Multiple compartment breast prosthesis

• US 5,147,398 A
• Filed: 06/26/1991
• Issued: 09/15/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn, Mark Foglietti
• Original Assignee: Lawrence A. Lynn, Mark Foglietti
• Inventors: Lynn, Lawrence A., Foglietti, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Frinks, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US07/721,262
• Time in Patent Office: 447 Days
• Field of Search: 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 27/18 Homopolymers or copolymers or tetrafluoroethene

Abstract

An improved breast prosthesis for insertion under the sub-cutaneous tissue or muscle of the chest wall formed as a plurality of compartments each containing silicone gel or the like. The surface area to volume ratio of the apical compartment is smaller than the basilar one so that the appearance of projection is produced and pressure on the apex results in basilar deformation, reducing the perception of apical firmness. Preferably the skin is of PTFE possibly reducing capsular contractive and the perception of excessive firmness.

Claims

1. A breast prosthesis for insertion under subcutaneous tissue of a chest wall, the prosthesis comprising:

an apical compartment having a relatively low surface area to volume ratio and adapted to be positioned relatively distally;

a basilar compartment having a relatively high surface area to volume ratio and adapted to be positioned relatively proximally;

said apical compartment and said basilar compartment are each filled with a single permanently deformable material and said apical and basilar compartments are mutually exclusive to one another; and

outer housing means for positionally fixing said apical and basilar compartments with respect to one another and adapted to envelope said apical and basilar compartments, wherein the volume of said outer housing means is substantially equal to the combined volumes of said apical and said basilar compartments.

2. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said apical and basilar compartments share a common wall.

3. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said basilar compartment has a relatively larger volume with respect to said apical compartment.

4. The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said outer housng means is porus polytetrafluoroethylene.