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).
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Patent number: 11944291Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 7, 2021Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Publication number: 20210259685Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2021Publication date: August 26, 2021Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Patent number: 11000272Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 31, 2018Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Patent number: 10925596Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 17, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: WOUND CARE TECHNOLOGIES, INCInventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Patent number: 10893856Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 7, 2017Date of Patent: January 19, 2021Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
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Publication number: 20190133576Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Publication number: 20190083197Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 17, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Patent number: 10166021Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 19, 2010Date of Patent: January 1, 2019Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Patent number: 10076386Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: September 18, 2018Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Publication number: 20170238932Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: February 7, 2017Publication date: August 24, 2017Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
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Publication number: 20170086935Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: March 30, 2017Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Patent number: 9597079Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 10, 2014Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
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Patent number: 9463020Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 24, 2013Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Publication number: 20150157322Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: June 11, 2015Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
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Patent number: 8864796Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 30, 2010Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson, Robert C. Wilke
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Publication number: 20140088643Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2013Publication date: March 27, 2014Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Patent number: 8469997Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: May 31, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: Would Care Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Publication number: 20120016384Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2010Publication date: January 19, 2012Inventors: Robert C. Wilke, Paul J. Anderson, Douglas Duchon
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Publication number: 20110238110Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: Wound Care Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson
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Patent number: 7972362Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Wound Care Technologies, LLCInventors: Robert C. Wilke, Daniel M. Elliott, George M. Hoedeman, John J. Berkey, Paul J. Anderson