Improvements in skin closure devices

Abstract: Improvements to skin closure devices wherein a sheet member (12) is adhesively attached to the skin and has side edges that extend along and are contiguous with the side edges of the skin opening to be closed, which device also includes bridging members (28) attached to the sheet member on opposite sides of the skin opening for holding portions of the sheet member on opposite sides of the skin opening and the skin opening together in a closed condition, the improvements including an elongated strip of relatively porous material (32) intended to hold a quantity of medication therein substantially along the length thereof, and a layer of adhesive (33) along the length on one surface of the strip for attaching the strip to the skin closure in position extending along the closed skin opening, whereby the medication substance can drain into the medicate the skin opening. The improvements are also embodied in the provision of markings on the skin closure for use in realigning corresponding opposite edges of a skin opening or incision during closing thereof.

Description: The present invention represents important improvements over previous skin closure inventions of the applicant as covered by U.S. Patent Nos. 3,863,640, 3,933,158, 4,114,624 and 4,531,521. The present improvements reside in means for applying medication including applying medication to an incision such as an incision made during surgery or by accident. The subject means are applied after the incision or skin opening has been closed. The idea of the present device is to provide means to maintain a supply of medication adjacent to the closed skin opening or incision in order to reduce the chance for infection and to accelerate the healing process. The subject means enables the surgeon or person closing the skin opening to apply the medication as the last step in the skin closure, and it enables a nurse or other attendent to thereafter continue to apply medication to the skin opening, as needed, and without having to reopen the incision or remove the skin closure means. The present improvements also relate to means to make it possible to more accurately match the sides of a skin opening during closure to facilitate healing and to prevent skin irregularities and keloiding. It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve the healing prospects and to reduce the chances for infection around and along an incision or skin opening after the opening has been closed. Another object is to provide improved relatively inexpensive means to medicate the edges of a skin opening that has been closed and to maintain a supply of medication therealong. Another object is to enable medication to be applied to an incision after the surgery has been performed and to facilitate replenishing the supply of medication as needed without reopening the incision or removing the skin closure means. Another object is to provide more accurate means to close a skin opening or incision. The present invention provides a skin closure means formed by a sheet of material adhesively attachable to the body adjacent to and extending along a skin opening, said sheet having adjacent side edges positioned to extend along opposite side edges of the skin opening, and means bridging the skin opening for attaching portions of the sheet on opposite sides of the opening in position holding the adjacent side edges of the sheet portions and the attached opposite side edges of the skin opening together, and further comprising a medication carrier member attachable to the skin closure means extending along the skin opening and the adjacent portions of the sheet member, said medication carrier member being formed of a porous and permeable material designed to hold a quantity of a medication substance that will drain between the adjacent sheet side edges to the area around the skin opening, characterised in that indicator markings are applied to the sheet member to provide a means for aligning corresponding portions of the skin opening with each other during skin closure. US 2 387 131 discloses a device for indirectly suturing a wound without requiring perforation of the skin adjacent to the wound according to the preamble of claim 1. The device comprises two pieces of adhesive material with laces threaded through openings in one edge portion of each piece of material. In use, the two pieces of adhesive material are adhered to the body adjacent the lips of a wound and the laces are tightened and tied. Tightening of the laces draws the edges of the material adjacent the wound toward each other but not into contact thus leaving a space over the wound which is crossed by the lacing threads only. A pad bearing medication may be placed over this space and secured to the pieces of adhesive material. Brief Description of the Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skin closure device, shown closing a skin opening, embodying some of the teachings of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing an incision being made using the subject skin closure means; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing closure of the subject skin closure; Fig. 5 is a view showing application of a medication strip to the subject skin closure; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a medicated strip for use on the present skin closure means; Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Fig 8. is a top view of a sterile package with a medication strip such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 positioned therein; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a top view of the sheet portion of the subject device showing another pattern of markings formed thereon. Detailed