the present invention features materials that may be implanted into soft body tissue for correction of soft tissue defects or for soft tissue augmentation . the material comprises biologically - compatible polymeric particles , which have intraparticulate pores . the material may be combined with collagen or other matrix materials including , but not limited to , blood , saline , sterile water or glucose . the matrix material acts as a medium for particles and may help in the dispensing , e . g ., injection , of the material when first implanted . the use of matrix materials also allows the amount of soft tissue augmentation to be more accurately controlled . as matrix material is resorbed , additional implantation can be accomplished , as necessary . the volume of matrix material in the implant material is preferably between about 30 % and 65 %. most preferably , the volume of is about 50 %. however , one skilled in the art will appreciate how much matrix material to combine to obtain a particular desired result . a combination of the particulate material and collagen has several advantages . first , collagen has a known consistency . second , collagen is resorbable by the body , and is completely resorbed over a period of a few months . synthetic particles are not resorbed , and may be permanently retained bioinertly within the tissue . collagen has a natural look and feel when injected for cosmetic applications , helping ensure the patient is satisfied with the outcome . porous synthetic particles offer a similar outcome . in another embodiment of the invention , the implant material may be combined with adipose ( fat ) tissue . fat tissue acts as a bulking agent that helps to dispense and hold the implant material in place after implantation . fat is also resorbable by the body , and when taken from the patient &# 39 ; s own body , the risk of rejection of is significantly reduced . as discussed herein , other embodiments of the invention may utilize matrix materials to facilitate delivery of the material to the implantation site . in a further embodiment of the invention , the implant material may contain bioactive substances . these substances can be therapeutic and , for example , promote tissue growth , i . e ., growth factors , or act as an antimicrobial . these substances may also be grafted to or absorbed by the particles , and may be of a nature so that they are time - released in the surrounding tissue . those skilled in the art will recognize the various bioactive substances that may be incorporated into the implant material and their medical value , depending on the application . preferably , the polymeric particles have an hollow inner core , and an outer layer of a different , hydrophilic polymeric material such as polymeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate ( phema ), which preferably is comprised of a copolymer of monomeric hydroxyethylmethacrylate and a cross - linking agent . preferred cross - linking agents include triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate , tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate , diethyleneglycol dimethacrylate , and monoethyleneglycol dimethacrylate . cross - linking agents preferably comprise from about 0 . 1 percent to about 5 percent by weight of monomeric hydroyethylmethacrylate . the inner core is preferably an acrylic polymer , such as polymethylmethacrylate ( pmma ). in another embodiment of the invention , calcium hydroxide coats the outer layer . calcium hydroxide has an alkaline effect that may reduce acidic environments that have been associated with infection . suitable material includes various formulation of bioplant ® htr ® available from bioplant , inc . when this material is implanted into soft tissue , dense , fibrous and flexible tissue forms around and into the porous portion of the material . this occurs within a few days of implantation . the implanted material remains inert within the body , and with the newly formed tissue , augments or shapes the soft tissue as desired . the composition of the implant material determines the nature of the tissue formation . generally , vascularization is undesirable with soft tissue augmentation . therefore , the particles are preferably about 500 microns in diameter or less , preferably about 50 to about 200 microns . larger particle sizes may result in interstices between particles that are large enough to allow unwanted vascularization . in addition , growth of tissue into the implant material is dependent upon the presence and size of pores in the particles . ingrowth helps integrate and retain the implant material in place . preferably , the proportion of pores in the material is from about 0 percent to about 60 percent , with pore sizes of less than about 100 microns . this allows sufficient retention of the material while maintaining a high proportion of augmenting particles . most preferably , the proportion is from about 40 to about 60 percent , and pore sizes between about 50 and about 100 microns . preferred procedures for producing the polymeric particles for implant materials of the invention are disclosed in u . s . pat . nos . 4 , 535 , 485 and 4 , 547 , 390 , the specifications of which are incorporated herein by reference . in various embodiments of the present invention , the particles may be of about 34 mesh size or smaller ( particle diameters of about 500 microns or less ). for embodiments of the invention containing calcium hydroxide , preferred procedures for producing polymeric particles are disclosed in u . s . pat . no . 