FORM STABLE BREAST IMPLANT SIZER AND METHOD OF USE
First Claim
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1. A method of evaluating a desired size and shape of implant for a breast implant surgery, comprising:
- preparing a patient for a breast implant surgery, including forming an incision opening to a cavity within breast tissue;
providing a preformed implant sizer made of a highly compressible material that enables the implant sizer to be compressed from a relaxed size approximating the size of a corresponding implant and having an uncompressed volume, to an insertion size that has an insertion volume less than the uncompressed volume;
compressing the implant sizer from its relaxed size to its insertion size;
inserting the compressed implant sizer through the incision and into the cavity, and permitting it to expand therein;
observing the external characteristics of the breast with the implant sizer inserted therein; and
removing the implant sizer from the cavity.
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Abstract
An insertable preformed sizer for a breast implant that regains its form after deformation and insertion into a cavity formed within breast tissue. The sizer is used to evaluate the size of the cavity and help determine proper sizes and shapes of breast implants to use. The implant sizer is intended to be disposable and is made of a cost-efficient material such as a medical grade foam or elastomer. The foam or elastomer material has the ability to be squeezed or collapsed into an extremely small delivery shape and then resiliently expand back to its original shape against the constraining forces of surrounding breast tissue.
44 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of evaluating a desired size and shape of implant for a breast implant surgery, comprising:
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preparing a patient for a breast implant surgery, including forming an incision opening to a cavity within breast tissue; providing a preformed implant sizer made of a highly compressible material that enables the implant sizer to be compressed from a relaxed size approximating the size of a corresponding implant and having an uncompressed volume, to an insertion size that has an insertion volume less than the uncompressed volume; compressing the implant sizer from its relaxed size to its insertion size; inserting the compressed implant sizer through the incision and into the cavity, and permitting it to expand therein; observing the external characteristics of the breast with the implant sizer inserted therein; and removing the implant sizer from the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of evaluating a desired size and shape of implant for a breast implant surgery, comprising:
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preparing a patient for a breast implant surgery, including forming an incision opening to a cavity within breast tissue; providing a preformed implant sizer made of a collapsible form including an anterior continuous wall and a posterior hollow space that enables the implant sizer to be collapsed from a relaxed size approximating the size of a corresponding implant and having an uncollapsed volume, to an insertion size that has an insertion volume less than the uncollapsed volume; collapsing the implant sizer from its relaxed size to its insertion size; inserting the collapsed implant sizer through the incision and into the cavity, and permitting it to expand therein; observing the external characteristics of the breast with the implant sizer inserted therein; and removing the implant sizer from the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13)
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11. An insertable sizer for a breast implant, comprising:
a preformed solid form made of a highly compressible material that can be compressed to less than about 80% of its uncompressed solid volume.
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14. An insertable sizer for a breast implant, comprising:
a preformed collapsible form including an anterior continuous wall and a posterior hollow space. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A set of insertable breast implant sizers, comprising:
a marketed collection of at least two differently-sized or shaped preformed collapsible implant sizers that may be collapsed from a relaxed size approximating the size of a corresponding implant and having a relaxed volume, to an insertion size that has an insertion volume less than the relaxed volume. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
Specification