IP Library Granted Patent US 12,246,125
Granted Patent B2
US 12,246,125 · App. 17/258,360 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

Abdominal dressing with user selection of fascial closure force profile

Inventors: Christopher B. Locke (Bournemouth, GB); Timothy Mark Robinson (Wimborne, GB)
Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
A61M1/916A61F13/05A61F13/148A61M1/915
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,246,125
App. No.
17/258,360
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device for a deep abdominal wound. The compressive component includes a body having a first compressive profile. The body includes a plurality of removable portions of the material. The plurality of removable portions are configured to be selectively removed to form a pattern of voids to transform the first compressive profile of the body into a second compressive profile of the body based on the pattern of voids. The pattern of voids includes at least one void.

Claims (12)

1. A negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) device for a deep abdominal wound, the NPWT device comprising:

a body comprising a porous material having a first compressive profile, the body including a plurality of removable portions supported by a substrate portion of the body, wherein each of the plurality of removable portions are individually surrounded by perforations or cuts in the substrate portion of the body such that the substrate portion of the body separates and surrounds the plurality of removable portions, none of the removable portions being surrounded by the perforations or cuts defining another of the removable portions, the substrate portion defining a free perimeter which surrounds all of the plurality of removable portions, each of the removable portions configured to define a void surrounded by the substrate portion of the body when removed, the plurality of removable portions configured to be selectively removed to form a pattern of voids within the substrate to transform the first compressive profile of the body into a second compressive profile based on the pattern of voids.

2. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the first compressive profile is symmetric along a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis of the body, and wherein the second compressive profile is asymmetric across at least one of the lateral axis or the longitudinal axis.

3. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the second compressive profile is different from the first compressive profile.

4. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of removable portions include markings configured to indicate an increase in compressive force upon removal, at least one of the removable portions marked with a greater increase in compressive force than another of the removable portions.

5. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of removable portions includes:

a first plurality of removable portions having a first shape, the first plurality of removable portions including a first marking configured to indicate a first amount of change in the second compressive profile upon removal of each one of the first plurality of removable portions; and

a second plurality of removable portions having a second shape different than the first shape, the second plurality of removable portions including a second marking configured to indicate a second amount of change in the second compressive profile upon removal of each one of the second plurality of removable portions;

wherein the second amount of change is greater than the first amount of change.

6. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a first surface and a second surface, and wherein a fluid-impermeable layer is secured to the second surface and configured to face a fascia.

7. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the body further comprises at least one plurality of sizing perforations that are spaced apart from the removable portions and follow a contour of the body.

8. The NPWT device of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to compress in a first direction under negative pressure, and resist compression in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction under negative pressure.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2024
From: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
To: SOLVENTUM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 066436/0225 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE APPLICATION LISTED ON SCHEDULE OF IP RIGHTS ATTACHED TO ASSIGNMENT AT LINES 55: 71; 89; 116-129; AND 131 NEED TO BE DELETED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064788 FRAME: 0823. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Sep 13, 2023
From: KCI LICENSING, INC.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064886/0479 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 31, 2023
From: KCI LICENSING, INC.
To: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
Reel/Frame 064788/0823 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62697181 · Jul 12, 2018
Related Publication 20210268166A1 · Sep 2, 2021
References Cited (219)
US 1355846A · Rannells · 1920 [cited by applicant]
US 2547758A · Keeling · 1951 [cited by applicant]
US 2632443A · Lesher · 1953 [cited by applicant]
US 2682873A · Evans et al. · 1954 [cited by applicant]
US 2910763A · Lauterbach · 1959 [cited by applicant]
US 2969057A · Simmons · 1961 [cited by applicant]
US 3066672A · Crosby, Jr. et al. · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3367332A · Groves · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3520300A · Flower, Jr. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3568675A · Harvey · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3648692A · Wheeler · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3682180A · McFarlane · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3826254A · Mellor · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 4080970A · Miller · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4096853A · Weigand · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4139004A · Gonzalez, Jr. · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4165748A · Johnson · 1979 [cited by applicant]
US 4184510A · Murry et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4233969A · Lock et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4245630A · Lloyd et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4256109A · Nichols · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4261363A · Russo · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4275721A · Olson · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4284079A · Adair · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4297995A · Golub · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4333468A · Geist · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4373519A · Errede et al. · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4382441A · Svedman · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4392853A · Muto · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4392858A · George et al. · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4419097A · Rowland · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4465485A · Kashmer et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4475909A · Eisenberg · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4480638A · Schmid · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4525166A · Leclerc · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4525374A · Vaillancourt · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4540412A · Van Overloop · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4543100A · Brodsky · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4548202A · Duncan · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4551139A · Plaas et al. · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4569348A · Hasslinger · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4605399A · Weston et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4608041A · Nielsen · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4640688A · Hauser · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655754A · Richmond et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4664662A · Webster · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4710165A · McNeil et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4733659A · Edenbaum et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4743232A · Kruger · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4758220A · Sundblom et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4787888A · Fox · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4826494A · Richmond et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4838883A · Matsuura · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4840187A · Brazier · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4863449A · Therriault et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4872450A · Austad · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4878901A · Sachse · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4897081A · Poirier et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4906233A · Moriuchi et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4906240A · Reed et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4919654A · Kalt · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4941882A · Ward et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4953565A · Tachibana et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4969880A · Zamierowski · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4985019A · Michelson · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5037397A · Kalt et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5086170A · Luheshi et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5092858A · Benson et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5100396A · Zamierowski · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5134994A · Say · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5149331A · Ferdman et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5167613A · Karami et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5176663A · Svedman et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5215522A · Page et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5232453A · Plass et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5261893A · Zamierowski · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5278100A · Doan et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5279550A · Habib et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5298015A · Komatsuzaki et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5328450A · Smith · 1994 [cited by examiner]
US 5342376A · Ruff · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5344415A · DeBusk et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5358494A · Svedman · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5437622A · Carion · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5437651A · Todd et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5527293A · Zamierowski · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5549584A · Gross · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5556375A · Ewall · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5607388A · Ewall · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5636643A · Argenta et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5645081A · Argenta et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 6071267A · Zamierowski · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6135116A · Vogel et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6241747B1 · Ruff · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6287316B1 · Agarwal et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6345623B1 · Heaton et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6488643B1 · Tumey et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6493568B1 · Bell et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6553998B2 · Heaton et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6814079B2 · Heaton et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7846141B2 · Weston · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 8062273B2 · Weston · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8216198B2 · Heagle et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8251979B2 · Malhi · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8257327B2 · Blott et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8398614B2 · Blott et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8449509B2 · Weston · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8529548B2 · Blott et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8535296B2 · Blott et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8551060B2 · Schuessler et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8568386B2 · Malhi · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8679081B2 · Heagle et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8834451B2 · Blott et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8926592B2 · Blott et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9017302B2 · Vitaris et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9198801B2 · Weston · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9211365B2 · Weston · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9289542B2 · Blott et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9421132B2 · Dunn · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9962295B2 · Dunn et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10117782B2 · Dagger et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10130520B2 · Dunn et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10159771B2 · Hartwell et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10179073B2 · Hartwell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20020077661A1 · Saadat · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020115951A1 · Norstrem et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020120185A1 · Johnson · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020143286A1 · Tumey · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20070161937A1 · Aali · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20110213287A1 · Lattimore · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110224630A1 · Simmons · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20110319804A1 · Greener · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20140163491A1 · Schuessler et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150080788A1 · Blott et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150174284A1 · Payne · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20160022885A1 · Dunn · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160166744A1 · Hartwell · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20170209641A1 · Mercer · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20180222077A1 · Cecchetto · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190105202A1 · Dunn et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190209383A1 · Hartwell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190231599A1 · Dagger et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190231945A1 · Hartwell et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190262182A1 · Collinson · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190336345A1 · Bannwart · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210137743A1 · Hartwell · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210137746A1 · Dutta · 2021 [cited by examiner]
AU 550575B2 · 1986 [cited by applicant]
AU 745271B2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
AU 755496B2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
CA 2005436A1 · 1990 [cited by applicant]
DE 2640413A1 · 1978 [cited by applicant]
DE 4306478A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
DE 29504378U1 · 1995 [cited by applicant]
EP 0100148A1 · 1984 [cited by applicant]
EP 0117632A2 · 1984 [cited by applicant]
EP 0161865A2 · 1985 [cited by applicant]
EP 0358302A2 · 1990 [cited by applicant]
EP 1018967A1 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
GB 692578A · 1953 [cited by applicant]
GB 2195255A · 1988 [cited by applicant]
GB 2197789A · 1988 [cited by applicant]
GB 2220357A · 1990 [cited by applicant]
GB 2235877A · 1991 [cited by applicant]
GB 2329127A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
GB 2333965A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 4129536B2 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
SG 71559 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 8002182A1 · 1980 [cited by applicant]
WO 8704626A1 · 1987 [cited by applicant]
WO 90010424A1 · 1990 [cited by applicant]
WO 93009727A1 · 1993 [cited by applicant]
WO 94020041A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO 9605873A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 9718007A1 · 1997 [cited by applicant]
WO 9913793A1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2015008054A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2017063036A1 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Application No. PCT/US2019/040930 mailed on Sep. 27, 2019. [cited by applicant]
Louis C. Argenta, MD and Michael J. Morykwas, PHD; Vacuum-Assisted Closure: A New Method for Wound Control and Treatment: Clinical Experience; Annals of Plastic Surgery; vol. 38, No. 6, Jun. 1997; pp. 563-576. [cited by applicant]
Susan Mendez-Eatmen, RN; “When wounds Won't Heal” RN Jan. 1998, vol. 61 (1); Medical Economics Company, Inc., Montvale, NJ, USA; pp. 20-24. [cited by applicant]
S.E. Greer, et al. “The Use of Subatmospheric Pressure Dressing Therapy to Close Lymphocutaneous Fistulas of the Groin” British Journal of Plastic Surgery (2000), 53, pp. 484-487. [cited by applicant]
George V. Letsou, MD., et al; “Stimulation of Adenylate Cyclase Activity in Cultured Endothelial Cells Subjected to Cyclic Stretch”; Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, 31, 1990, pp. 634-639. [cited by applicant]
Orringer, Jay, et al; “Management of Wounds in Patients with Complex Enterocutaneous Fistulas”; Surgery, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Jul. 1987, vol. 165, pp. 79-80. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report for PCT International Application PCT/GB95/01983; Nov. 23, 1995. [cited by applicant]
PCT International Search Report for PCT International Application PCT/GB98/02713; Jan. 8, 1999. [cited by applicant]
PCT Written Opinion; PCT International Application PCT/GB98/02713; Jun. 8, 1999. [cited by applicant]
PCT International Examination and Search Report, PCT International Application PCT/GB96/02802; Jan. 15, 1998 & Apr. 29, 1997. [cited by applicant]
PCT Written Opinion, PCT International Application PCT/GB96/02802; Sep. 3, 1997. [cited by applicant]
Dattilo, Philip P., Jr., et al; “Medical Textiles: Application of an Absorbable Barbed Bi-directional Surgical Suture”; Journal of Textile and Apparel, Technology and Management, vol. 2, Issue 2, Spring 2002, pp. 1-5. [cited by applicant]
Kostyuchenok, B.M., et al; “Vacuum Treatment in the Surgical Management of Purulent Wounds”; Vestnik Khirurgi, Sep. 1986, pp. 18-21 and 6 page English translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
Davydov, Yu. A., et al; “Vacuum Therapy in the Treatment of Purulent Lactation Mastitis”; Vestnik Khirurgi, May 14, 1986, pp. 66-70, and 9 page English translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
Yusupov. Yu.N., et al; “Active Wound Drainage”, Vestnki Khirurgi, vol. 138, Issue 4, 1987, and 7 page English translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
Davydov, Yu.A., et al; “Bacteriological and Cytological Assessment of Vacuum Therapy for Purulent Wounds”; Vestnik Khirugi, Oct. 1988, pp. 48-52, and 8 page English translation thereof. [cited by applicant]
Chariker, Mark E., M.D., et al; “Effective Management of incisional and cutaneous fistulae with closed suction wound drainage”; Contemporary Surgery, vol. 34, Jun. 1989, pp. 59-63. [cited by applicant]
Egnell Minor, Instruction Book, First Edition, 300 7502, Feb. 1975, pp. 24. [cited by applicant]
Chinn, Steven D. et al.: “Closed Wound Suction Drainage”, The Journal of Foot Surgery, vol. 24, No. 1, 1985, pp. 76-81. [cited by applicant]
Arnljots, Björn et al.: “Irrigation Treatment in Split-Thickness Skin Grafting of Intractable Leg Ulcers”, Scand J. Plast Reconstr. Surg., No. 19, 1985, pp. 211-213. [cited by applicant]
Svedman, P.: “A Dressing Allowing Continuous Treatment of a Biosurface”, IRCS Medical Science: Biomedical Technology, Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Transplantation, vol. 7, 1979, p. 221. [cited by applicant]
Svedman, P. et al: “A Dressing System Providing Fluid Supply and Suction Drainage Used for Continuous of Intermittent Irrigation”, Annals of Plastic Surgery, vol. 17, No. 2, Aug. 1986, pp. 125-133. [cited by applicant]
K.F. Jeter, T.E. Tintle, and M. Chariker, “Managing Draining Wounds and Fistulae: New and Established Methods,” Chronic Wound Care, edited by D. Krasner (Health Management Publications, Inc., King of Prussia, PA 1990), … [cited by applicant]
G. Živadinovi?, V. ?uki?, Ž. Maksimovi?, ?. Radak, and P. Peška, “Vacuum Therapy in the Treatment of Peripheral Blood Vessels,” Timok Medical Journal 11 (1986), pp. 161-164 (copy and certified translation). [cited by applicant]
M. Schein, R. Saadia, J.R. Jamieson, and G.A.G. Decker, “The ‘Sandwich Technique’ in the Management of the Open Abdomen,” British Journal of Surgery 73 (1986), pp. 369-370. [cited by applicant]
D.E. Tribble, An Improved Sump Drain-Irrigation Device of Simple Construction, Archives of Surgery 105 (1972) pp. 511-513. [cited by applicant]
Selections from W. Meyer and V. Schmieden, Bier's Hyperemic Treatment in Surgery, Medicine, and the Specialties: A Manual of Its Practical Application, (W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia, PA 1909), pp. 17-25, 44-64, 90-96… [cited by applicant]
V.A. Kuznetsov & N.a. Bagautdinov, “Vacuum and Vacuum-Sorption Treatment of Open Septic Wounds,” in II All-Union Conference on Wounds and Wound Infections: Presentation Abstracts, edited by B.M. Kostyuchenok et al. (Mos… [cited by applicant]
V.A.C.® Therapy Clinical Guidelines: A Reference Source for Clinicians; Jul. 2007. [cited by applicant]
James H. Blackburn II, MD et al.: Negative-Pressure Dressings as a Bolster for Skin Grafts; Annals of Plastic Surgery, vol. 40, No. 5, May 1998, pp. 453-457; Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc., Philidelphia, PA, USA. [cited by applicant]
John Masters; “Reliable, Inexpensive and Simple Suction Dressings”; Letter to the Editor, British Journal of Plastic Surgery, 1998, vol. 51 (3), p. 267; Elsevier Science/The British Association of Plastic Surgeons, UK. [cited by applicant]
Davydov, Yu.A., et al.; “Concepts for the Clinical-Biological Management of the Wound Process in the Treatment of Purulent Wounds by Means of Vacuum Therapy”; Vestnik Khirurgi, Jul. 7, 1980, pp. 132-136, and 8 page Engl… [cited by applicant]
Egnell Minor: Addition to the Users Manual Concerning Overflow Protection—Concerns all Egnell Pumps, Feb. 3, 1983, pp. 2. [cited by applicant]
Svedman, P.: “Irrigation Treatment of Leg Ulcers”, The Lancet, Sep. 3, 1983, pp. 532-534. [cited by applicant]
N.A. Bagautdinov, “Variant of External Vacuum Aspiration in the Treatment of Purulent Diseases of Soft Tissues,” Current Problems in Modern Clinical Surgery: Interdepartmental Collection, edited by V. Ye Volkov et al. (… [cited by applicant]
F.E. Johnson, “An Improved Technique for Skin Graft Placement Using a Suction Drain,” Surgery, Gynecology, and Obstetrics 159 (1984), pp. 584-585. [cited by applicant]
A.A. Safronov, Dissertation Abstract, Vacuum Therapy of Trophic Ulcers of the Lower Leg with Simultaneous Autoplasty of the Skin (Central Scientific Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics, Moscow, U.S.S.R. 1… [cited by applicant]
M.J. Morykwas, L.C. Argenta, E.I. Shelton-Brown, and W. McGuirt, “Vacuum-Assisted Closure: A New Method for Wound Control and Treatment: Animal Studies and Basic Foundation,” Annals of Plastic Surgery 38 (1997), pp. 553… [cited by applicant]
C.E. Tennants, “The Use of Hypermia in the Postoperative Treatment of Lesions of the Extremities and Thorax,” Journal of the American Medical Association 64 (1915), pp. 1548-1549. [cited by applicant]
V.A. Solovev et al., Guidelines, The Method of Treatment of Immature External Fistulas in the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract, editor-in-chief Prov. V.I. Parahonyak (S.M. Kirov Gorky State Medical Institute, Gorky, U.S.S.R… [cited by applicant]
V.A. Solovev, Dissertation Abstract, Treatment and Prevention of Suture Failures after Gastric Resection (S.M. Kirov Gorky State Medical Institute, Gorky, U.S.S.R. 1988) (“Solovev Abstract”). [cited by applicant]