Patent ID: 8500759

Claim:
A hernia mesh support device, which comprises: an outer ring; an inner ring situated concentrically within the outer ring and being co-planarly arranged therewith, each of the outer ring and the inner ring having a first axial side and a second axial side situated opposite the first axial side, and each of the outer ring and the inner ring forming a continuous circle; a plurality of spaced apart ring support members extending between and interconnected to the outer ring and the inner ring; a layer of mesh material, the layer of mesh material being situated at the first axial side of the outer and inner rings and at least extending between the outer and inner rings; an anti-adhesion barrier, the anti-adhesion barrier being situated at the second axial side of the outer and inner rings and at least extending between the outer and inner rings; a plurality of barbed pins, each of the barbed pins being mounted on the outer ring and extending outwardly from the first axial side thereof, the barbed pins being spaced apart from one another about the circumference of the outer ring; a removable protective cover, the protective cover being situated on the first axial side of the outer ring and disposed over the plurality of barbed pins; and a pull strap, the pull strap being joined to the inner ring and extending outwardly from the first axial side thereof, wherein the removable protective cover is formed of a sheet-like material and includes an outer peripheral edge and a central opening formed through the thickness thereof, the protective cover being situated on the first axial side of the outer ring and the first axial side of the inner ring and extending at least between the outer ring and the inner ring, the central opening formed in the protective cover being situated in alignment with the inner ring to receive therethrough the pull strap affixed to the inner ring, and wherein the protective cover includes a plurality of slits formed through the thickness thereof and extending radially inwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the protective cover in the direction of the central opening.