229 results about "Scarring tissue" patented technology

A novel approach to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in the peritoneal cavity is described. More specifically, a technique for accessing the peritoneal cavity via the wall of the digestive tract is provided so that examination of and / or a surgical procedure in the peritoneal cavity can be conducted via the wall of the digestive tract with the use of a flexible endoscope. As presently proposed, the technique is particularly adapted to transgastric peritoneoscopy. However, access in addition or in the alternative through the intestinal wall is contemplated and described as well. Transgastric and / or transintestinal peritoneoscopy will have an excellent cosmetic result as there are no incisions in the abdominal wall and no potential for visible post-surgical scars or hernias.

In a preferred application, e.g., the repair of vaginal prolapse after relocation of the vagina and any organs displaced by the prolapse, corrective surgery is initiated by applying a hollow tubular element, formed to forcibly insert a barbed anchor attached to a distal end of a first length of suture, without any incision, from the inside of the vagina through the vaginal wall (the supported tissue) into selected support tissue within a patient's pelvis. This involves puncturing and thus locally severe physical distressing of both the supported tissue and the support tissue. The barbed anchor is left in the support tissue as the tubular element is then withdrawn from the support tissue and out of the vagina, leaving the proximate end portion of the suture extending through the vaginal wall into the vagina. A second such anchor, with a second length of suture attached thereto, is similarly inserted adjacent to the first anchor. The proximate end portions of the sutures are tied to each other inside the vagina, to thereby secure the vaginal wall to the support tissue with corresponding punctures formed in each by the insertions of the two anchors being thereby held in respective, precisely aligned, intimate contact during healing. This results in a pair of fused scars that cooperate to permanently bond the vaginal wall locally to the support tissue. If the sutures and / or the anchors are made of absorbable material they will all eventually disappear and the fused scars will provide the permanent bonding. If the anchors are made of non-absorbable material they may remain where located. A plurality of such paired fused-scar bonds may be generated, at the surgeon's discretion, to ensure adequate support for the repaired vagina. The apparatus and method can be readily adapted to similarly effect deliberate, local, beneficial bonding between other adjacent living tissues in a patient.

The invention consists of a sensor with multiple indicating (sensing) electrodes covered with a selectively permeable membrane for monitoring fluid concentrations in a biological environment. The indicating electrodes respond to changes in certain analytes, such as glucose, through an enzyme-mediated reaction. The currents generated from the enzyme-mediated reactions are transmitted through radio signals to an external receiver where the information is processed and recorded. Through the use of various biomaterials and biochemicals associated with the sensor, the monitoring accuracy is improved and the overall viability is prolonged. The process of foreign body fibrosis (formation of a scar capsule around the implanted sensor) eventually limits the functional life of the device. We teach methods of delivery of certain biochemicals that can increase the functional life of the sensor by inhibiting the formation of the foreign body capsule or by stimulating the growth of capillaries into the capsule.

The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for noninvasive and minimally-invasive treatment of skin and subcutaneous tissues with ultrasound with or without nano- or microparticles. The treatment includes, but is not limited to, hair removal, skin rejuvenation (wrinkle removal), scar removal, treatment of spider veins and varicose veins, removal of birthmarks, acne treatment, wound treatment, abnormal pigmentation and stretch mark removal, abnormal tissues in skin and subcutaneous layers, and tattoo removal. Skin and subcutaneous tissues which can be treated with the methods described include, but are not limited to, the dermis, epidermis, subcutaneous fat, connective tissue, muscle tissue, blood vessels, scar tissues, tendons, and cartilage tissues, and abnormal tissues in skin and subcutaneous layers. The disclosure is especially applicable to hair removal and skin rejuvenation.

A method of texturing a soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell. A soft prosthetic implant with a textured external surface layer of silicone elastomer and having an open-cell structure is made by adhering and then dissolving round salt crystals. The resulting roughened surface has enhanced physical properties relative to surfaces formed with angular salt crystals. An implant having such a textured external surface layer is expected to help prevent capsular contraction, to help prevent scar formation, and to help in anchoring the implant within the body.

