Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Peak PlasmaBlade Wants to Be The New Bovie
PEAK Surgical, Inc. from Palo Alto, CA hates the bovie cutter/coagulator. The company cannot stand the 1920's technology behind the bovie, and how its thermal function destroys healthy patient tissue around the cut. What do we hate about the bovie? Well, you know: all those bovie induced burns and destroyed gloves that surgeons are regularly subjected to.
Long story short, PEAK Surgical wants its Peak PlasmaBlade, a cold cutter and coagulator, to be the bovie of the 21st century. The company is quite hopeful: a new study presented in a poster session at the ongoing American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG) 56th Annual Clinical Meeting in New Orleans showed that PEAK PlasmaBlade™ "cut freshly excised human abdominal tissue with little thermal tissue injury compared with traditional electrosurgery."
More about the technology:
Electrosurgery was invented in the beginning of the 20th century and became one of the most-often used surgical tools after William Bovie introduced his electrosurgery (radiofrequency) generator in 1926. Since then, electrosurgical cutting has been performed using continuous radiofrequency waveforms, which thermally vaporizes soft tissue via an electrical arc through air and Joule heating. This results in a cutting and coagulation action that leaves a wide zone of collateral thermal damage.By contrast, PEAK Surgical’s PULSAR Generator supplies pulsed waveforms that produce short plasma-mediated, highly controlled electrical discharges through extensively insulated electrodes on a handheld device -- the PEAK PlasmaBlade. Because the radiofrequency is provided in short pulses with low duty cycle (fraction of time the voltage is ON), and the PEAK PlasmaBlade is so highly insulated, heat diffusion and associated thermal damage to surrounding tissues is limited, resulting in greatly reduced collateral damage and extreme cutting precision.
PEAK Surgical’s technology including the pulsed plasma-mediated discharges and electrode insulation techniques were originally developed by Professor Daniel Palanker’s group at the Hansen Experimental Physics Laboratory and Department of Ophthalmology at Stanford University. They have been evaluated in ophthalmic applications, including human studies in retinal and cataract surgery – one of the most delicate, precise and difficult types of surgery, and in preclinical studies.
Check out the following product brochure distributed by PEAK Surgical:
Product page: Peak PlasmaBlade...
Press release: PEAK Surgical Announces Positive Results from Preclinical Study of PEAK PlasmaBlade™ for Obstetric and Gynecologic Surgery
Video demonstrating the device...
(1)
Monday, May 5, 2008
Syneron's LipoLite Receives FDA Clearance
Syneron Medical, a company from Israel, just received approval from the FDA to market their new minimally invasive laser-assisted lypolysis machine, in which laser heats, destroys, and coagulates subdermal tissue.
From the press release:
For patients, LipoLite is both a minimally invasive alternative and a complement to traditional liposuction fat-removing procedures. The procedure requires only local anesthetic and is designed to provide patients lasting results with little downtime and a high level of safety. For physicians, the small, compact LipoLite system is comfortable to use, upgradeable to support future applications and fits easily on tabletops to save floor space in small operating rooms where space can be at a premium.
From the product page:
LipoLite causes fat cells to break apart and be eliminated by the body through non-selective heating of the adipose tissue. The 1064nm Nd:YAG laser energy is delivered via an optical fiber inside a cannula, inserted through a tiny incision to the treatment site.
The thermal energy has the added advantage of tissue tightening via simultaneous photo-stimulation of dermal collagen.
Due to the coagulation properties of Nd:YAG lasers, there is less bruising or bleeding as compared to traditional liposuction for faster recovery.
As a complementary procedure to traditional liposuction, laser assisted lipolyis with LipoLite can treat smaller areas not possible with liposuction.
Product page: LipoLite...
Press release: Syneron's LipoLite(TM) Minimally Invasive Laser-Assisted Lypolysis Receives FDA Clearance.
(0)
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
FDA Approves ARTISS Slow-Setting Fibrin Sealant for Treatment of Burn Patients
ARTISS fibrin sealant, a newly approved Baxter company product, is indicated to adhere autologous skin grafts to surgically prepared wound beds resulting from burns, for both adults and pedi patients. It is not indicated for hemostasis.
The following is from the statement by the FDA:
Fibrin sealants are tissue adhesives that contain the proteins fibrinogen and thrombin, which are essential in the clotting of blood. Artiss (Fibrin Sealant, VH S/D 4) differs from other fibrin sealants in that it contains a lower concentration of thrombin. This lower concentration allows surgeons more time to position skin grafts over burns before the graft begins to adhere to the skin. Artiss also contains aprotinin, a synthetic protein that delays the break down of blood clots."The approval of Artiss can help surgeons using a fibrin sealant to fine tune graft placement on burn sites," said Jesse L. Goodman M.D., M.P.H., director of FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "The approval also provides an additional choice for health care professionals in providing burn treatment."
The fibrinogen and thrombin proteins in Artiss are derived from human plasma, collected from FDA-licensed plasma centers. Both proteins undergo purification and virus inactivation treatments to reduce the risk of blood-transmissible infections.
During a multicenter clinical trial, investigators evaluated Artiss for its ability to attach skin grafts on two wound sites for 138 patients. At one test site, the skin graft was fixed with Artiss; at the other test site, the graft was fixed with surgical staples. The results showed that Artiss was, within a statistical error, as good as staples to attain complete wound closure.
Press releases: FDA Approves New Medical Adhesive to Treat Burn Patients...; Baxter Announces FDA Approval of ARTISS Slow-Setting Fibrin Sealant in Treatment of Burn Patients...
(0)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Silk'n Hair Removal System FDA Approved
Israeli company Home Skinovations Ltd. has received FDA approval to market its Silk'n hair removal system, a device that works via company's proprietary light therapy, dubbed Home Pulsed Light™ (HPL™). Designed to be used by the patient, but with physician guidance, the system promises both efficacy and privacy.
The Silk'n is intended for removal of unwanted hair by using selective photothermal treatment. The device is generally indicated for dermatological use. The Silk'n is specifically indicated for patient removal of unwanted hair by using selective photothremal treatment under the direction of a physician, after training by a healthcare professional.The efficacy and safety of Silk’n™ was tested in a multi-center clinical study involving 4 medical centers in North America and Israel over the last 12 months. A total of 150 patients self treated with Silk’n™ in physicians’ offices as part of the study, and the initial hair count as well as the post-treatment hair count of these patients was monitored by the investigating physicians.
An average reduction of 50% in the hair count was monitored three months post three bi-weekly treatment sessions. No adverse effects were noted in the course of the study, and the users of Silk’n™ recorded an extremely high level of satisfaction with the device and their results.
Press release: Silk'n™ Personal Light-Based Hair Removal Device Cleared by FDA
Product page: Silk'n
(0)
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
KFH Novo Wound Healing Device Approved by EU
Kingfisher Medical just received the CE Mark of approval from the European Union to market its Novo wound healing device. The handheld unit delivers small levels of electric current when placed in proximity to the wound, and that supposedly speeds up ATP production and overall healing of tissue around the damaged area.
The following is from the company's pitch:
Attracting the right cells to the wound area e.g. keratinocytes (cells which make up 90% of the outer layer of skin called the epidermis) Stimulating fibroblast cells to activate wound healing Increasing the production of ATP, providing energy to restart tissue healing Increasing the blood and oxygen supply to wound beds
Product page...
(0)
Monday, February 11, 2008
Qoustic Wound Therapy System™
Arobella Medical, LLC (Minneapolis, MN), just released its new Qoustic Wound Therapy System™ for low-frequency cavitational ultrasound wound cleaning, designed for debridement of wounds, and for maintenance or for preparation of wounds for other therapies, such as grafts and flaps.
The Qoustic Wound Therapy System removes harmful bacteria and biofilm and improves wound bed circulation. The system's unique, dome-shaped Qoustic Qurette(TM) vibrates at 35 kHz, converting electrical energy to ultrasound waves and focusing them intensively on the wound. Sterile saline solution transfers the ultrasonic energy to the wound, where tiny vibrating gas bubbles and cellular-level fluid movement separate dead and harmful cells from healthy tissue. As a result, dead and harmful cells are fragmented and destroyed, thus aiding in their easy removal with the edge of the Qoustic Qurette.The Qoustic Wound Therapy System is portable and can be used in many health care settings - including the bedside - by certified wound care specialists, including physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, physical therapists and podiatrists. The system reduces splash and aerosolization. It can reduce wound care costs in several ways: fast setup, no required disposables, short procedure times, effective procedures that reduce debridement frequency, efficient use of saline and fast cleanup.
