# US 9,039,722 B2 · Dissection handpiece with aspiration means for reducing the appearance of cellulite > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,039,722 B2 - Document ID: US9039722B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/778,293 - Filed: 2013-02-27 - Published: 2013-08-01 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2010-12-22 - Assignees: Ulthera, Inc. - Applicants: Ulthera, Inc. - Inventors: Robert L. Clark, III; James E. Chomas; Adnan I. Merchant; Ben F. Brian, III - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9039722B2 ## CPC - A61B 17/30: Surgical pincettes, i.e. surgical tweezers {without pivotal connections (for holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483)} - A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)} - A61B 17/320016: {Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes (A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence)} - A61B 17/3205: Excision instruments - A61B 18/14: Probes or electrodes therefor - A61M 1/76: {Handpieces (specially for suction-irrigation A61M1/774, aspiration tips A61M1/84)} - A61M 1/84: {Drainage tubes; Aspiration tips (for negative pressure wound therapy A61M1/90; for surgical cutting instruments A61B17/32)} - A61B 17/3203: Fluid jet cutting instruments - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61B 17/32075: {Pullback cutting; combined forward and pullback cutting, e.g. with cutters at both sides of the plaque} - A61B 2017/00747: {Dermatology} - A61B 2017/308: {with suction cups} - A61B 2018/0022: {Balloons} - A61B 2018/00464: {Subcutaneous fat, e.g. liposuction, lipolysis} - A61B 2018/00589: {Coagulation} - A61B 2018/00601: {Cutting} - A61B 2018/1425: {Needle} - A61B 2018/1467: {using more than two electrodes on a single probe} - A61B 2217/005: with suction drainage system - A61B 2218/002: Irrigation - A61B 2218/007: Aspiration - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract A dermatological skin treatment device is provided. The device comprises a handpiece and a cutting tool, wherein the tool is inserted through the conduit and percutaneously inserted into a tissue disposed within a recessed area of the handpiece. The device and method cut the fibrous structures under the skin that cause cellulite at an angle substantially parallel to the surface of the skin and replace these structures with a non-cellulite forming structure by deploying a highly fibrous mesh through a single needle hole to create a highly fibrous layer directly or through wound healing processes. A tool is provided to aspirate excess fluid and tissue from the treatment area. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A minimally invasive skin treatment system, comprising: a handpiece having a recessed area and a conduit extending through a side of the handpiece and into the recessed area, the recessed area defining a dissection area; a tool configured to at least partially extend through the conduit and into the recessed area; wherein the tool comprises a cannula and a suction fitting in fluid connection with an interior of the cannula, the suction fitting being configured for fluid removal, and a cutting blade comprising a cutting shaft, wherein a portion of the cutting shaft is partially housed within the interior of the cannula, wherein the portion of the cutting shaft housed within the interior of the cannula is shaped to create a gap between an outer surface of the cutting shaft and the interior of the cannula, wherein application of negative pressure to the interior of the cannula via the suction fitting allows aspiration from the dissection area via the gap; and a guidance track operably connected to the handpiece, wherein the guidance track is configured to constrain movement of the tool in contact with the guidance track to longitudinal and transverse movement defined by a predetermined path of the guidance track which results in both longitudinal and transverse movement of a distal end of the tool within the recessed area. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade comprises one or more retractable blade members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the cutting blade moves axially within the cannula. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, wherein material aspirated from the dissection area passes through the gap and into a waste reservoir. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, wherein fluid enters the gap through a gap entry port at a distal end of the cannula. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The treatment system of claim 5, wherein the distal end of the cannula aspirates fluid in the recessed area in a pattern coincident with the predetermined path of the guidance track. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The treatment system of claim 6, wherein the cannula has a longitudinal axis that is substantially parallel to a plane formed by the guidance track. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The treatment system of claim 7, wherein the cannula is configured to aspirate fluid from the recessed area at a first depth below a dermis and in a plane that is substantially parallel to the plane of the guidance track. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The treatment system of claim 8, wherein the cutting shaft and cutting blade are removed from the cannula so that fluid from the recessed area is drawn into an inner lumen of the cannula and to a fluid waste reservoir. