Percutaneous cellulite removal system

• US 20030158566A1
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Expanding Concepts, LLC
• Original Assignee: Expanding Concepts, LLC
• Inventors: Brett, Darrell C.
• Granted Patent: US 6,916,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/167
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32093 for skin incisions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3417 Details of tips or shafts, e.g. grooves, expandable, bendable; Multiple coaxial sliding cannulas, e.g. for dilating syringe needles A61M5/32; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3478 Endoscopic needles, e.g. for infusion biopsy needles A61B10/0233; catheters with injection needles A61M25/0067
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22077 with a part piercing the tissue A61B2017/22044 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2202/08 Lipoids

Abstract

A percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention can be used to make the appearance of cellulite less obvious by cutting the fibrous bridges that connect the skin to muscle/fascia or fibrous septae in the subcutaneous fat in a minimally invasive manner. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of the present invention preferably includes a body having an internal chamber that ends at a laterally disposed aperture. A cutting mechanism is substantially positioned within the internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protrudes through the laterally disposed aperture in a cutting position. A situating mechanism transitions the cutting mechanism between the retracted position and the cutting position. The present invention also includes a method in which the percutaneous cellulite removal needle is inserted through the skin with the cutting mechanism in the retracted position. The cutting mechanism is then extruded so that the cutting mechanism is in the cutting position. Next the cutting mechanism is actuated, for example by rotating, to cut at least one the fibrous bridge or septae. These steps may be repeated to cut other fibrous bridges or septae reachable by the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is then retracted and the percutaneous cellulite removal needle is removed.

Claims

1. A needle for at least partially inserting at least one surgical instrument into a subcutaneous region, said needle comprising:

(a) a body comprising;

(i) a proximal end;

(ii) an outer peripheral surface;

(iii) at least one internal chamber defined within said outer peripheral surface; and

(iv) a distal end substantially opposite said proximal end;

(b) at least one laterally disposed aperture defined in said outer peripheral surface between said proximal end and said distal end, each at least one internal chamber ending at a respective at least one laterally disposed aperture;

(c) at least one surgical instrument, each said at least one surgical instrument substantially positioned within a respective at least one internal chamber; and

(d) at least one situating mechanism suitable for transitioning a respective at least one surgical instrument from within its respective internal chamber, through its respective laterally disposed aperture, and into said subcutaneous region.

2. The needle of claim 1, wherein said distal end is adapted to penetrate tissue.

3. The needle of claim 1, wherein said at least one surgical instrument is a cutting mechanism for cutting for cutting fibrous bridges.

4. The needle of claim 1, wherein each said at least one surgical instrument is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a cutting mechanism;

(b) a cautery;

(c) a harmonic scalpel

(d) rotary cutter;

(e) a laser cutter;

(f) an oscillating saw;

(g) an ultrasonic cutting apparatus;

(h) a saw blade;

(i) an endoscope;

(j) an aspirator; and

(k) an injector.

5. The needle of claim 1, wherein each said at least one situating mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) an extrusion mechanism;

(b) a button;

(c) a lever;

(d) a handle;

(e) a dial; and

(f) a ratchet.

6. The needle of claim 1 further comprising at least one actuating mechanism for actuating a respective at least one surgical instrument.

7. A percutaneous cellulite removal needle for cutting fibrous bridges that connect skin to muscle/fascia in a minimally invasive manner, said percutaneous cellulite removal needle comprising:

(a) a body comprising;

(i) a proximal end;

(ii) an outer peripheral surface;

(iii) a first internal chamber defined within said outer peripheral surface; and

(iv) a distal end substantially opposite said proximal end;

(b) a first laterally disposed aperture defined in said outer peripheral surface between said proximal end and said distal end, said first internal chamber ending at said first laterally disposed aperture;

(c) a cutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism substantially positioned within said first internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protrudes through said laterally disposed aperture in a cutting position; and

(d) means for situating said cutting mechanism between said retracted position and said cutting position.

8. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7, wherein said distal end is adapted to penetrate tissue.

9. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7, wherein said distal end is blunt.

10. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7, wherein said means for situating is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) an extrusion mechanism;

(b) a button;

(c) a lever;

(d) a handle;

(e) a dial; and

(f) a ratchet.

11. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7, wherein said cutting mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) a flexible blade;

(b) a cautery;

(c) a harmonic scalpel;

(d) an ultrasonic cutting instrument;

(e) a rotary cutter;

(f) a laser cutter; and

(g) an oscillating saw.

12. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7 further comprising an actuating mechanism for actuating said cutting mechanism.

13. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 12, wherein said actuating mechanism causes said cutting mechanism to cut fibrous bridges.

14. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 12, wherein said actuating mechanism is selected from a group consisting of:

(a) said body;

(b) a movable handle;

(c) a fixed handle;

(d) a lever;

(e) a dial;

(f) a ratchet;

(g) a button; and

(h) means for rotating said cutting mechanism.

15. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7 further comprising a cover at least partially covering said first laterally disposed aperture.

16. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 15, wherein said cover is self-sealing.

17. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7, wherein said cover has a closed position and an open position, said cover being in said open position and holding said cutting mechanism in a substantially perpendicular position when said cutting mechanism is in said cutting position.

18. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7 further comprising a depth indicator.

19. The percutaneous cellulite removal needle of claim 7 further comprising:

(a) a second internal chamber defined within said outer peripheral surface;

(b) a second laterally disposed aperture defined in said outer peripheral surface between said proximal end and said distal end, said second internal chamber ending at said second laterally disposed aperture;

(c) a surgical instrument, said surgical instrument substantially positioned within said second internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protrudes through said laterally disposed aperture in an actuated position; and

(d) means for situating said surgical instrument between said retracted position and said actuated position.

20. A method for cutting fibrous bridges that connect skin to muscle/fascia or the fibrous septae in subcutaneous fat in a minimally invasive manner, using a percutaneous cellulite removal needle having a body with an internal chamber and a cutting mechanism, said cutting mechanism substantially positioned within said first internal chamber in a retracted position and at least partially protruding from said body in a cutting position, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) inserting said percutaneous cellulite removal needle through said skin with said cutting mechanism in said retracted position;

(b) extruding said cutting mechanism so that said cutting mechanism is in said cutting position;

(c) actuating said cutting mechanism;

(e) cutting at least one said fibrous bridge;

(f) repeating step if cutting for fibrous bridges reachable by said cutting mechanism;

(g) retracting said cutting mechanism; and

(h) removing said percutaneous cellulite removal needle through said skin with said cutting mechanism in said retracted position;

21. The method of claim 20 wherein steps (a)-(h) may be repeated in different locations.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of locating a dimple on said skin.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of tightening said fibrous bridge or septae.

27. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of probing for fibrous bridges or septae to be cut.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of extruding said cutting mechanism further comprises the step of extruding said cutting mechanism through a laterally disposed aperture defined in said body.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of extruding said cutting mechanism further comprises the step of extruding said cutting mechanism using a situating mechanism.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of actuating said cutting mechanism further comprises the step of rotating said percutaneous cellulite removal needle.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein said step of actuating said cutting mechanism further comprises the step of rotating said cutting mechanism.

24. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of tightening said fibrous bridge or septae further comprises the step of lifting the skin around said fibrous bridge.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of tightening said fibrous bridge or septae further comprises the step of lifting the skin around said fibrous bridge using suction.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of tightening said fibrous bridge or septae further comprises the step of injecting fluid around said fibrous bridge.