Patent ID: 8353929
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of closing a wound in a patient's tissue, said wound presenting an insertion site opening and an elongated, obliquely oriented tract extending into said patient's tissue and in communication with said opening, said method comprising the steps of: positioning a body in a wound-closing position proximal to the patient's skin and adjacent and in spanning relationship to said wound, said body having an elongated force-transmitting surface having a length greater than the width thereof and positioned in general axial alignment with said tract, at least a portion of said elongated force-transmitting surface being tapered along the length thereof; and exerting a force through said force-transmitting surface in order to close the wound, said force having different magnitudes of pressure at different locations along the length of said force-transmitting surface, said force being greatest adjacent one end of said force-transmitting surface closest to the patient's heart, and decreasing along the length of the force-transmitting surface away from the patient's heart.