Patent · US Expired

Tissue expander

US5141508A · kind A · utility

41Cited by
7References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 14, 1991
Grant dateAug 25, 1992
Priority date—
Expiry dateJan 14, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA61F2/12
  • WIPO fieldMedical technology
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The tissue expander includes a shell with a base layer and an expansion layer that define an expansion chamber therebetween. A conduit or fill tube extends from the shell and is the sole source of communication with the expansion chamber. The base and expansion layers are thermoplastically joined together by a major seam and a minor seam. The major seam is substantially concealed within the expansion chamber whereas the minor seam defines a border portion of the expansion chamber and is not concealed. The tissue expander can be of any selected size and shape. The base layer can be made expandable along with the expansion layer or nonexpandable as desired.

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