4 , 728 , 570 , which is incorporated herein by reference . combining the particulate material with the matrix material may be accomplished by various methods , depending on the application . in applications where the implant site will be exposed , for example , the particulate material and matrix material may be combined into a paste . in embodiments where the implant material is to be injected , the particulate material may be placed in a syringe and the matrix material drawn into the syringe to “ hydrate ” the material . those skilled in the art will appreciate these and other methods of preparing the implant material . the present invention also contemplates a method of soft tissue augmentation . soft - tissue implant materials of the invention are inexpensive to manufacture and may be used to advantage in many medical , dental , cosmetic , and veterinary applications . the material may be implanted into specific tissues in the body to provide desired augmentation . preferably , the material is combined with one or more matrix materials before implantation . preferred matrix materials are sterile water , saline solution , collagen , blood and glucose . in order for there to be ample fluidity , the matrix material may comprise a volume of between about 30 % and about 65 %, and most preferredly about 50 %, of the implanted material . those versed in the art will appreciate which and how much matrix material to use for a particular application . in certain embodiments of the invention , the implant material is injected , e . g ., by syringe or orthoscopic devices . these methods are preferred because they are less invasive than other , e . g ., surgical , procedures , lessen the risk of infection , discomfort , and complications , and can be easily controlled in amount and location . for materials containing collagen , it is preferable that the collagen be in injectable form . one skilled in the art will know the various methods of injection . for example , embodiments of the invention having a particle size of about 500 microns may be injected using an 18 - gauge syringe . those embodiments having smaller particles may be injected with higher - gauge needles , e . g ., orthoscopically . in one embodiment of the invention , the implant material is injected subcutaneously into an area having a soft tissue contour defect . the amount implanted is in a sufficient amount to at least partially , preferably entirely , remove the defect . such defect may include , for example , wrinkles . referring to the drawings , and initially to fig1 skin 10 consists of the epidermis 11 and the dermis 12 . the hypodermis 13 , also called the subcutaneous layer , contains collagen , elastic tissue , and adipose ( fat ) ( not shown in any more detail ). the hypodermis 13 provides underlying structure for the skin , and thus greatly contributes locally to its contour 14 . the hypodermis 13 may lose its adipose , collagen , and elastic tissue , especially as the skin 10 ages . this can result in vacuities 15 in the hypodermis and loss of support for the overlaying dermis 12 and epidermis 11 , i . e ., the skin sags , forming wrinkles 16 . in fig2 the implant material 20 of the present invention has been injected under the skin 10 into the hypodermis 13 beneath the dermis 12 . the implant material 20 fills the vacuities 15 , providing support for the skin 10 . the material 20 also pushes out the skin 10 , causing it to have a much smoother surface contour 21 . in another embodiment of the invention , the implant material may be used to control incontinence . such incontinence may be the result of disease , aging , or neuromuscular degeneration . it may also result from prostate surgery that causes localized damage to the nerves controlling the sphincter surrounding the urethra . as shown in fig3 the urethra 30 is connected to the bladder 31 . the sphincter urethrae 32 is attached to the pelvis 33 and surrounds the urethra 30 . the prostate 34 ( shown in phantom ) which surrounds the urethra 30 between the bladder 31 and the sphincter urethrae 32 is shown as having been previously removed surgically . often this surgery damages the controlling sphincter urethrae 32 or causes indirect flaccidity due to nerve damage . where a patient has lost some or all control of the sphincter urethrae 32 , he will not be able to constrict the urethra 30 and prevent urine flow . in the present invention , implant material 35 is injected into the sphincter urethrae 32 , swelling it , reshaping it , and causing at least a partial closure and constriction 36 of the urethra 30 . contraction of other muscles , e . g ., the abdominal muscles , in the area of the bladder ( not shown ) will push the sphincter 32 and allow urine to flow past the constriction 36 , even where there is no direct control over the sphincter . preferably , between about 2 cc and about 4 cc of implant material is injected into the sphincter urethrae 32 to cause constriction 36 of the urethra 30 . however , one skilled in the art will appreciate how much implant material to inject according to the particular medical condition of the patient . those skilled in the art will recognize that the compositions and methods of the present invention will have various other uses in addition to the above described embodiments . they will appreciate that the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation of the invention . it will further be appreciated that various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention , which is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims .
a soft tissue implant material is formed from biologically - compatible polymeric particles . the particles may have a diameter of up to about 500 microns and intraparticulate pores sized for ingrowth of soft tissue . the particles may have an inner core of a first biologically - compatible polymeric material and an outer layer generally surrounding the inner core , with the outer layer comprised of a second biologically - compatible polymeric material being hydrophilic and having a composition different from the composition of the first polymeric material . the material may be utilized with collagen or other matrix materials . this material may be used in a method of reforming soft tissues by implanting the material within soft body tissues to modify soft tissue defects such as wrinkles or oral gingival tissue defects and reshape soft tissue , e . g ., for urinary bladder inconvenience .