Self-sealing shell for inflatable prostheses
First Claim
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1. A method of making an implantable and inflatable prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a curable polymer-based liquid;
distributing a plurality of solid, water-swellable particles in the liquid to form a fluid mixture comprising the liquid polymer and the solid, water-swellable particles;
solidifying the mixture to form a matrix of the polymer having the solid, water-swellable particles occupying enclosed spaces in the matrix; and
forming the mixture into a wall of an inflatable prosthesis comprising the matrix and enclosed particles,wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the water-swellable particles expand and the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture.
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Abstract
A self-sealing shell useful as a component of a soft fluid-filled prosthetic implant is provided. The shell is at least partly constructed of a wall made of a colloid of an elastomeric polymer matrix and particles of a water-swellable material distributed therein.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of making an implantable and inflatable prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a curable polymer-based liquid; distributing a plurality of solid, water-swellable particles in the liquid to form a fluid mixture comprising the liquid polymer and the solid, water-swellable particles; solidifying the mixture to form a matrix of the polymer having the solid, water-swellable particles occupying enclosed spaces in the matrix; and forming the mixture into a wall of an inflatable prosthesis comprising the matrix and enclosed particles, wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the water-swellable particles expand and the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of making an implantable soft prosthesis, the method comprising:
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providing a liquid polymer matrix; distributing a plurality of particles of a water-swellable material in the polymer matrix to form a colloid; solidifying the colloid into a solid matrix of the polymer entrapping the particles; forming the colloid into a wall of a shell comprising the solidified matrix and entrapped particles for an inflatable prosthesis; and contacting the wall with an aqueous fluid such that the particles swell and the wall becomes capable of self-sealing around a needle puncture. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification