The Problem:
The traditional method of using sutures to close a large wound on a human or animal is time consuming and takes a great deal of patience. Additionally, large wound closures or dressing replacements on humans or animals can be difficult if the patient is uncooperative or the wound is in an awkward position. Anesthesia is often used to sedate a patient before large wounds may be closed. This can be very expensive and time consuming.
The Technology Solution:
A researcher at the University of Tennessee has developed a new mechanical device to quickly secure bandages, dressings, or pressure wraps over wounds, ulcerated tumors, or closed incisions on humans or animals. This device can also be used to provide a protective covering over skin abnormalities, staunch bleeding, maintain local antimicrobial dressings, keep feeding tubes and catheters in place, or even close a wound primarily.
This device eliminates reliance on anesthesia and overcomes the slow task of traditional sutures as it requires only one-tenth of the time. Approximately twenty minutes is needed to form twenty traditional sutures. With this device, the same procedure takes two minutes.
The Benefits:
• Provides a faster method to secure a bandage or dressing over open or closed
wound on a human or animal
• Stretches skin to facilitate closure of current or future wounds or incisions
• Reduces tension on a targeted area of the skin
• Secure drains, tubes, catheters, and other devices to the skin
• Secure drains, tubes, catheters, or other devices to nonliving materials
• Compresses an area to reduce or prevent dead space, fluid accumulation,
hemorrhage, or pain
The Inventor:
Dr. Karen Tobias
Dr. Tobias is a board certified ACVS Veterinary Surgeon with over twenty years of experience performing and teaching small animal soft tissue surgery. She is currently a professor of small animal surgery at The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Tobias has published over fifty scientific articles on small animal surgery and is a regular columnist for ESPN Outdoors. She received her DVM from the University of Illinois and an MS from The Ohio State University. Tobias is a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and President of the Society of Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery.