Implantable mesh prosthesis for muscle or tissue wall repairs

Claim 2

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a flexible plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and having a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect, said flexible plug being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect to a second configuration which closely approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect.

Claim 3

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible plug includes a conical plug.

Claim 4

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein said pleated surface is provided along the entire surface of said plug.

Claim 5

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 1,2 or 3 wherein said plug includes a closed rounded end, an open end and a cavity extending therebetween, and further includes a plurality of filler material positioned within said cavity and which stiffens said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 6

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle defect, comprising: a flexible plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect to a second configuration which closely approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, said plug having an open end and a cavity extending therefrom and further including a filler body which is positioned within said cavity and which stiffens said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 7

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle defect, comprising: a flexible plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect to a second configuration which closely approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, said plug having an open end and a cavity extending therefrom and further including a filler body which is positioned within said cavity and which stiffens said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 8

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 5 wherein at least a portion of said flexible plug includes a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect.

Claim 9

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 5 or 6 wherein said filler body is formed of a surgical mesh fabric.

Claim 10

The implantable prosthesis recited in any one of the preceding claims wherein said filler body includes a plurality of mesh petals.

Claim 11

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 8 wherein said plurality of mesh petals spread outwardly towards said plug when said plug is in said first configuration.

Claim 12

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 8 or 9 wherein said plurality of mesh petals have a common base.

Claim 13

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 8, or 10 wherein said plurality of mesh petals lean against said plug when said plug is in said first configuration.

Claim 14

The implantable prosthesis recited in any one of the preceding claims with a filler body which includes a plurality of upstanding mesh strips.

Claim 15

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 12 with a flexible plug which includes a closed end and said plurality of upstanding mesh strips are attached to said closed end and extend therefrom into said cavity and towards said open end.

Claim 16

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric which tapers outwardly from a closed end to a larger open end and having a cavity which is defined therebetween, said tapered plug having a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect, said flexible plug being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect to a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect; a first filler body formed of surgical mesh fabric and including a common base and a plurality of petals extending upwardly from said base and being spaced laterally thereabout, said base being supported by said plug so that said plurality of petals project into said cavity, whereby said plurality of petals stiffen said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 17

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric which tapers outwardly from a closed end to a larger open end and having a cavity which is defined therebetween, said tapered plug having a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect, said flexible plug being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect to a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect; a first filler body formed of surgical mesh fabric and including a common base and a plurality of petals extending upwardly from said base and being spaced laterally thereabout, said base being supported by said plug so that said plurality of petals project into said cavity, whereby said plurality of petals stiffen said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 18

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 14 wherein said petals curve outwardly from said base.

Claim 19

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 14 or 15 wherein said common base is attached to said closed end of said plug.

Claim 20

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 14,15 or 16 further comprising a second filler body formed of surgical mesh fabric and having a plurality of laterally spaced petals that extend upwardly from a common base, said second filler body being positioned within said first filler body and being offset relative thereto, whereby said first and second filler bodies combine to stiffen said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 21

The implantable prosthesis recited in claim 17 wherein said first and second filler bodies are offset by approximately forty-five degrees relative to one another.

Claim 22

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a conical plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric having a closed end, an open end and a cavity extending therebetween, said conical plug having a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect, said conical plug being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect; a plurality of petals formed of a surgical mesh fabric being positioned in said cavity and extending upwardly from said closed end of said plug, whereby said plurality of mesh petals stiffen said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 23

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a conical plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric having a closed end, an open end and a cavity extending therebetween, said conical plug having a pleated surface which is conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect, said conical plug being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect; a plurality of petals formed of a surgical mesh fabric being positioned in said cavity and extending upwardly from said closed end of said plug, whereby said plurality of mesh petals stiffen said implantable prosthesis when said plug is compressed into said second configuration.

Claim 24

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, wherein the surface of said plug further includes means for conforming to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect.

Claim 25

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, wherein the surface of said plug further includes means for conforming to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect.

Claim 26

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a hollow plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, the surface of said plug being conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect.

Claim 27

An implantable prosthesis for repairing a tissue or muscle wall defect, comprising: a hollow plug formed of a surgical mesh fabric and being compressible from a first configuration which is larger than the defect into a second configuration which approximates the shape of the defect so that said plug securely fits therein and occludes the defect, the surface of said plug being conformable to irregularities in the tissue or muscle wall defining the defect.