Percutaneous cellulite removal system

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.

Description

[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 202,415, filed Jul. 22, 2002. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 202,415 claims the benefit under 35 USC Section 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 332,355, filed Nov. 15, 2001 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 356,891, filed Feb. 13, 2002. The present application is based on and claims priority from these applications, the disclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for making the appearance of cellulite less obvious by cutting the fibrous bridges that connect the skin to muscle and / or fascia (hereinafter referred to as “muscle,”“fascia,” or “muscle / fascia”) or by cutting the fibrous septae in subcutaneous fat in a minimally invasive manner, and specifically to a percutaneous cellulite removal needle with at least one lateral opening in its periphera...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

There are few scientific studies, however, that demonstrate the efficacy of any of these methods.

Nor is liposuction—a surgical technique for extracting fat by vacuuming it from under the skin—always an effective treatment for cellulite.

Removal of the subcutaneous fat by liposuction does not alter the dimpled appearance of the skin and, in fact, may worsen the appearance of the skin.

While this method represents a significant advance in the treatment of cellulite, a disadvantage of this method is that it uses an instrument that was not designed for the purpose of cutting fibrous bridges or septae.

The use of a liposuction cannula is invasive, awkward, imprecise, and physically difficult.

Because treatment of cellulite by breaking fibrous bridges or septae is a recent development, prior art surgical devices were not developed with this purpose in mind.

Each of the devices described would need to be used in the same manner that the liposuction cannula is employed in the Lieberman-Cohen method and suffers from the same and additional disadvantages.

A disadvantage of the Narayanan cannula is that the intensity of the ultrasonic wave would likely need to be increased substantially to sever fibrous tissue and this increase would likely result in unwanted ancillary damage to nearby tissue.

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