Devices, systems, and methods for treating a heart of a patient may make use of structures which limit a size of a chamber of the heart, such as by deploying one or more tensile member to bring a wall of the heart and a septum of the heart into contact. A plurality of tension members may help exclude scar tissue and provide a more effective remaining ventricle chamber. The implant may be deployed during beating of the heart, often in a minimally invasive or less-invasive manner. Trauma to the tissues of the heart may be inhibited by selectively approximating tissues while a pressure within the heart is temporarily reduced. Three-dimensional implant locating devices and systems facilitate beneficial heart chamber volumetric shape remodeling.

Devices and methods for performing subcutaneous surgery in a minimally invasive manner are provided. The methods include application of reduced air pressure in a recessed area of a handpiece placed over a section of skin and drawing the section of skin and subcutaneous tissue into the recessed area. In a subsequent step a tool is inserted through a tool conduit in the handpiece and through the skin into the subcutaneous tissue, enabling the performance of the desired surgery. Common surgical procedures include dissection and ablation. The devices and methods can be directed at the treatment of skin conditions like atrophic scars, wrinkles, or other cosmetic issues, at treatments like or promoting wound healing or preventing hyperhidrosis, or can be used for creating space for various implants.

The invention is a non-surgical method for the eradication of pigmentation and scar tissue from an area of skin. The method comprises repeatedly puncturing the area of skin with an array of needles. As the needles are inserted into the skin, the needles and surface of the skin are washed with a clean solution. As the needles are withdrawn from the skin, the flow of clean solution ceases and the dirty solution, which contains cellular fluids and pigments released by the action of the needles, is removed from the surface. The invention is also a solution, which is used to clean the needles and to aid in destroying the pigment containing cells, and an apparatus, which is especially designed to move the needles into and out of the surface of the skin and to provide synchronization of the motion of the needles and flow of the solution such as to maximize the effectiveness of the method.

Systems, delivery devices, and methods to treat to ablate, damage, or otherwise affect tissue. The treatment systems are capable of delivering energy to nerve tissue in a target region such that at least a portion of the nerve tissue is replaced by scar tissue or otherwise altered to inhibit reinnervation in the target region.

The present invention provides a method for inhibiting the formation of scar tissue and / or exogenous bone at a wound site in a body of a patient. The method includes administering an amount of a biologic agent to the wound site, wherein the biologic agent is synovial fluid or cerebrospinal fluid. A viscous substance applied to the wound site, advantageously incorporating the biologic agent, reduces the flow of blood from cut blood vessels, and contributes to a reduction in the formation of adhesions through action of the biologic agent, and through barrier properties introduced by the viscous substance.

A urethra support having an elongated mesh tape portion and a mesh extension affixed to the tape portion transverse thereto. In accordance with a method of the invention, the urethra support is inserted into the lower pelvic cavity of a patient with the tape portion forming a sling extending beneath and supporting the urethra of the patient. In this position, the tape portion is generally perpendicular to the urethra. The extension is inserted into the peri-urethral fascia along at least a portion of the length of the urethra. This induces the formation of scar tissue proximate the extension, with the scar tissue eventually contracting thereby compressing the urethra.

