Tissue transfer systems

Abstract

Devices and methods for tissue transfer are described where a cannula may be inserted into the breast of a subject at one of several points of entry. Insertion of the cannula into the breast may be accomplished by using a guidance system to distinguish between tissue types. Once desirably positioned, the cannula may be withdrawn from the breast while automatically (or manually) injecting the fat in multiple deposits of adipose tissue or fat such that the deposited fat remains within the tract formed by the withdrawn cannula. Multiple tracts of the deposited fat may be injected within the breast until the breast has been desirably remodeled and/or augmented.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for implanting tissue, comprising:
 a cannula including a proximal end and a distal end;   a transmitter disposed at or near the distal end of the cannula to emit light from the distal end of the cannula onto tissue;   a receiver disposed at or near the distal end of the cannula to receive light reflected from the tissue; and   a detector coupled to the receiver and configured to detect light scattering properties of the tissue based on the light reflected from the tissue;   wherein based on the light scattering properties of the tissue, a determination is made whether the cannula is located within or near an anatomical structure for injecting injectable tissue through the cannula.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter comprises an optical transmission fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the optical transmission fiber is optically coupled to a light source. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the light source is a laser. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the optical transmission fiber is positioned through the cannula or adjacent to the cannula. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises an optical receiving fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises a photo detector optically coupled to the optical receiving fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , comprising a processor coupled to the photo detector and configured to process the light reflected from the tissue and the light scattering properties of the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to differentiate between different light scattering properties of the tissue to determine whether the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure for injecting the injectable tissue through the cannula. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein if the processor determines that the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure, the processor is configured to automatically inject the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to automatically inject the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure in at least one of a controlled volume or a controlled injection rate. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein if the processor determines that the cannula is not located within or near the anatomical structure, the processor is configured to automatically cease injection of the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter emits the light at a wavelength of between 600 μm and 1,550 μm. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter emits the light at a wavelength of between 630 μm and 1,450 μm. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter emits the light at a wavelength of between 920 μm and 1,210 μm. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the light reflected from the tissue is backscattered to the receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the light reflected from the tissue at a detection range matching that of a transmitted laser output. 
     
     
         18 . A method of remodeling tissue in an area of a human body, comprising:
 inserting a cannula of an instrument assembly percutaneously into the area of the human body, the instrument assembly including (i) the cannula including a proximal end and a distal end, (ii) a transmitter disposed at or near the distal end of the cannula, (iii) a receiver disposed at or near the distal end of the cannula, and (iv) a detector coupled to the receiver;   emitting light from the distal end of the cannula with the transmitter onto tissue within the area of the human body;   receiving light reflected from the tissue with the receiver;   detecting light scattering properties of the tissue with the detector based on the light reflected from the tissue; and   based on the light scattering properties of the tissue, determining whether the cannula is located within or near an anatomical structure for injecting injectable tissue through the cannula.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , comprising a processor coupled to the detector to differentiate between different light scattering properties of the tissue to determine whether the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure for injecting the injectable tissue through the cannula. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising automatically injecting the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure if the processor determines that the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure, and comprising automatically ceasing injection of the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure if the processor determines that the cannula is not located within or near the anatomical structure.