Inventors:
Benjamin S. Bleier - Villanova PA, US
Noam A. Cohen - Bala cynwyd PA, US
James N. Palmer - Philadelphia PA, US
Assignee:
THE TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - PHILADELPHIA PA
International Classification:
A61B 17/00, A61K 38/38, A61P 17/02
Abstract:
Supersaturated gel formulations including a solution of chitosan, albumin, and a laser specific chromophore. Laser tissue welding methods using the gel formulations of the present invention are also described. In the methods, the gel formulation of the present invention is provided to a site for tissue repair and the laser specific chromophore within the gel is excited with a laser in order to fuse tissue by inducing protein denaturation. The gel formulations and laser tissue welding methods may be used, for example, to enable skull base repairs, aerodigestive endoscopic repairs, endoscopic endonasal surgical repairs, iatrogenic esophageal perforation repairs, laparoscopic abdominal surgical repairs, lung repairs, colon repairs, anastomosis of vessels, urologic/gynecologic endoscopic pelvic repairs, orofacial surgical repairs, dental replacement, skin closure, uterine closure and repairs after fibroidectomies and bladder surgery.