Surgical scaffold

Abstract

A scaffold for reshaping an ear or a nose, the scaffold being configured to be i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape-memory material and/or a plastic material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A scaffold for reshaping an ear or a nose, the scaffold configured to be (i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or (ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape memory material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second pre-programmed configuration, wherein the scaffold comprises a body portion and a plurality of engaging members in the form of prongs extending from the body portion for engaging the cartilaginous ear or nose portion. 
     
     
       2. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is transformable from said first configuration to said second configuration at a predetermined temperature or over a predetermined temperature range. 
     
     
       3. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first configuration is in a constrained state and the second configuration is in a non-constrained state. 
     
     
       4. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first configuration is in a non-constrained state and the second configuration is in a constrained state. 
     
     
       5. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first configuration is pre-programmed to conform to the shape of an ear or nose. 
     
     
       6. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the second configuration is pre-programmed to conform to the shape of an ear or nose. 
     
     
       7. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the first or the second configuration is substantially curved and the other configuration is substantially straight. 
     
     
       8. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body portion is formed at least in part from the shape-memory material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration. 
     
     
       9. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one engaging member is formed at least in part from the shape-memory material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second, pre-programmed configuration. 
     
     
       10. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , which is suitable reshaping the anti-helical fold of the ear. 
     
     
       11. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , which is suitable for reshaping the conchal fossa of the ear. 
     
     
       12. A scaffold as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the shape-memory material is an alloy of nickel and titanium. 
     
     
       13. A method of reshaping an ear or a nose comprising providing a scaffold configured to be (i) attached to the cartilaginous portion of an ear or (ii) attached to the cartilaginous portion of a nose, wherein the scaffold is formed at least in part from a shape memory material and is capable of transforming from a first configuration to a second pre-programmed configuration, wherein the scaffold comprises a body portion and a plurality of engaging members in the form of prongs extending from the body portion for engaging the cartilaginous ear or nose portion,
 introducing at least part of the scaffold into an ear or a nose and altering the scaffold to cause the scaffold to transform from its first configuration to its second, pre-programmed configuration. 
 
     
     
       14. A method of reshaping an ear or a nose as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said engaging members is introduced into a cartilaginous portion of an ear or a nose. 
     
     
       15. A method as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the temperature of the scaffold is altered to cause the scaffold to transform from its first configuration to its second, pre-programmed configuration. 
     
     
       16. A method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the at least one engaging member of the scaffold is introduced into the cartilaginous portion of an ear or a nose when the scaffold is at an elevated temperature, and wherein the scaffold transforms from its first configuration to its second, pre-programmed configuration as the scaffold cools below a predetermined temperature. 
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in  claim 13  which further comprises manually altering the configuration of the body portion and/or at least one engaging member of the scaffold once the scaffold is positioned in the ear. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in  claim 13 , which further comprises altering the temperature of the scaffold to cause the scaffold to transform from its second, pre-programmed configuration to its initial configuration to allow the scaffold to be removed from the ear. 
     
     
       19. The scaffold of claim 1 in combination with an applicator for inserting the scaffold into an ear or nose, the applicator comprising the scaffold and means for releasably retaining the scaffold and means for deploying the scaffold into the ear or nose.  
     
     
       20. The scaffold of claim 19 in combination with the applicator and further comprising a handle.  
     
     
       21. The scaffold of claim 12 in combination with an applicator for inserting the scaffold into an ear or nose, the applicator comprising the scaffold and means for releasably retaining the scaffold and means for deploying the scaffold into the ear or nose.  
     
     
       22. The scaffold of claim 21 in combination with the applicator and further comprising a handle.