Summary: UCLA researchers in the Department of Plastic Surgery have developed an easily-applied port to facilitate microcannula use for subcutaneous injections. Background: In cosmetic medicine, injectable treatments like dermal fillers are increasingly common, used to enhance facial features and combat signs of aging. Quite recently, secondary microcannula insertion has been introduced as a replacement for traditional hypodermic needle injection. This is because the use of microcannula, which have blunted, rounded tips, often leads to less bruising, discomfort, and trauma risk. A common microcannula administration technique involves piercing the skin with a large-bore needle to create an entry point, followed by the insertion of a smaller bore blunt microcannula through the puncture to minimize the risk of damaging critical structures like arteries and nerves. The processes of finding and inserting the cannula into the hole created by the initial needle pose a procedural challenge. This can be difficult and time-consuming, leading to discomfort for the patient and inefficiency for the practitioner.
Innovation: Researchers in UCLA’s Department of Plastic Surgery have developed a novel microcannula injection port. This novel port provides a stationary large-bore needle that the microcannula can readily be inserted through, giving the practitioner easy access to the subcutis. The port remains stationary without intervention, enabling cannula changes for multistep procedures without the need for extra punctures. This design not only facilitates the introduction of the cannula into the subcutaneous tissue but also allows practitioners to leave multiple ports open. As a result, they can swiftly switch between different treatment areas, enhancing the ease and speed of procedures while improving patient comfort and reducing the risk of complications. This innovative microcannula design streamlines multi-step procedures, offering enhanced efficiency, improved patient outcomes, and minimizing procedural risks.
Potential Applications: • Subcutaneous cannula insertion • Cosmetic injectable treatments
Advantages: • Simplifies cannula injection • Reduced procedure time • Minimized complication and discomfort risk • Multiple cannulas can use same port • Improved stability
State of Development: The invention has been described and a prototype developed.
Reference: UCLA Case No. 2024-035
Lead Inventor: Dr. Ginger Slack, UCLA clinical professor of Plastic Surgery.