Method and apparatus for retention of adipose tissue

This disclosure relates in general to a method and system for retention of tissue in a variety of applications and retaining objects in relation to tissue. More particularly, in some particular embodiments this disclosure relates to methods and systems for retention of adipose tissue and maintaining it in a displaced position during a medical procedure on a patient.

The size and constitution of the human body can affect the availability and efficiency of medical care that can be provided. For example, adipose tissue, such as a pannus or an abdominal apron on an obese patient, may completely obscure access to a body region requiring a medical procedure. In cases of excessive adipose tissue, a treating medical professional attempting to examine, treat or otherwise access the lower abdomen or groin region of the patient may have only limited visualization and may have insufficient access to perform procedures.

Current systems and methods for dealing with adipose tissue, such as the pannus, are inadequate. These may include having medical staff use their hands to hold the weight of the pannus or other adipose body tissue during the entire procedure, may include using tape (or tape in conjunction with spray adhesives) to hold the pannus or other adipose tissue, may include using hooks that secure or grab the pannus or other adipose tissue, and may include supporting the pannus or adipose tissue with a sheet that may be tied around the patient\'s abdomen and to a bed side rail or chair. These all have shortcomings that continue to make medical procedures difficult.

The present disclosure overcomes one or more shortcomings in the art.

In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tissue retention system to assist in maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient. The tissue retention system comprises a flexible anchor pad having an anchor pad width and an anchor pad length. The anchor pad also has an anchor pad area defined at least partially by the width and length. The anchor pad comprises a pad body with an adhesive surface thereon, the adhesive being configured to selectively adhere to a patient\'s skin. It also comprises an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. In one embodiment, the first attachment surface includes one of a hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The tissue retention system also comprises a flexible tension member having a distal portion and a proximal portion. The flexible tension member has a second attachment surface disposed adjacent the distal portion. In some embodiments, the second attachment surface includes the other of the hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. In one embodiment, the tension member has a tension member width less than the anchor pad width and less than the anchor pad length. The flexible tension member is sized to cooperate with the anchor pad to define an overlap area less than the size of the anchor pad area, such that loading onto the anchor pad from the tension member is distributed over an area of the skin greater than the area of the overlap of the first and second attachment surfaces.

In another exemplary aspect, the tissue retention system includes a flexible anchor pad having a first attachment surface including one of a hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The system also includes a flexible tension member having a second attachment surface including the other of the hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The hook and loop fastener of the first and second attachment surfaces having a 135 degree closure peel strength within the range of about 1-10 oz/inch width.