Press release: Arobella Medical, LLC Launches Qoustic Wound Therapy System ...
Product page: Qoustic Wound Therapy System™ ...
(0)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ReeTrakt Surgical Retractor
Insightra Medical Inc. of Irvine, California has just been granted the European CE Mark to sell what the company calls a "new generation" of disposable soft-tissue surgical retractors.
ReeTrakt is the new generation of disposable soft-tissue surgical retractor systems providing complete retraction flexibility and optimal exposure of view in a variety of surgical procedures. It has been designed in conjunction with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore for surgeons to gently retract and secure the delicate soft tissue away from the operative site. Apart from being designed to make access to surgery easier and more efficient, ReeTrakt is also designed to minimize tissue trauma, optimize retraction force and lower the risk of infection. ReeTrakt allows the surgeon to perform the procedure with less assistance, in some cases facilitating procedures to even be performed single-handedly.
"ReeTrakt introduces a novel concept for use in pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The placement of four hooks (two superiorly and two inferiorly) could completely replace the need for a second assistant. It should allow a much better field of view and improved access," said Dr Mark Slack, Head of Department, Urogynecology and Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, U.K.Because of the versatility of ReeTrakt's design, which can be customized and catered to a wide variety of surgical procedures, it is anticipated that ReeTrakt will eventually be used in dozens of types of surgical procedures on a global basis.
Now available in the US and Europe. Here are the features that the company is trying to emphasize:
Low profile
Follows the body contours
Optimizes the view of the wound
Highly stable platform
Simple device
Hands free usage
Single Patient Use
Product page: ReeTrakt...
Press release: Insightra® Medical Inc Receives CE Mark on Revolutionary New Surgical Retraction System
(1)
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Never Have Another Facial Expression Again with Permanent "Botox"
If you love your expression wrinkle free face, but hate paying out the nose for Botox every few months, then you'll love permanently ablating your facial nerves.
GFX is a novel subcutaneous lesion generation system utilizing bipolar radio frequency (RF) technology to target motor nerves, (nerves that initiate muscle action). An effective "nerve block" applied to the motor nerves initiating this muscle action has been shown to reduce or eliminate such action1.GFX uses a patent pending combination of technologies to precisely locate bodily structures, and then apply therapeutic energy. A low intensity stimulator allows your physician to precisely locate the structure for treatment. Following location, a specific dose of RF energy is applied to effectively ablate a portion of the targeted structure. The application of a nerve block may leads to a reduction or elimination of muscle action.
Seriously though, could this be used for other medical conditions like Botox such as migraine treatments?
ACI - Advanced Cosmetic Intervention...
(hat tip: Plasticized)
(1)
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Skin From Hair
German researchers have developed a method to artificially grow skin cells in a lab that are derived from a patient's own stem cells found within hair roots. This work has a potential for all kinds of clinical and biomedical applications, such as plastic and reconstructive surgery, and development of specialized implants.
"We pluck a few hairs off the back of the patient's head and extract adult stem cells from their roots, which we then proliferate in a cell culture for about two weeks. Then we reduce the nutrient solution until it no longer covers the upper sides of the cells, exposing them to the surrounding air. The increased pressure exerted by the oxygen on the surfaces of the cells causes them to differentiate into skin cells," explains Emmendörffer. In this way, the researchers can grow numerous small pieces of skin, produced individually for each patient, which add up to a surface area of 10 to 100 square centimeters when pieced together. To ensure that they comply with the safety regulations at all times, the researchers are using new cleanrooms at the IZI, a state-of-the-art facility for producing different kinds of cell therapeutics. "We continuously measure the number of particles in the cleanrooms. If there are too many particles in the air, an alarm goes off," says Schmiedeknecht. The researchers expect to grow skin grafts for 10 to 20 patients a month in 2008, depending on how many doctors prescribe this therapy.
More from Fraunhofer Institute...
(0)
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Low-frequency Ultrasound for Chronic Wounds
Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden (Fraunhofer-Institut für Werkzeugmaschinen und Umformtechnik IWU) developed a variable frequency ultrasound system that might have potential in the treatment of chronic wounds:
Unlike the ultrasound used in prenatal examinations, which operates at frequencies of several hundred kilohertz, the frequencies used here are measured in tens of kilohertz. Devices operating at fixed frequencies are already available. But what effect does the treatment have on the patient's circulation? The only empirical data that exists at present is based on patient surveys.Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden teamed up with colleagues from IMM Ingenieurbüro Mittweida and Smart Material GmbH Dresden to carry out a systematic study of this method. How often, for how long, and at what frequencies do wounds have to be treated to prepare them optimally for transplantation? "We have developed a device that permits the frequency of the ultrasound waves to be varied between 20 and 120 kilohertz, and also has an output regulator," says IWU team leader Dr. Gunther Naumann. "To stimulate the blood flow in the deeper epidermal layers, we need a lower frequency than that required to clean the wound in the subcutaneous zone." Another unique feature of the new ultrasound device is that it is equipped with a measuring system that directs light into the wound using special probes. The red region of the color spectrum of the reflected light indicates the concentration of oxygen in the blood - which in turn reveals how efficiently the tissue is being irrigated. "Our observations have shown that the oxygen concentration continues to rise for 30 minutes after treatment. But we need to conduct further investigations to determine whether a sustained higher level can be reached after repeated treatment," Naumann reports. A prototype of the new device has been installed for use in clinical trials in the Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the academic teaching hospital in Dresden-Friedrichstadt. Ten patients have been treated so far. The study is to be continued in 2008.
Ultrasound for open leg ulcers ...
(1)
Friday, November 16, 2007
FusionOptic™ Technology from Leica
We've seen quite a few devices that are designed to improve all sorts of neurologic functions. However, we've never seen a medical gadget that is designed to utilize normal human neurology for improvement of its own function. And that is what FusionOptic™ Technology from Leica is supposedly doing: increasing the resolution of stereomicroscopes, models M205 C and M165 C, by delivering two different images to each eye.
From the press release about Leica M205 C, a model just introduced at the Medica 2007 in Düsseldorf (shown above; M165 C model is shown below).
The new Leica M205 C breaks through the previous optical resolution limits of stereomicroscopy by incorporating Leica's new FusionOptic™ technology (patent pending) which takes advantage of a neurological phenomenon. The left beam path produces great depth of field, while the right beam path provides a high-resolution image. The human brain then combines the best information from both channels to compose an image whose resolution and depth of field have never been achieved in any stereomicroscope before. The Leica M205 C is the world's first stereomicroscope with a fully apochromatically corrected 20.5:1 zoom. In the zoom range from 0.78x to 16x, the resolution increases continuously up to 1050 lp/mm (planapochromat objective 2x). Due to the natural laws of optics, this performance class has never been seen before in stereomicroscopes.
The high-end surgical microscope Leica M525 OH4 offers 36% more reach than comparable instruments. Another remarkable feature is its precise, harmoniously balanced yet easy movement. The combination of Leica OptiChrome™ optics, 300 watt xenon illumination and fully automatic lamp changer ensures high-contrast images with great field depth. The AutoIris™ feature prevents overheating of the tissue outside the field of view. The Leica BrightCare™ feature automatically regulates the light to the optimum intensity. The combination of the Leica M525 microscope and the compact stand F40 is particularly suitable for ENT and spine specialists, offering an excellent view, easy maneuverability, optimal stability and a convincing price-performance ratio.
Product pages: Leica M205 C ...; Leica M165 C ...
Press releases: Revolutionary Stereomicroscopes, New Research and Diagnosis Microscopes and Microscope Systems for Microsurgery ...; Revolutionary Stereomicroscopy and Unique Precision Instrument for Surface Preparation ...
