Thread insertion devices

Abstract

Devices and methods for inserting an implant into skin or other tissue of a patient can include an insertion device having moveable portions that can retain, move, or otherwise control engagement and injection of a hyaluronic thread. The device can include a tubular member and a handle. The handle can include two or more components that each include apertures through which a needle can be placed. The handle can be manipulated to align or offset the apertures with respect to each other to modify a clearance through the apertures and selectively engage or disengage the needle or thread.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thread insertion assembly comprising:
 a first butterfly mechanism comprising a first wing, a first pivot component, and a first knuckle portion, the first knuckle portion comprising a first aperture extending therethrough; and   a second butterfly mechanism comprising a second wing, a second pivot component, and a second knuckle portion, the second knuckle portion comprising a second aperture extending therethrough, the first and second pivot components being aligned along a pivot axis to permit the first butterfly mechanism to pivot relative to the second butterfly mechanism, the first and second butterfly mechanisms being pivotable between (i) a first position in which central axes the first and second apertures are coaxially aligned with respect to each other to permit a trocar to move through the first and second apertures relative to the assembly and (ii) a second position in which the central axes of the first and second apertures are misaligned with respect to each other to engage a trocar positioned through the first and second apertures to restrict movement of the trocar relative to the assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a tubular member coupled to any of the first knuckle portion of the first butterfly mechanism and the second knuckle portion of the second butterfly mechanism, the tubular member comprising a lumen having a central axis that is aligned with the central axis of the first aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular member extends through the first aperture. 
     
     
         4 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 2 , wherein first and second butterfly mechanisms comprise a distal portion of thread insertion assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tubular member extends through the first and second apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the tubular member is compressed by first and second knuckle portions when the first and second butterfly mechanisms are in the second position such that the trocar is engaged with the assembly to restrict movement of the trocar relative to the assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot component is positioned between the first wing and the first knuckle portion. 
     
     
         8 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the second pivot component is positioned between the second wing and the second knuckle portion. 
     
     
         9 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a pivot pin that extends through the first and second pivot components to interconnect the first and second butterfly mechanisms. 
     
     
         10 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first knuckle portion comprises a pair of first knuckles that are longitudinally spaced apart from each other along the central axis of the first aperture, each of the pair first knuckles comprising first apertures. 
     
     
         11 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the second knuckle portion comprises a pair of second knuckles that are longitudinally spaced apart from each other along the central axis of the second aperture, each of the pair second knuckles comprising second apertures, at least one of the second knuckles being positionable within a longitudinal gap between the pair of first knuckles to align the first apertures with the second apertures. 
     
     
         12 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a trocar positioned within the first and second apertures. 
     
     
         13 . The thread insertion assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a thread coupled to the trocar, wherein the thread extends within a tubular member coupled to the first butterfly mechanism. 
     
     
         14 . A method of inserting a thread comprising positioning a portion of a trocar into a first passage of a first arm and into a second passage of a second arm, the first and second arms being rotatable about a longitudinal axis; biasing the first and second arms to rotate the first and second arms about the longitudinal axis to engage the trocar positioned within the first and second passages; inserting a distal portion of a trocar into a patient; releasing the portion of the trocar to permit movement of the trocar relative to the first and second arms is permitted; and retracting the handle relative to the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , comprising positioning the trocar into the first and second passages of the handle such that the distal portion of the trocar extends from the first and second arms. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein engaging the trocar positioned within the first and second passages comprises moving the first and second arms toward each other. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein inserting a portion of the trocar into a patient comprises moving the first and second arms toward the patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein releasing the portion of the trocar comprises permitting the first and second arms to move away from each other. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the handle comprises a rotational axis offset from longitudinal axes of the first and second passages, and wherein the biasing the first and second arms comprises rotating the first and second passages about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the first arm comprises a first butterfly mechanism having a first wing, and the second arm comprises a second butterfly mechanism having a second wing, wherein the first and second arms are rotated toward each other as the first and second butterfly mechanisms are rotated about the longitudinal axis.