A pain abatement catheter system particularly suited for treatment within the epidural space of a patient which includes an epidural introducer assembly, an epidural catheter and a steerable epidural guidewire assembly. The introducer assembly provides a one-piece introduction into the epidural space and includes an elongated introducer needle, an inner stylet, and a flexible outer sheath with a hub. The improved epidural catheter may be safely introduced into the epidural space under fluoroscopic guidance and can be effectively steered through tortuous anatomy, adhesions, or scar tissue for the purpose of delivering medications or contrast dyes to highly selective areas of the epidural space including nerve-root-sleeve injections. The epidural catheter / hub assembly is advanced over a soft atraumatic tip guidewire which significantly decreases the risk of device breakage, nerve root damage, or spinal cord injury. The improved catheter also increases efficacy, maneuverability, and safety in the diagnosis and intervening treatment of acute and chronic back and limb pain. The steerable epidural guidewire assembly allows for safely introducing a guidewire into the epidural space through a flexible sheath cannula and effectively maneuvering the catheter into highly specific areas while reducing the risk of epidural, nerve root, or spinal cord injury.

Methods of treating scarring are disclosed. Generally, the methods include topically administering an IRM compound to the site of a surgical wound for a period of time and in an amount effective for preventing, reversing, or reducing the formation of a scar. Suitable IRM compound compounds include agonists of one or more TLRs.

This is a device for occluding a space within the body. In particular, the device comprises an elastomeric porous material, preferably having a pore size of greater than about 30 microns. The elastomeric porous material is optionally expandable from its uncompressed form. The devices may be placed in a desired site within a mammal and are useful in inhibiting the formation of scar tissue.

Cells, compositions, and methods of cell therapy for administering a therapeutically effective amount of stem cells or cell concentrate to achieve accelerated wound healing of normal and chronic wounds, while minimizing the formation of scar tissue.

The present invention is directed to a method and system for less invasive surgical procedures on animals. In accordance with various embodiments, electromagnetic energy is applied in a controlled application and projected into the tissue of an animal. The controlled application of the electromagnetic energy heats the targeted tissue causing cell necrosis, collagen shrinkage or scar tissue production, often without requiring a surgical incision.

The present invention is a scar-reducing plaster and a method for preparing scar-reducing plasters. The scar-reducing plasters comprise a backing film comprising an air- and water vapor-pervious and water-impervious polymer layer, and a breathable and adhesive polyurethane xerogel matrix layer that coats the backing film. The polyurethane xerogel matrix layer includes a central scar contact region and an edge region, wherein the scar contact region merges with the edge region and the thickness of the edge region decreases from the scar contact region to a thickness of from 5 to 150 μm at the edge of the polyurethane xerogel matrix layer. The scar-reducing plasters of the present invention have a reduced tendency to peel off during normal use.

A dermatological device for subcision of sub-epidermic tissues. The device is provided with a blunt dermis contacting surface enabling the operator to lift or cause traction to the skin from underneath the skin, after placement of the dermal contacting surface of the device under the skin. By mere skin lifting from underneath, fibrous bands present within the dermis are detached / disrupted / dissected from their attachments to the skin or from their attachments to deeper layers. Detachment / disruption / dissection of the fibrous bands can be aided by the adjunct of a dissecting arm which by rotation can enhance detachment / disruption / dissection of the fibrous bands. Pathological skin conditions such as edematous-fibrosclerotic panniculopathy known also as cellulite or any depressed scar or deep wrinkle can benefit from the device as dissection of the fibrous bands. which cause depression of skin areas. restitutes a nearly anatomical evened up skin surface.

A system and method of treating tachycardias and similar syndromes by the use of catheter ablation of tissue is described. A computed tomography (CT)-like image of the heart is obtained and processed to segment the various types of tissue. Papillary muscle areas are identified and displayed differently from the other nearby tissues so that the muscles can be avoided during treatment to avoid or minimize damage to the muscles during ablation treatment. Electrophysical data and scar tissue may also be identified in the image, which may be of the endoscopic type. The position of the catheter may be displayed as a synthetic image on the endoscopic view.

