Permanent, removable tissue markings
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation
InventorsRichard R. Anderson, Susanna K. Mlynarczyk, Craig A. Drill
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides microparticles that create permanent tissue markings, such as tattoos, designed in advance for change and/or removal on demand, as well as methods for implanting the microparticles in tissue and changing and/or removing the resulting markings. Colored microparticles are constructed with specific electromagnetic absorption and/or structural properties that facilitate changing and/or removing tissue markings made using the microparticles by applying specific energy (such as electromagnetic radiation from a laser or flash-lamp) to the tissue marking site.
Claims77
A method of applying to a tissue a detectable marking that can be changed or removed, or both, on demand, the method comprising:
- obtaining colored microparticles each comprising a chromophore and having a specific property that is designed in advance to enable the microparticles to be altered when exposed to a specific energy;
- and
- implanting into the tissue a sufficient number of the colored microparticles to form a detectable tissue marking, wherein the tissue marking is permanent until the specific energy is applied to alter the microparticles to change or remove, or both, the detectable marking.
A method of changing or removing, or both, a detectable marking created by implanting into tissue a sufficient number of colored microparticles each comprising a chromophore and having a specific property that is designed in advance to enable the microparticles to be altered when exposed to a specific energy, the method comprising:
- exposing the detectable marking to the specific energy for a time sufficient to alter the microparticles, thereby changing or removing, or both, the detectable tissue marking.
A colored microparticle comprising
- (i) an indispersible, biologically inert coating comprising from about 10 to about 95 percent of the volume of the microparticle,
- (ii) a core enveloped within the coating, wherein the core comprises a chromophore that is detectable through the coating and is dispersible in living tissue upon release from the microparticle, and, optionally
- (iii) an absorption component that absorbs a specific energy and that is located in the coating or the core, or both;
- wherein the coating, the core, or the optional absorption component, or any combination thereof, is designed in advance to absorb the specific energy to rupture the microparticle, releasing the chromophore which disperses in the living tissue.
A colored microparticle comprising
- (i) an indispersible, biologically inert coating comprising from about 10 to about 95 percent of the volume of the microparticle,
- (ii) a core enveloped within the coating, wherein the core comprises a chromophore that is detectable through the coating and is altered upon exposure of the microparticle to a specific energy, and optionally
- (iii) an absorption component that absorbs the specific energy and that is located in the coating or the core, or both;
- wherein the coating, the core, or the optional absorption component, or any combination thereof, is designed in advance to absorb the specific energy to alter the chromophore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.