Device for performing a cosmetic or medical procedure

A method of operating a device comprising a hollow elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, a body wall with at least one opening that is proximal from the distal end, and one or more breaking means retained under tension in a retracted position within the hollow elongate body, wherein the breaking means comprises (a) at least one breaking element made of a non-cutting wire comprising a shape-memory alloy, and (b) a distal end portion, and the wire is biased towards an expanded configuration and configured to break a strand of fibrous material by tensioning or stretching the strand away from the hollow elongate body until complete or partial rupture of the strand, the wire having strength in the expanded configuration to break the strand of fibrous material by tensioning the strand to and/or past a point of rupture, the method comprising:

• positioning the hollow elongate body to provide the breaking means at a target location;
• and
• actuating the breaking means to move the wire from a retracted position to an operative position in which the wire projects outwardly through the at least one opening in the body wall in the expanded configuration while the distal end portion of the breaking means remains housed within the hollow elongate body, and
• wherein, when moving from the retracted position to the operative position, the wire transitions from a collapsed configuration to the expanded configuration having a strength suitable to break the strand of fibrous material.

A method of operating a device comprising a hollow elongate body having a proximal end, a distal end, a body wall with at least one opening that is proximal from the distal end, and a breaking means retained in a retracted position under tension within the hollow elongate body, wherein the breaking means comprises (a) at least one breaking element made of a non-cutting wire comprising a shape-memory alloy, and (b) a distal end portion, and the wire is biased towards an expanded configuration and configured to break a strand of fibrous material by tensioning or stretching the strand away from the hollow elongate body until complete or partial rupture of the strand, the wire having strength in the expanded configuration to break the strand of fibrous material by tensioning the strand to and/or past a point of rupture, the method including:

• creating an entry point puncture in a patient;
• inserting the breaking means with the wire in the retracted position through the entry point puncture and maneuvering the breaking means with the wire in the retracted position through tissue of the patient to a target location having a strand of fibrous connective tissue, wherein in the retracted position the wire is in a collapsed configuration;
• actuating the breaking means to transition the wire into an operative position in which the wire projects outwardly through the at least one opening in the body wall in the expanded configuration while the distal end portion of the breaking means remains housed within the hollow elongate body;
• manipulating the device such as to break the strand of fibrous connective tissue using the breaking means to push the strand of fibrous connective tissue away from the hollow elongate body until complete or partial rupture of the strand;
• and
• actuating the breaking means to transition the wire into the retracted position.