Patents by Inventor Robert C. Wilke

Robert C. Wilke has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944291
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Publication number: 20210259685
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Publication date: August 26, 2021
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Patent number: 11000272
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Patent number: 10925596
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound and a negative pressure wound dressing apparatus adapted to be used in conjunction with the wound closure system. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound, and applying a negative pressure to the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10893856
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
  • Publication number: 20190133576
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Publication number: 20190083197
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 10166021
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Patent number: 10076386
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20170238932
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
  • Publication number: 20170086935
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 9597079
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
  • Patent number: 9463020
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20150157322
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
  • Patent number: 8864796
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
  • Publication number: 20140088643
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8469997
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Would Care Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Publication number: 20120016384
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of reducing the size of an open wound are disclosed. A suture line is sutured through body tissue adjacent an open wound, the suture line sutured so as to pass into the body tissue at an entry point and exit at an exit point, the suture line including a plurality of barbs extending outwardly at an acute angle with respect to a surface of the suture line. A biasing member applies a continuous pulling force on the suture line for stretching the body tissue toward the open wound, wherein the biasing member is configured to take up any slack of the suture line during stretching of the body tissue and keep the suture line taut.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
  • Publication number: 20110238110
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: Wound Care Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7972362
    Abstract: A wound closure system and a method of closing a wound are disclosed. The wound closure system includes a plurality of skin anchors mechanically attached to external skin tissue around a periphery of a wound, a line extending between the skin anchors, the line slidably engaged with each skin anchor, and a biasing member that provides tension on the line to draw all of the skin anchors toward the wound. The method of closing a wound includes the steps of attaching a plurality of skin anchors to external skin around a periphery of a wound, extending a line between the skin anchors around substantially the entire periphery of the wound, and providing tension to the line to draw the skin anchors toward the wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson