Tissue expander and method of making and using
First Claim
1. A tissue expander comprising(a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation, said envelope having an expandable upper section comprising(i) a first elastic portion formed of a first elastomer and(ii) a second elastic portion formed of a second elastomer having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of said first elastomer wherein the moduli of elasticity are measured on specimens of said first and second elastomers having no laminations, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each elastomer at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion and causes the envelope to assume a complex shape, and(b) means for inflating said envelope with a biocompatible fluid associated therewith for the controlled inflation of said envelope.
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Abstract
A tissue expander and a method for making a tissue expander which includes (a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation and which has an expandable upper section formed of (i) a first elastic portion and (ii) a second elastic portion formed of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material forming the first portion, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each portion at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion, thereby allowing the envelope to assume a complex shape. The tissue expander also has a means for inflating the envelope with a biocompatible fluid.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A tissue expander comprising
(a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation, said envelope having an expandable upper section comprising (i) a first elastic portion formed of a first elastomer and (ii) a second elastic portion formed of a second elastomer having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of said first elastomer wherein the moduli of elasticity are measured on specimens of said first and second elastomers having no laminations, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each elastomer at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion and causes the envelope to assume a complex shape, and (b) means for inflating said envelope with a biocompatible fluid associated therewith for the controlled inflation of said envelope.
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13. A method of expanding tissue of a patient comprising the steps of:
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(I) implanting beneath a section of tissue to be expanded a tissue expander comprising (a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation, said envelope having an expandable upper section comprising (i) a first elastic portion formed of a first elastomer and (ii) a section elastic portion formed of a second elastomer having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of said first elastomer wherein the moduli of elasticity are measured on specimens of said first and second elastomers having no laminations, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each elastomer at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion and causes the envelope to assume a complex shape, and (b) means for inflating said envelope with a biocompatible fluid associated therewith for the controlled inflation of said envelope, and (II) inflating said envelope gradually over a period of time to expand the tissue overlying the envelope.
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14. A tissue expander comprising
(a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation, said envelope having an expandable upper section free of fabric reinforcement comprising (i) a first elastic portion formed of a first elastomer and (ii) a second elastic portion formed of a second elastomer having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of said first elastomer wherein the moduli of elasticity are measured on specimens of said first and second elastomers having no laminations, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each elastomer at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion and causes the envelope to assume a complex shape, and (b) means for inflating said envelope with a biocompatible fluid associated therewith for the controlled inflation of said envelope.
Specification