Suture-Like Incision Closure at the Speed of Staples

The breathable monofilm base device may be applied before an incision is made (to facilitate reapproximation of incision edges), or may be applied during skin closure to accommodate procedures such as Cesarean-section scar revision. By pulling the zipped tags to close the device, tension in surrounding skin is bridged over and around the incision, resulting in a low-tension and uniform distribution of closure forces, when compared to point load forces found with staples and sutures.

Since no skin piercing is involved, there is a reduced risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and needle stick injury. The transparent materials used facilitates monitoring of the area surrounding the incision, as well as supporting retraction and maintaining access to the incision site during healing for monitoring and treatment. After the incision has healed, the device is easily removed by simply peeling from skin; no instruments or special skills are required, reducing the need for an additional patient return visit for staple or suture removal. The ZipLine PRELOC is a product of ZipLine Medical (Campbell, CA, USA), and may be used for incisions up to 15 cm in length.

“Given that skin-closure is the common denominator of nearly all surgical procedures, ZipLine’s PRELOC technology platform for skin closure has extensive applicability across multiple medical specialties,” said John Tighe, president and CEO of ZipLine Medical. “Our initial target applications include pacemaker/ICD implant, spine and hip orthopedic, excisional skin biopsy, and laceration closure.”

“Traditionally, closure of large incisions has required sutures at the skin surface, a sometimes time-consuming process. Alternatively, staple closure saves time, but causes a worse final appearance of the wound,” said dermatologic surgeon David Gorsulowsky, MD, of the University of California San Francisco (UCSF; USA). “Now, with the ZipLine device, we can achieve both goals: better cosmesis and time savings.”

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