Mastoprosthesis

• US 4,681,587 A
• Filed: 11/04/1985
• Issued: 07/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Anita-Spezialmiederfabrik Dr Helbig GmbH & Company KG
• Original Assignee: Anita-Spezialmiederfabrik Dr Helbig & Company
• Inventors: Weber-Unger, Georg, Eberl, Tertulin
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Application Number:
  US06/794,702
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 623/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/52 Mammary prostheses brassieres A41C3/00

Abstract

A mastoprosthesis consists of a soft synthetic material member (1) formed after the shape of a natural breast, which member is provided on its back side with a cavity (2), into which a pad member (3) is inserted, which may consist of foam material or of fibers. The pad member (3) is held within cavity (2) for example by means of a rebound (or back salient) means (5) on the synthetic material member (1).

Claims

1. A mastoprosthesis for wearing within a brassiere by a person having mastectomy scar tissue located rearwardly of said brassiere, said mastoprosthesis comprising:

a body comprising an inner solid core of a soft silicone material resembling in its consistency and specific weight the natural breast tissue, and an outer film covering said core completely, said body having a front surface which is contoured to conform to the shape of a female breast and a rear surface defining a depression which is contoured to conform substantially to the contour of said front surface,

a single one piece backing member of a soft resilient material inserted in said depression, said backing member being lighter in specific weight than said body and having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface of said backing member facing and conforming substantially to the rear surface of said body,

retaining means for releasably retaining said backing member within said depression of said body,

said depression having a rearwardly facing opening sufficiently large to permit insertion and removal of said backing member into said depression;

said retaining means comprising a fabric enclosure member which covers the front surface of said body and said rear surface of said backing member so as to retain said backing member within said depression, said fabric enclosure member including two overlying flap portions which are adapted to be separated from one another so as to define an opening through which said body and said backing member can be removed from the enclosure member and inserted again into it;

said rearwardly facing opening being substantially free of said silicone material of said body so as to minimize interference of said silicone material of said body with said scar tissue and so as to expose substantially said entire rear surface of said backing member rearwardly toward said scar tissue of said person through said rearwardly facing opening of said depression.

2. The mastoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein said backing member comprises foam material.

3. The mastoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein said backing member comprises fibers.

4. The mastoprosthesis of claim 1 wherein said backing member is enclosed within a bag within said depression.

5. The mastoprosthesis of claim 4 wherein said male portion comprises at least one mushroom-like projection on said rear surface of said cavity of said body.

6. A mastoprosthesis for wearing within a brassiere by a person having mastectomy scar tissue located rearwardly of said brassiere, said mastoprosthesis comprising,

a body consisting of an inner solid core of a soft synthetic material resembling in its consistency and specific weight the natural breast tissue and an outer film covering said core completely, said body having a front surface which is contoured to conform to the shape of a female breast and a rear surface defining a cavity which is contoured to conform substantially to the contour of said front surface, said cavity having a rearwardly presented opening;

a single one piece pad member inserted into said cavity, said pad member being lighter in specific weight than said body, and having a front surface and a rear surface, said front surface of said pad member facing and substantially conforming to said rear surface of said body;

said rearwardly presented opening of said cavity being sufficiently large to permit said pad member to be inserted into and removed from said cavity;

said solid core being formed of silicon and said outer film being of polyurethane,

said body and pad member being releasably attached to one another;

said rearwardly presented opening of said cavity being substantially free of said silicone of said body so as to minimize interference of said silicone of said body with said scar tissue and so as to expose substantially said entire rear surface of said pad member rearwardly toward said scar tissue of said person through said rearwardly facing opening of said cavity.

7. The mastoprosthesis of claim 6 wherein said body and said pad member are formed as interlocking male and female portions for releasable attachment to one another.

8. The mastoprosthesis of claim 6 wherein said body includes a lip positioned around said rearwardly presented opening of said cavity for engaging said pad member and retaining said pad member within said cavity.

9. The mastoprosthesis of claim 6 wherein said body and said pad member are connected together through a Velcro strip fastener.

10. The mastoprosthesis of claim 6 wherein said body and said pad member are connected together by a fabric pouch which surrounds both of said body and said pad member.