Preoperative skin stretching apparatus and method
US5476478A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 18, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 19, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 18, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2/00
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A preoperative skin stretching apparatus and method for preoperatively stretching facial and neck skin to alleviate the complications associated with the extensive undermining of the soft tissues of the face and neck that occur when performing facelifts. The preoperative skin stretching apparatus utilizes a plurality of skin attachments that are sutured superficially to predetermined areas of the skin. A nondistensible headcap is fitted onto a patient's head and covers the rear of the neck and the posterior, superior and frontal areas of the head. A plurality of straps are fixedly attached to the headcap and extend through rectangular apertures provided in the skin attachments. The free end of the straps are pulled rearward toward the headcap in order to pull the skin attachments rearward and apply tension to the skin. The material cooperatively engages to detachably and adjustably maintain the position of the skin attachments and the tension on the skin. Once the skin has stretched, the material on the straps is disengaged, and the free end of the straps is pulled further rearward, along with the skin attachments, to obtain the tension on the skin that was originally applied. Afte…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.