(0)
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
FulFil Adjustable Face Implant Goes Strong for Two Years
Evera Medical, a Foster City, CA manufacturer of the facial saline-adjustable implant FulFil, is reporting that more than 670 of the devices have been implanted in the last two years with "no serious adverse events." The company markets its implants under two names, with FulFil™ being an international product, which was issued the European CE Mark in April for "augmentation of facial soft tissue, including lip augmentation," and in the US the device is called VeraFil™, and it was cleared by the FDA for "augmentation and reconstruction in and around the orbit of the eye," according to Evera Medical.
We have not seen this device before, so here's a quick look at the company's technology:
The FulFil implant is made up of a very thin compliant and porous membrane. This membrane is made of ePTFE, which is 50 microns in thickness and surrounds a silicone balloon that is filled with normal saline. The pores within the ePTFE membrane allow limited tissue incorporation without a fibrotic response often causing painful and rigid encapsulation of the implant. A patented 'slip plane' technology allows full movement between the silicone balloon and the outer ePTFE layer, thereby contributing to discreet and limited tissue growth.This novel technology is ideal for adding volume to the lips as flexibility and full animation of the mouth is maintained. Contrary to other implants made of thicker synthetic material, the lips remain full, soft and natural looking. Volume is added with normal saline to achieve the desired appearance.
Product page: FulFil implant ...
(0)
Monday, August 13, 2007
Custom Made Facial Bones Just For You!
If you ever find yourself in the position of needing facial reconstructive surgery, you don't want some generic "off the rack" mandible, do ya? Naaaa, you want some some artificial bones designed specifically for you to highlight your unique features.
To make an artificial bone with this technology, a 3D computer model of the bone is first created based on the patient's X-ray and CT scan data. The computer model is then sliced into a large number of cross-sections and the data is sent to a special 3D inkjet printer, which works sort of like an ordinary inkjet printer by transferring tiny droplets of liquid onto a surface. However, unlike ordinary printers that print on paper, this one prints onto thin layers of powdered alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP). The "ink" is a water-based polymer adhesive that hardens the alpha-TCP it comes into contact with. By repeatedly laying down the powder and printing successive layers on top of one another, the printer is able to physically reproduce the desired bone to an accuracy of one millimeter.Strong, lightweight and porous, the printed bones have characteristics similar to natural bone, and because they are tailored to fit exactly where they need to go, they are quick to integrate with the surrounding bone. The printed bone is also designed to be resorbed by the body as the surrounding bone slowly grows into it and replaces it.
In initial human trials conducted between March 2006 and July 2007, the effectiveness and safety of the artificial bones were tested in plastic surgery operations performed on 10 male and female patients between the ages of 18 and 54. In the second round of trials beginning this autumn at 10 medical institutions across Japan, the researchers plan to print up and implant synthetic bones in 70 volunteer patients with face or skull bones that have been damaged or removed due to injury or surgery.
While the printed bones are still not considered strong enough to replace weight-bearing bones, they are ten times stronger than conventional artificial bones made from hydroxylapatite, a naturally occurring mineral that is also the main component of natural bone. The printed bones are also cheaper and easier to make than hydroxylapatite implants, which must be sintered, or heated to a high temperature to get the particles to adhere to each other. In addition to taking longer to produce, sintered implants also take longer for the body to resorb.
PinkTentacle...
(1)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Breast Implants Linked to Suicide
Research is showing that women who have had breast implant surgery are more likely to attempt suicide later in life From the Washington Times:
"Dr. Lipworth [an epidemiologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center] analyzed the medical histories and death certificate data on 3,527 women who had cosmetic breast implant surgery between 1965 and 1993, following them for almost two decades after their surgeries. She found the suicide rate was triple that of women without implants. The risk was greatest - seven times higher - for women who got implants after turning 45."
It would seem that this is a matter more of correlation than causation - suicidal women tend to have a more negative impression of themselves, leading some to get implants. It would be interesting to see the reverse numbers - how many women who attempted suicide have had implants, compared with the rest of the population.
More from the Washington Times...
(0)
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Breastgadget: Pointing the Way to Natural Breasts
There's no doubt that breast implants serve a legitimate purpose, such as in cases of reconstruction. And yet, we've noticed the attention paid to breast augmentation technology far outstrips this limited role. You might say the desire for larger breasts in general has been occupying an ample portion of our male and female population's interest for the past century or so.
