NATURALLY CONTOURED, PREFORMED, THREE DIMENSIONAL MESH DEVICE FOR BREAST IMPLANT SUPPORT

• US 20090082864A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Ethicon Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Chen, Gaoyuan Gavin, Matrunich, James, Tannhauser, Robert J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,875,074 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0063 Implantable repair or support meshes, e.g. hernia meshes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

A preformed, seamless, three-dimensional, anatomically contoured prosthetic device for reinforcing breast tissue and supporting a breast implant includes a flat back wall, a concave front wall and a curved transitional region between the flat back wall and the front wall defining a smoothly curved bottom periphery. A concave receiving space is defined by the back wall and the front wall for at least partially receiving and supporting the breast implant therein. The three-dimensional prosthetic device is free of wrinkles, creases, folds or seams, which may have otherwise caused potential tissue irritation, bacteria hosting, infection and palpability problems.

Claims

1. A preformed, seamless, three-dimensional, anatomically contoured prosthetic device for reinforcing breast tissue and supporting a breast implant, which comprises:

a back wall, the back wall having an upper rim and a bottom portion situated opposite the upper rim; and

a front wall, the front wall having an upper edge and a bottom portion situated opposite the upper edge, the bottom portion of the front wall being joined to the bottom portion of the back wall to define a smoothly curved bottom periphery to the prosthetic device, the front wall being spaced apart from the back wall to define therewith a receiving space for at least partially receiving and supporting a breast implant therein.

2. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein the back wall is substantially flat, and wherein the front wall is concave.

3. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 2, wherein the top edge of the front wall is curved, and wherein the height of the front wall is less than the height of the back wall.

4. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein the back wall and the front wall are joined together to provide the prosthesis with a semi-circular, toroidal shape.

5. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein the front wall and the back wall are formed from a mesh material.

6. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 5, wherein the mesh material is a thermal formable polymer.

7. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of the back wall and the front wall includes a colored stripe for distinguishing the back wall from the front wall.

8. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of the back wall and the front wall is formed as a laminated composite, the laminated composite including a nonabsorbable mesh material and a temporary shape-holding material affixed to the mesh material.

9. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the mesh material is a nonabsorbable polypropylene mesh material.

10. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the temporary shape-holding material is at least one of an absorbable film and an absorbable sheet material.

11. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the temporary shape-holding material is made from a bioabsorbable thermal plastic polymer having at least one of a low softening temperature and melting temperature.

12. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the temporary shape-holding element is affixed to the mesh material on the front wall and the back wall.

13. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the temporary shape-holding element is affixed to the mesh material on the front wall and the back wall within the receiving space defined by the front wall and the back wall.

14. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the back wall and the front wall of the prosthetic device define transitional comers, and wherein the temporary shape-holding material is affixed to the mesh material on the back wall and the transitional corners of the prosthetic device.

15. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 14, wherein the temporary shape-holding material is unaffixed to the nonabsorbable mesh material situated over a major portion of the front wall.

16. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, which further comprises means for separating the front wall from the back wall.

17. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 16, wherein the means for separating the front wall from the back wall includes a string affixed to at least one of the front wall and the back wall.

18. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 8, wherein the temporary shape-holding material affixed to the mesh material includes perforations formed through the thickness thereof.

19. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 18, wherein the temporary shape-holding material is affixed to the mesh material defining the back wall of the prosthetic device, wherein the temporary shape-holding material includes perforations formed through the thickness thereof, and wherein the mesh material defining at least the front wall of the prosthetic device and the temporary shape-holding element affixed to the mesh material defining the back wall of the prosthetic device have different colors from each other.

20. A prosthetic device as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one of the front wall and the back wall is formed from a mesh material, and wherein the mesh material includes an anti-sticking coating situated thereon.