Therapeutic Breast Implants

• US 20120123535A1
• Filed: 11/12/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathia Alejandro
• Original Assignee: Kathia Alejandro
• Inventors: Alejandro, Kathia
• Granted Patent: US 9,351,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

A breast implant and process to optimize the treatment of breast cancer patients that offers more effective alternatives in breast reconstruction and simultaneously administers regional therapies in order to minimize the possibility of local recurrences. The breast implant comprises an inner porous core contained by an elastic holding layer with a system of tubes and conducts within it covered with biodegradable chemotherapeutic and attaching layers.

Claims

1. An implant, comprising;

at least one filling port, at least one therapeutic port and a closed flexible shell comprising a base portion and a dome-shaped portion defining an internal chamber; and

a porous core positioned inside the internal chamber, said porous core having interconnected spaces to allow inflation of the implant with a filling fluid.

2. An implant as in claim 1, wherein said flexible shell comprises a plurality of layers.

3. An implant as in claim 2, wherein said plurality of layers comprises a first layer with a plurality of conducts.

4. An implant as in claim 3, further comprising a second layer made of biodegradable material.

5. An implant as in claim 4, wherein said second layer surrounds the first layer.

6. An implant as in claim 5, wherein said second layer is capable of eluting a chemotherapy drug.

7. An implant as in claim 5, further comprising a third layer.

8. An implant as in claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of layers serves as attachment means.

9. An implant as in claim 8, wherein the third layer surrounds the second layer and extends from the second layer away from the first layer, and wherein the third layer serves as the attachment means.

10. An implant as in claim 1, wherein said porous core is made of a malleable cohesive material.

11. An implant as in claim 3, wherein said conducts are arranged around said internal chamber and each conduct covers a pre-determined area of the first layer.

12. An implant as in claim 3, wherein said therapeutic port comprises a plurality of input ports, each input port being connected to a particular conduct.

13. An implant as in claim 12, wherein said conducts are arranged to expand towards the chamber and towards an adjacent conduct.

14. An implant, comprising:

a closed flexible shell defining an internal chamber,

said flexible shell;

at least one filling port;

and a porous core positioned inside the internal chamber.

15. An implant as in claim 14, wherein said porous core is made of a malleable cohesive material.

16. An implant as in claim 14, wherein said porous core comprises interconnected spaces so as to allow inflation of the implant with a filling fluid.

17. An implant as in claim 16, wherein said interconnected spaces are pore spaces so as to allow inflation of the implant with a filling fluid that passes through the porous core.

18. An implant as in claim 14, wherein said flexible shell further comprises a layer serving as an attachment means.

19. An implant as in claim 17, wherein said layer surrounds the flexible shell and extends from said flexible shell away from the internal chamber.

20. An implant as in claim 14, further comprising a therapeutic port.

21. An implant as in claim 14, wherein said flexible shell comprises a plurality of layers.

22. An implant as in claim 20, wherein said plurality of layers comprises a first layer having a plurality of conducts.

23. An implant as in claim 21, further comprising a second layer having biodegradable material.

24. An implant as in claim 22, wherein said second layer surrounds the first layer.

25. An implant as in claim 22, wherein said second layer elutes a chemotherapy drug.

26. An implant as in claim 21, wherein said therapeutic port comprises a plurality of input ports.

27. An implant as in claim 25, wherein each input port is connected to a particular conduct.

28. An implant as in claim 26, wherein said conducts are arranged to expand towards the chamber and towards an adjacent conduct reducing the gap between conducts.

30. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 28, wherein the first port is mechanically connected to the internal chamber.

32. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 30, wherein the fluid supplier comprises a filling fluid supplier.

34. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 28, wherein the first port is made of a first material, said first material comprising a higher acoustic impedance than water.

35. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 28, wherein the port detector system comprises an ultrasound system.

36. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 28, wherein the implant comprises a plurality of conducts, wherein the first port comprises at least one therapeutic port, wherein the therapeutic port comprises a second input and an elongated body, wherein the elongated body is connected to said plurality of conducts, wherein the plurality of conducts are arranged at the flexible shell surrounding the internal chamber, wherein the therapeutic port is made material having a higher acoustic impedance than water, wherein the second input is located at the first area, wherein the fluid comprises a therapeutic fluid for the plurality of conducts, wherein the fluid supplier comprises a therapy fluid supplier, and wherein the step of supplying the fluid to the implant comprises the filling therapy fluid supplier connected to the first port providing therapeutic fluid to the plurality of conducts, wherein the therapy fluid supplier is used to fill the plurality of conducts with a therapy fluid by means of the therapy port after said therapy port is located;

and a step after supplying therapeutic fluid to the implant the therapeutic port is used to remove the therapeutic fluid from the plurality of conducts.

29. A method for inflation of an implant, wherein the implant comprises at least one first port including a first input and a closed flexible shell including a base portion and a dome-shaped portion defining an internal chamber, said first port being located at a first area serving as an access for supplying a filling fluid, said first area comprising a portion of the implant wherein the base portion and dome-shaped portion are connected, said method comprising:

a) positioning a patient in a lateral decubitus position, wherein the first input implantation displaces due to body position providing a substantially perpendicular access for the first port;

b) locating the first port using a port detector system, wherein said port detector system is used to locate the first port; and

c) supplying a fluid to the implant through the first port using a fluid supplier, wherein the fluid supplier is used to fill the implant with said fluid by means of a mechanical connection between the fluid supplier and the first port after said fist port is located.

31. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 29, wherein the fluid comprises a filling fluid for the implant.

33. A method for inflation of an implant as in claim 31, wherein the step of supplying the fluid to the implant comprises providing filling fluid to the internal chamber.