# US 2021/0330318 A1 · Incision-less face lift with steerable needle

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- Number: US 2021/0330318 A1
- Document ID: US20210330318A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/242,975
- Filed: 2021-04-28
- Published: 2021-10-28
- Earliest claimed: 2020-04-28
- Inventors: Michael D. Seidman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330318A1

## CPC

- A61B 17/0469: {Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery}
- A61B 17/062: Needle manipulators
- A61B 17/3468: {for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires (devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069)}
- A61B 17/3478: {Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion (biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067)}
- A61B 2017/003: {Steerable}
- A61B 2017/00398: {using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids}
- A61B 2017/00792: {Plastic surgery}
- A61B 2017/00876: {magnetic}
- A61B 2017/06095: {pliable}
- A61B 2017/06176: {with protrusions, e.g. barbs}
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A method and system of enhancing facial or other body sites that are sagging, including incisionlessly inserting a lumen into a head or other areas of the body of a patient, the lumen having a first end configured to penetrate skin and a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) of the patient, and having a first end with a suture attached thereto, a main control unit configured to translate, rotate, and flex the lumen, such that the lumen is steerable around an ear of the patient, and such that the suture remains under the skin of the face and passes through the SMAS, directing the lumen to exit the skin, detaching the lumen from the suture, and pulling taught the suture to elevate the SMAS.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of enhancing facial features, comprising:
incisionlessly inserting a lumen into a head of a patient, the lumen having a first end configured to penetrate skin and a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) of the patient, and having a first end with a suture attached thereto;
steering the lumen around an ear of the patient, such that the suture remains under the skin of the face and passes through the SMAS;
directing the lumen to exit the skin;
detaching the lumen from the suture; and
pulling taught the suture to elevate the SMAS.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the lumen is configured as a needle that penetrates skin as a single stab wound.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein incisionlessly inserting the lumen further comprises incisionlessly inserting into the head of the patient and posteriorly to the ear.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising attaching the suture to the first end of the lumen and extending the suture therefrom.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the lumen includes a hollow sheath.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the suture is positioned at least partially inside the hollow sheath.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein directing the lumen to exit the skin further comprises directing the lumen such that the lumen exits the skin posteriorly to the ear.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein detaching the lumen from the suture further comprises detaching such that the suture remains under the skin and encircles the ear.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein pulling taught the suture to elevate the SMAS further comprises elevating the SMAS less than 2 cm.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising tying the suture into a taught position.

### Claim 11

A system for enhancing facial features, comprising:
a lumen insertable into a head of a patient, the lumen comprising:
a first end configured to penetrate skin and a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) of a patient; and
a first end with a suture attached thereto; and
a main control unit configured to translate, rotate, and flex the lumen, such that the lumen is steerable around an ear of the patient, and such that the suture remains under the skin of the face and passes through the SMAS.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the main control unit is further configured to translate, rotate, or flex to direct the lumen to exit the skin.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lumen is configured to have a diameter between 14 gauge and 22 gauge.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the first end of the lumen is configured as a needle that penetrates skin as a single stab wound.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the needle is further configured to be less than 4 millimeters in length.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lumen is inserted into the head of the patient posteriorly to the ear.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the suture is attached to the first end of the lumen and extends therefrom.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the lumen includes a hollow sheath.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein the suture is positioned at least partially inside the hollow sheath.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein the main control unit is magnetically coupled to a receiver unit to receive controls to translate, rotate, and flex the lumen.