Wound clamp

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a wound closure device including: (a) a first opposing member and a second opposing member disposed on opposing sides of a central axis, each resiliently moveable between a closed position and open position relative to each other, each of the opposing members having a distal edge; (b) skin penetrating means for anchoring the device; (c) a pressure bar along each distal edge; (d) releasable locking means for biasing or maintaining the device in the closed position; and optionally (e) an accessory component.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wound closure device comprising:
 (a) a first opposing member and a second opposing member engaged about a longitudinal axis, each pivotally moveable around the axis between a closed position and an open position relative to each other, and moveable longitudinally along the axis from a first position to a second position, each of the opposing members having a proximal edge adjacent the longitudinal axis and a distal edge, and an outer face and an inner face;   (b) a first ratchet on the first member, and a second ratchet on the second member, which engage each other to maintain the opposing members in the closed position, when the first and second members are in the first position, and which disengage when the first and second members are in the second position;   (c) a plurality of needles disposed on the distal edges of the first and second members; and   (d) an accessory component.   
     
     
         2 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a pressure bar attached to the distal end of each of the opposing members. 
     
     
         3 . The wound closure device of  claim 2 , further comprising a stabilizer bar attached to the outer face of each opposing member. 
     
     
         4 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip attached to the outer face of each opposing member, wherein the grip comprises a first gripping surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, and a gripping surface substantially perpendicular to the first gripping surface. 
     
     
         5 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , wherein each opposing member is semi-cylindrical. 
     
     
         6 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the needles are straight or are curved, with a radius of curvature substantially similar to the radius of curvature of the opposing members. 
     
     
         7 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first spring disposed between the first and second members to bias the first and second members towards the first position, and a second spring disposed between the first and second members to bias the first and second members towards the open position. 
     
     
         8 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising a medical instrument coupled to the accessory component. 
     
     
         9 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , further comprising an integrated port. 
     
     
         10 . The wound closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory component comprises means for securing a medical device to the wound closure device. 
     
     
         11 . The wound closure device of  claim 10 , wherein the accessory component comprises an articulated arm. 
     
     
         12 . The wound closure device of  claim 8 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from a needle, tube, catheter, and cannula. 
     
     
         13 . A wound closure device comprising:
 (a) a first opposing member and a second opposing member engaged about a longitudinal axis, each pivotally moveable around the axis between a closed position and an open position relative to each other, each of the opposing members having a proximal edge adjacent the longitudinal axis and a distal edge;   (b) skin penetrating means for anchoring the device;   (c) a pressure bar along each distal edge;   (d) releasable locking means for biasing or maintaining the device in the closed position; and   (e) an accessory component.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein each opposing member comprises an end closure member substantially perpendicular to the distal edge and aligned with an opposing end closure member. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the skin penetrating means comprises a plurality of needles disposed along each pressure bar. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the needles are of sufficient length to penetrate the skin and pierce underlying tissue. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the needles are straight or are curved, with a radius of curvature substantially similar to a radius of curvature of the opposing members. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the two opposing members frictionally engage each other to remain in a closed position. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 19 , wherein the frictional engagement is enhanced by a plurality of longitudinal ridges on one or both of the opposing member bearing surfaces. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the releasable locking means comprising a one-way cylindrical bearing disposed between the two opposing members, and a longitudinal pin disposed within the bearing, wherein the one-way bearing rotates with one opposing member, and the pin rotates with the other opposing member, and wherein the pin comprises an engagement section which engages the bearing to rotate freely in one direction but not the other direction, and a reduced diameter section where the pin freely rotates in either direction, and the pin is moveable longitudinally to slide the reduced diameter section into and out of the bearing. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 20 , wherein the device comprises two releasable locking means, one at either end of the device. 
     
     
         22 . The wound closure device of  claim 13 , further comprising a medical instrument coupled to the accessory component. 
     
     
         23 . The wound closure device of  claim 13 , further comprising an integrated port. 
     
     
         24 . The wound closure device of  claim 13 , wherein the accessory component comprises means for securing a medical device to the wound closure device. 
     
     
         25 . The wound closure device of  claim 24 , wherein the accessory component comprises an articulated arm. 
     
     
         26 . The wound closure device of  claim 22 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from a needle, tube, catheter, and cannula. 
     
     
         27 . A wound closure device comprising:
 (a) a first opposing member and a second opposing member disposed on opposing sides of a central axis, each resiliently moveable between a closed position and open position relative to each other, each of the opposing members having a distal edge;   (b) skin penetrating means for anchoring the device;   (c) a pressure bar along each distal edge; and   (d) releasable locking means for biasing or maintaining the device in the closed position.   
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the skin penetrating means comprises a plurality of needles disposed along each pressure bar. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the needles are of sufficient length to penetrate the skin and pierce underlying tissue. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the needles are straight or are curved, with a radius of curvature substantially similar to a radius of curvature of the opposing members. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the releasable locking means comprising ratchet teeth or a slide lock component. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein the device comprises two releasable locking means, one at either end of the device. 
     
     
         33 . The wound closure device of  claim 27 , further comprising an accessory component. 
     
     
         34 . The wound closure device of  claim 33 , further comprising a medical instrument coupled to the accessory component. 
     
     
         35 . The wound closure device of  claim 27 , further comprising an integrated port. 
     
     
         36 . The wound closure device of  claim 33 , wherein the accessory component comprises means for securing a medical device to the wound closure device. 
     
     
         37 . The wound closure device of  claim 36 , wherein the accessory component comprises an articulated arm. 
     
     
         38 . The wound closure device of  claim 34 , wherein the medical instrument is selected from a needle, tube, catheter, and cannula. 
     
     
         39 . A method for performing a medical procedure on a subject, comprising:
 (a) deploying the wound closure device of any of  claim 1 ,  13  or  27  to a wound of the subject; and   (b) locking the wound closure device in the closed position, thereby performing a medical procedure on the subject.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising coupling a medical instrument to the wound closure device. 
     
     
         41 . The wound closure device of  claim 27 , wherein in closing of a wound skin is lifted and approximated between the pressure bars.