Hinging breast implant

• US 6,875,233 B1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matthew Lamar Turner
• Original Assignee: Matthew Lamar Turner
• Inventors: Turner, Matthew Lamar
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US10/457,969
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 623 7- 8, 450/39, 450/54, 450/55
• US Class Current: 623/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/12 Mammary prostheses and implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas

Abstract

A hinging breast implant capable a being variably sized and that includes an exterior shell and an inner bladder is described. The exterior shell is typically a bellows having a plurality of pleats so that the outer size of the implant is variable so that different sizes and shapes can be obtained. The rear of the housing closest to the patient'"'"'s interior is typically shaped in order to conform to the patient'"'"'s rib cage and internal connective tissues. Conversely, the front of the housing is shaped to naturally conform to the outer shape of the patient. The inner bladder can be filled with a suitable filling material, liquid, gas or solid. As the bladder is filled, the exterior shell expands in a manner that creates a lifting effect and a ballooning effect. An appendage, used to fill the bladder external to the patient, is connected to both the exterior shell and the inner bladder.

Claims

1. A breast implant, comprising:

an external housing having a top end and a bottom end, a hollow interior, a front panel having a generally rounded contour that mimics the outer contour of a human chest, a rear panel having a generally concave outer surface adapted to fit against the general shape of a human chest and a flexible and pleated wall connected between the front and rear panels;

a bladder having an interior reservoir and located within the hollow interior of the housing;

a valve connected to the bladder and protruding from the housing; and

a hinging mechanism connected to the top end of housing,

wherein a first end of the pleated wall is connected to one side of the hinging mechanism and a second end of the pleated wall is connected to an opposite side of the hinging mechanism.

2. The implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bladder is connected to an inner surface of the housing.

3. The implant as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bladder is connected to an inner surface of the rear panel.

4. The implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein a portion of the bladder is in mechanical contact with an inner surface of the front panel.

5. The implant as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a compartment formed between a lower portion of the bladder and an internal portion of the pleated wall.

6. The implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hinging mechanism is an elongated cap that encloses an end of the front and rear panels and a portion of the pleated wall.

7. The implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pleated wall forms a bellows.

8. The implant as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a liquid filling the interior reservoir of the bladder.

9. The implant as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a gas filling the interior reservoir of the bladder.

10. The implant as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a solid filling the interior reservoir of the bladder.

11. The implant as claimed in claim 1 wherein the valve is adapted to remain external to the patient and adapted to receive a filler.

12. The implant as claimed in claim 11 wherein the filler is added and removed as needed to vary the size of the implant.

13. A breast implant, comprising:

an external housing having a top end and a bottom end and a hollow interior a front panel having a generally rounded contour that mimics the outer contour of a human chest a rear panel having a generally concave outer surface adapted to fit against the general shape of a human chest and a flexible and pleated wall connected between the front and rear panels;

a bladder formed as an integral part of the housing and having an interior reservoir;

a valve connected to the housing; and

a hinging mechanism connected to the top end of housing, wherein a first end of the pleated wall is connected to one side of the hinging mechanism and a second end of the pleated wall is connected to an opposite side of the hinging mechanism.