In another exemplary aspect, the tissue retention system includes a flexible anchor pad and a flexible tension member wherein the flexible tension member has elongation properties and the adhesive of the anchor member has adhesive properties when attached to a patient\'s skin, such that when the first and second attachment surfaces are fastened, the tension member elongates under tension loads before the adhesive on the anchor pad damages the patient\'s skin.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a kit for maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient. In one embodiment, the includes the tissue retention system. In some embodiments, the kit includes a plurality of flexible anchor pads and at least one flexible tension member.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body portion of the patient with a tissue retention system. The method includes adhesively adhering directly to a patient\'s skin adjacent the adipose tissue an adhesive surface of an anchor pad, the anchor pad having a pad length and a pad width, the anchor pad having an opposing first selective attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface, the first selective attachment surface including a hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. The method also includes attaching a first portion of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad, the second selective attachment surface includes the loop portion of the hook and loop fastener. The method also includes displacing adipose tissue from a natural position to a displaced position and maintaining the adipose tissue in the displaced position with the tension member.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining a pannus on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient with a tissue retention system. The method includes adhesively adhering directly to a patient\'s abdomen an adhesive surface of a first anchor pad, the first anchor pad having a pad length and a pad width, the first anchor pad having an opposing first selective attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. The method also includes adhesively adhering a second anchor pad at an anchoring location spaced from the first anchor pad and includes attaching a first portion of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad without adhesively adhering the tension member directly to the patient\'s skin. Adipose tissue on the abdomen is displaced from a natural position to a displaced position. A second portion of the tension member is attached to the second anchor pad so that the tension member is in tension between the first and the second anchor pads. The adipose tissue is maintained in the displaced position with the tension member.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining adipose tissue on a thigh of a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining a breast on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient with a tissue retention system.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining buttocks on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body region of the patient with a tissue retention system.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position with a tissue retention system during a child birthing procedure to provide access to the abdominal region of the patient. The method includes scrubbing the abdomen with a cleanser and removing a backing from a flexible anchor pad to expose an adhesive surface of the anchor pad, the anchor pad having an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. The method includes adhesively adhering directly to the patient\'s lower abdomen the adhesive surface of the anchor pad. It should be noted that the in some instances, the pannus can be scrubbed or prepped directly through the porous anchor pads after the anchor pads are in place. A first portion of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface is attached to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad. Adipose tissue is displaced from a natural position to a displaced position using the support member to pull the anchor pad and abdomen. The adipose tissue is maintained in the displaced position with the tension member.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position with a tissue retention system during a femoral catheterization procedure to provide access to the femoral region of the patient. The method includes adhesively adhering directly to a patient\'s skin adjacent the adipose tissue an adhesive surface of an anchor pad, the anchor pad having an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. A first end of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface is attached to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad. Adipose tissue is displaced from a natural position to a displaced position, and the adipose tissue is maintained in the displaced position with the tension member. A portion of the femoral region of the patient is cleansed and a needle is introduced through the cleansed portion of the femoral region of the patient.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of applying pressure to a femoral artery on a patient after a femoral catheterization procedure. The method includes the steps of adhesively adhering directly to a patient\'s skin adjacent tissue on a patient\'s thigh an adhesive surface of an anchor pad. The anchor pad has an opposing first selective attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. The method also includes attaching a first end of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad. A force is applied through the tension member to cause pressure to be applied to the incision in the femoral region of the patient. In a further aspect a sterile pad may be placed over the incision to control bleeding and/or intensify the pressure on the incision. Further, a second anchor pad may be applied and the tension member will be attached to the second pad to maintain the applied tension.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a kit for performing a catheterization procedure on a patient having an excess of adipose tissue in an abdominal region of the patient. The kit includes a needle sized to puncture the patient\'s skin, a flexible hollow tube for threading through the femoral artery, and a flexible anchor pad having a length and width. The anchor pad includes a pad body with an adhesive surface thereon, the adhesive being configured to selectively adhere to a patient\'s skin adjacent the adipose tissue. It also includes an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface, the first attachment surface including one of a hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The kit includes a flexible tension member having a second attachment surface, the second attachment surface including the other of the hook and loop portion of a hook and loop fastener, the tension member having a width less than the width and less than the length of the anchor pad such that loading onto the anchor pad from the support member is distributed over an area of the skin greater than the area of the overlap of the first and second attachment surfaces.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a kit for a medical professional performing a medical procedure. It includes a cotton tip applicator, pads, gauze, suction tubing, and a Foley catheter. It also includes a plurality of anchor pads each having a pad length and a pad width. Each anchor pad includes a pad body with an adhesive surface thereon, the adhesive being configured to selectively adhere to a patient\'s skin, and includes an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface, the first attachment surface including hook portion of a hook and loop fastener. The kit also includes a tension member having a second attachment surface, the second attachment surface including a loop portion of a hook and loop fastener. The tension member has a tension member width less than the pad width and less than the pad length of the anchor pad such that loading onto the anchor pad from the support member is distributed over an area of the skin greater than the area of the overlap of the first and second attachment surfaces.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a tissue retention system to assist in maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure. The tissue retention system includes a flexible anchor pad having a pad length and a pad width. The anchor pad includes a pad body with an adhesive thereon, the adhesive being configured to selectively adhere to a patient\'s skin and includes an opposing first attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. The system also includes a flexible tension member having a second attachment surface configured to selectively attach to the first attachment surface.

In another exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method of maintaining adipose tissue on a patient in a displaced position during a medical procedure to provide access to a body portion of the patient with a tissue retention system. The method may include adhesively adhering directly to a patient\'s skin at a displacement site an adhesive surface of an anchor pad, the anchor pad having an opposing first selective attachment surface facing away from the adhesive surface. A first portion of a tension member having a second selective attachment surface is attached to the first selective attachment surface of the anchor pad without adhesively adhering the tension member directly to the patient\'s skin. Adipose tissue is displaced from a natural position to a displaced position, and the adipose tissue is maintained in the displaced position with the tension member. In a further aspect, the displacement site on the skin includes a first anchor pad and the retention system includes at least two additional anchor pads. In this embodiment, a first tension member is releasably attached to the first anchor pad and is releasably connected to a second anchor pad spaced from the displacement site. A second tension member is releasably connected to the first anchor pad and is releasably connected to a third anchor pad spaced from the displacement site and the second anchor pad. The first tension member extends in a first direction and the second tension member extends in a second direction such that the displacement site can be displaced at in least in part in both the first and second directions.