Multi-chambered breast tissue expander

• US 10,729,508 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2018
• Issued: 08/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Advanced Energy LLC (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Zamarripa, Nathan, Guirguis, Mark, Valley, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knauss, Christian D
• Application Number:
  US15/903,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20180256276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00212 using remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00221 with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/02 Devices for expanding tissue, e.g. skin tissue implements for holding wounds open, surgical tractors A61B17/02; implantable mammary prosthesis A61F2/12; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0048 differing in mechanical expandability, e.g. in mechanical, self- or balloon expandability

Abstract

A tissue expansion device with a plurality of lobes made from non-compliant material, each lobe defining a chamber therein. Each chamber is fluidly isolated from every other chamber in the plurality of lobes. Each chamber has an inflation element with a valve to release a pressurized fluid to inflate the lobe to expand a cavity, and a deflation element with a valve to deflate the lobe by compressing the fluid.

Claims

1. A tissue expansion device, comprising:

a plurality of lobes, each of the plurality of lobes being molded to at least one other of the plurality of lobes and comprising a non-compliant material;

each of the plurality of lobes defining a chamber therein, each chamber being fluidly isolated from every other chamber in the plurality of lobes;

each chamber including at least one positively pressurized inflation element disposed therein that is configured to inflate a corresponding lobe, the at least one positively pressurized inflation element including a first valve configured to release pressurized fluid from within the at least one positively pressurized inflation element,

the corresponding lobe being configured to expand a cavity within breast tissue of a patient when the corresponding lobe is inflated; and

each chamber including a plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements disposed therein that are configured to deflate the corresponding lobe, the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements including a second valve configured to open the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements to receive, retain, and compress fluid from the corresponding lobe.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of lobes includes three lobes, and wherein when the three lobes are implanted within breast tissue a first of the three lobes is configured to inflate superiorly, a second of the three lobes is configured to inflate laterally, and a third of the three lobes is configured to inflate medially.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the non-complaint material is PET.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the non-complaint material is PET.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lobes is independently inflatable.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality of lobes is independently deflatable.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the first valve and the second valve are wirelessly controllable.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein when the device is implanted within a breast, the device has no percutaneous connections.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first valve is controllable to release a predetermined amount of pressurized fluid.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the pressurized fluid is carbon dioxide.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the pressurized fluid in an inert gas.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a mounting element, wherein the plurality of lobes are affixed to the mounting element.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the mounting element is configured to be sutured within a breast.

14. A tissue expansion device, comprising:

a mounting element; and

a plurality of lobes, each of the plurality of lobes being molded to at least one other of the plurality of lobes and comprising a non-compliant material;

each of the plurality of lobes defining a chamber therein, each chamber being fluidly isolated from every other chamber in the plurality of lobes;

each chamber including at least one positively pressurized inflation element disposed therein that is configured to inflate a corresponding lobe, the at least one positively pressurized inflation element including a first valve configured to release pressurized fluid from within the at least one positively pressurized inflation element,

the corresponding lobe being configured to expand a cavity within breast tissue of a patient when the corresponding lobe is inflated; and

each chamber including a plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements disposed therein that are configured to deflate the corresponding lobe, the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements including a second valve configured to open the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements to receive, retain, and compress fluid from the corresponding lobe;

wherein the plurality of lobes includes at least three lobes, and wherein when the lobes are implanted within breast tissue, a first of the at least three lobes is configured to inflate superiorly, a second of the at least three lobes is configured to inflate laterally, and a third of the at least three lobes is configured to inflate medially;

wherein each of the plurality of lobes is independently inflatable and deflatable; and

wherein the plurality of lobes are affixed to the mounting element.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the non-complaint material is PET.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein when the device is implanted within a breast, the device has no percutaneous connections.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the first valve and the second valve are wirelessly controllable.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first valve is controllable to release a predetermined amount of inert gas.

19. The device of claim 14, wherein the mounting element is configured to be sutured within a breast.

20. A tissue expansion device, comprising:

a mounting element, wherein the mounting element is configured to be sutured within the breast; and

three lobes, each of the lobes being molded to at least one other lobes and comprising PET;

each of the lobes defining a chamber therein, each chamber being fluidly isolated from every other chamber in the plurality of lobes;

each chamber including at least one positively pressurized inflation element disposed therein that is configured to inflate a corresponding lobe, the at least one positively pressurized inflation element including a first valve configured to release pressurized fluid from within the at least one positively pressurized inflation element,

the corresponding lobe being configured to expand a cavity within breast tissue of a patient when the corresponding lobe is inflated;

each chamber including a plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements disposed therein that are configured to deflate the corresponding lobe, the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements including a second valve configured to open the plurality of negatively pressurized deflation elements to receive, retain, and compress fluid from the corresponding lobe;

wherein when the three lobes are implanted within breast tissue, a first of the three lobes is configured to inflate superiorly, a second of the three lobes is configured to inflate laterally, and a third of the three lobes is configured to inflate medially;

wherein each of the lobes is independently inflatable and deflatable;

wherein each of the lobes is affixed to the mounting element;

wherein the first valve is controllable to release a predetermined amount of inert gas;

and wherein the first valve and the second valve are wirelessly controllable.