IMPLANTABLE DEVICES USEFUL FOR REINFORCING A SURGICALLY CREATED STOMA

摘要

An implantable tissue reinforcement device (10) for treating or preventing the formation of parastomal hernias. The tissue reinforcement device comprises a sheet-like graft member (11), wherein a sizing pattern (13) is included that comprises linear indicia (14) radiating outward from a stomal aperture (12). The linear indicia facilitate creation of a resized stomal opening in the graft member sufficiently large to allow passage of the resected bowel portion. The linear indicia may comprise a series of weakened (perforated) lines (15) that facilitate the cutting of the material. The sizing pattern can be imprinted on or etched into the material of the graft member, or it can be at least partially located on a separate template that is either laid over Nthe graft member, preattached as a cuttable overlay, or used as a reference guide.