Stapling up skin post-surgery is pretty much the norm to quickly seal up wounds, but it runs a risk of infection and injury from the extra damage to already sensitive skin.
Bay Area startup ZipLine Medical has developed a non-invasive but suture-like alternative that it’s positioning as a quicker, simpler and more desirable way to close small surgical wounds. To boot, clinical trials have shown the method decreases both infection likelihood as well as scarring. The company just closed a $5.7 million extension to its Series C financing round, led by a new venture firm in Shanghai called China Materialia that wants to expand the technology there.
The suture is classified as Class I, 510(k) exempt and has received a CE Mark, as well as regulatory approval in Japan and South Korea. It’s already in the process of distribution.
Behavioral Health, Interoperability and eConsent: Meeting the Demands of CMS Final Rule Compliance
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The ZipLine device comes in two sizes – 8 centimeters and 16 centimeters – and can be trimmed to fit the wound as needed. The product basically adheres to the skin with two sticky strips that have adjusted ratcheted ties that connect them. The strips are placed on either side of a surgical incision after the procedure is completed. The straps are then tightened to close the incision, and a protective bandage is placed over the top.
Whereas stitching and stapling puts stress on points where the skin is punctured, this design distributes stress more evenly and provides uniform closure across the incision, the company says. It doesn’t puncture the skin and could be applied by someone other than a skilled surgeon.
The company foresees that its zipping product could be used for a variety of surgeries in the fields of cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, emergency medicine, plastic surgery and obstetrics. It’s still conducting post-market studies at hospitals and private clinics to evaluate the effectiveness of the device.
