Six-dimensional barbed surgical thread and method of use

Abstract

A six-dimensional barbed surgical thread that includes a central core and six first barbs. The central core has a circumference, a proximal end and a distal end that is opposite the proximal end. The six first barbs are positioned around the circumference of the central core so that the first barbs are radially adjacent to each other and obliquely extend from the central core.

1 . A method of performing one of a nasolabial folds removal or a platysmaplasty, wherein the method comprises:
 providing a six-dimensional barbed surgical thread comprising a central core, six first barbs and six second barbs, wherein the central core has a circumference, a central core proximal end and a central core distal end that is opposite the central core proximal end, wherein the six first barbs are positioned radially adjacent to each other around the circumference of the central core and obliquely extend from the central core, wherein each of the six first barbs has a first barb distal end and a first barb proximal end, wherein each of first barbs is oriented so that the first barb distal end is closer to the central core distal end than the first barb proximal end, wherein the six second barbs are positioned radially adjacent to each other around the circumference of the central core and obliquely extend from the central core, wherein the six second barbs are closer to the central core distal end than the six first barbs, wherein each of the six second barbs has a second barb distal end and a second barb proximal end and wherein each of the second barbs is oriented so that the second barb distal end is closer to the central core proximal end than the second barb proximal end; and   inserting the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread into a dermis on a patient;   engaging the six first barbs in the dermis to lift the dermis to a lifted position; and   engaging the six second barbs in the dermis to anchor the dermis in the lifted position and complete the one of the nasolabial folds removal and the platysmaplasty.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the six first barbs occupy about ⅔ of a length of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread and wherein the six second barbs occupy about ⅓ of the length of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent barbs in the six first barbs are offset in a direction extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the central core so that the first barb distal end of one of the six first barbs is approximately aligned with the first barb proximal end of an adjacent one of the six first barbs around a circumference of the central core and wherein every other of the six first barbs is approximately aligned around a circumference of the central core. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first barbs occupies about 60 degrees of a circumference of the central core and wherein a cut is formed at an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to a surface of the central core to form each of the first barbs. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread comprises a plurality of rows of the six first barbs and wherein a spacing between the rows of the six first barbs is less than about a length of one of the six first barbs in a direction that extends between the central core proximal end and the central core distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread is inserted into the dermis using a cannula. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein insertion of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread causes cellular renewal through collagen stimulation and neovascularization to improve skin texture. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein insertion of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread into the dermis causes skin tightening caused by contracting fat tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cannula is rotated to cause the six second barbs to engage the dermis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , and after anchoring the dermis in the lifted position, cutting off a portion of the proximal end of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread that extends through a skin surface on the person. 
     
     
         11 . A method of performing one of a nasolabial folds removal or a platysmaplasty, wherein the method comprises:
 providing a six-dimensional barbed surgical thread comprising a central core, six first barbs and six second barbs, wherein the central core has a circumference, a central core proximal end and a central core distal end that is opposite the central core proximal end, wherein the six first barbs are positioned radially adjacent to each other around the circumference of the central core and obliquely extend from the central core, wherein each of the six first barbs has a first barb distal end and a first barb proximal end, wherein each of first barbs is oriented so that the first barb distal end is closer to the central core distal end than the first barb proximal end, wherein the six second barbs are positioned radially adjacent to each other around the circumference of the central core and obliquely extend from the central core, wherein the six second barbs are closer to the central core distal end than the six first barbs, wherein each of the six second barbs has a second barb distal end and a second barb proximal end and wherein each of the second barbs is oriented so that the second barb distal end is closer to the central core proximal end than the second barb proximal end;   providing a cannula;   positioning the six-dimensional surgical thread at least partially in the cannula;   inserting the cannula into the dermis;   remove the cannula from the dermis while leaving the six-dimensional surgical thread at least partially in the dermis;   engaging the six first barbs in the dermis to lift the dermis to a lifted position; and   engaging the six second barbs in the dermis to anchor the dermis in the lifted position and complete the one of the nasolabial folds removal and the platysmaplasty.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cannula is rotated to cause the six second barbs to engage the dermis. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the cannula is a rounded or L-tipped surgical steel cannula. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , and after anchoring the dermis in the lifted position, cutting off a portion of the proximal end of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread that extends through a surface of the skin. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the six first barbs occupy about ⅔ of a length of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread and wherein the six second barbs occupy about ⅓ of the length of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein adjacent barbs in the six first barbs are offset in a direction extending between the proximal end and the distal end of the central core so that the first barb distal end of one of the six first barbs is approximately aligned with the first barb proximal end of an adjacent one of the six first barbs around a circumference of the central core and wherein every other of the six first barbs is approximately aligned around a circumference of the central core. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the first barbs occupies about 60 degrees of a circumference of the central core and wherein a cut is formed at an angle of between about 10 degrees and about 15 degrees with respect to a surface of the central core to form each of the first barbs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread comprises a plurality of rows of the six first barbs and wherein a spacing between the rows of the six first barbs is less than about a length of one of the six first barbs in a direction that extends between the central core proximal end and the central core distal end. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein insertion of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread causes cellular renewal through collagen stimulation and neovascularization to improve skin texture. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein insertion of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread into the dermis causes skin tightening caused by contracting fat tissue. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11 , and after anchoring the dermis in the lifted position, cutting off a portion of the proximal end of the six-dimensional barbed surgical thread that extends through a skin surface on the person.