Adhesive-containing wound closure device and method

1 . A composite article, comprising:

a flexible material;

a polymerization initiator or rate modifier disposed in or on said flexible material; and

a polymerizable adhesive composition permeated throughout at least a portion of said flexible material,

wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is a polymerization initiator or rate modifier for said polymerizable adhesive composition.

2 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is a mesh.

3 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is flexible and porous.

4 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is substantially free of elastin.

5 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said flexible material is elastic.

6 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising a pressure sensitive adhesive located on at least a portion of said flexible material.

7 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable adhesive composition is a monomeric composition.

8 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable adhesive composition is polymerized.

9 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable adhesive composition comprises a 1,1-disubstituted monomer.

10 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable adhesive composition comprises a cyanoacrylate monomer.

11 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerizable adhesive composition, after polymerization, substantially covers surfaces on at least a bottom side and a top side of said flexible material.

12 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is immobilized on said flexible material.

13 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is adsorbed or absorbed on said flexible material.

14 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is chemically bonded to said flexible material.

15 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is soluble or dispersible in said polymerizable adhesive composition

16 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising a bioactive material disposed in or on said flexible material.

17 . The article of claim 16 , wherein said bioactive material is chemically bonded to said flexible material.

18 . The article of claim 16 , wherein said bioactive material is not immobilized on said flexible material, but is soluble or dispersible in said polymerizable adhesive composition.

19 . The article of claim 1 , further comprising a non-bioactive material disposed in or on said flexible material.

20 . The article of claim 19 , wherein said non-bioactive material is selected from the group consisting of colorants, scents, protective coatings that do not chemically detach, and temperature sensitive agents.

21 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is biodegradable.

22 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is not biodegradable.

23 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material and the polymerizable adhesive composition are together biodegradable.

24 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material and the polymerizable adhesive composition are together not biodegradable.

25 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is opaque.

26 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the article is translucent.

27 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said flexible substrate does not include features that penetrate an underlying substrate during use.

28 . The article of claim 1 , wherein said article is a tissue bonding article.

29 . A composite article, comprising:

a flexible material;

a polymerization initiator or rate modifier disposed in or on said flexible material; and

a polymerized adhesive composition permeated throughout at least a portion of said flexible material,

wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is a polymerization initiator or rate modifier for said polymerizable adhesive composition.

30 . A method of bonding, comprising:

placing a flexible material over a substrate, wherein a polymerization initiator or rate modifier disposed in or on said flexible material;

applying a polymerizable adhesive composition over and substantially covering at least a portion of the flexible material; and

allowing the polymerizable adhesive composition to permeate into and under the flexible material and polymerize to form a composite structure bonded to said substrate.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said polymerization initiator or rate modifier is a polymerization initiator or rate modifier for said polymerizable adhesive composition.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said substrate is tissue.

33 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said tissue is selected from the group consisting of bone, organ surfaces, skin, and mucous membranes.

34 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said substrate is tissue is internal tissue.

35 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said substrate is tissue is external tissue.

36 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said substrate is a section of tissue that includes a wound to be closed.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said flexible material fully covers said wound.

38 . The method of claim 30 , wherein said applying comprises:

placing a quantity of said polymerizable adhesive composition on an exposed side of the flexible material; and

spreading the quantity of polymerizable adhesive composition to substantially cover the flexible material.

39 . The method of claim 30 , further comprising applying a polymerizable adhesive composition to said substrate prior to placing said flexible material over said substrate.

40 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is sterilized.

41 . The article of claim 1 , wherein the polymerizable adhesive composition is sterilized.