Percutaneous skin access devices include a plurality of locked connecting
units mounted to the exterior surface of an implantable medical object
which, in position, is configured to penetrate the skin of a subject. The
locked connecting units may be mounted directly onto the desired surface
of the exterior of the device or may be held on a substrate sheet, which
is mounted to the exterior surface of the device. In position, the locked
connecting units engage with soft tissue which can include the skin to
form a bio-junction layer which includes mechanical and bio-sealing
connection between the device body and the soft tissue. The configuration
at the bio-junction layer secures the medical object in location in the
subject even for long-term indwelling applications in a manner, which
inhibits soft tissue infection.The locked connecting units may be rigid
or semi-rigid for longer-term indwelling applications, and semi-rigid
and/or resilient for shorter term indwelling applications. The locked
connecting units may take on the form of rings, hooks, or loops having
aperture or gap width/length sizes of from about 0.2 4 mm. The rings,
loops, or hooks may connect with any soft tissue including skin as well
subcutaneous tissue. The rings, hooks, or loops may be released from the
skin/tissue without requiring surgical cutting procedures.The locked
connecting units may be configured as a semi-rigid mesh collar arranged
about the primary body providing access to the subject such that it
resides in the subject and engages with the skin (epidermal/dermal
layer). The mesh collar can be described as a particular type of ring or
loop structure as the mesh defines the gap provided in individual loop
configurations. The mesh collar may be used alone, or in combination with
the loops, rings, or hooks. A skin stop collar having increased rigidity
may be disposed under the mesh collar.