Leonard T. Kelly - Carson CA Esther V. M. Hamel - St. Ignatius MT
Assignee:
Hamelly International, Inc. - St. Ignatius MT
International Classification:
A61B 1900
US Classification:
128736
Abstract:
A relatively permanent barrier device which serves as a barrier to migration of foreign substances, as for example, bacteria or other disease promoting agents, through an opening in living animal tissue. The barrier device also aids in promoting healing of the animal tissue around the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the opening is designed to receive a percutaneous member or similar member for relatively permanent implant in the animal. Generally, the percutaneous member includes a stem which is insertable through the opening and into the subcutaneous facia of the animal with an enlarged head capable of overlying and engaging a portion of the barrier element. This member includes a fastening element shiftable into engagement with a portion of the animal tissue to retentively hold the member in the animal. The barrier device comprises a flexible and relatively compressible element capable of being sufficiently deformable to fully conform to the surface of the animal with which it is in contact and to fully cover the opening in the animal tissue. Thus, the barrier device is sufficiently resilient so as to always engage the surface of the animal tissue surrounding the opening even during any shifting movement or displacement of the animal tissue.
