Methods of Administering Microparticles Combined With Autologous Body Components

Abstract

Microspheres to be implanted into a patient are metered and mixed with fluids, cells, or tissues withdrawn from the patient's own body, and reinserted into the patient's body to achieve augmentation, repair or other treatment of the patient's tissue.

1 - 95 . (canceled) 
     
     
         96 . A tissue treatment implant, comprising:
 a bulking agent comprising a plurality of microparticles pre-loaded within a mixing and delivery system; and   an autologous carrier comprising bodily fluid withdrawn from a patient into said mixing and delivery system;   wherein said bulking agent and said autologous carrier are combined within the mixing and delivery system and then delivered to a treatment location within said patient.   
     
     
         97 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the autologous carrier comprises blood, serum or plasma. 
     
     
         98 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the autologous carrier comprises cerebral spinal fluid, lymph, synovial fluid, extracellular fluid, amniotic fluid, or milk. 
     
     
         99 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the autologous carrier is subjected to sterile filtration before combining with the plurality of microparticles. 
     
     
         100 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles have average diameters between about 10 microns and about 500 microns. 
     
     
         101 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise smooth surfaces free from corners, edges, peaks and projections. 
     
     
         102 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise one or more of elliptical and cylindrical forms. 
     
     
         103 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise non-smooth surfaces. 
     
     
         104 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise a porous surface, a porous body, a shell-like structure, a hollow interior, a metallic coating, a carbon coating, or a carbon nanotube coating. 
     
     
         105 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles have a short-term effectiveness of up to about 6 months, a medium-term effectiveness of up to about 3 years, or a long-term effectiveness of more than about 3 years. 
     
     
         106 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles comprise polylactic acid, a ceramic material, polymethacrylate, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), or purified cytoskeleton of unicellular or multicellular algae. 
     
     
         107 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of microparticles are sterile. 
     
     
         108 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , further comprising sterile water, an aqueous isotonic solution of saline, an aqueous isotonic solution of phosphate salts, a hypertonic aqueous solution, or a hypotonic solution. 
     
     
         109 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , further comprising a sterile aqueous thickening agent. 
     
     
         110 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 109 , wherein the sterile aqueous thickening agent comprises collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, methyl-cellulose, or polylactic acid. 
     
     
         111 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , wherein the mixing and delivery system further comprises a metered aspiration syringe. 
     
     
         112 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 111 , wherein the metered aspiration syringe further comprises a rotatable metering sleeve. 
     
     
         113 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 111 , wherein the metered aspiration syringe further comprises a micronizing device. 
     
     
         114 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 113 , wherein the micronizing device comprises a structure configured to perform physical micronization, a structure configured to perform ultrasonic micronization, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         115 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , further comprising an agent to assist in homogeneity, a coagulant agent, an agent to facilitate bonding, or an adhesion prevention agent. 
     
     
         116 . The tissue treatment implant of  claim 96 , further comprising an antibiotic, an anesthetic, or an anti-inflammatory agent.