Human breast prosthesis

• US 4,573,999 A
• Filed: 10/14/1983
• Issued: 03/04/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daniel J. Netto
• Original Assignee: Daniel J. Netto
• Inventors: Netto, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ISABELLA, DAVID J
• Application Number:
  US06/541,994
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 3/36, 3/1, 128/92 C
• US Class Current: 623/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

A prosthetic implant for human breasts, comprising a fluid or gel filled body, the surface of which has waves arranged in a concentric pattern rather than a smooth configuration. The amplitude of the waves reduces under the pressure of capsular contracture, thereby relieving said pressure without reducing the volume or firmness of the implant.

Claims

1. A prosthetic implant for surgical implantation within living tissue, said implant comprising body means having undulations over a substantial portion of its exteriorly directed surface, said undulations defining a plurality of predetermined substantially concentric peaks and intervening valleys about a substantially vertical projection axis, said surface of said body means being made of material sufficiently rigid to maintain the shape of said peaks and valleys in the absence of pressure against said exteriorly directed surface, but yieldable to pressures on said exteriorly directed surface by any fibrous growth which may bridge said valleys, whereby said pressures tend to displace the material of said body means and flatten said peaks rather than acting against any adjacent living tissue.

2. An implant according to claim 1, wherein said body means comprises a filling material and a covering enveloping and containing said filling material.

3. An implant according to claim 2, wherein said filling material is a fluid.

4. An implant according to claim 2, wherein said filling material is a deformable gel.

5. An implant according to claim 1, wherein said exteriorly directed surface is generally hemispherical.

6. An implant according to claim 1, wherein said body means is unitary.

7. A prosthetic implant for surgical implantation underneath the skin of a human chest to create the apperance of a female breast, said implant comprising:

a filling material; and

a covering enveloping and containing said filling material, said covering having undulations over a substantial portion of its exteriorly directed surface, said undulations defining a plurality of predetermined substantially concentric peaks and intervening valleys about a substantially vertical projection axis, said covering being made of material sufficiently rigid to maintain the shape of said peaks and valleys in the absence of pressure against said exteriorly directed surface, but yieldable to pressures on said exteriorly directed surface by any fibrous growth which may bridge said valleys, whereby said pressures tend to displace said filling material and flatten said peaks rather than acting against any adjacent chest tissue.