Method and apparatus for closing wounds without sutures

Abstract

An elongated flexible base strip is constructed with a bottom surface coated with an adhesive material. The base strip is constructed with bridging links that are spaced along the inner edge of the base strip and extend outward therefrom. Adhesive sections above and below the strip are exposed and a shield is provided to protect the exposed adhesive sections from above and below the base strip. The base strip, is cut to a first length and aligned with the wound with the bridging links extending over the wound. The base strip is marked with guide lines used to avoid interference between opposing bridging links. The guidelines are positioned in the gap between bridging links and located so that when the guidelines of opposite base strips are aligned the bridging links do not interfere with each other. A matching portion of base strip is cut to a second length and aligned with the wound with the bridging links opposing. The opposing links are drawn together to close the wound. Adhesive on the links holds the links to the opposite base strip.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A device for closing a wound comprising: 
 an elongated flexible base strip having a bottom surface coated with an adhesive material;    a plurality of bridging links connected to an inner edge of the base strip in spaced relation, said bridging links extending outward from said inner edge, said bridging links folded over a top surface of said base strip in a storage position and having a layer of adhesive material applied to the top surface of said bridging links in the storage position;    wherein said base strip, is of a sufficient length to allow the division of said base strip into at least a first length and a second length, wherein each of said first and second lengths is adaptable for alignment on opposite sides of the wound with said bridging links extending over the wound in opposing directions, and further wherein said opposing links may be drawn together and secured to the opposite base strip to close and secure the wound; 
 a protective assembly for releasably covering said bottom adhesive layer and said top adhesive layer positioned above and below said wound closure device in the storage position, said protective assembly comprising:  
 a main part folded into upper and lower sections to engage the closure from above and below respectively;  
 a first flap integral with the upper section and folded to overlap said upper section of said main part from below;  
 a second flap integral with the lower section and folded to overlap said lower section of said main part from above;  
 a grip flap connected to said lower section of said main part from below in a position to provide a means by which a user can grip the protective assembly and exert a removal force thereon; and  
 wherein said first flap is positioned to releasably engage the top adhesive layer and said second flap is positioned to releasably engage said bottom adhesive layer.  
   
     
     
         2 . A protective assembly for releasably covering upper and lower adhesive layers positioned above and below a wound closure, said protective assembly comprising: 
 a main part folded into upper and lower sections to engage the closure from above and below respectively;    a first flap integral with the upper section of the main part and folded to overlap said upper section from below;    a second flap integral with the lower section of the main part and folded to overlap said lower section from above;    a grip flap connected to said lower section of the main part from below in a position to provide a means by which a user can grip the protective assembly and exert a removal force thereon; and    wherein said first flap is positioned to releasably engage the upper adhesive layer and said second flap is positioned to releasably engage said lower adhesive layer.    
     
     
         3 . A protective assembly, according to  claim 2 , wherein the grip flap is connected to said lower section along a line positioned at a midpoint of said lower section or closer to an edge of said closure intended to be placed adjacent a wound.  
     
     
         4 . A protective assembly, according to  claim 2 , wherein the grip flap is constructed of more rigid material relative to the main part.  
     
     
         5 . A device for closing a wound comprising: 
 an elongated flexible base strip having a bottom surface coated with an adhesive material;    a plurality of bridging links connected to an inner edge of the base strip in spaced relation, said bridging links extending outward from said inner edge;    wherein said base strip, is of a sufficient length to allow the division of said base strip into at least a first length and a second length, wherein each of said first and second lengths is adaptable for alignment on opposite sides of the wound with said bridging links extending over the wound in opposing directions, and further wherein said opposing links may be drawn together and secured to the opposite base strip to close and secure the wound; and    guidelines constructed on the base strip in a predetermined position at which the base strip is to be divided into first and second lengths and by which said bridging links can be aligned on opposite sides of the wound without interference, when said guidelines on said first and second lengths are aligned.    
     
     
         6 . A device for closing a wound, according to  claim 5 , wherein said guidelines are printed, impressed, or perforated into said base strip.  
     
     
         7 . A device for closing a wound, according to  claim 5 , wherein said guidelines are placed between each of the bridging links.  
     
     
         8 . A device for closing a wound, according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined position is located a distance from a centerline of a bridging link greater than the width of said bridging link and less than one half the distance between centerlines of adjacent bridging links.  
     
     
         9 . A device for closing a wound, according to  claim 7 , wherein position is located a distance from a centerline of a bridging link that equals ¼ of the distance between adjacent guidelines.