SURGICAL METHODS FOR BREAST RECONSTRUCTION OR AUGMENTATION

• US 20130158657A1
• Filed: 12/15/2011
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Allergan, Inc. (Canada) (Abbvie Incorporated)
• Inventors: Van Epps, Dennis, Nofrey, Barbara
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

Methods for breast reconstruction and augmentation are provided which may reduce the incidence of capsular contracture. Methods for treating an encapsulated breast and reducing potential for capsular contracture in the breast are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for reconstructing a breast in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:

introducing a first prosthesis having a first surface texture, into a breast;

allowing the first prosthesis to remain in the breast for a time sufficient for a tissue capsule to form about the first prosthesis;

removing the first prosthesis from the breast to form a breast cavity while leaving the tissue capsule substantially intact in the breast; and

introducing a second prosthesis into the breast cavity, the second prosthesis being placed inside the substantially intact tissue capsule, the second prothesis having a second surface texture, the second surface texture being different from the first surface texture, and the second surface texture having a characteristic structure that results in remodeling and/or disruption of said tissue capsule.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface texture has an average pore size that is less than an average pore size of the second surface texture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the average pore size of the first surface texture is no greater than about 200 μ

m to about 500 μ

m, and the average pore size of the second surface texture is greater than about 600 μ

m.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first prosthesis is an inflatable tissue expander.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface texture is smooth relative to the second surface texture.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of inflating the second prosthesis after the step of introducing the second prosthesis.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second texture surface is a non-bioresorbable surface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the second texture surface is a porous, elastomeric silicone surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface texture is different from the second surface texture in terms of average pore size.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first surface texture is different from the second surface texture in terms of pore interconnectivity.

11. A method for treating a breast having an encapsulated prosthesis therein, the method comprising the steps of:

removing the encapsulated prosthesis from the breast to form a breast cavity and leaving the capsule tissue substantially intact in the breast; and

introducing a prosthesis having an elastomeric open-celled textured surface having an average pore size of greater than about 600 μ

m into the breast cavity such that the textured surface is in contact with the capsule tissue, thereby causing disorganization of the capsule tissue.

12. A device useful for treating capsular contracture in a breast, the device comprising:

a breast implant having a textured surface that, when implanted into a breast cavity defined by a preformed, intact, organized collagen capsule, results in remodeling and/or disruption of the preformed intact collagen capsule to result in a softer, less organized capsule less likely to contract had the primary implant been left in place.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the textured surface is a non-bioresorbable porous silicone surface.

14. The device of claim 12 wherein the textured surface is defined by open-celled, interconnected pores having an average pore size of greater than about 600 μ

m.

15. The device of claim 12 wherein the textured surface is a non-bioresorbable porous silicone surface defined by open-celled, interconnected pores having an average pore size of greater than about 600 μ

m.