BLUNT NEEDLE FOR DELIVERY OF DERMAL FILLER THREADS
Provided herewith is a needle for delivering dermal filler thread to a wrinkle in a patient. The needle can also be used to deliver the thread to a patient for the purposes of facial contouring. The needle comprises a coupler for attaching the thread to the needle and a blunt distal end to ease delivery through the skin.
1 . A needle for delivering a dermal filler comprising:
a tubular body having a proximal portion and a distal portion,
a coupler in its proximal portion for attaching a dermal filler thread to the needle, and
a blunt distal end in the distal portion.
2 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the blunt distal end does not have an angle that is smaller than 90 degrees.
3 . The needle of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the blunt distal end comprises a tip portion having a height less than diameter of the base.
4 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler in its proximal portion mechanically attaches a dermal filler thread to the needle.
5 . The needle of any preceding claim, wherein the coupler comprises at least one slit along the same axis of the tubular body.
6 . The needle of claim 5 , wherein the coupler comprises a plurality of slits.
7 . The needle of any preceding claim, wherein the coupler comprises at least one strut.
8 . The needle of claim 7 , wherein the coupler comprises a plurality of struts.
9 . The needle of claim 8 , wherein the coupler comprises an even number of struts and each strut of the pair is located along the same longitudinal plane.
10 . The needle of claim 8 , wherein the struts are staggered along the length of the coupler.
11 . The needle of any preceding claim, wherein the coupler comprises at least one cleat.
12 . The needle of claim 11 , wherein the cleat is tab-shaped or tooth-shaped.
13 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler comprises a funnel having a proximal and a distal end.
14 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a hypotube coupler
15 . The needle of claim 1 , wherein the coupler is a detachable coupler
16 . A kit comprising a needle of any preceding claim, and a thread optionally coupled thereto which is biocompatible and compressible.
17 . The kit of claim 16 , wherein the thread comprises hyaluronic acid, salt, hydrate or solvate thereof optionally wherein at least a portion of the hyaluronic acid, salt, hydrate or solvate thereof is cross-linked.
18 . The kit of claim 16 or 17 , further comprising a sheath.
19 . The kit of claim 18 , wherein the sheath comprises a pull tab.
20 . The kit of claim 17 or 19 , wherein the sheath is a self-buckling sheath.
21 . The kit of any one of claims 16 to 20 , wherein the thread is coupled to the needle.
22 . The kit of claim 21 , wherein the thread is mechanically coupled to the needle.