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, further comprising: a fluid source, wherein the fluid source is operably connected to an infusion fitting by a tubing, the fluid source being configured to inject a fluid through the tubing and into the cannula through the infusion fitting. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The treatment system of claim 10, wherein fluid injected into the cannula travels through a gap and exits the cannula at a gap exit port and into the recessed area. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The treatment system of claim 1, wherein the recessed area comprises a top having a surface facing into the recessed area, wherein the side of the handpiece comprises a raised perimeter wall comprising the conduit, wherein the conduit is positioned to allow the distal end of the tool to enter the recessed area at a predefined depth from the surface of the top facing into the recessed area, the predefined depth corresponding to between 4 mm and 20 mm below a surface of skin that is configured to be contacted with the surface of the top facing into the recessed area. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The treatment system of claim 12, wherein the predefined depth between 4 mm and 20 mm below the surface of skin that is configured to be contacted with the surface of the top facing into the recessed area corresponds to a subcutaneous region of tissue underlying the skin. ### Claim 14 A minimally invasive skin treatment system, comprising: a handpiece having a recessed area comprising a top, the recessed area disposed on a bottom portion of the handpiece; a conduit extending through a side of the handpiece and into the recessed area, the recessed area defining a dissection area; a cutting tool comprising a proximal end and a distal end and configured to at least partially extend through the conduit and into the recessed area; a cannula, wherein the cutting tool is at least partially disposed within an interior of the cannula, wherein the cannula is configured infuse fluid to, or aspirate fluid from, the dissection area, wherein the cutting tool comprises a shaft, the shaft being shaped to create a gap between an outer surface of the tool and the interior of the cannula, wherein the application of negative pressure to the interior of the cannula allows aspiration of fluid from the dissection area via the gap, wherein application of positive pressure to the interior of the cannula allows infusion of a fluid into the dissection area via the gap; and a guidance track operably connected to the handpiece, wherein the guidance track is configured to constrain movement of the tool in contact with the guidance track to longitudinal and transverse movement defined by a predetermined path of the guidance track, wherein the distal end of the cutting tool moves both longitudinally and transversely within the dissection area and in a plane that is substantially parallel to the top of the recessed area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The treatment system of claim 14, wherein the top of the recessed area comprises an adjustable top that allows for adjustment of the volume of the recessed area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The treatment system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable top comprises a threaded top, wherein adjustment of the volume of the recessed area is achieved via rotation of the top. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The treatment system of claim 15, wherein the adjustable top comprises a reversible top. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The treatment system of claim 14 wherein the recessed area is configured to receive vacuum pressure to pull a portion of a tissue on which the handpiece is positioned into the recessed area, and wherein the dissection area comprises a subcutaneous area of the tissue. ### Claim 19 A minimally invasive skin treatment system, comprising: a handpiece having a recessed area disposed on a bottom portion of the handpiece and a conduit extending through a side of the handpiece and into the recessed area, the recessed area defining a dissection area; a cannula configured to have negative pressure applied to an interior of the cannula; and a tool configured to at least partially extend through the conduit and into the recessed area, wherein the tool is partially housed within the interior of the cannula, wherein the tool comprises a cutting blade and a blade shaft, the blade shaft comprising a hollow interior, wherein the hollow interior of the blade shaft is in fluid connection with the interior of the cannula, and wherein the application of negative pressure to the interior of the cannula allows aspiration from the dissection area; and a guidance track operably connected to the handpiece, wherein the guidance track constrains a portion of the tool in contact with the guidance track to both longitudinal and transverse movements along a predetermined path causing the cutting blade to move within the recessed area and within a region of a predetermined shape defined by the predefined path. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The treatment system of claim 19, further comprising a vacuum port on the handpiece that allows application of negative pressure to the interior of the cannula.