Micro-lipo Needle with Vacuum Interlock and Concentric Seal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing adipose tissue grafting and transfer methods face challenges such as necrosis, absorption by the body, infection, calcifications, scarring, inconsistent engraftment, and lack of durability due to inadequate neovascularization and necrosis of transplanted tissue.
Innovation Solution
The development of a micro-lipo needle device with a vacuum interlock element, a matched set of needle and cannula forming a concentric seal, and a mechanism to safeguard the needle's travel, allowing for safe and controlled liposuction and tissue harvesting. The device is designed for one-time use and includes a tissue filtration/purification system for improved graft quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional liposuction methods are used to harvest adipose tissue, then tissue can be obtained, but needle insertion safety is compromised and uncontrolled leakage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The needle's travel is pre-limited by the mechanism before insertion occurs. The safeguard mechanism ensures the needle can only penetrate to a predetermined safe depth, preventing over-insertion into fat tissue before the actual harvesting action begins.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism between the needle and the fat tissue that controls and regulates the insertion process. This intermediate safeguard mechanism acts as a mediator that allows controlled access while preventing harmful uncontrolled leakage and over-penetration.
2Ease of manufacture
If adipose tissue is harvested and mixed with liquid (water, blood, tumescent solution), then tissue can be processed, but volume is lost due to rapid absorption of liquid by the body
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue filtration/purification system extracts and removes excess liquid from the harvested adipose tissue. This extraction process separates the useful adipose tissue components from the harmful excess liquid that would otherwise be rapidly absorbed by the body, thereby preserving graft volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The filtration system changes the physical parameters of the harvested tissue by adjusting the liquid-to-tissue ratio. By removing excess liquid through filtration, the system optimizes the tissue's physical state for transplantation, improving volume retention while maintaining processability.
3Reliability
If concentrated populations of adipose-derived regenerative cells are added to improve graft retention and vascularization, then graft quality improves, but processing complexity and equipment requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the harvesting, filtration, and concentration functions into a single integrated device system. By merging these previously separate processing steps into one unified apparatus, the system achieves improved graft retention and vascularization without requiring multiple separate pieces of equipment or highly specialized processing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The micro-lipo needle device with integrated filtration system performs multiple functions: harvesting adipose tissue, filtering out excess liquid, and concentrating regenerative cells. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate specialized equipment for each processing step, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining improved graft outcomes.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If closed sterile fluid pathway is used to reduce infection risk, then safety improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs a nested structure where the needle is inserted through the inner portion of the cannula, creating a concentric seal. This nested arrangement inherently creates a closed sterile fluid pathway without requiring additional complex external sealing systems, as the nested geometry itself provides the sterile barrier.
Solution Approach 2:
The concentric seal formed by the nested needle and cannula acts as a flexible thin-film barrier that maintains sterile conditions. This flexible sealing approach provides effective infection prevention without the rigidity and complexity of hard sealed systems, allowing the closed pathway to adapt to tissue contours while maintaining sterility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The micro-lipo needle device enhances the safety and efficacy of adipose tissue harvesting by preventing needle insertion into fat tissue, reducing leakage, and ensuring controlled vacuum conditions, thereby improving graft retention, vascularization, and overall surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
a main housing providing a cavity, which cavity being communicateble with a vacuum source such that when the main housing is placed on an area of a body the vacuum source generates a degree of vacuum to cause a volume of skin and fat to be lifted so as to fill up the cavity
Implementation Method 2
a matched set of needle and cannula forming a concentric seal, limiting leakage
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose micro-lipo needle device and methods of making and using the same.