Soft Tissue Implant and Method of Using Same

• US 20120259428A1
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Published: 10/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blockhead Of Chicago, LLC
• Original Assignee: Blockhead Of Chicago, LLC
• Inventors: Nilsson, Carl Michael, Brogan, Cynthia M., Fordyce, Cameron J., Zuch, Adam J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,792,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.72
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0059 Cosmetic or alloplastic implants A61F2/10 - A61F2/16, A61F2/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2875 Skull or cranium A61F2/2803 and A61F2/3099 take precedence

Abstract

A soft tissue implant for correction of temporalis depressions or hollowing. The implant has a symmetric shape or external configuration, so that the device may be used as either a right or left temporalis implant. The implant may lie under or on top of the remaining temporalis muscle, or in the location formerly occupied by the temporalis muscle, to correct post-craniectomy temporal hollowing. The implant is manufactured from a medical grade, long term implantable silicone polymer material. The implant has a shell which forms the base of the device, with the base having an exterior surface and an interior surface with spaced projecting support structures. The implant is fully flexible or bendable.

Claims

1. A flexible soft tissue implant having a shell with an exterior surface and an interior surface with spaced projecting support structures.

2. The flexible soft tissue implant of claim 1 wherein the shell has a symmetric overall configuration and a curved configuration in cross section.

3. The flexible soft tissue implant of claim 2 wherein the projecting support structures are contoured pillars arranged in a matrix of rows and columns.

4. The flexible soft tissue implant of claim 3 wherein the projecting support structures are contoured pillars with varying heights and thicknesses.

5. The flexible soft tissue implant of claim 4 having openings formed through the shell for use in securing the implant.

6. A soft tissue implant having a symmetric flexible shell configuration, the shell having an exterior surface and an interior surface with spaced support structures extending therefrom in a direction away from the shell.

7. The soft tissue implant of claim 6, wherein the exterior surface has a substantially smooth configuration.

8. The soft tissue implant of claim 6, wherein the exterior surface has grooves formed therein.

9. The soft tissue implant of claim 8, wherein the projecting support structures are ridges formed by peaks and troughs, with the peaks forming arcs in their overall configuration.

10. The soft tissue implant of claim 9, wherein the shell has a clam shell shaped overall configuration.

11. The soft tissue implant of claim 7, wherein the spaced support structures are contoured pillars, with taller pillars formed toward the center of the shell and shorter pillars formed along the outer edges of the shell.

12. The soft tissue implant of claim 6, wherein the shell has a concave portion along one edge and a convex portion along an opposite edge, such that the shell has overall C-shaped configuration.

13. The soft tissue implant of claim 12 is of a material sufficiently flexible that the shell may be bent so that the concave portion on one edge touches the convex portion along the opposite edge.

14. A method of using a silicone soft tissue implant comprising the steps of:

supplying a symmetrical flexible soft tissue implant having a curved shell with holes therethrough, an exterior surface and an interior surface having spaced support projections extending away from the interior surface for implantation;

cutting the edges of the of the soft tissue implant to fit the shape of the location where the implant is to be secured;

placing the support projections along the bone and tissue in the location where a temporalis muscle is normally located and the implant is to be secured; and

suturing the implant in the location where the implant is to be secured using the holes formed through the shell.