Flush patch for elastomeric implant shell
US8070809B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 28, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 24, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F5/003
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An elastomeric prosthetic implant having a shell and a patch providing a reinforced access region on the shell for introduction of manufacturing implements, such as a gel-filling tool. The shell may cover the entire inner face of the patch, or a substantial part thereof, and a peripheral edge of the patch and the shell cooperate to form a flush interface with no sudden surface steps on both interior and exterior surfaces of the implant. The removal of any surface steps eliminates undesirable tactile discontinuities and stress points that may cause the shell wall to wear or may irritate the surrounding tissues. The prosthetic implant may be a breast implant formed of a silicone elastomer. The patch may be the same material or a liquid silicone rubber, but at least has similar material properties such as elastic modulus, durometer and elongation. The patch may include a channel used for introducing silicone to the mold to form the shell, for venting the mold cavity during the mold process, and/or for introducing the silicone gel into the hollow prosthesis.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.