Breast implant with position lock

• US 6,203,570 B1
• Filed: 11/24/1999
• Issued: 03/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medici Life Sciences Licensing Company LLC (The Medici Portfolio LLC)
• Original Assignee: John L. Baeke
• Inventors: Baeke, John L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/449,454
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 623/7, 623/8
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants

Abstract

An improved breast implant prosthesis provides fastening components to anchor the implant to retroglandular or retromuscular tissue and secure the implant in place. Location markers are also provided to ensure correct orientation of the prosthesis during the augmentation mammaplasty procedure and provide postoperative orientation information without the use of invasive procedures.

Claims

1. A breast implant prosthesis comprising:

a flexible shell of a predetermined shape composed of biocompatible material for containing a filling material and presenting an anterior area for orientation towards an outer skin surface and an opposed posterior area adapted to overlie internal tissue,

a fastening component secured to said shell for anchoring said prosthesis, and

said component comprising a material configured to secure and hold a suture therethrough to secure the component to said tissue and thereby anchor the prosthesis.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a second fastening component secured to an upper portion of said flexible shell for anchoring said prosthesis and wherein said first mentioned fastening component is secured to a lower portion of said flexible shell.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening components include radiopaque indicators.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening components include tactile indicators.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening components provide visual identification of the shape of said shell.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fastening components include Dacron reinforcement.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a marker secured to said flexible shell for identifying an orientation of said prosthesis.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a second marker secured to said flexible shell for identifying said orientation of said prosthesis.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said marker provides visual identification of the shape of said shell.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first mentioned marker is secured to an upper portion of said flexible shell in a twelve o'"'"'clock position, and said second marker is secured to a lower portion of said flexible shell in a six o'"'"'clock position.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first mentioned marker is distinguishable from said second marker.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said markers are radiopaque.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said markers are tactile.

14. A breast implant prosthesis comprising:

a flexible shell of a predetermined shape composed of biocompatible material for containing a filling material and presenting an anterior area for orientation towards an outer skin surface and an opposed posterior area adapted to overlie internal tissue,

a first reinforced fastening component secured to a lower portion of said posterior area for anchoring said prosthesis to said internal tissue,

a second reinforced fastening component secured to an upper portion of said posterior area for anchoring said prosthesis to said internal tissue,

said fastening component comprising a material configured to secure and hold a suture therethrough to secure the component to said tissue and thereby anchor the prosthesis,

a first radiopaque tactile marker on said shell for identifying said first fastening component and visually identifying the shape of said shell, and

a second radiopaque tactile marker on said shell for identifying said second fastening component.

15. A breast implant prosthesis comprising:

a flexible shell of biocompatible material for containing a filling material and adapted to contact internal tissue,

a fastening component having an interior area and a periphery, said interior area secured to said shell for anchoring said prosthesis, and

said component comprising a material configured to secure and hold a suture therethrough to secure the component to said tissue and thereby anchor the prosthesis.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 said periphery of fastening component is free.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a marker secured to said flexible shell for identifying an orientation of said prosthesis.

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a second marker secured to said flexible shell for identifying said orientation of said prosthesis.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said first mentioned marker is secured to an upper portion of said flexible shell in a twelve o'"'"'clock position, and said second marker is secured to a lower portion of said flexible shell in a six o'"'"'clock position.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein said first mentioned marker is distinguishable from said second marker.

21. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said markers are radiopaque.

22. The apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said markers are tactile.

23. A breast implant prosthesis comprising:

a flexible shell of predetermined shape composed of biocompatible material for containing a filling material and presenting an anterior area for orientation towards an outer skin surface and an opposed posterior area adapted to overlie internal tissue, and

a marker secured to said shell configured to visually identify the shape of said shell and identify an orientation of said prosthesis.

24. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a second marker secured to said flexible shell for identifying said orientation of said prosthesis.

25. The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein said first mentioned marker is secured to an upper portion of said flexible shell in a twelve o'"'"'clock position, and said second marker is secured to a lower portion of said flexible shell in a six o'"'"'clock position.

26. The apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein said first mentioned marker is distinguishable from said second marker.

27. The apparatus as claimed in claim 26 wherein said markers include radiopaque identifiers.

28. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said marker includes a radiopaque identifier.

29. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 wherein said marker includes a tactile identifier.

30. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a fastening component secured to said shell for anchoring said prosthesis, and said component comprising a material capable of securing and holding a suture therethrough to secure the component to said tissue and thereby anchor the prosthesis.

31. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 wherein said fastening component includes a radiopaque identifier.

32. The apparatus as claimed in claim 30 further comprising a second fastening component secured to an upper portion of said flexible shell for anchoring said prosthesis and wherein said first mentioned fastening component is secured to a lower portion of said flexible shell.

33. The apparatus as claimed in claim 32 wherein said fastening components include radiopaque identifiers.

34. The apparatus as claimed in claim 23 further comprising a fastening component having an interior area and a periphery, said interior area secured to said shell for anchoring said prosthesis, and said component comprising a material capable of securing and holding a suture therethrough to secure the component to said tissue and thereby anchor the prosthesis.

35. The apparatus as claimed in claim 34 wherein said fastening component includes at least one radiopaque identifier.