Tissue expander and method for expanding tissue
First Claim
1. A tissue expander having an improved nonclassical tissue response, comprising an inflatable flexible three-dimensional device, said device having a supporting structure having an outer surface, a plurality of projections extending from at least a portion of the outer surface area of the supporting structure, said plurality of projections tending to promote a nonclassical tissue response when said device is implanted in a living body and subsequently intermittently inflated to cause tissue expansion, said projections having height and width dimensions selected from the groups consisting of (1) approximately 750 microns high and approximately 250 microns wide and (2) approximately 1600 microns high and approximately 800 microns wide.
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Abstract
A tissue expander is disclosed. Extending from the outer surface of the tissue expander are a plurality of projections of specific combinations of height and width dimensions selected from the groups consisting of (1) approximately 750 microns high and approximately 250 microns wide and (2) approximately 1,600 microns high and approximately 800 microns wide. Preferred edge-to-edge spacing distance between adjacent projection and center-to-center spacings between adjacent projections are also disclosed. A method of expanding tissue utilizing the disclosed tissue expander is also disclosed.
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Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A tissue expander having an improved nonclassical tissue response, comprising an inflatable flexible three-dimensional device, said device having a supporting structure having an outer surface, a plurality of projections extending from at least a portion of the outer surface area of the supporting structure, said plurality of projections tending to promote a nonclassical tissue response when said device is implanted in a living body and subsequently intermittently inflated to cause tissue expansion, said projections having height and width dimensions selected from the groups consisting of (1) approximately 750 microns high and approximately 250 microns wide and (2) approximately 1600 microns high and approximately 800 microns wide.
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10. A method of expanding tissue, comprising the steps of
(a) implanting an inflatable flexible three-dimensional device in a living body beneath tissue to be expanded, said device having a supporting structure having an outer surface, a plurality of projections extending from at least a portion of the outer surface area of the supporting structure, said plurality of projections tending to promote a nonclassical tissue response when said device is implanted in a living body and subsequently intermittently inflated to cause tissue expansion, said projections having height and width dimensions selected from the groups consisting of (1) approximately 750 microns high and approximately 250 microns wide and (2) approximately 1600 microns high and approximately 800 microns wide; - and
(b) subsequently intermittently inflating said device to cause expansion of said tissue to be expanded. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification