IMPLANTING METHOD
First Claim
1. In a method for implanting in the body of a living creature such as a human being an artificial implant device which has an exterior surface which is impervious to the growth of tissue so that tissue cannot grow into the device beyond the exterior surface thereof, the steps of initially embedding the device in tissue of the living creature at a location different from a predetermined location at which the device is ultimately to be located and remain, while exposing only the exterior surface of the device to the tissue and permitting the device to remain in the tissue in which it is initially embedded until ingrowth of tissue into intimate contact only with the exterior surface of the device is completed, then removing the device from the location at which it was initially embedded while retaining only at the exterior of the device tissue which has grown into contact only with the exterior surface of the device, and then surgically obtaining access to said predetermined location and implanting the device with the tissue thereon only at the exterior surface thereof at said predetermined location with the tissue at the exterior of the device engaging tissue located at said predetermined location, and then surgically closing off access to said predetermined location so that at said predetermined location tissue of the body need only become united with tissue of the same body, whereby the possibility of rejection of the device is reduced.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for implanting artificial devices in the bodies of living creatures such as human beings. The device is initially embedded in tissue of the living creature where the device is permitted to remain until ingrowth of tissue into intimate contact with the exterior surface of the device is completed. Then the device is removed while retaining thereon a layer of the tissue which has grown into contact with the device, and the device with this layer of tissue thereon is then implanted in the body at the location where the device is to be used in the body with tissue at this latter part of the body engaging the tissue which has previously grown onto the device, so that the possibility of rejection of the device is reduced.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. In a method for implanting in the body of a living creature such as a human being an artificial implant device which has an exterior surface which is impervious to the growth of tissue so that tissue cannot grow into the device beyond the exterior surface thereof, the steps of initially embedding the device in tissue of the living creature at a location different from a predetermined location at which the device is ultimately to be located and remain, while exposing only the exterior surface of the device to the tissue and permitting the device to remain in the tissue in which it is initially embedded until ingrowth of tissue into intimate contact only with the exterior surface of the device is completed, then removing the device from the location at which it was initially embedded while retaining only at the exterior of the device tissue which has grown into contact only with the exterior surface of the device, and then surgically obtaining access to said predetermined location and implanting the device with the tissue thereon only at the exterior surface thereof at said predetermined location with the tissue at the exterior of the device engaging tissue located at said predetermined location, and then surgically closing off access to said predetermined location so that at said predetermined location tissue of the body need only become united with tissue of the same body, whereby the possibility of rejection of the device is reduced.
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2. A method as recited in claim 1 and including the step of preliminarily locating at the exterior surface of the device, prior to initial embedding thereof, a means which will permit the ingrowth of tissue.
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3. A method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the tissue is initially embedded at a part of the body where a relatively large volume of tissue is readily accessible from the exterior of the body.
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4. A method as recited in claim 3 and wherein the part of the body where the device is initially embedded is a buttock.
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5. A method as recited in claim 1 and wherein said predetermined location is the interior of a body cavity which is lined with tissue placed in engagement with the tissue preliminarily grown onto the device and retained thereon when the device is removed from the location at which it is initially embedded.
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6. A method as recited in claim 5 and wherein the cavity is the interior of a vas deferens of human male and the device is a valve.
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7. A method as recited in claim 6 and wherein wire is preliminarily wound onto the exterior of the valve prior to initial embedding thereof for promoting ingrowth of tissue.
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8. A method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the device is a valve.
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9. A method as recited in claim 1 and wherein the device is implanted at said predetermined location immediately subsequent to removal of the device from the location at which it was initially embedded.
Specification