The invention discloses a double-layer artificial skin and a preparation method thereof, wherein, cell-free membranous biological derivative material is used as a surface layer, and a fibroblast, extracellular matrix synthesized and secreted by the fibroblast and a cell growth factor are compounded in the interior of biological support material to form a dermis, and then the surface layer and the dermis are combined to form the double-layer artificial skin; a compact surface layer structure can effectively reduce the loss of water, electrolytes and protein from surface of wound, avoid the invading and the reproduction of bacteria to the impaired surface of wound as well as the infection of the surface of wound, and be beneficial to epitheliosis and epithelial growth; the dermis can directly repair the surface of wound, promote the ingrowth of cells around the surface of wound and the angiogenesis, induce the differentiation from stem cells to skin cells and quicken wound healing; the artificial skin has the advantages of being capable of promoting the regeneration of skin, improving the elasticity, the flexibility and the mechanical abrasion resistance of skin after the surface of wound is healed, reducing excess scar tissues, controlling the contracture, having excellent biocompatibility, increasing the success rate of transplant and improving the quality of healing; the double-layer artificial skin has wide material resources and simple production method, and is applicable to the clinical treatment of skin defect caused by inflammation, ulcer, thermal burns, iatrogenicity and the like.

Methods, devices, and systems for treating the support structures of the body, particularly for incontinence, take advantage of two mechanisms to enhance the support provided by the fascia, ligaments and tendons: first, the invention increases a modulus of elasticity of these tissues, and particularly of the fascial tissues. The increase in modulus can be effected by directing sufficient energy to the fascial tissue so as to promote the formation of scar tissue. The second mechanism attaches tissue planes together, often by directing energy to an interface between adjacent fascial tissues.

The invention relates to a novel agent containing fat (oil), which contains onion extract, in addition to the production and use thereof for caring, preventing or treating damaged skin tissue, such as after operations, biopsies, wounds, burns and other accidents, and especially scarred tissue, stretch marks, degenerative skin conditions and others. The agent is characterised in that the base thereof is based on oil, which can be used to produce, for example, cream, lotion, fluid, massage, or balm based products which contain fail (oil). Surprisingly, the onion extract, which contains water, alcohol or water-alcohol, can be integrated into a base containing oil without the effectiveness thereof being reduced or a phase separation being produced. The effectiveness thereof could be proved when the medical application thereof was monitored.

The present invention comprises a modified woman's undergarment that includes a peri-pubic light compression panel allowing for compression at the incision site and a treatment dressing means for exposing the wound to a medicament. The combination of light compression and treatment with applicable medicament functions to minimize the formation of scars following cesarean section incisions performed in the lower transverse uterine or peri-pubic area. The undergarment is not limited in style and can include various styles such as a bikini, thong, low-rise, support style, full or high cut undergarment. Considering the long phase of wound healing, this design flexibility allows for the use of the garment under a variety of street clothes. Unlike a girdle or abdominal support device, the crux of the invention does not require heavy or high abdominal support, although for those applications requiring girdle-type support, the invention could also be fabricated in a style that allows abdominal support along with the focused incision peri-pubic compression and scar management. In addition, the size, thickness and dimensions of the present invention undergarment are not limited.

The present invention provides a stabilized foam having a crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam having a top and a bottom surface; a stabilizing layer disposed onto at least one of the top and the bottom surfaces of the crosslinked closed cell polyolefin foam; and an adhesive layer disposed onto at least one of the top or the bottom surfaces. Also provided is a method of preparing the stabilized foam, a method of treating a wound, scrape, abrasion or skin puncture, a method of maintaining cleanliness of an operation incision site, suture site, catheter insertion site, or an intentional skin breach site, a method of monitoring electrical impulses during EKG or delivering electrical impulses in a TENS or biofeedback therapy, and a method of softening the collagen deposits on a scar and reducing the raised or keloid portion of the scar over time.

A myocardial lead attachment system for securing a distal end of a lead within a myocardium of a patient's heart. The system includes a lead body, an anchor mechanism formed of a bioabsorbable or biodegradable polymer for engaging a surface of the patient's heart and a surface feature formed on a portion of the lead body for promoting formation of scar tissue around said portion of the lead body.