Patent · US Expired

Tissue expander and method of making and using

US4841992A · kind A · utility

66Cited by
10References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 17, 1987
Grant dateJun 27, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 17, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61B90/02
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tissue expander and a method of making a tissue expander which includes (a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation and which has an expandable upper section formed (i) a first elastic portion and (ii) a second elastic portion formed of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material forming the first portion, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each portion at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion, thereby allowing the envelope to assume a complex shape. The tissue expander also has a means for inflating the envelope with a biocompatible fluid.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.