Mammary prosthesis
First Claim
1. A mammary prosthesis comprising a soft front envelope of an inert elastomer for containing an inert fluid material and a backing of an inert polymeric material, said backing being sized and defining at least one enclosed volume for receiving a material in said enclosed volume of said backing to rigidify the backing sufficiently to prevent the contraction of scar tissue around the prosthesis from pulling the prosthesis into a hard shape.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to a mammary prosthesis and a method of implanting same. The prosthesis comprises a flexible backing and a soft front envelope, for example, of the inflatable or prefilled type. The flexible backing defines, at least one internal passageway or compartment into which rigidifying material may be forced or emplaced. Upon setting of the rigidifying material in the passageways or compartments, the backing loses a substantial part, if not all, of its flexibility. The rigidified backing thereafter prevents the contracture of natural fibrous tissues generated around the front envelope and backing in a way to prevent hardening of the prosthesis and/or palpable prosthesis edges prevalent with prior art devices.
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Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A mammary prosthesis comprising a soft front envelope of an inert elastomer for containing an inert fluid material and a backing of an inert polymeric material, said backing being sized and defining at least one enclosed volume for receiving a material in said enclosed volume of said backing to rigidify the backing sufficiently to prevent the contraction of scar tissue around the prosthesis from pulling the prosthesis into a hard shape.
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25. A method of providing a mammary prosthesis comprising the steps for
(a) surgically emplacing a prosthesis comprising a soft front envelope and a flexible backing defining an enclosed volume, (b) injecting rigidifying materials into the said enclosed volume to rigidify the backing.
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29. A method of providing a mammary prosthesis comprising the steps for
(a) surgically emplacing a prosthesis comprising a soft front envelope and a flexible backing defining an enclosed volume filled with rigidifying materials, (b) activating the rigidifying materials to harden at about the time of emplacing the prosthesis.
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33. A mammary prosthesis comprising a soft front envelope of an inert elastomer for containing an inert fluid material and a backing of inert polymeric material being sufficiently rigid and of a shape to prevent the contracture of scar tissue around the prosthesis from pulling the prosthesis into a hard shape by providing a natural flow space into which the fluid material may be displaced after the scar contracture has taken place.
Specification