Patient-specific craniofacial implants
First Claim
1. A method of designing a craniofacial implant for filling a void in a skull of a patient and for replacing soft tissue comprising:
- creating a three dimensional model of the skull having the void;
creating a preliminary implant model configured to replace the void in the skull, the preliminary implant model having a first volume; and
creating an updated implant model by augmenting an outer contour of the preliminary implant model to account for soft tissue loss overlying at least a portion of the void such that the updated implant model has a second volume greater than the first volume.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein are patient-specific craniofacial implants structured for filling bone voids in the cranium as well as for simultaneously providing soft tissue reconstruction and/or augmentation for improved aesthetic symmetry and appearance. Pterional voids or defects generally result from a chromic skull deformity along with a compromised temporalis muscle or soft tissue distortion from previous surgery. When muscle atrophy occurs in the pterion, temporal hollowing generally results where there would be soft tissue but for the atrophy. The patient-specific temporal implants herein are configured to have an augmented region adjacent the temporal region of the cranium in order to account for and correct any such temporal hollowing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of designing a craniofacial implant for filling a void in a skull of a patient and for replacing soft tissue comprising:
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creating a three dimensional model of the skull having the void; creating a preliminary implant model configured to replace the void in the skull, the preliminary implant model having a first volume; and creating an updated implant model by augmenting an outer contour of the preliminary implant model to account for soft tissue loss overlying at least a portion of the void such that the updated implant model has a second volume greater than the first volume. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manufacturing a craniofacial implant for filling a void in a skull of a patient and for replacing soft tissue comprising:
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creating a three dimensional model of the skull having the void; creating a preliminary implant model configured to replace the void in the skull, the preliminary implant model having a first volume; creating an updated implant model by augmenting an outer contour of the preliminary implant model to account for soft tissue loss overlying at least a portion of the void such that the updated implant model has a second volume greater than the first volume; and fabricating the updated implant model. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification