Methods and devices for improving the appearance of tissue
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of performing liposuction surgery, comprising the steps of:
- providing a liposuction cannula and a cutting element which is movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the liposuction cannula also including a body having a suction lumen and a suction inlet;
coupling the suction lumen to a suction source;
introducing the liposuction cannula through an incision in a patient;
moving the liposuction cannula in the patient while removing fat from the patient through the suction lumen;
cutting tissue using the cutting element by changing the position of the cutting element from the stored position to the cutting position, moving the cutting element through the tissue to cut the tissue, and moving the cutting element back to the stored position; and
changing the location, of the liposuction cannula into an area where the tissue has been cut by the cutting element during the cutting step.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Cellulite is treated by severing septae, which interconnects the skin with the underlying muscle. The septae may be severed in connection with a liposuction procedure or independent of a liposuction procedure.
-
Citations
42 Claims
-
1. A method of performing liposuction surgery, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a liposuction cannula and a cutting element which is movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the liposuction cannula also including a body having a suction lumen and a suction inlet; coupling the suction lumen to a suction source; introducing the liposuction cannula through an incision in a patient; moving the liposuction cannula in the patient while removing fat from the patient through the suction lumen; cutting tissue using the cutting element by changing the position of the cutting element from the stored position to the cutting position, moving the cutting element through the tissue to cut the tissue, and moving the cutting element back to the stored position; and changing the location, of the liposuction cannula into an area where the tissue has been cut by the cutting element during the cutting step. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. A method of performing liposuction surgery, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a liposuction cannula having a cutting element which is movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the liposuction cannula also including a body having a suction lumen and a suction inlet, coupling the suction lumen to a suction source; introducing the liposuction cannula through an incision in a patient; moving the liposuction cannula in the patient while removing fat from the patient through the suction lumen; changing the position of the cutting element from the stored position to the cutting position; cutting tissue with the cutting element; and changing the location of the liposuction cannula into an area where the tissue has been cut by the cutting element during the cutting step. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A liposuction device, comprising:
-
a body; a cutting element coupled to the body, the cutting element being movable from a stored position to a cutting position, the cutting element extending through the suction lumen when moving from the stored position to the cutting position; a suction lumen extending through the body; a suction inlet in the body which communicates with the suction lumen. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method of dissecting septae which extend between the skin and muscle, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a septae cutting device having a body and a sensing element; moving the body through tissue in an area between skin and muscle so that tissue contacts the sensing element as the body is moved; cutting septae which affect the sensing element a threshold amount, wherein tissue which does not affect the sensing element the threshold amount is not cut. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A device for dissecting septae extending between the skin and muscle, comprising:
-
a body; a sensing element coupled to the body, the sensing element; and a cutting element coupled to the body and operably coupled to the sensing element, the cutting element being positioned to cut tissue which imparts a threshold value on the sensing element. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
-
27. A method of dissecting septae which extend between the skin and muscle, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a septae cutting element having a body and a sensing element; moving the body through tissue in an area between skin and muscle so that tissue contacts the sensing element as the body is moved; cutting septae which measures a threshold value by the sensing element during the moving step. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A method of performing liposuction surgery, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a liposuction cannula and a cutting element, the liposuction cannula including a body having a suction lumen and a suction inlet; coupling the suction lumen to a suction source; introducing the liposuction cannula through an incision in a patient; moving the liposuction cannula in the patient while removing fat from the patient through the suction lumen; cutting tissue using the cutting element by moving the cutting element through the tissue to cut the tissue; and changing the location of the liposuction cannula into an area where the tissue has been cut by the cutting element during the cutting step. - View Dependent Claims (36)
-
-
37. A method of dissecting septae which extend between the skin and muscle, comprising the steps of:
-
providing a septae cutting device having a body and a tissue capturing element; moving the body through tissue in an area between skin and muscle so that tissue contacts the tissue capturing element as the body is moved; determining whether the tissue captured by the tissue capturing element includes septae; and cutting the septae after the determining step. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
Specification