Method and devices for tissue expansion

Abstract

A device for maintaining or achieving soft tissue expansion applicable to any body region already temporarily expanded including: an adhesive element deformable and capable of adapting to the shape of this body region, and which can then itself become mechanically rigid enough to resist tendency of the expanded tissue to recoil or to which a second material can be applied to form a stent adapted to the shape of the body area to provide the necessary structural rigidity to prevent recoil of the expansion and thereby induce its retention of its expanded shape after the stent is removed.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method for augmenting a region of soft tissue in a subject, the method comprising:
 swelling the region of soft tissue by applying a distractive force and/or injecting one or more inflating agents into the region; and   applying one or more splints to the surface of the swollen soft tissue for an amount of time sufficient to form a stromal matrix within the swollen soft tissue.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more inflating agents comprise a saline solution, air, a suspension of tissue matrix agents, a suspension of gels, dilute lipoaspirate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the stromal matrix comprises a recipient scaffold. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising dispersing a material derived from fat into the recipient scaffold. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 46 , further comprising dispersing an adipogenic material into the recipient scaffold. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44 , further comprising:
 further swelling the region of soft tissue after applying the one or more splints by further injecting the one or more inflating agents in the region; and   applying one or more further splints to the surface of the further swollen soft tissue.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the further swelling and application of one or more further splints is performed periodically until tension is reduced in the soft tissue. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more splints comprise at least one layer configured to adhere to the surface of the swollen tissue. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one layer is configured to adhere to the surface of the swollen soft tissue by surface tension. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one layer comprises a rigidifying structure. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one layer comprises a material configured to become rigid or semi-rigid upon curing. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the one or more splints comprise two layers. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the one or more inflating agents comprise fat, stem cells, cells derived from fat, an adipogenic agent, a material derived from fat, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         57 . A method of breast augmentation and/or reconstruction in a subject, comprising:
 swelling the breast by applying a distractive force and/or injecting one or more inflating agents into the breast; and then   applying one or more splints to the surface of the swollen breast to preserve the swelling.   
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the one or more inflating agents comprise a saline solution, air, a suspension of tissue matrix agents, a suspension of gels, dilute lipoaspirate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the one or more inflating agents comprise fat, stem cells, cells derived from fat, an adipogenic agent, a material derived from fat, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising dispersing a material derived from fat or an adipogenic material into the swollen breast. 
     
     
         61 . A method for augmenting a region of soft tissue in a subject, the method comprising:
 swelling the region of soft tissue by applying a distractive force and/or injecting one or more inflating agents into the region; and   applying one or more splints to the region of soft tissue; wherein the one or more inflating agents comprise fat, stem cells, fat cells, cells derived from fat, an adipogenic agent, a material derived from fat, or a combination thereof.   
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , further comprising:
 further swelling the region of soft tissue after applying the one or more splints by further injecting the one or more inflating agents in the region; and applying one or more further splints to the surface of the further swollen soft tissue.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the further swelling and application of one or more further splints is performed periodically until tension is reduced in the soft tissue.