Keesler doctor applies for patent for reconstructive biologic mesh Published Jan. 17, 2012 By Steve Pivnick 81st Medical Group Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- Capt. (Dr.) Andrew Hall, currently a general surgery resident assigned to the 81st Surgical Operations Squadron, has applied for a patent for a medical product he developed while in fellowship training at the 81st Medical Support Squadron Clinical Research Laboratory. The application for "Lipid-Coated Surgical Mesh" was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office Dec. 6. He began working on the project in late 2009. Hall said the omental coated biologic mesh is in its infancy. "It consists of a biologic mesh coated with lipid compounds derived from mammalian omentum (a fold of peritoneum connecting or supporting abdominal structures) and isn't a particularly glamorous process," Hall explained. "It involves taking pig omentums, grinding them, putting the ground substance in solvent and extracting it with an evaporator. The goal is to improve the rate and degree of incorporation of the biologic mesh for reconstruction of abdominal walls with hopeful application in treatment of wounded personnel." "With patent protection, the Air Force will retain the rights to the invention which will hopefully reduce costs of the final product and potentially bring in revenue," he added."However, there is still a long way to go before this would become a reality." Hall said Capt. (Dr.) Nicholas Lancia and Maj. (Dr.) Christopher Gerlach, pathologists with the 81st Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron, led the project's microscopic analysis.