Skin closure device

Claim 2

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members; means for adhesively securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins, respectively; means for mechanically securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins; and means for interconnecting the first and second attachment members across the wound to adjustably control the separation therebetween through a range of at least 0.5 inches in order to to allow said separation to be reduced gradually and progressively in order to close the denuded region gradually; said means for adhesively securing and said means for mechanically securing configured such that the attachment members can be adhesively secured to the skin prior to being mechanically secured to the skin.

Claim 3

The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a deformable clip.

Claim 4

The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a spring clip.

Claim 5

The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means comprises: a strap secured to the first attachment member; and means, mounted on the second attachment member, for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any of a plurality of locations along the strap.

Claim 6

The invention of claim 4 wherein the securing means comprises a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.

Claim 7

The invention of claim 1 wherein the interconnecting means is effective to maintain a force tending to reduce the separation between the two attachment members for a range of separations of the two attachment members.

Claim 8

The invention of claim 1 wherein the mechanically securing means comprises first and second sets of pins positioned to slide with respect to and extend from the respective attachment members into the skin.

Claim 11

The invention of claim 8 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a metal clip and wherein the shortening step comprises the step of progressively bending the clip to reduce the effective length of the clip.

Claim 12

The invention of claim 8 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a strap extending between the attachment members and wherein the shortening step comprises the step of progressively shortening the effective length of the strap between the attachment members.

Claim 13

The invention of claim 10 wherein the interconnecting means further comprises a ratchet adapted to receive and engage the strap, and wherein the progressive shortening step comprises the step of progressively pulling the strap through the ratchet.

Claim 14

The invention of claim 8 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a spring clip and spring forces developed by the spring clip drive the shortening step.

Claim 15

The invention of claim 8 wherein the mechanically securing step comprises the step of pushing a plurality of pins which extend from the attachment members into the skin.

Claim 16

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members, both of which define a respective adhesively coated underside and a respective plurality of pin guides, said attachment members shaped to adhesively bond to the skin alongside respective ones of the first and second wound margins, said pin guides shaped to remain outside the skin when the attachment members are adhesively bonded to the skin; a plurality of pins, each slidably disposed in a respective one of the pin guides to engage the skin mechanically in order mechanically to secure the respective attachment member to the skin; and at least one interconnecting member secured between the two attachment members to bias the two attachment members together, said interconnecting member having an effective length which is adjustable through a range of greater than 0.5 inches in order to bias the attachment members together throughout a range of separations as the wound is gradually closed.

Claim 17

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members, both of which define a respective adhesively coated underside and a respective plurality of pin guides, said attachment members shaped to adhesively bond to the skin alongside respective ones of the first and second wound margins, said pin guides shaped to remain outside the skin when the attachment members are adhesively bonded to the skin; a plurality of pins, each slidably disposed in a respective one of the pin guides to engage the skin mechanically in order mechanically to secure the respective attachment member to the skin; and at least one interconnecting member secured between the two attachment members to bias the two attachment members together, said interconnecting member having an effective length which is adjustable through a range of greater than 0.5 inches in order to bias the attachment members together throughout a range of separations as the wound is gradually closed.

Claim 18

The invention of claim 14 wherein the interconnecting member comprises a bendable metal clip.

Claim 19

The invention of claim 14 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a spring clip.

Claim 20

The invention of claim 14 wherein the interconnecting means comprises a strap fixedly secured to the first attachment member and means for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the strap.

Claim 21

The invention of claim 17 wherein the securing means comprises a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.

Claim 22

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members; means for adhesively securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins, respectively; means for mechanically securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins; and means for interconnecting the first and second attachment members across the wound to adjustably control the separation therebetween through a range of at least 0.5 inches in order to to allow said separation to be reduced gradually and progressively in order to close the denuded region gradually; said interconnecting means comprising: a strap secured to the first attachment member; and means, mounted on the second attachment member, for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any of a plurality of locations along the strap; said securing means comprising a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.

Claim 23

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members; means for adhesively securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins, respectively; means for mechanically securing the first and second attachment members to the skin alongside the first and second wound margins; and means for interconnecting the first and second attachment members across the wound to adjustably control the separation therebetween through a range of at least 0.5 inches in order to to allow said separation to be reduced gradually and progressively in order to close the denuded region gradually; said interconnecting means comprising: a strap secured to the first attachment member; and means, mounted on the second attachment member, for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any of a plurality of locations along the strap; said securing means comprising a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.

Claim 24

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members, both of which define a respective adhesively coated underside and a respective plurality of pin guides, said attachment members shaped to adhesively bond to the skin alongside respective ones of the first and second wound margins; a plurality of pins, each disposed in a respective one of the pin guides to engage the skin mechanically in order mechanically to secure the respective attachment member to the skin; and at least one interconnecting member secured between the two attachment members to bias the two attachment members together, said interconnecting member having an effective length which is adjustable through a range of greater than 0.5 inches in order to bias the attachment members together throughout a range of separations as the wound is gradually closed; said interconnecting means comprising a strap fixedly secured to the first attachment member and means for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the strap; said securing means comprising a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.

Claim 25

A skin closure device for closing a skin wound which defines first and second wound margins separated by a denuded region, said device comprising: first and second attachment members, both of which define a respective adhesively coated underside and a respective plurality of pin guides, said attachment members shaped to adhesively bond to the skin alongside respective ones of the first and second wound margins; a plurality of pins, each disposed in a respective one of the pin guides to engage the skin mechanically in order mechanically to secure the respective attachment member to the skin; and at least one interconnecting member secured between the two attachment members to bias the two attachment members together, said interconnecting member having an effective length which is adjustable through a range of greater than 0.5 inches in order to bias the attachment members together throughout a range of separations as the wound is gradually closed; said interconnecting means comprising a strap fixedly secured to the first attachment member and means for adjustably securing the strap to the second attachment member at any one of a plurality of positions along the length of the strap; said securing means comprising a ratchet adapted to engage the strap and to allow the strap to be moved only to shorten the separation between the two attachment members.