Patent ID: 8105353

Claim:
A wound closure kit comprising: a) A device comprising a first and a second interlaced component, each of the first and second interlaced components comprising: i) an adhesive-backed wound edge pad for attachment to the skin of an individual adjacent a wound to be closed, the adhesive-backed pad of the first interlaced component being applied along a first side of the wound and the adhesive-backed pad of the second interlaced component being applied along a second side of the wound; ii) a tension adjusting pad; iii) elongate connecting elements joining the adhesive-backed wound edge pad to the tension adjusting pad; and b) an adhesive composition affixed to portions of the elongate connecting elements and adjacent adhesive-backed wound edge pads to which the adhesive composition is applied following initial application of the interlaced components and wound closure, the adhesion of the adhesive composition functioning to attach only the portions of the elongate connectors overlying the adhesive-backed wound edge pads to the wound edge pads thereby immobilizing the elongate connecting elements against the wound edge pads and stabilizing the wound edge pads relative to each other and relative to the traversing portions of the elongate connecting elements and maintaining closure of the wound and effectively limiting any torsion or shearing forces that may dislodge the wound edge pads relative to each other, wherein exposed, adhesive-free portions of the elongate connecting elements and associated tensioning pads, are adapted for removal following adhesion of the adhesive composition.