Devices, systems and methods for subdermal coagulation
Devices, systems and methods are provided for subdermal tissue tightening through soft tissue coagulation and for use in cosmetic surgery applications. The devices, systems and methods of the present disclosure may be used for a minimally invasive application of helium-based cold plasma energy to subcutaneous tissue for the purpose of tightening lax tissue.
1 . A surgical method comprising:
creating an entry incision through a patient's skin;
aspirating fat from a subcutaneous tissue plane beneath the patients skin via the entry incision, the subcutaneous tissue plane including individual bands of a fibroseptal network;
applying helium-based plasma in the subcutaneous tissue plane, the helium-based plasma coagulates the individual bands and reduce laxity in the patient's skin, the helium-based plasma finds untreated bands of the individual bands that represents the path of least resistance for flow of RF energy in a plasma beam, the path of least resistance being a band having lower impedance relative to an adjacent band; and
drawing the helium-based plasma through the subcutaneous tissue plane such that the path of least resistance constantly changes, in response to increasing tissue impedance of the treated individual bands, and the helium-based plasma alternates to at least one other band of the individual bands to effect 360 degree tissue treatment,
wherein a current used to generate the helium-based plasma is selected such that, as impedance of the treated individual bands increases, the helium-based plasma alternates to an untreated individual band to limit heating of the treated bands.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying the helium-based plasma includes:
flowing helium over an energized electrode to ionize a portion of the flowing helium to generate plasma for coagulating the tissue, wherein applying the helium-based plasma produces rapid tissue heating of the individual bands sufficient to cause collagen contraction followed by immediate cooling to minimize unintended thermal injury to adjacent tissue.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein less than 0.1% of the flowing helium is ionized to create the plasma and greater than about 99.9% of the flowing helium remains un-ionized, wherein the flow of un-ionized helium draws heat away from the coagulated tissue.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the helium-based plasma is applied in a wanding motion to optimize distribution of the plasma.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the helium-based plasma is applied at a constant power output level for a range of tissue impedances.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the helium-based plasma is applied at a power output level of about 40 watts for tissue impedances on a range of about 125 ohms to at least about 5000 ohms.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aspirating fat includes at least one of an ultrasound-assisted liposuction technique, a laser assisted liposuction technique, and/or a power assisted liposuction technique.
8 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising liquifying the fat in the subcutaneous tissue plane before aspirating.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the liquifying the fat includes:
injecting the subcutaneous tissue plane with photo-absorbing nanoparticles; and
exciting the photo-absorbing nanoparticles with light of a predetermined wavelength.
10 . A surgical method further comprising:
creating an entry incision through a patient's skin;
disposing a balloon device through the entry incision, the balloon device is disposed in a subcutaneous layer by a plasma generator;
inflating the balloon to dissect tissue to create the subcutaneous tissue plane;
aspirating fat via the entry incision; and
applying helium-based plasma in the subcutaneous tissue plane to coagulate tissue and reduce laxity in the patient's skin.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the balloon device is disposed in a subcutaneous layer by a tunneling member.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the balloon is inflated with helium supplied by the plasma generator.
13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising deflating the balloon device and removing the balloon device before the applying of the helium-based plasma.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the balloon device remains inflated during the applying of the helium-based plasma to promote flow of the plasma to extremities of the subcutaneous tissue plane.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the balloon device is configured to correspond to an area of skin of a patient to be tightened.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the balloon device is configured to correspond to at least one of a patient's buttocks, abdomen, arms, legs, neck, forehead and/or chin.
17 . A surgical method comprising:
creating an entry incision through a patient's skin;
disposing a balloon device through the entry incision;
inflating the balloon to dissect tissue to create a subcutaneous tissue plane, aspirating fat via the entry incision; and
applying helium-based plasma in the subcutaneous tissue plane to coagulate tissue and reduce laxity in the patient's skin,
wherein the balloon device remains inflated during the applying of the helium-based plasma to promote flow of the plasma to extremities of the subcutaneous tissue plane.