Rupture resistant prosthesis with bonded surface layer and method of forming same
First Claim
1. A surgically implantable rupture-resistant breast prosthesis comprising:
- a flexible, creasable shell of silicone polymer adapted to contain a saline inflating liquid and having a wall with inner and outer surfaces; and
an abrasion resistant hydrogel layer having substantially greater lubricity than the shell bonded to one of such wall surfaces to substantially reduce self-abrasion damage to the shell wall during sliding contact between opposing areas of this one surface when a saline inflating liquid is confined within the shell and the shell wall has a crease after surgical implantation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A surgically implantable prosthesis such as a mammary implant, that is rendered rupture-resistant by a lubricious layer bonded to the inner surface, outer surface, or both such surfaces of a wall of a flexible, creasable shell of the prosthesis. The lubricious layer reduces self-abrasion damage between sliding surfaces of the shell in a folding or creased area of the shell after surgical implantation. The lubricious layer can be mechanically bonded, such as through physical locking within an interpenetrating lattice structure of such wall, or can be attached to the shell'"'"'s wall through a covalent chemical bond. An example of the rupture-resistant prosthesis includes a lubricious layer of an acrylamide polymer radiation bonded to at least one wall surface of a silicone shell or bag.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A surgically implantable rupture-resistant breast prosthesis comprising:
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a flexible, creasable shell of silicone polymer adapted to contain a saline inflating liquid and having a wall with inner and outer surfaces; and an abrasion resistant hydrogel layer having substantially greater lubricity than the shell bonded to one of such wall surfaces to substantially reduce self-abrasion damage to the shell wall during sliding contact between opposing areas of this one surface when a saline inflating liquid is confined within the shell and the shell wall has a crease after surgical implantation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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13. A rupture-resistant prosthesis as set forth in claim 13, wherein the inflating liquid is biocompatible.
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18. A surgically implantable rupture-resistant breast prosthesis comprising:
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a flexible, creasable shell of silicone polymer adapted to contain a saline inflating liquid and having a wall with inner and outer surfaces; and an abrasion-resistant hydrogel layer selected from the group consisting of acrylamide, vinylpyrrolidone, methacrylamide, N-substituted acrylamide and hdyroxymethyl methacrylate mechanically or chemically bonded to one of such wall surfaces to substantially reduce self-abrasion damage to the shell wall during sliding contact between opposing areas of this one surface when a saline inflating liquid is confined within the shell and the shell wall has a crease after surgical implantation. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method of forming a surgically implantable rupture-resistant breast prosthesis comprising:
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(a) forming an unfilled flexible creasable shell of silicone polymer with a wall having inner and outer surfaces; and (b) mechanically or chemically bonding to one of such wall surfaces an abrasion resistant hydrogel layer having substantially greater lubricity than the shell, whereby the shell can be inflated with a saline inflating liquid and surgically implanted to substantially reduce self-abrasion damage to the shell during sliding contact between opposing areas of this one surface when a saline inflating liquid is confined within the shell and the shell wall has a crease after surgical implantation. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification