Wound closure product
A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The disclosure is directed to a wound closure system comprising a skin anchor mechanically attached to external skin tissue on a first side of a generally linear wound, an anchorable tensioning apparatus mechanically attached to external skin tissue on an opposite side of the wound, and a line extending between the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus to movably connect the anchor to the tensioning apparatus. The line is fixedly engaged with an anchor on one side of the wound while the tensioning apparatus provides tension on the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other and toward the wound.
1. A method of closing a wound, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) mechanically attaching a skin anchor to external skin tissue on a first side of a wound;
(b) mechanically attaching an anchorable tensioning apparatus to external skin tissue on an opposite second side of the wound, the tensioning apparatus including a spool and a spring attached to the spool;
(c) winding a line around the spool of the tensioning apparatus;
(d) after winding the line around the spool of the tensioning apparatus, pulling the line away from the tensioning apparatus to build up a biasing force of the spring;
(e) attaching the line to the skin anchor on the first side of the wound without any portion of the line penetrating through the skin; and
(f) providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchor and the tensioning apparatus toward each other.
2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the spring includes a coiled metal band.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising housing the spool and the spring within an interior of the tensioning apparatus.