Force Modulating Tissue Bridge

Abstract

Medical devices disclosed herein include pre-defined structures for dispensing forces onto a tissue plane in a living organism and are utilized to adjust spatial relationships, orientations, and mechanical forces in a patient treatment area. The treatment area may be a wound, an incision, or a surgically accessed area within a patient that includes oppositely disposed sections that heal more efficiently and with less scarring when force vectors of a particular magnitude and direction are applied to the treatment area. The medical device provides a structure that may be pre-stressed through planned deformation that develops desirable spatial and mechanical relationships along the tissue plane for alignment, compression, advancement, eversion, inversion, distraction, rotation, angulation, and the control or modulation of tension across the treatment area.

1 . A tissue bridge for directing forces onto a tissue plane, the apparatus comprising:
 a central section extending over a treatment area on a patient, said central section comprising first and second sides having (i) a predefined at-rest separation distance between said first and second sides and (ii) a maximum distortion-induced separation distance between said first and second sides;   respective first and second lateral sections extending from said first and second sides; and   respective attachment zones on said lateral sections for connecting said lateral sections to the tissue plane such that said first and second sides of said central section are separated by a distance between the pre-defined at-rest separation distance and the maximum distortion-induced separation distance.   
     
     
         2 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said attachment zones comprise an adhesive connecting the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         3 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said central section and said lateral sections comprise a single piece construction. 
     
     
         4 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , comprising measured markings on a surface of the tissue bridge. 
     
     
         5 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said lateral sections accommodate a connector to secure the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         6 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , comprising respective transitional shoulders between said first and second sides of said central section and said first and second lateral sections. 
     
     
         7 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein said respective first and second lateral sections join said central section along respective connection segments, wherein said connection segments lie within a common horizontal plane, said lateral sections extending in an at-rest position at respective angles from said horizontal plane. 
     
     
         8 . A tissue bridge for directing forces onto a tissue plane, the apparatus comprising:
 a central section extending over a treatment area on a patient;   respective first and second lateral sections extending from respective first and second sides of said central section, said lateral sections defining (i) a pre-defined at-rest separation distance between said first and second lateral sections and (ii) a maximum distortion-induced separation distance between said first and second lateral sections; and   respective attachment zones on said lateral sections for connecting said lateral sections to the tissue plane such that said lateral sections are separated by a distance between the pre-defined at-rest separation distance and the maximum distortion-induced separation distance.   
     
     
         9 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , wherein said attachment zones comprise an adhesive connecting the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         10 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , wherein said central section and said lateral sections comprise a single piece construction. 
     
     
         11 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , comprising measured markings on a surface of the tissue bridge. 
     
     
         12 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , wherein said lateral sections accommodate a connector to secure the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         13 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , comprising respective transitional shoulders between said first and second sides of said central section and said first and second lateral sections. 
     
     
         14 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 8 , comprising a conduit for irrigation, drainage, or application of medicines to the treatment area. 
     
     
         15 . A tissue bridge for directing forces onto a tissue plane, the apparatus comprising:
 a central section extending over a treatment area on a patient, said central section comprising first and second sides having (i) a predefined at-rest separation distance between said first and second sides and (ii) a maximum distortion-induced separation distance between said first and second sides;   respective first and second lateral sections extending from said first and second sides; and   respective attachment zones on said lateral sections for connecting said lateral sections to the tissue plane such that said first and second sides of said central section are separated by a distance between the pre-defined at-rest separation distance and the maximum distortion-induced separation distance;   wherein said lateral sections are attached to the tissue plane and configured to apply forces across the tissue plane, said forces applying a treatment to the tissue plane, said treatment selected from the group consisting of:   (i) reducing tension across the treatment area with forces directed from said lateral sections toward said central section,   (ii) compressing the treatment area;   (iii) approximating sections of the tissue plane across the treatment area;   (iv) aligning sections of the tissue plane across the treatment area;   (vi) fixation of tissue; and   (vii) modulating forces across the wound.   
     
     
         16 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 15 , wherein said attachment zones comprise an adhesive connecting the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         17 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 15 , wherein said central section and said lateral sections comprise a single piece construction. 
     
     
         18 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 15 , comprising measured markings on a surface of the tissue bridge. 
     
     
         19 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 15 , wherein said lateral sections accommodate a connector to secure the tissue bridge to the tissue plane. 
     
     
         20 . A tissue bridge according to  claim 15 , comprising respective transitional shoulders between said first and second sides of said central section and said first and second lateral sections.