Minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure using multiple barbed sutures and apparatus
AssigneeAngiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
InventorsRichard Jones, Benjamin Schlechter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Medical devices and methods are provided for a minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure. In the procedure, a plurality of barbed sutures are used to accomplish the mastoplasty through puncture wounds by deploying the sutures caudally from stable anatomical features into the breast tissue and then advancing the tissues relative to the sutures.
Claims32
A method of performing a procedure to reposition portions of a breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) using first and second sutures each including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of each suture between a first end of the suture and a first axial location on the suture for permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs of a second portion of each suture between a second end of the suture and a second axial location on the suture permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a1) inserting the first end of the first, suture through the skin of a patient at a first fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold;
- (b1) causing the first suture to engage a stable anatomical feature accessible from the first fixation point;
- (c1) deploying the first portion of the first suture through breast tissue along a first deployment path to a first exit point located caudally of the first fixation point;
- (d1) deploying the second portion of the first suture through breast tissue along a second deployment path to a second exit point located caudally of the first fixation point;
- (a2) inserting the first end of the second suture through the skin of a patient at a second fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold;
- (b2) causing the second suture to engage a stable anatomical feature accessible at the second fixation point;
- (c2) deploying the first portion of the second suture through breast tissue along a third deployment path from the second point to a third exit point located caudally of the second fixation point;
- (d2) deploying the second portion of the second suture through breast tissue along a fourth deployment path from the second fixation point to a fourth exit point located caudally of the fixation point;
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- (e) manually advancing the soft tissue relative to the first portion of the first suture, the second portion of the first suture, the first portion of the second suture, the second portion of the second suture to elevate tissues of the breast towards the first fixation point and the second fixation point.
A method of performing a procedure to reposition portions of a breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) using a first and second suture each including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of each suture between a first end of the suture and a first axial location on the suture for permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the first end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the first end, and the barbs on a second portion of each suture between a second end of the suture and a second axial location on the suture which is less than the distance from the second end to the first axial location permitting movement of the suture through tissue in a direction of movement of the second end and preventing movement of the suture through tissue in a direction opposite the direction of movement of the second end, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a1) deploying the first portion of the first suture caudally through breast tissue along a first deployment path from a first fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold to a first exit point located on the breast caudally of the NAC;
- (b1) deploying the second portion of the first suture caudally through breast, tissue along a second deployment path from a second, fixation point located, cranially of the inframammary fold to a second exit point located on the breast caudally of the NAC;
- (a2) deploying the first portion of the second suture caudally through breast tissue along a first deployment path from a third fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold to a third exit point located on the breast caudally of the NAC;
- (b2) deploying the second portion of the second suture caudally through breast tissue along a second deployment path from a fourth fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold to a fourth exit point located on the breast caudally of the NAC;
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- (c) advancing the breast tissue cranially relative to the first portion of the first suture, the second portion of the first suture, the first portion of the second suture, and the second portion of the second suture to reposition portions of the breast tissues towards the first, second, third and fourth fixation points.
A suture implant system positionable in tissues of a breast to maintain the tissues of the breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) in an elevated position wherein a first suture and a second suture of the system each comprise a first end, a second end, an intermediate portion, and a first barbed portion between the first end and the intermediate portion and a second barbed portion between the second end and the intermediate portion and wherein:
- the intermediate portion of the first suture and the second suture are engaged with a stable anatomical feature located cranially of the inframammary fold;
- the first barbed portion of the fist suture and the second suture are engaged with tissues of the breast located along a line extending caudally through tissues of the breast from the stable anatomical feature, the barbs on the first portion of the first suture and the second suture are preventing the tissues of the breast from moving caudally relative to the stable anatomical feature;
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- the second barbed portion of the first suture and the second suture are engaged with tissues of the breast located along a line extending caudally through tissues of the breast from the stable anatomical feature, the barbs on the second portion of the first suture and the second suture prevent the tissues of the breast from moving caudally relative to the stable anatomical feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.