Description Of The Preferred Embodiments Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numbers, number 10 in Fig. 1 refers to a skin closure device of the type shown in my patent No. 4,531,521 but modified by incorporating thereon the subject improvements. The skin closure means as shown includes a sheet 12 of material for adhesively attaching by adhesive 13 to the body B of a patient adjacent to and extending along an accidental or surgical skin opening 14, the sheet having adjacent side edges 16 and 18 positioned extending along and closely adjacent to opposite side edges 20 and 22 of the skin opening 14. The sheet 12 may be of one or two piece construction and includes sheet portions 24 and 26 located on opposite sides of the incision 14, which portions are connected together when closing a skin opening by bridging means or members 28 shown as elongated adhesive members that span the skin opening. The well known STERI-STRIPS can be used for this purpose. The members 28 are attached first to the sheet member 12 on one side of the skin opening 14, and thereafter are drawn taught to bring the edges 20 and 22 of the skin opening together and in proper alignment as will be shown before being adhesively attached to the sheet portion on the opposite side of the skin opening. In the case of a long incision or long skin opening to be closed it may be difficult to keep the sheet portions 24 and 26 of the sheet member 12 in proper orientation or alignment during closure in order to also align the corresponding opposite sides of the skin opening. Because of this markings 30 are arranged in a row along or across the sheet, which markings will enable the surgeon to accurately realign the edges 20 and 22 when closing the incision. This is done when the sheet portions 24 and 26 are brought together during the skin closure to enable the surgeon to line up the corresponding markings 30 along opposite sides of the skin opening to bring and maintain corresponding portion of the skin opening or incision together and in accurate alignment. Accurate in this case means reestablishing the alignment of each portion of the opening as it was before the surgery. By doing this it greatly facilitates the healing process and prevents the skin from developing irregularities such as wrinkles or tucks, and it reduces keloiding. This is not as much of a problem where the incision or skin opening is relatively short, but it can be a major problem for long incisions such as occurs in certain types of surgery such as in caesarean sections, abdominal or thoracic surgery, and like procedures. Once the skin opening or incision has been closed in the manner described using the bridging members 28 to hold the sheet portions on opposite sides of the skin opening together and in abutment, the abutting edges of the sheet portions 24 and 26 will provide an opportunity therebetween to apply medication to the skin edges along the opening. The application of a continuous supply of medication, such as an antibiotic or disinfectant, an anti-inflamatory drug, an analgesic compound, an angiogenesis or tissue growth factor, or any other compound intended to cause one or more desirable biological effects, in this way can prevent infection from occuring and can aid the healing process. If on the other hand the medication is applied at the conclusion of the skin closure as by daubing or sprinkling the medication onto the skin closure, whether in liquid or powder form, much of the medication will be washed away and be wasted and some will evaporate or be lost by being absorbed in a guaze or other protective cover and will not reach the place where it is needed most and where the healing is taking place. To overcome this problem the present invention teaches applying adhesively or by other means, a strip, and preferably a sponge like strip 32 of a porous and permeable material. The application of the strip 32 will be by adhesive layer 33 substantially along the length thereof such that the strip will extend along and on top of the skin closure so that there will be a continuous supply of medication seeping or draining between the abutting edges 16 and 18 of the sheet portions 24 and 26 to maintain a sterile and medicated condition along the skin edges. Such a strip is shown in Figs. 5-7. The strip 32 can be applied at the conclusion of the skin closure operation by the surgeon or by some other person making the closure as shown in Fig. 5. The medicated strip 32 can be supplied in a sterile condition inside of a sterilized wrapper 34 (Figs. 8 and 9) which wrapper can have a tear strip 36 or other means such as a line of depressions 38 to make it easy to open. It is an important feature of the present invention to have the strip 32 applied to he skin closure rather than directly to the skin because it makes its application more accurate for the purpose intended and it also makes removal easier and less painful. Also, by having the strip 32 formed of a sponge or sponge-like material it can be filled to the extent desired in advance with a liquid or dry powder medication which will drain or seep or can be made to drain or seep into the skin separation. If a liquid medication is used nothing further generally needs to be added except possibly to add more later. However, if a dry powder is used the surgeon and later a nurse or other medical attendant taking care of the patient after the skin closure is completed, can periodically check the skin closure and if necessary apply additional medication or liquid to the strip 32 to further dissolve the powder and extend the medication period or they can apply a new strip. It is also contemplated that the adhesive side 33 of the strip 32 can be protected until needed by a removable cover