Inventors:
Richard Rox Anderson - Boston MA, US
Andrea Willey - Sacramento CA, US
William A. Farinelli - Danvers MA, US
Assignee:
The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA
International Classification:
A61B 18/20, A61B 17/32
Abstract:
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for facilitating stretching of a bio-logical tissue by forming a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue. Each micro-slit can be less than about 2 mm or less than about 1.5 mm long, or even less than about 1 mm, such that small gaps that can heal quickly can be formed when the tissue is stretched. The micro-slits can be formed using a plurality of cutting arrangements or an ablative laser. The micro-slits can be formed in various patterns, including staggered rows, circular or spiral patterns, or random patterns.