Minimally-invasive mastoplasty procedure 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, barbed sutures are used to accomplish the mastoplasty through puncture wounds by deploying the sutures caudally from stable anatomical features into the breast tissue.
Claims30
A method of performing a procedure to reposition portions of a breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) using a suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the 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 position of the 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:
- (a) inserting the first end of the suture through the skin of a patient at a first fixation point located cranially of the inframammary fold;
- (b) causing the suture to engage a stable anatomical feature accessible from the first fixation point;
- (c) deploying the first portion of the suture along a first deployment path through breast tissue to a first exit point located caudally of the first fixation point;
- (d) deploying the second portion of the suture through breast tissue along a second deployment path to a second exit point located caudally of the first fixation point;
- (e) advancing the breast tissue cranially relative to the first portion of the suture and the second portion of the suture to reposition the breast tissue towards the first fixation point.
A method of performing a procedure to reposition portions of a breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) using a suture including a plurality of barbs, the barbs on a first portion of the 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 the 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:
- (a) deploying the first portion of the 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;
- (b) deploying the second portion of the 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;
- and
- (c) advancing the breast tissue cranially relative to the first portion of the suture and the second portion of the suture to reposition the breast tissue towards the first and second fixation points.
A suture implanted in tissues of a breast to maintain the tissues of the breast having a nipple-areola complex (NAC) in an elevated position wherein the suture comprises a first end, a second end, an intermediate portion, and a first barbed portion between the first end and the intermediate portion and second barbed portion between the second end and the intermediate portion and wherein:
- the intermediate portion of the suture is engaged with a stable anatomical feature located cranially of the inframammary fold;
- the first barbed portion of the suture is engaged with tissues of the breast located along a line extending caudally through tissue of the breast from the stable anatomical feature, the barbs on the first portion of the suture preventing the tissues of the breast from moving caudally relative to the st able anatomical feature;
- and
- the second barbed portion of the suture is 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 suture preventing the tissues of the breast from moving caudally relative to the stable anatomical feature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.