Active tissue augmentation materials and method

Abstract

Active tissue augmenting agents, compositions and methods for use are disclosed. In a typical embodiment, the active augmenting agents of the invention can be used to form an artificial sphincter around a lumen of a human or animal body. In one embodiment, the active augmenting agent comprises magnitizable particles which can provide occlusion of a lumen, such as the urethral lumen, by circumferential attraction of the injected material toward the center of the lumen by the inherent magnetic flux field created from the magnetic dipoles of the magnetic particles.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for augmenting a soft tissue in a body comprising: 
 selecting an active augmenting agent;    depositing the active augmenting agent at locations in the soft tissue to be augmented.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the active augmenting agent comprises magnetizable particles.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the magnetizable particles are suspended in a composition containing biocompatible carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the magnetizeable particles include a surface modifier.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the magnetizable particles are magnetically active prior to depositing into the tissue.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the magnetizeable particles are unmagnetized when deposited into the tissue and subsequently magnetized after depositing.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the magnetizeable particles are about 30 to 3000 microns in size.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein the magnetizeable particles are about 80 to 600 microns in size.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the active augmenting agent comprises magnetizeable rods.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the tissue is a submucosal tissue surrounding a body lumen.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the lumen is a urethra.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the lumen is the rectum.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the active augmenting agent is deposited through a needle passed into the tissue.  
     
     
         14 . A method for forming a sphincter surrounding a portion of a body lumen, the method comprising a step of injecting an active augmenting agent into tissue surrounding the lumen.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the active augmenting agent comprises magnetizeable particles.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the magnetizeable particles are suspended in a composition containing a carrier.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16  wherein the magnetizeable particles include a surface modifier.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the magnetizeable particles are magnetically active when injected into the tissue.  
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the magnetizeable particles are unmagnetized when injected into the tissue and subsequently magnetized after injection.  
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein the magenetizeable particles are about 30 to 3000 microns in size.  
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20  wherein the magnetizeable particles are about 80 to 600 microns in size.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the bodily lumen is the urethra.  
     
     
         23 . An active augmenting agent comprising: 
 a plurality of magnetizable particles; and    a biocompatible carrier.    
     
     
         24 . The active augmenting agent according to  claim 23  further comprising a surface modifier.  
     
     
         25 . The active augmenting agent according to  claim 23  wherein the biocompatible carrier is saline.  
     
     
         26 . The active augmenting agent according to  claim 23  wherein the biocompatible carrier is a polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
     
     
         27 . The active augmenting agent according to  claim 24  wherein the surface modifier is a polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
     
     
         28 . The active augment agent according to  claim 24  wherein the surface modifier includes a selected one of a hyaluronic acid or a hyaluronate.