Sifting through all these huge tracts of research may feel overwhelming -- but don't let your spirits sag. Our Breastgadget column keeps you up to date on important events in the breast industry.
In the past, women have used all kinds of materials to try and up the ante -- even glass balls, giving whole new meaning to Christmas ornaments. At this point we even have adjustable breast implants available. Ideally though, one would just want a bigger natural breast -- rather than some sort of man-made material burrowing inside.
The hope that breast implants could be made out of one's natural body tissue may now be yielding fruit. The main issues with this form of breast implantation is that breasts are mostly fat, adult fat cells don't multiply, and fat cells need a healthy blood supply to survive or they'll disappear.
Cytori Therapeutics might have solved the problem. A combination of fat cells and stem cells harvested from the patient are implanted into the breasts, and supposedly after six months the boobs in questions should have grown by two cup sizes. The procedure is legal across the EU, but results from clinical trials are still pending. We're following these developments with great interest -- cross our hearts.
More from Cytori Therapeutics...
(0)
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Laboratory-manufactured Human Skin Shows Promise in Trial
Intercytex Group plc, a Cambridge, UK company, is reporting positive results from a recently completed Phase I trial of its allogeneic skin graft replacement, called ICX-SKN. For the common peasant, allogeneic means from an unrelated donor.
In the trial (which is published today in the July issue of Regenerative Medicine, available now for online viewing at www.futuremedicine.com), a full-thickness skin sample was excised from the upper arm of six volunteers and replaced with Intercytex' skin graft replacement product, ICX-SKN. After 28 days both visual and histological analysis showed that in all volunteers the ICX-SKN grafts were rapidly vascularised and overgrown with the hosts' own cells, resulting in a fully integrated skin graft that had closed and healed the wound site.ICX-SKN comprises a collagen-based matrix produced by the same skin cells - human fibroblasts - that are responsible for laying down the collagen in natural skin. The fibroblasts weave a collagen structure which mimics that found in skin and which shares many of the structural attributes of skin. Intercytex' scientists believe that the combination of living human fibroblasts in a human fibroblast-produced matrix underpins the integration and acceptance of ICX-SKN by the host skin. To date, other living regenerative medicine skin constructs have degraded too quickly to act as skin grafts when implanted in the human body.
In certain wounds and burns the use of skin grafts taken from a different part of the patient's own body is the optimal treatment to obtain wound closure. However, their use is avoided wherever possible because skin grafting itself is a painful and traumatic process that creates an additional wound. ICXSKN represents a potential alternative which could be of enormous benefit to patients and physicians.
The next stage of clinical development will involve application of ICX-SKN to larger wounds with a view to generating data that would enable rapid progress to pivotal trials and granting of a marketing licence.
Press release: Intercytex announces world first in skin repair using laboratory-manufactured human skin ...
Product page: ICX-SKN - skin graft replacement ...
(0)
Monday, June 18, 2007
Save The Implants!! Detecting Silicone Breast Implant Leakage
Canadian researchers are afraid the FDA's stringent rules about MRI screening of silicone implants will negatively affect breast size. That is why they have devoted themselves to finding a cheap, easy blood test to detect leaky implants.
Currently, the United States Food and Drug Administration recommends that patients with silicone breast implants undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) every two years to detect leakage or rupture. Clearly, this screening schedule leaves temporal windows in which leakage or rupture events would be missed. Furthermore, the high cost and relatively low accessibility of MRI are prohibitive. In an attempt to address the shortcomings of current tests, researchers at The University of British Columbia have designed a rapid method to detect leakage events. A stable synthetic tracer molecule added to silicone breast implant filler is detected in a patient's hair, blood or urine, following leakage or rupture. This non-invasive test is sensitive, inexpensive, accessible, and decreases health risks associated with silicone breast implants.
Godspeed gentlemen, Godspeed...
University of British Columbia...
(hat tip: Plasticized)
(1)
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Breastgadget: New natural option for skinny breast reconstruction patients
For serious cases of breast cancer, a double mastectomy is often the only option. However, there are many options for reconstruction, many of which use flaps of tissue from the back or abdomen to create a natural breast. However, for the extremely slender patients, they don't have a lot of tummy or back to donate to themselves. For these women, a silicone or saline implant was often the only option for reconstruction... until now.
