Arthritis

Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness, and resulting from infection, trauma, degenerative changes, metabolic disturbances, or other causes. It occurs in various forms, such as bacterial arthritis, osteoarthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. The word arthritis literally means joint inflammation (arth=joint, ritis=inflammation).

Biofermentation

Biofermentation is the technique used to industrially produce a biopolymer through bacterial fermentation.

Biopolymers

Long molecular chains made up of the repetition of one or more chemical units (monomers) naturally synthesized by a living organism.

Cartilage

A tough, elastic, fibrous connective tissue found in various parts of the body, such as the joints, outer ear, and larynx. Cartilage is a protein substance that serves as a "cushion" between the bones of the joints.

Controlled-release gels (ADDS – Advanced Drug Delivery System)

Biopolymer-based gels that allow the gradual release of active substances directly into the areas to be treated. With more exact targeting and a reduction in the number of injections required, these gels should make the treatments more effective for greater patient comfort and fewer secondary effects.

Cross-linking

Cross-linking is a method that enables a polymer to be stabilized (time the implant remains in the area being treated). Cross-linking also makes it possible to modify the polymer’s rheological characteristics to meet specific needs.

CPM

Acronym that stands for Cohesive Polydensified Matrix.

Elasticity

Elasticity is the capacity of a strained object to recover its shape and size after deformation when the stress is removed.

EVE

Acronym that stands for Extra Volumizing Elasticity.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease leading to an increase in intraocular pressure. Apart from vision anomalies, glaucoma causes a slow destruction of the optic nerve that can lead, without treatment, to blindness.

Hyaluronic acid (or sodium hyaluronate/NaHa/hyaluronan)

Hyaluronic acid is a biopolymer belonging to the polysaccharide family. It is naturally present in the human body (synovial liquid, aqueous humour and extra cellular matrix for dermatology). It is a linear polymer made up of a repetition of disaccharides, themselves composed of D-glucoronic acid and D-N-acetylglucosamine. This biopolymer can have a very high molecular weight (from 0.5 to 6 million Daltons depending on its origin).   

HPM

Acronym that stands for Hybrid Polydensified Matrix.

Hydrophilic

An hydrophilic molecule has a tendency to interact and to be dissolved by water. This is not to be confused with hygroscopy, the ability of a substance to attract and hold water molecules from the surrounding environment.

Joint

A joint is the area where two bones are attached for the purpose of motion of body parts. A joint is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a treatment technique involving the supplementation of active substances (vitamins, trace elements, etc.) into the skin. In the last few years, this technique has been adapted for use in aesthetic treatments like rejuvenation.

Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA), which is also known as osteoarthrosis or degenerative joint disease (DJD), is a progressive disorder of the joints caused by gradual loss of cartilage and resulting in the development of bony spurs and cysts at the margins of the joints. The name osteoarthritis comes from three Greek words meaning bone, joint, and inflammation. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis, a joint disorder that causes inflammation and pain. All joints can be concerned, from the spine to the fingers, including knee (the most treated with HA as the biggest joint – 90%), the hip, ankle, shoulder…

P

Polyols

A polyols or polyalcohol is an organic molecule containing at least two hydroxyl groups and with a chemical formula C_n H_2n2+ O_n

Polysaccharide

Polysaccharides are polymeric macromolecules, formed of repeating units (either mono- or di-saccharides) joined together by glycosidic bonds. Hyaluronic acid is a polysaccharide with a linear non-branched structure.

Refractive surgery

A microsurgical technique making it possible to reduce the corrective power of glasses (to see closer or farther) or even to definitively eliminate corrective glasses. There are two types of refractive surgery: corneal (modification of the cornea’s curve) and intraocular (Intraocular lenses). Refractive surgery makes it possible to treat astigmatism, near-sightedness and far-sightedness.

Rheology

Rheology is the study of the flow and deformation of material. The mechanical characteristics studied are elasticity and viscosity.

Rejuvenation

Rejuvenation is a treatment technique used to make the dermis “look younger” through rehydration (among others) through superficial micro-injections of hyaluronic acid. This technique came from mesotherapy.

Sorbitol

Sorbitol, also known as glucitol, is a sugar alcohol (C6H8(OH)6). It is also produced by the body. Sorbitol is a humectant alcohol, moisturizing agent and lubricant.

Synovial liquid

A clear fluid secreted by membranes in joint cavities, tendon sheaths, and bursae, and functioning as a lubricant.

Viscoelasticity

Viscoelasticity is a combination of viscosity and elasticity, influencing dynamic characteristics.

Viscoelastic gel

Gel that combines the rheological properties of an elastic solid and a viscous fluid. Viscoelastic gels based on sodium hyaluronate are currently used in ophthalmology for refractive surgery to protect the epithelial cells and maintain the volume of the capsular bag and in the anterior chamber.

Viscosity

Viscosity is the ability of a liquid to flow.

Viscosupplement