Noninvasive “Surgery”

A new process has been developed that can reshape living tissue with no incisions, scarring or recovery time. Using tiny needles, electrical current and 3D printed molds, the technique could transform some cosmetic surgeries into low-cost, five-minute procedures that are performed in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia.

The new method is designed to work on cartilage – the tough but flexible tissue that covers and protects the joints and ends of bones, and is also the primary structural component of flexible body parts such as the ears, nose and rib cage. It’s made up of tiny rigid fibers that contain varying densities of negatively charged proteins and positively charged sodium ions. The greater the charge, the stiffer the cartilage.

Earlier noninvasive techniques have used infrared lasers to heat and reshape cartilage, but determining the correct amount of heat that will make the tissue malleable without damaging it has proven to be problematic. Instead, the new method passes current through the cartilage, electrolyzing the water in the tissue to generate positive ions. This cancels out the negative charge from the proteins, reduces the charge density and makes the tissue more pliable. When the cartilage is molded into the desired shape, the current is turned off and the tissue hardens in its new form. With no mechanical damage to the cartilage, there is no scarring and no painful recovery.

Although an obvious application includes cosmetic surgery procedures, the technique could also be used to treat joint contractures (such as those that are caused by stroke) or to correct vision problems by altering the curvature of the cornea. Licensing options are currently being explored with medical device companies.