Tools Test Drive: LiquiBand Exceed Topical Skin Adhesive

Background

As a proud wound closure materials geek, I view 3 patents as the most significant modern inventions in the field: US patent 3,297,033¹  for polyglycolic acid suture (1967), US patent 8,721,681 B2²  for barbed suture (2014) and US patent 5,530,037³  for sterilizing cyanoacrylate (1996). The last of the triad essentially enabled Krazy® Glue (Elmer’s Products, Westerville, OH) to become Dermabond® (Ethicon, Inc., Somerville, NJ) and changed the way millions of wounds have been and will be reapproximated.

Design/Functionality

LiquiBand Exceed^TM Topical Skin Adhesive is sterile 2-octyl cyanoacrylate contained in a 0.8-g ampoule encased in a proprietary dispenser for single use. While each manufacturer of a 2-octyl cyanoacrylate topical skin adhesive claims their version is the best due to special additives and processes that alter the viscosity, as a user, the biggest differences seem to be in the dispensers. With its unique felt tip and pressure-producing wings, the LiquiBand Exceed^TM dispenser was by far the best topical skin adhesive dispenser I have ever used. It consistently produced an even distribution of adhesive over wounds without clogging, enabling me to use all 0.8 g of glue.    

Innovation

Advanced Medical Solutions, Ltd., neither invented cyanoacrylate nor figured out how to sterilize it so I can’t give them too many cleverness points. However, their felt-tipped, winged dispenser is a big improvement over the competition so kudos to them.

Value

2-octyl cyanoacrylate is essentially a commodity product that will usually be subject to bundled pricing and thus highly variable in its cost. From my perspective, the real value discriminator between products is the dispensers. With some dispensers, the tips clog before all of the adhesive is delivered, often necessitating opening a second applicator and doubling the cost. With the LiquiBand Exceed^TM dispenser I was able to use all of the adhesive in the ampoule every time. THAT…is good value.

Summary

This is simple. If you use topical skin adhesives for wound closure, you should try LiquiBand Exceed^TM to see for yourself and your institution whether this is a good alternative to what you are currently using.

The views of the author are personal opinions and do not necessarily represent the views of Contemporary OB/GYN.

References:

• Schmitt EE, inventor; American Cyanamid Company, assignee. Surgical Sutures. US patent 3,297,033. January 10, 1967.
• Ruff, GL, inventor; Ethicon, Inc. assignee. Barbed suture in combination with surgical needle. US patent 8,721,681 B2. May 13, 2014.
• McDonnell PF, inventor; Loctite, Ltd, assignee. Sterilized cyanoacrylate adhesive composition, and a method of making such a composition. US patent 5,530,037. June 25, 1996.