microMend: A novel way to mend the wound after surgery

Soon sutures and staples are the current options for closing the skin, but a unique wound closure device is in the market called microMend, developed by a Seattle-based medical device company-KitoTech Medical.

The product is a unique combination of butterfly shaped bandage and staples. The device is made up of material similar to bandage, but has two arrays of tiny “microstaples” on either side of the ‘wing’. 

The device is flexible and combines the strength of staples with easy application of a bandage, closing the wound three times faster.

The even distribution of staples results in less scarring and inflammation, and provides an effective barrier against skin infection. No additional dressing is required to close the wound It’s tensile strength lasts as long as it takes for the wound to heal.

The removal is painless, and it could be removed at home by patient himself when instructed by a healthcare personnel.

microMend finds initial applications in cosmetic and plastic surgeries, but it is also useful in emergency settings, minimal invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgeries, vascular and spinal surgeries.

KitoTech Medical, recently introduced microMend at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (Oct 5 - 7). The company has conducted initial studies with dermatologists and plastic surgeons, but more studies with other surgical specialties are on the way.

The product is a brain child of Dr. Ron Berenson, a biotech and medical device entrepreneur, who got inspiration for this idea by the work of Dr. Marco Rolandi, a professor at the University of Washington. He was working on the use of tiny chitosan microneedles to heal wounds.

Dr. Ron Berenson is hopeful that the product use will extend to many more specialties will become a major player in the industry of wound closure products.

He says, “Its simplicity is deceptive. In fact, the design and development process took years.”

For additional information, clinical studies data, photos and videos visit: http://www.kitotechmedical.com/

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