WOUND CLOSURE DEVICE INCLUDING PIVOTABLE CLAWS
A wound closure device includes a shaft and a claw assembly. The shaft defines a longitudinal axis. The claw assembly is operably associated with the shaft and includes a housing and one or more one claws pivotally mounted to the housing and positionable between a first position and a second position in which the one or more claws are lockingly engaged with tissue adjacent a wound for maintaining the wound in a closed position to promote healing thereof. The shaft is adapted to separate from the claw assembly in the second position.
1 . A wound closure device, comprising:
a shaft defining a longitudinal axis; and
a claw assembly operably associated with the shaft and including a housing and at least one claw pivotally mounted to the housing and positionable between a first position and a second position in which the at least one claw is lockingly engaged with tissue adjacent a wound for maintaining the wound in a closed position to promote healing thereof, wherein the shaft is adapted to separate from the claw assembly in the second position.
2 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one cam supported for rotation on the distal end of the shaft.
3 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cam rotates the at least one claw between the first and second positions.
4 . The wound closure device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one cam rotates in response to rotation of the shaft.
5 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cam includes at least one notch adapted to lock the at least one claw in the second position when the at least one claw is engaged thereto.
6 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the claw assembly includes a plurality of claws.
7 . The wound closure device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of claws is pivotably mounted to a bridge disposed therebetween.
8 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft includes a frangible portion adapted to fracture in the second position.
9 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the shaft is disposed in mechanical cooperation with the claw assembly such that the shaft separates from the claw assembly upon the mechanical disengagement therefrom.
10 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the claw assembly and the shaft is biodegradable.
11 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one linkage operably associated with the at least one claw and the housing.
12 . The wound closure device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one linkage is a living hinge.
13 . The wound closure device of claim 11 , wherein the at least one linkage is operably coupled to at least one of the housing and the at least one claw by at least one pivot pin.
14 . The wound closure device of claim 1 , wherein the housing axially translates along the longitudinal axis of the shaft when the at least one claw moves between the first and second positions.
15 . The wound closure device of claim 14 , wherein the housing is locked in a proximal-most position when the at least one claw is in the second position.
16 . A method of closing a wound, comprising:
providing a wound closure device having a shaft and a claw assembly including a housing and at least one claw pivotally mounted to the housing;
inserting the at least one claw into tissue adjacent an open wound;
actuating the wound closure device such that the at least one claw closes the wound upon the pivotal movement of the at least one claw; and
detaching the shaft from the claw assembly.
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising rotating the shaft to pivot the at least one claw.
18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising pulling the shaft proximally to pivot the at least one claw.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising fracturing a frangible portion of the shaft.
20 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising removing at least a portion of the shaft from the wound.