Autologous Fat Grafting with Distractive Force for Breast Augmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for breast augmentation using fat grafts face challenges such as poor survival rates of larger graft volumes, graft necrosis, and calcification, which have led to concerns about differentiating these issues from neoplastic processes, resulting in limited acceptance of fat grafting for breast augmentation.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a distractive force to expand the breast tissue volume, increase vascularity, and create a fertile extracellular matrix, combined with improved techniques of autologous fat harvesting and processing, to enhance graft survival and reduce necrosis and calcification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If larger blocks of fat grafts are used for breast augmentation, then the augmentation volume is increased, but the graft survival rate deteriorates and necrosis occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides large fat grafts into smaller micro-grafts and distributes them throughout the breast tissue. This segmentation increases the surface area for vascular integration and improves oxygen diffusion to all graft portions, thereby maintaining high graft survival rates while achieving substantial augmentation volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates zones of high vascularity within the breast tissue by inducing localized hyperemia and angiogenesis. These enhanced vascular zones provide improved blood supply to the grafted fat, ensuring adequate nutrition and oxygen delivery to support larger overall graft volumes with higher survival rates.
2Quantity of substance
If fat grafting is performed to increase breast volume, then augmentation is achieved, but graft necrosis and calcification occur leading to diagnostic confusion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the breast tissue in advance by inducing a pro-angiogenic state and enhancing vascular density before fat grafting. This preliminary vascular enhancement ensures that blood supply is already optimized when the graft is introduced, preventing necrosis and subsequent calcification while still achieving volume augmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies physiological parameters of the breast tissue, including increasing vascular permeability, enhancing blood flow, and altering the extracellular matrix composition. These parameter changes create an optimal environment for graft survival, reducing necrosis and calcification risks while maintaining augmentation benefits.
3Quantity of substance
If prosthetic implants are used for breast augmentation, then volume increase is achieved, but complications such as scarring, capsular contracture, and implant rupture occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the patient's own adipose tissue and stem cells to perform the augmentation function, eliminating the need for foreign implants. The autologous fat and stem cells integrate with the host tissue, providing natural augmentation without the complications associated with prosthetic materials such as capsular contracture, rupture, or migration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs stem cells as intermediaries that facilitate the integration and survival of grafted fat. These stem cells differentiate into adipocytes and support the revascularization process, creating a biological bridge between the graft and host tissue that eliminates the need for synthetic implants and their associated complications.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for preparing a soft tissue site, and augmenting the soft tissue site, such as the breast(s), scar, depression, or other defect, of a subject through use of devices that exert a distractive force on the breast(s) and grafting of autologous fat tissue such as domes and sealing rims for surrounding each of the soft tissue site and a regulated pump. The method for preparing the soft tissue site, and enhancing fat graft results, entails application of the distracting force to the targeted soft tissue site at least intermittently for some period of time and preferably several weeks prior to the graft procedure. A rotated aspect of the invention includes following the preparation steps by transfer of fat from other areas of the subject to the subject's soft tissue site, and then reapplication of the distractive force to the soft tissue site that received the autologous fat graft. Alternatively, fat from genetically related sources may be used, and the fat may be further processed prior to injection. Substantial soft tissue augmentation, high rates of graft survival and negligible graft necrosis (data demonstrating 80% survival and only 20% necrosis is presented) or calcification result from the practice of these methods.