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 Once desirably positioned, the cannula may be withdrawn from the breast while automatically (or manually) injecting the fat in multiple deposits of adipose tissue or fat such that the deposited fat remains within the tract formed by the withdrawn cannula.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 method of implanting tissue, comprising:
 inserting a cannula of a device percutaneously into an area of a human body, the device including (i) the cannula, (ii) a transmitter, (iii) a receiver associated with the cannula, (iv) a detector, and (v) a processor;   emitting light from the cannula onto tissue with the transmitter;   receiving light reflected from the tissue at the receiver;   detecting light scattering properties of the tissue based on the light reflected from the tissue;   based on the light scattering properties of the tissue, determining with the processor whether the cannula is or is not located within or near an anatomical structure; and   upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is not located within or near the anatomical structure, controlling actuation of an actuation of the device with the processor to automatically cease injection of an injectable tissue into the anatomical structure.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter includes an optical transmission fiber optically coupled to the light source. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is configured to emit light at a wavelength of between 630 μm and 1,450 μm. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a laser. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the optical transmission fiber is positioned through the cannula or adjacent to the cannula. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises an optical receiving fiber. The method of  claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises a photo detector optically coupled to the optical receiving fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The method of claim  7 , wherein the processor is coupled to the photo detector and configured to process information corresponding with the light reflected from the tissue and the light scattering properties of the tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising differentiating between different light scattering properties of the tissue with the processor to determine whether the cannula is or is not located within or near the anatomical structure for injecting the injectable tissue through the cannula. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure, the method comprises controlling actuation of the actuator of the device with the processor to automatically inject the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is located within or near the anatomical structure, the method comprises controlling actuation of the actuator of the device with the processor 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 method of  claim 1 , wherein the light reflected from the tissue is backscattered to the receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The method 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. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the injectable tissue is injectable fat tissue, and wherein upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is located within or near a tissue type other than fat based on the light scattering properties of the tissue type, the method comprises controlling actuation of the actuator of the device with the processor to automatically cease injection of the injectable fat tissue into the anatomical structure. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes an optoelectronic module coupled to the detector with an optical cable. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the optoelectronic module comprises an optical system assembly including an excitation source and the detector. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the excitation source is combined into a single signal from a first laser source and a second laser source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the detector includes a first detector and a second detector, the first detector configured to detect a diffuse reflectance and the second detector configured to detect a fluorescence emission. 
     
     
         19 . A method of implanting tissue, comprising:
 inserting a cannula of a device percutaneously into an area of a human body, the device including (i) the cannula, (ii) a transmitter, (iii) a receiver, (iv) a detector, and (v) a processor;   emitting light from the cannula onto tissue with the transmitter;   receiving light reflected from the tissue at the receiver;   detecting light scattering properties of the tissue based on the light reflected from the tissue;   based on the light scattering properties of the tissue, determining with the processor whether the cannula is or is not located within or near an anatomical structure;   upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is not located within or near the anatomical structure, controlling actuation of an actuator of the device with the processor to automatically cease injection of an injectable tissue into the anatomical structure; and   upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is located within or near a tissue type other than fat based on the light scattering properties of the tissue type, controlling actuation of the actuator of the device with the processor to automatically cease injection of the injectable tissue into the anatomical structure.   
     
     
         20 . A method of implanting tissue, comprising:
 inserting a cannula of a device percutaneously into an area of a human body, the device including (i) the cannula, (ii) a transmitter, (iii) a receiver, (iv) a detector, and (v) a processor;   emitting light from the cannula onto tissue with the transmitter;   receiving light reflected from the tissue at the receiver;   detecting light scattering properties of the tissue based on the light reflected from the tissue;   based on the light scattering properties of the tissue, determining with the processor whether the cannula is or is not located within or near an anatomical structure;   upon a determination by the processor that the cannula is located within or near a tissue type other than fat based on the light scattering properties of the tissue type, controlling actuation of an actuator of the device with the processor to automatically cease injection of an injectable tissue into the anatomical structure.