layer 40, and it is contemplated that the medicated strip 32 will be removed from the skin closure 10 after it has served its purpose to permit air to more easily reach the area where the healing is taking place. An optional nonadhesive end tab 42 on the strip may also be provided to make it easy to take hold of the strip 32 when removing same. The strip 32 is easy to apply and to remove and while it is applied it will medicate the area especially during the early stages of healing when the most help and protection are needed and when there is the greatest possibility for infection. It is also contemplated to provide spaced adhesive strips 44 and 46 adjacent to opposite edges of the strip 32 rather than having an overall adhesive layer 33 on the side that is attached to the skin closure 10. This will provide a space between adhesive strips 44 and 46 which will be more open for the medication to drain out. The strip 32 can also have an optional impervious cover or other layer 48 applied to its outer exposed surfaces to prevent the medication from escaping except to the area of the skin opening. The cover layer 48 will also reduce waste of the medication by leaking into an absorbent protective gauze or like covering 50 attached to the skin by tape 52 as shown. For the reasons stated the present invention represents significant and important improvements for use with skin closure devices such as some of those disclosed in applicant's own prior patents and pending application. The present improvements substantially improve the healing process by providing means for more accurately lining up corresponding portions of the skin edges when an incision or skin opening is closed, and it also provides means for medicating and reducing the chances of infection by providing means which extend along the incision after it is closed to provide a continuous supply of medication thereto. Fig. 10 shows another form of marking 54 for aligning the skin opening. In this case a spectrum of lines in black and white or even in color is used as an aid to alignment. Diagonal or wavy lines or patterns can also be used. The sheet 12 may also have a tab 56 (Fig. 1) at one corner that is not adhesively attached to the body B to facilitate its removal. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art, however, that many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications for the subject improvements are possible, and all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims: A skin closure means formed by a sheet of material (12) adhesively attachable to the body (B) adjacent to and extending along a skin opening (14), said sheet (12) having adjacent side edges (16, 18) positioned to extend along opposite side edges (20, 22) of the skin opening, and means (28) bridging the skin opening (14) for attaching portions (24, 26) of the sheet (12) on opposite sides of the opening (14) in position holding the adjacent side edges (16, 18) of the sheet portions (24, 26) and the attached opposite side edge (20, 22) of the skin opening (14) together, and further comprising a medication carrier member (32) attachable to the skin closure means extending along the skin opening (14) and the adjacent portions (24, 26) of the sheet member (12), said medication carrier member (32) being formed of a porous and permeable material designed to hold a quantity of a medication substance that will drain between the adjacent sheet side edges (16, 18) to the area around the skin opening (14), characterised in that indicator markings (30) are applied to the sheet member (12) to provide a means for aligning corresponding portions of the skin opening (14) with each other during skin closure. A skin closure means according to Claim 1, wherein the distinctive indicator markings (30) include a spectrum of markings extending across at least a portion of the sheet. A skin closure means according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the medication carrier member comprises an elongated strip (32) of relatively porous material intended to hold a quantity of medication therein substantially entirely along the length thereof, and means on one side of said elongated strip (32) along substantially the length thereof for attaching the strip (32) to the skin closure means. A skin closure means according to Claim 3 wherein the medication carrier member includes a layer (48) of relatively impervious material on the opposite side of the elongated strip (32) from the attaching means. A skin closure means according to Claim 3 or 4 wherein the medication carrier member includes means at one end of the elongated strip forming a nonadhesive tab portion (42). A skin closure member means according to any one of Claims 3 to 5 wherein the attaching means on one side of the elongated strip (32) of the medication carrier member include a pair of spaced strips (44, 46) of adhesive extending adjacent opposite edges of the elongated strip. A skin closure means according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a liquid medication substance is positioned in the porous material of the medication carrier member. A skin closure means according to any one of Claims 1 to 6 wherein a medication substance in dry powder form is positioned in the porous material of the medication carrier membrane. A skin closure means according to any one of Claims 3 to 8 wherein the attaching means along one side of the elongated strip includes a layer of adhesive material (33) and a removable protective layer (40) on said adhesive (33).

Inventors: HAVERSTOCK CHARLES BARKER, HAVERSTOCK, CHARLES BARKER
Applicants: HAVERSTOCK CHARLES BARKER, HAVERSTOCK, CHARLES BARKER
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A61B17
IPC codes: A61B19, A61B17