SELF-SEALING SHELL FOR INFLATABLE PROSTHESES
First Claim
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1. A shell for an inflatable implant, the shell comprisinga wall comprising an elastomer component and discontinuous particles of a swellable material dispersed in the elastomer component;
- wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the particles of swellable material enlarge such that the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture.
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Abstract
A self-sealing shell useful as a component of a soft fluid-filled prosthetic implant is provided. The shell is at least partly constructed of a wall made of a colloid of an elastomeric polymer matrix and particles of a water-swellable material distributed therein.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A shell for an inflatable implant, the shell comprising
a wall comprising an elastomer component and discontinuous particles of a swellable material dispersed in the elastomer component; wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the particles of swellable material enlarge such that the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15)
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11. An implantable article of manufacture useful as a component of an inflatable prosthesis, the article made by the steps of:
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providing a curable polymer-based liquid; distributing a plurality of solid, water swellable particles in the liquid to form a fluid mixture comprising a liquid polymer and solid, water swellable particles; allowing the mixture to solidify to form a polymeric matrix having solid, water swellable particles occupying enclosed spaces in the matrix, forming the mixture into a wall of an inflatable prosthesis; wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the water swellable particles expand and the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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16. A method of making an implantable article useful as a component of an inflatable prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a curable polymer-based liquid; distributing a plurality of solid, water swellable particles in the liquid to form a fluid mixture comprising a liquid polymer and solid, water soluble particles; allowing the mixture to solidify to form a polymeric matrix having solid, water swellable particles occupying enclosed spaces in the matrix; and forming the mixture into a wall of an inflatable prosthesis; wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the water swellable particles expand and the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of making an implantable soft prosthesis, comprising:
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providing a liquid polymer matrix; distributing a particles of a water-swellable material in the polymer matrix to form a colloid; allowing the colloid to solidify; forming the colloid into a wall of a shell for an inflatable prosthesis; and contact the wall with an aqueous fluid such that the particles swell and the wall becomes capable of self-sealing around a needle puncture.
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Specification