Zimmer Meshgraft II, Instruction Manual, Page: 2 / 112

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The
Dermacarrier
II Skin Graft Carriers should be used at room temperature. Procedures such as placing them in warm
solutions or allowing them to become heated causes softening of the plastic and results in incomplete and poor cutting
of the skin.
Do not place the
Dermacarrier
II Skin Graft Carrier in an autoclave because it will melt and may bond to the metal
surface of the instrument.
IMPORTANCE OF THE NEED TO ADHERE TO A CARE REGIMEN
The
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System should be inspected prior to each use.
• Visually inspect for damage and/or wear.
• Check the action of moving parts to ensure smooth operation throughout the intended range of motion.
• The
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System should be returned every 12 months for inspection and preventive
maintenance. Annual factory calibration checks are strongly recommended to verify continued accuracy.
Note: If damage or wear is noted that may compromise the function of the instrument, do not use. Refer to
RETURN AUTHORIZATION AND REPLACEMENT INFORMATION section.
RECEIVING INSPECTION
After receiving the
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System, examine the unit for external signs of damage. Retain all
packing material until the contents have been verified and an initial operational check has been performed. If the device
has been damaged, forward an immediate request to the delivering carrier to perform an inspection and prepare a
“Concealed Damage” report. The terms of all Zimmer Surgical sales agreements concerning this unit are F.O.B., Dover,
Ohio, U.S.A., and the responsibility of Zimmer Surgical ends with delivery to the first carrier. Thereafter, the shipment
becomes the property of the customer. Any claims for loss, damage, or non-delivery must be made against the
delivering carrier within 10 days of shipment.
Your Zimmer distributor or local Zimmer representative may assist you in determining the cost of replacement or repair
so that a proper claim may be filed with the delivering carrier.
Note: Do not attempt to return damaged goods without first securing proper authorization from the delivering carrier.
SETUP INSTRUCTIONS
• Prior to initial usage, the Meshgraft II Tissue Expansion System must be cleaned and sterilized per
instructions. (See MANUAL AND AUTOMATED CLEANING AND DISINFECTION PROCESS INSTRUCTIONS
as well as the STERILIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS)
• Observe sterile field precautions per hospital protocol.
• The
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System is placed on its side on the table with the extension of the knurled
roller facing up. (See Fig. 7.)
• The ratchet handle is placed on the knurled roller extension so that the “THIS END OUT” note is facing out.
(See Fig.8.)
• The ratchet handle is fully inserted when the end of the knurled roller extension is flush with opposite side of the
ratchet. (See Fig. 9.) Do not force or pound ratchet onto the
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System.
• If there is trouble with the insertion, verify that the correct ratchet handle is being used. If the correct ratchet
handle is being used, then the roller extension end may be misaligned with the similarly shaped end of the
ratchet handle. To facilitate alignment, grasp the knurled roller and keep it stationary, then turn the ratchet handle
until the two shapes match and then push the ratchet on completely.
• To ensure that the ratchet handle will not come off when the
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System is being used,
take the set screw wrench (supplied with the ratchet handle), and turn the set screw down until it is tight against
the knurled roller extension. (See Fig. 10.)
• Once the ratchet handle is attached, the
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System is ready for use.
• During set-up procedure, visually inspect for damage and/or wear. If damage or wear is noted that may
compromise the function of the instrument, do not use.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
The
Meshgraft
II Tissue Expansion System has been preset to mesh skin grafts between .008 and .017 in.
(0.2 and 0.4 mm). However, best results are obtained with grafts between .012 and .015 in. (0.3 and 0.38 mm) thick.
• Select the
Dermacarrier
II Skin Graft Carrier with the appropriate expansion ratio.
• The
Dermacarrier
II Skin Graft Carrier is aseptically removed from its sterile package and introduced onto the
sterile field.
• The carrier is placed grooved side up on the table.
• Place the graft on the grooved side of the carrier. The grooved side of the carrier must be up and the smooth side
down to ensure a proper mesh. (See Fig. 4.)
• Place the graft on the carrier epidermal side up. However, the graft may be placed dermal side up to facilitate
direct transfer from the carrier to the transplant site.
• Smooth the graft out on the carrier. Sterile water may be poured over the graft to facilitate smoothing it out on
the carrier.