Spring ring tissue expander
First Claim
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1. A tissue expansion device for implantation beneath the skin, thereafter to be expanded to enlarge the surface area of the skin overlying the device, comprising:
- (a) a shell consisting of a thin flexable, expandable elastomeric envelope of substantially uniform thickness containing a substantially leakproof chamber therein;
(b) a spring loaded marginal tensioning loop, said tensioning loop disposed within said leakproof chamber to exert a substantially uniform outward pressure against the interior wall of said shell, said outward pressure being sufficient to stretch said shell at least enough to remove wrinkles from said shell; and
(c) means for introducing a fluid into said leakproof chamber.
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Abstract
An improved tissue expansion device for implantation beneath the skin, the improvement being the incorporation of a tensioning ring within the shell of the device. The tension ring exerts an outward force along the periphery of the shell to hold the device flat and prevent undesirable wrinkling during implantation.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tissue expansion device for implantation beneath the skin, thereafter to be expanded to enlarge the surface area of the skin overlying the device, comprising:
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(a) a shell consisting of a thin flexable, expandable elastomeric envelope of substantially uniform thickness containing a substantially leakproof chamber therein; (b) a spring loaded marginal tensioning loop, said tensioning loop disposed within said leakproof chamber to exert a substantially uniform outward pressure against the interior wall of said shell, said outward pressure being sufficient to stretch said shell at least enough to remove wrinkles from said shell; and (c) means for introducing a fluid into said leakproof chamber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A tissue expansion device for implantation beneath the skin, thereafter to be expanded to enlarge the surface area of the skin overlying the device, comprising:
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(a) a shell consisting of a thin, flexible, expandable elastomeric envelope of substantially uniform thickness containing a substantially leakproof chamber therein; (b) a spring loaded marginal loop contained within the interior of said chamber, said marginal loop providing tension directed radially outward against the interior surface of said shell, said tension being sufficient to remove substantially all wrinkles from the surface of the shell; and (c) means for introducing a fluid into said leakproof chamber. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. The device of claim 15 wherein the portion of said shell surrounding said injection reservoir is reinforced.
Specification