Prosthesis with self-sealing valve

• US 4,253,201 A
• Filed: 05/24/1979
• Issued: 03/03/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medical Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Medical Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Ross, David A., Aperavich, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US06/041,981
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 3/36, 3/1, 128/274, 46/90, 272/DIG. 1, 273/65 C, 273/65 D
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

An inflatable, implantable prosthesis includes a flexible, inflatable, thin wall container of physiologically acceptable material provided with a self-sealing valve assembly which permits fluid to be introduced into or removed from said container to inflate or deflate the prosthesis. The self-sealing valve assembly includes a top having an outer wall and an inner wall which are sealed about their periphery to form an envelope which is filled with a self-sealing gel. The outer wall of the top is secured to the inside of the container and a side wall depends from the top and is connected to a bottom to define a chamber. The chamber has at least one opening in the bottom or side wall so that inflating fluid can pass to and from said chamber into the interior of the container. When inflating or deflating the container, the valve is opened by passing a needle through the envelope and self-sealing gel into the chamber; fluid is removed from or added to the container through the needle or a replacement catheter via the chamber. The chamber shields and protects the thin wall of the container from potentially damaging contact with the needle. The side walls of the chamber are comprised of a flexible material which permits the chamber to collapse to form a more compact uninflated container that may be implanted using a minimum size incision and which expands after implantation.

Claims

1. In an inflatable, implantable prosthesis which comprises a flexible, inflatable thin walled container and a self-sealing valve on said container so that fluid can be introduced into said container to inflate or deflate said container, the improved valve which comprises a double walled top having a self-sealing gel deposited in the space between the walls, said top being secured to the inside of the container wall, a side wall depending from said top, and a bottom, said side wall connecting the top and the bottom and defining a fluid receiving chamber having at least one opening therein, said side wall being comprised of a flexible material which permits said fluid receiving chamber to be collapsible to form a more compact uninflated container that may be implanted using a minimum size incision and which expands after implantation so that fluid can pass to and from said chamber into the interior of the container.

2. The valve of claim 1 in which the bottom is reinforced and provides increased resistance which signals the user when the tip of the needle has encountered the bottom.

3. The valve of claim 1 in which both the side wall and bottom provide increased resistance which signals the user when the tip of the needle has encountered either.

4. The valve of claim 1 in which the side wall and bottom are reinforced with mesh.