Daily Mail details a new procedure called (TUG) that harvests the gracilis muscle, found in the thighs, along with an artery and vein, and transplants them into the breast pocket. Here is a part of the article that details the experience of having this procedure done:
At my first appointment in August, Mr Ramakrishnan told me that because I'm slim, I would be ideal for a new technique known as a TUG-flap reconstruction, where, for each breast, they would take a crescent-shaped wedge of tissue from my inner upper thighs with a muscle and blood vessels attached....Now, nearly a year later, you would be hard-pressed to see any scars or indents in the thigh tissue.
They took only about 20g of flesh from each thigh - about the weight of a cereal bar - as they don't need an awful lot to create small breasts.
My new breasts don't have quite the same droop as my own, which I miss, although this will probably happen naturally over time. But I'm very happy with them and they're exactly the same size as they were. It has been nine months since my operation and I feel incredibly lucky.
The next step for breast reconstruction, that we hope to be reporting on soon, is to use a patient's own stem cells to grow an actual breast replacement.
Read the article here...
(0)
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wound Healing Sped Up by Patient's Own Platelets
The University of Cincinnati is reporting that a team of clinicians under David Hom, MD, an otolaryngologist, completed a study that demonstrated that a gel containing a patient's own platelets (autologous platelet gel or APG) is more effective in promoting skin wound healing than a control antibiotic ointment:
It is believed to be one of the earliest preliminary studies comparing the effectiveness of APG on skin wounds in healthy humans.Four male and four female volunteers aged 21-58 received five full-thickness skin punch wounds (4 mm diameter) on each thigh. APG was applied topically to the punch sites (one to two times) on one thigh and antibiotic ointment to the other, and the wounds were monitored for six months.
Over a 42-day period, the researchers found that skin wounds treated with APG had a statistically significant increased wound closure compared with the antibiotic-treated sites.
On day 14, the researchers report in the May/June 2007 issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, the APG-treated sites had a closure rate of 73.9 percent, while the control, antibiotic-treated sites closed at 49.6 percent. By day 17, 81.1 percent of the APG-treated sites closed, compared with 57.2 percent of the antibiotic sites.
Clinical analysis of the APG-treated sites also showed increased growth factor levels, which are essential in wound healing.
"Overall, some of the APG-treated wound sites healed two to three days faster," says Hom. "That's a significant amount of time. This may be especially useful for patients who are prone to poor healing, such those with diabetes.
"Accelerating normal wound healing could also improve the quality of life for patients post-op," says Hom. "They may be able to leave the hospital sooner and get back to their regular routines more quickly."
Hom says APG treatment on skin wounds may also help patients who typically heal poorly.
Press release: Patient's Own Platelets May Speed Up Skin Wound Healing ...
Abstract: The Healing Effects of Autologous Platelet Gel on Acute Human Skin Wounds
(0)
» Norah's New Nose: Plastic surgery book for children (May 2, 2007)
» Adjustable Breast Augmentation Circumvents "Implantee Remorse" (April 18, 2007)
» Magic mirror out of the job: Computer program quantifies beauty (March 19, 2007)
» UltraShape: More Non-Invasive Liposuction (January 17, 2007)
» Genetically Modified Skin Cells Designed to Fight Infection (January 8, 2007)
» Virtual Reality Helps Young Burn Patients (January 4, 2007)
» High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for Body Sculpting (January 3, 2007)
» Parafricta Fabric (November 29, 2006)
» OrCel® Wound Sealant (September 15, 2006)
» Versajet Hydrosurgery System (September 14, 2006)
» Endotine Implant Sends Saggy Cheeks Back to Their Mama (July 26, 2006)
» Dissolvable Scaffolding Treats Injured Skin (June 28, 2006)
» The Epi-Max® Wound Dressing (May 23, 2006)
» The Contour I System: Plastic Surgery Goes Non-Invasive? (March 28, 2006)
» Much-Hyped Cosmetic Surgery Procedures Actually Quite Uncommon (March 20, 2006)
» Spray-on Skin Cells for Burn Victims (September 7, 2005)
» Biobandage (August 26, 2005)
» VelaSmooth for Cellulite (June 14, 2005)