Other

Inamed Development Company

Michael G Petit

Jack L Rodgers

Shella Comin-DuMong

A device for delivering phototherapeutic light to the nipple and surrounding tissue of a breast. Many mastectomy procedures for patients with breast cancer require removal of the nipple. Thus, for the best aesthetic result, post-operative augmentation or reconstruction of the breast includes the implantation of an artificial nipple. The present device and method permits a more conservative mastectomy to be performed while reducing the risk of recurrence wherein cancerous and pre-cancerous tissue in the nipple and surrounding aureole tissue are treated by illuminating the tissue with phototherapeutic light. The tissue is first perfused with a photosensitizer which accumulates therewithin. An embodiment of the device, which includes a rigid or semi-rigid hemispherical shell for structural stability, is attached to the breast. The device includes a transparent flexible aperture which is designed to fit snugly against the outer surface of the nipple and surrounding tissue. Phototherapeutic light from a light source enters the shell by means of a fiber optic and is conducted to a light diffuser tip disposed within the shell in optical communication with the light output end of the fiber optic. The light emanating from the diffuser tip is reflected from the interior surface of the hemispherical shell to uniformly illuminate the nipple and surrounding photosensitizer-laden tissue. In another embodiment a tissue expander is implanted within the breast following mastectomy. The tissue expander is adapted to receive light from a light source via a fiber optic and deliver diffuse phototherapeutic illumination to the tissue adjacent to and surrounding the tissue expander.

Implantable illuminator for photodynamic therapy of the breast and method

A fishhook is described which disintegrates upon standing for prolonged periods of time in an aqueous environment such as within biological tissue. In one embodiment, the fishhook comprises a biodegradable polymeric hook-shaped structure with at least one metal tip affixed thereto providing a sharp piercing element. Upon exposure to the chemical environment of the fish's tissue the polymer biodegrades. In another embodiment, a substantially insoluble or non-biodegradable body portion of the hook has a separable point and barb portion affixed to the insoluble portion by means of a biodegradable adhesive. When the fishhook penetrates the fish's tissue, the solvents and/or enzymes present in the tissue environment causes the adhesive to release the barb and/or the point of the fishhook and the fish may shed the disintegrated fragments. In yet another embodiment, the entire fishhook is fabricated from a biodegradable polymer such as polylactide or polyglycolide or a copolymer thereof.

Biodegradable fishhook

A device configured to form a sleeve having a proximal end, a distal end and an elongate body portion having an axial lumen therebetween. The body portion is dimensioned to accommodate a length of hose within its axial lumen. The proximal end of the device has a wrench portion adapted to matingly engage at least a portion of the outer surface of a female threaded coupling fixture mounted on a terminal end of the hose. The distal end of the device may or may not be flared outwardly to prevent the hose from kinking when the female coupling fixture mounted on the hose is attached to a supply source such as a water tap. The body portion and distal end of the device is adapted to rotate freely about a length of hose housed therewithin. In one embodiment, the proximal end of the device has a stop operable for preventing the device from sliding away from the female coupling fixture mounted on the hose. The body portion of the device is adapted to prevent the length of hose housed therewithin from kinking along its length. Between the device's proximal end, which in operation overlies at least a portion of the female coupling fixture, and its distal end, the device provides grasping means operable for applying torque to the female coupling fixture enabling a person to comfortably and easily rotate the rotatable female coupling fixture on the hose to facilitate threaded attachment to or removal from a mating fixture or supply source.

Hose sleeve

Nipple illuminator for photodynamic therapy

An improved injection reservoir for medically implantable devices is disclosed, the improvement means for (a) verifying that the tip of the needle is actually in the injection reservoir prior to injection; and (b) reducing damage to the needle tip during the verification procedure. In the preferred embodiment flexible needle guard provides first contact with a needle entering the reservoir. Further pressure on the needle results in movement of the needle guard causing brushes attached thereto to slide against a roughened surface housed within the reservoir causing a mechanical vibration which can be either felt with the fingers via transmission up the needle or heard with a stethoscope placed on the skin in the vicinity of the reservoir. The surface of the flexible needle is coated with a layer of hard biocompatible elastomer to further reduce damage to the needle tip during position verification.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Barbara, CA, United States of America

Michael G Petit