Inventors:
Bernard H. Cohen - Miami FL
International Classification:
A61B 1704
Abstract:
The skin tension set includes an anchor member having a body portion and a plurality of suture guides along its sidewalls and bottom coupled by a single suture loop to the anchor is a winder. The winder has a body portion with suture guides at the bottom not unlike the anchor portion. In addition, however, the winder includes a central reel with suture anchoring guides, a ratchet at one end, and a drive preferably with the form of a detachable knurled knob at the other. According to the method of the present invention, the wound is sutured with preferably a monofilament suture by passing the suture through one suture guide in the winder reel and then through and out the bottom of the winder bottom across the wound, through the skin on the opposite side of the wound, looped through the anchor and similarly back to the winder and knotted. Thereafter, in accordance with the method of the present invention, the winder is ratcheted by the surgeon to apply tension through the single loop of suture material in parallel fashion across the wound, thus stretching the skin and/or closing the wound. When tensioning is performed before the actual surgery, it would be for the purpose of stretching the skin in anticipation of subsequent surgery.