Glenn D Harris

US Patent:

7083648, Aug 1, 2006

Filed:

Nov 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

10/398887

Inventors:

Chang Yu - Winterville NC, US
Glenn Harris - Greenville NC, US

Assignee:

East Carolina University - Greenville NC

International Classification:

A61F 2/10

US Classification:

623 1511, 604174

Abstract:

Percutaneous skin access devices include a plurality of locked connecting units mounted to the exterior surface of an implantable medical object which, in position, is configured to penetrate the skin of a subject. The locked connecting units may be mounted directly onto the desired surface of the exterior of the device or may be held on a substrate sheet, which is mounted to the exterior surface of the device. In position, the locked connecting units engage with soft tissue which can include the skin to form a bio-junction layer which includes mechanical and bio-sealing connection between the device body and the soft tissue. The configuration at the bio-junction layer secures the medical object in location in the subject even for long-term indwelling applications in a manner, which inhibits soft tissue infection. The locked connecting units may be rigid or semi-rigid for longer-term indwelling applications, and semi-rigid and/or resilient for shorter term indwelling applications. The locked connecting units may take on the form of rings, hooks, or loops having aperture or gap width/length sizes of from about 0. 2–4 mm.