Prosthesis formed by inner and outer inflatable containers

• US 4,433,440 A
• Filed: 02/26/1979
• Issued: 02/28/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cohen, I. Kelman
• Original Assignee: Cohen, I. Kelman
• Inventors: Cohen, I. Kelman
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Application Number:
  US06/015,436
• Time in Patent Office: 1,828 Days
• Field of Search: 3/36, 273/65 C, 152/340, 152/429, 152/339, 152/341
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

A breast prosthesis comprising inner and outer flexible containers, each having a self-sealing valve associated therewith. The valves are arranged in such a fashion that each container can be separately filled with fluid. The prosthesis is implanted in a deflated state and each container is filled in turn before closing the incision.

Claims

1. A breast prosthesis comprising

an outer inflatable container of flexible biological implant material;

an inner inflatable container of flexible biological implant material, substantially concentric with said outer container;

a valve associated with each container and for admitting fluid to the container with which it is associated, and for sealing the fluid within the container after filling thereof;

removable fluid-filling means for penetrating said valves and providing the introduction of fluid therethrough; and

wherein both valves are self-sealing and wherein said removable fluid-filling means comprises a single tubular member penetrating both self-sealing valves at the same time, and means mounting said tubular member for movement from a position penetrating both self-sealing valves to a position penetrating only the self-sealing valve of said outer container, to a position penetrating neither valve.

2. A prosthesis as recited in claim 1 wherein both valves are self-sealing, and wherein said means mounting said tubular member for movement includes a perforated tubular member having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said tubular member and extending between said self-sealing valves and operatively connected thereto.

3. A prosthesis as recited in claim 1 further comprising indicia formed on the exterior of said tubular member for indicating the penetration of said tubular member with respect to said containers.

4. A prosthesis as recited in claim 3 wherein both said inner and outer containers are filled with physiologic fluid.

5. A method of practicing augmentation mamoplasty utilizing a breast prosthesis including inner and outer substantially concentric inflatable containers of flexible biological implant material, each having a valve associated therewith, and wherein a removable tubular fluid-filling member extends from exteriorly of both the containers through the valves and the valves are self-sealing;

said method comprising the steps of substantially sequentially

(a) forming an incision in the breast area;

(b) placing the prosthesis, with both containers deflated, through the incision beneath the breast;

(c) filling the at least one deflated container with a physiologic fluid, and providing sealing of the valve associated with that container to seal the fluid within the container;

by;

(d) filling the inner container with a physiologic fluid by introducing fluid through the tubular member into the inner container, and then withdrawing the tubular member from passage through the self-sealing valve of the inner container while it remains passing through the self-sealing valve of the outer container, to seal the fluid within the inner container, and

(e) filling the outer container with a physiologic fluid by introducing fluid through the tubular member into the outer container, and then withdrawing the tubular member from passage through the self-sealing valve of the outer container, and to seal the fluid within the outer container; and

(f) closing the incision.

6. A method as recited in claim 5 wherein the physiologic fluid introduced into the containers is selected from the group consisting essentially of saline and saline containing corticosteriods or other physiological materials.