| abstract |
A skin lesion exciser including a moving blade, wherein excision of a skin lesion placed in proximity to the blade is effected by movement of the blade against the skin, a moving engagement portion, wherein the blade and the engagement portion have coincident movement, and a skin-closure device having an open condition prior to excision of the skin lesion, and a closed condition in which the device holds the skin closed after excision of the skin lesion. The device is in engagement with the engagement portion during movement of the blade, and the device is moved from its open to its closed condition in response to movement of the engagement portion. The excision of the skin lesion and the closure of the skin are substantially simultaneous. The present invention also provides a method for excising a skin lesion including: positioning a skin lesion above a moving blade; slicing the lesion from the skin with the blade; and substantially simultaneously with excision of the lesion, closing the skin beneath the moving blade. The present invention also provides a skin-closure device which may be used in conjunction with an inventive exciser. |