Patent ID: 7758518
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method for expressing bodily fluid from an incision in the skin surface, the incision being formed at an incision site, the method comprising: providing an expression device including a body and a constricting member connected with the body and defining skin-engaging surfaces, the constricting member having a first condition with the skin-engaging surfaces contacting the skin and located at initial, outer positions, the constricting member having a second condition with the skin-engaging surfaces engaging the skin and located at constricting, inner positions, the skin being drawn inward as the skin-engaging surfaces move from the outer positions to the inner positions, the skin being constricted by the skin-engaging surfaces in the inner positions, wherein the constricting member is flexible between the first and second conditions and the skin-engaging surfaces include at least first and second discrete and spaced apart skin-engaging surfaces, and wherein the first and second skin-engaging surfaces are positioned on opposite sides of the incision site; contacting the skin with the skin-engaging surfaces at the initial, outer positions; and applying a downward force on the expression device to cause the constricting member to flex from the first condition to the second condition against the skin surface at the incision site before said contacting; and moving the skin-engaging surfaces to the constricting, inner positions to draw the skin inward and to constrict the skin with the skin-engaging surfaces, wherein said moving of the first skin-engaging surface is in a substantially nonparallel direction to said moving of the second skin-engaging surface.