Device for minimally invasive plastic surgery lift procedure

Abstract

Described are medical devices configured for use in cosmetic surgery and methods for repositioning tissue in a patient. The medical devices include an elongate body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of gaps defined therebetween. The body member comprises one ore more layers of a collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) material. The elongate member can include one or more tissue engaging members. In preferred embodiments, the collagenous extracellular matrix material includes one or more native or non-native bioactive components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A medical device, said device comprising:
 an elongate body member having a proximal end, a distal end, and a plurality of gaps defined therebetween;   said elongate body member comprising one or more layers of a collagenous extracellular matrix (ECM) material and including at least one tissue engaging member extending therefrom;   said at least one tissue engaging member arranged to pull tissue when said elongate body member is moved from a first position to a second position within the body of a patient; and   a base member associated with the distal end of said elongate body member and configured to substantially prevent said elongate body member from moving from said second position to said first position when said tissue engaging member is engaged with tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tissue engaging member extends laterally from said elongate body member. 
     
     
         3 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member is comprised of a collagenous ECM material. 
     
     
         4 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member is comprised of a bioabsorbable polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The medical device of  claim 4 , wherein said base member is poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid. 
     
     
         6 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member has a maximum outer cross-sectional dimension greater than that of the elongate body member. 
     
     
         7 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said device comprises at least two layers of a collagenous ECM material, wherein the layers are associated with one another to form a laminate of collagenous ECM material. 
     
     
         8 . The medical device of  claim 7 , wherein said laminate of collagenous ECM material is lyophilized. 
     
     
         9 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tissue engaging member includes a rounded tip for contacting tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tissue engaging member is constructed of a different material than the material used to construct the body member. 
     
     
         11 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein the material used to construct the at least one tissue engaging member absorbs at a faster rate as compared to the material used to construct the body member. 
     
     
         12 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said medical device has a tensile strength of at about 2 pounds per square inch to about 5 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         13 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said collagenous ECM material comprises submucosa. 
     
     
         14 . The medical device of  claim 13 , wherein said submucosa is small intestinal submucosa (SIS). 
     
     
         15 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member defines a slot adapted to receive said elongate body member. 
     
     
         16 . The medical device of  claim 15 , wherein said elongate body member is woven through slots of said base member. 
     
     
         17 . The medical device of  claim 1 , wherein said base member is formed as part of said elongate body member. 
     
     
         18 . A method for repositioning tissue in a patient, comprising:
 inserting the medical device of  claim 1  into the patient;   engaging the medical device so as to reposition tissue of a patient; and   attaching the base member of said medical device to tissue of said patient.