SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING A MICROCANNULA INTRODUCER FOR SKIN & SOFT TISSUE AUGMENTATION

• US 20150217089A1
• Filed: 03/21/2014
• Published: 08/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Arab Emirates University (Al Hikma Development Co. PJSC)
• Original Assignee: United Arab Emirates University (Al Hikma Development Co. PJSC)
• Inventors: Chuang, Gary, Galadari, Hassan
• Granted Patent: US 10,322,264 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00792 Plastic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3405 using mechanical guide means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3407 including a base for support on the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2005/1585 Needle inserters
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/195 by the needle tip shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/065 Guide needles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3287 Accessories for bringing the needle into the body; Automatic needle insertion A61M5/20, A61M5/31525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 5/3291 Shafts with additional lateral openings

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a needle introducer. The needle introducer includes a needle guide and a cannula body coupled to the needle guide. The needle guide includes a flared head and a tapered neck. The needle guide forms a first channel extending from a first opening in the flared head to a second opening in the tapered neck. The cannula body includes a beveled tip at a distal end of the cannula body. The cannula body forms a second channel extending from a first opening in a proximal end of the cannula body to a second opening in the distal end of the cannula body. The cannula body is coupled to the needle guide via the tapered neck of the needle guide to connect the first channel to the second channel. The cannula body is configured to maintain an injection portal in the soft tissue.

Claims

1. A needle introducer for introducing an injector for soft tissue augmentation, the needle introducer comprising:

a needle guide having a flared head and a tapered neck, the needle guide forming a first channel extending from a first opening in the flared head to a second opening in the tapered neck; and

a cannula body having a beveled tip at a distal end of the cannula body, the cannula body forming a second channel extending from a first opening in a proximal end of the cannula body to a second opening in the distal end of the cannula body, the cannula body coupled to the needle guide via the tapered neck of the needle guide to connect the first channel to the second channel, the cannula body configured to maintain an injection portal in the soft tissue to receive a needle cannula extending through the first and second channel into the soft tissue for a plurality of soft tissue augmentation injections.

2. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the flared opening has a diameter larger than the cannula body.

3. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body is composed of steel.

4. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body and the needle guide are composed of plastic.

5. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body has a length of 1-10 mm.

6. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body includes a 18-30 gauge shaft.

7. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body has a wall thickness of 10-500 microns.

8. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body is coupled to the needle guide by a friction fit.

9. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the cannula body is coupled to the needle guide via an adhesive.

10. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the injector is removably coupled to the needle introducer via a sliding actuator.

11. The needle introducer of claim 10, wherein the sliding actuator includes a folding arm.

12. The needle introducer of claim 10, wherein the injector includes a syringe.

13. The needle introducer of claim 10, wherein the injector includes a microcannula.

14. The needle introducer of claim 10, wherein the injector includes a blunt-tip needle.

15. The needle introducer of claim 1, further comprising a cap removably coupled to the beveled tip of the cannula body.

16. The needle introducer of claim 1, wherein the needle guide includes curved finger grips.

17. A method of using a needle introducer for soft tissue augmentation, the method comprising:

inserting a needle introducer through a skin surface and into the soft tissue to create an injection portal into the soft tissue for a plurality of soft tissue augmentation injections, the needle introducer including;

a needle guide having a flared head and a tapered neck, the needle guide forming a first channel extending from a first opening in the flared head to a second opening in the tapered neck, and

a cannula body having a beveled tip at a distal end of the cannula body, the cannula body forming a second channel extending from a first opening in a proximal end of the cannula body to a second opening in the distal end of the cannula body, the cannula body coupled to the needle guide via the tapered neck of the needle guide to connect the first channel to the second channel, the cannula body configured to maintain the injection portal in the soft tissue to receive at least one needle cannula extending through the first and second channel into the soft tissue for the plurality of soft tissue augmentation injections;

inserting a first needle cannula into the needle introducer and through the injection portal, the first needle cannula extending beyond the beveled tip of the cannula body;

injecting a filler into the soft tissue via the first needle cannula;

removing the first needle cannula from the needle introducer; and

maintaining the injection portal in the soft tissue after removal of the first needle cannula from the needle introducer for a second injection.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising inserting a second needle cannula into the needle introducer and through the injection portal for the second injection, the second needle cannula extending beyond the beveled tip of the cannula body.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising injecting a second filler into the soft tissue via the second needle cannula.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the first needle cannula includes a blunt tipped needle cannula.