System and method for breast augmentation
First Claim
1. A system for breast augmentation, comprising a plurality of microballoons, said microballoons being elastically deformable and substantially spherical.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for breast augmentation includes a plurality of microballoons. An injector can be provided for injecting microballoons into a breast through an incision in the breast. The microballoons can have a first dimension when in the injector and a second, larger dimension when in the breast. An injector and tissue dissector are also disclosed. The microballoons can also include a filling structure to permit the microballoons to be filled after insertion into the breast. A method for performing breast augmentation surgery and microballoons for use in the method are also disclosed.
113 Citations
53 Claims
- 1. A system for breast augmentation, comprising a plurality of microballoons, said microballoons being elastically deformable and substantially spherical.
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12. An injector for injecting a microballoon into a breast, comprising:
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structure for holding said microballoons in a first, compressed dimension;
releasing structure for releasing said microballoon from said injector into a breast, whereby said balloon will expand in said breast to a second, expanded dimension. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 26, 27)
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22. A method of performing breast augmentation surgery, comprising the steps of:
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making an incision under the breast;
inserting a tissue dissector through the incision and making a subcutaneous pocket under said breast with said tissue dissector;
providing a compressed microballoon with a microballoon injector, said injector for holding said microballoon in said compressed condition and for releasing said microballoon from said injector when said microballoon injector is inserted into said subcutaneous pocket;
inserting said microballoon injector through said incision and releasing said microballoon into said subcutaneous pocket, said microballoon having a first dimension when held by said injector and a second, larger dimension when in said subcutaneous pocket;
repeating said releasing step until a plurality of said microballoons have been released into said subcutaneous pocket. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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- 28. A microballoon for breast augmentation, said microballoon being elastically deformable with a largest dimension of between about 1 mm and about 50 mm.
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40. A tissue dissector, comprising:
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an elongated main body portion having a proximal end and a distal end;
a pair of dissecting arms having first and second ends, said first ends being pivotally mounted to said distal end of said elongated main body portion, said dissecting arms having a first pivotal position in which said dissecting arms are substantially juxtaposed, and having a second pivotal position in which said second ends are separated;
a flexible dissecting member connected between substantially said second ends of said dissecting arms, said dissecting member, when said dissecting arms are in said second pivotal position, being in an extended, dissecting position; and
,actuating structure for moving said dissecting arms between at least said first and second pivotal positions.
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49. A method for performing breast augmentation surgery, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of microballoons;
creating a subcutaneous pocket under the breast; and
placing said plurality of microballoons into said subcutaneous pocket. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52, 53)
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Specification