. Azzolini, C. Riberti, A. M. Lavezzi, D. Cavalca, F. Vercesi, and C. Azzolini, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oct. 1992, vol. 90, No. 4, pp. 636-642.
"Use of Tissue Expansion in Podiatric Surgery", G. R. Zainer, J. R. Thul, and Scott J. Hoffman, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, Jan. 1988, vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 34-40.
"Tissue Expansion as an Alternative to Skin Grafting for Closure of Skin Deficits", Gail R. Johnson, Paul Han, Joseph A. Giacopelli, Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association, May 1992, vol. 82, No. 5, pp. 249-259.
"Fundamentals of Expanded Tissue", Shan R. Baker, Head & Neck, Jul./Aug. 1991, vol. 13, pp. 327-333.
"Tissue Expansion in the Treatment of Pressure Ulcers", Gaetano Esposito, Giovanni Di Caprio, Pasquale Ziccardi, and Nicolo Scuderi, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mar. 1991, vol. 87, No. 3, pp. 501-508.
"Efficacy of Operative Cure in Pressure Sore Patients", Joseph J. Disa, James M. Carlton, and Nelson H. Goldberg, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Feb. 1992, vol. 89, No. 2, pp. 272-278.
"Continuous versus Conventional Tissue Expansion: Experimental Verification of a New Technique", Steven C. Schmidt, Samuel E. Logan, Jonathan M. Hayden, Sang Tae Ahn, and Thomas A. Mustoe, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jan. 1991, vol. 87, No. 1, pp. 10-15.
"Enhancement of Tissue Expansion by Anticontractile Agents", P. Lee, C. A. Squier, and J. Bardach, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oct. 1985, vol. 76, No. 4, pp. 604-610.
"Blood Flow in Expanded Tissue Treated with an Anticontractile Agent", John W. Canady, Kevin M. Kelly, Christopher A. Squier, and Janusz Bardach, Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol, vol. 100, pp. 962-965 (1991).
"Progressive Would Closure with Constant Tension Traction: Combat Theater Application", COL Gustavo A. Escalera, Military Medicine, Jan. 1993, vol. 158, No. 1, pp. 66-63.
"Increased Survival and Vascularity of Random-Pattern Skin Flaps Elevated in Controlled, Expanded Skin", George W. Cherry, Eric Austad, Krystyna Pasyk, Kenneth McClatchey, and Rod J. Rohrich, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Nov. 1983, vol. 72, No. 5, pp. 680-685.
"Use of the Subcutaneous Tissue Expander for Delayed Primary Closure of Flaps", John P. Santoro, Philip A. Radovic, and Nicholas A. Grumbine, The Journal of Foot Surgery, 1989, vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 225-232.
"Tissue Exapnsion: Dividend or Loan?", Eric David Austad, Steven B. Thomas, and Krystyna Pasyk, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Jul. 1986, vol. 78, No. 1, pp. 63-67.