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Inflatable prostheses and methods of making same

a prosthesis and inflatable technology, applied in the field of medical implants, can solve the problems of difficult to develop a flexible protective material, require a valve, and sometimes touch-injury of valves or filling ports,

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-11-24
ALLERGAN INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides inflatable prostheses, such as implants and tissue expanders, for use in mammals. The invention provides flexible, puncture-resistant materials for use in such prostheses, which can be made by a method that involves positioning a plurality of mesh segments on a curved molding surface, applying a fluid elastomeric material to the molding surface, and allowing the elastomeric material to set to form a flexible shell having an open end. The invention also provides a needle guard for inflatable prostheses, which can be made by a method involving the use of puncture-resistant materials and a flexible fabric. The technical effects of the invention include improved flexibility, puncture resistance, and the ability to adjust the size of the prosthesis through the use of inflation.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, the valve or fill port is sometimes noticeable to the touch.
One problem with many conventional adjustable implants is that they require a valve to be part of the implant.
It has also proven difficult to develop a flexible protective material that is effective as a puncture resistant material while also being safe for implantation in the body.

Method used

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  • Inflatable prostheses and methods of making same

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0067]The present invention generally pertains to implantable inflatable devices and methods for making same, for example, devices such as soft fluid-filled implants, for example, but not limited to, permanent or temporary implants useful in breast reconstruction or breast augmentation procedures.

[0068]Turning now to FIG. 1, an inflatable device, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, is shown generally at 10, as implanted in a human breast 2. The device 10 is being inflated with a suitable fluid, such as a saline solution 14, by means of a typical syringe 18.

[0069]The device 10 generally comprises an inflatable portion 12 comprising outer shell 22, an inner shell 24 and a intermediate layer 26 therebetween. The inner shell 24 defines an inflatable cavity 28 (shown here as being filled with saline solution 14).

[0070]Inflation of the cavity 28 causes expansion of the device as shown by arrows 30. The device 10 further includes a posterior portion 34 that is generally res...

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Abstract

An inflatable tissue expander, suitable for implantation in a breast, is provided. The tissue expander includes a puncturable, self-sealing anterior portion forming a fillable cavity, and posterior portion that is puncture resistant. The anterior portion includes a silicone-based elastomer material having a mesh embedded therein. The posterior portion includes a first composite guard and a second composite guard, each composite guard including an arrangement of puncture resistant members and a flexible substrate having a first side on which the puncture resistant members are disposed in a spaced apart fashion.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 301,910, filed on Feb. 5, 2010, and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 409,440, filed on Nov. 2, 2010, the entire disclosure of each of these applications being incorporated herein in its entirely by this reference.[0002]The present invention generally relates to medical implants and more specifically relates to inflatable prostheses, such as tissue expanders, suitable for implantation in a mammal.[0003]Prostheses or implants for reconstruction and / or augmentation of the human body are well known.[0004]Fluid filled prostheses, for example, mammary prostheses or breast implants, are widely used to replace excised tissue, for example after a radical mastectomy, or to augment the body to improve surface configurations. Although there are many applications where these are used, the most common is the mammary prosthesis, used to augment or otherwise change th...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): A61F2/12B29C39/10
CPCA61B19/24A61F2250/0004A61F2250/0003A61F2/12A61B90/02A61F2210/0076A61F2/76
Inventor TRILOKEKAR, NIKHIL S.STROUMPOULIS, DIMITRIOSLESLIE, DUSTINCHITRE, KAUSTUBH S.MANESIS, NICHOLAS J.SCHUESSLER, DAVID J.POWELL, THOMAS E.HARDERS, JAMES A.
Owner ALLERGAN INC
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