Integrated needle and cannula for plastic surgery

Abstract

An integrated needle and cannula assembly for plastic surgery including a syringe connected to a blunt-tipped cannula where the blunt-tipped cannula is inserted into the hollow annular space of a hypodermic needle. In operation, the medical practitioner penetrates into the patient's skin using the hypodermic needle and then slides the blunt-tipped cannula through the annular space of the needle. A transporter assembly can be interposed between the syringe and the overlapping needle/cannula. The transporter assembly may include a retractable inner needle tube attached to the hypodermic needle and an external transporter housing which connects the syringe to the cannula through a cannula connector. Once the blunt tipped cannula is under the patient's skin, the needle is preferably withdrawn from the patient's skin to allow sub-dermal substances to be injected using only the blunt-tipped cannula. Withdrawal of the needle can be assisted with either a pull spring or push spring. In an alternative embodiment, a sharp-tipped trocar inside a cannula is used to penetrate the patient's skin. In a further alternative embodiment, a barbed surgical thread may be attached to said cannula to perform thread-lift procedures.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An integrated needle and cannula assembly, comprising:
 a syringe;   a cannula and a prong receiver attached to said syringe;   a hypodermic needle having a hollow annular space;   a prong attached to said hypodermic needle;   wherein said cannula is inserted into the hollow annular space of said hypodermic needle and said prong is inserted into said prong receiver.   
     
     
         6 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a second prong attached to said hypodermic needle and a second prong receiver to receive said second prong. 
     
     
         7 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a bump on said prong and a mating hole on said prong receiver to secure said hypodermic needle in a desired position with respect to said cannula. 
     
     
         8 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A trocar embedded holder comprising a sharp-tipped trocar inserted into an annular space of a soft holder. 
     
     
         22 . The trocar embedded holder of  claim 21  wherein said soft holder is made from rubber or plastic. 
     
     
         23 . The trocar embedded holder of  claim 21  wherein the annular space of said soft holder is large enough to accept a cannula after removal of said trocar. 
     
     
         24 . A method of injecting medication into a patient comprising the steps of:
 selecting an integrated needle and cannula assembly comprising a syringe containing medication, a cannula attached to said syringe and a hypodermic needle having a hollow annular space wherein said cannula is inserted into the hollow annular space of said hypodermic needle;   inserting said hypodermic needle into the skin of a patient;   inserting said cannula through said hypodermic needle until it is underneath the skin of said patient;   retracting said hypodermic needle on said cannula from the skin of said patient; and,   injecting medication into said patient through said cannula.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said medication is selected from the group of deoxycholic (bile) acid, silicone, lidocaine, saline, hyaluronic acid, fillers, synthetic wrinkle fillers (calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-1-lactic acid, poly glycolic acid), collagen wrinkle fillers, poly methyl methacrylate with bovine collagen, autologous wrinkle fillers and tumescent anesthesia solutions. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said medication is a Botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said cannula is a blunt-tipped cannula. 
     
     
         28 . A method of injecting medication into a patient comprising the steps of:
 selecting an integrated needle and cannula assembly comprising a syringe, a transporter assembly having an external transporter housing and an inner needle tube slidably and concentrically situated within a hollow annular space of said external transporter housing, wherein said external transporter housing is attached at one end to a syringe and at its other end to a cannula, further wherein said inner needle tube is attached at one end to a hypodermic needle with a hollow annular space such that said cannula can be inserted concentrically into the hollow annular space of said hypodermic needle;   extending said inner needle tube forward from said external transporter housing so that said hypodermic needle is exposed but not said cannula;   inserting said hypodermic needle into the skin of a patient;   moving said external transporter housing forward over the length of said inner needle tube while keeping said, hypodermic needle within the skin of said patient so that said cannula slides through said hypodermic needle until it is underneath the skin of said patient;   pulling said integrated needle and cannula assembly backward to pull said hypodermic needle out of the skin of said patient while leaving said cannula underneath the skin of said patient;   injecting medication into said patient through said cannula.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said cannula is a blunt-tipped cannula. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said medication is selected from the group of deoxycholic (bile) acid, silicone, lidocaine, saline, hyaluronic acid fillers, synthetic wrinkle fillers (calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-1-lactic acid, poly glycolic acid), collagen wrinkle fillers, poly methyl methacrylate with bovine collagen, autologous wrinkle fillers and tumescent anesthesia solutions. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said medication is a Botulinum toxin. 
     
     
         32 . An integrated cannula and trocar assembly comprising:
 a syringe;   a cannula attached to said syringe having a hollow annular space and an open distal tip;   a trocar with a sharp distal tip;   wherein said trocar is inserted concentrically into the hollow annular space of said cannula so that the sharp distal tip of said trocar can protrude from the open distal tip of said cannula.   
     
     
         33 . An integrated needle and cannula assembly for thread-lift procedures comprising:
 a cannula attached to a surgical thread;   a hypodermic needle having a hollow annular space;   wherein said cannula and surgical thread are inserted into the hollow annular space of said hypodermic needle.   
     
     
         34 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 33  wherein said surgical thread has barbs. 
     
     
         35 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 33  further comprising a syringe containing sub-dermal substances attached to said cannula. 
     
     
         36 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 33  wherein said surgical thread is situated inside said cannula. 
     
     
         37 . The integrated needle and cannula assembly of  claim 33  wherein said surgical thread is attached to the distal end of said cannula and is otherwise exterior to said cannula.