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US4157085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Surgically implantable tissue expanding device and the method of its use
Assignee: Dow Corning Corp
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Filing: 1978-03-24
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Granted: 1979-06-05
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Expires: 1998-03-24
Abstract
Abstract A surgically implantable device for expanding skin and mucous tissue comprises a partially collapsed sealed envelope formed from a material which is permeable to extracellular body fluid. The envelope contains a material which establishes an osmotic potential across the envelope wall. Body fluid crosses the membrane to fill the envelope. As the envelope fills it expands the adjacent tissue. In use, the partially collapsed envelope is surgically implanted under the tissue to be expanded and is allowed to absorb fluid whereby expansion of the bag and subsequent tissue expansion is accomplished. A variety of surgical procedures using the expanded tissue are possible.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric D. Austad
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:23
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L27/00; A61L27/14; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/02; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/12; A61L27/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A surgically implantable device for expanding skin tissue and mucous membrane, the device comprising a partially collapsed sealed flexible envelope formed substantially from a membrane which is permeable to extracellular body fluid and a material contained within the envelope which is selected to provide sufficient osmotic pressure across the membrane to draw extracellular fluid thereacross, causing the envelope to expand and resulting in corresponding expansion of tissue under which the device is implanted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A surgically implantable device for expanding skin tissue and mucous membrane, the device comprising a partially collapsed sealed flexible envelope formed substantially from a membrane which is permeable to extracellular body fluid and a material contained within the envelope which is selected to provide sufficient osmotic pressure across the membrane to draw extracellular fluid thereacross, causing the envelope to expand and resulting in corresponding expansion of tissue under which the device is implanted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the envelope is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol, polyurethanes, nylon 6, nylon 6.6, aromatic nylon, polyvinyl acetate, plasticized polyvinylacetate, polyvinyl butyrate, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymers, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polyvinyl chloride, plasticized polyvinylchloride, natural rubber, silicone rubber and polybutadiene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 2 wherein the envelope is formed from a silicone rubber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the envelope has a wall thickness of from about 0.001 (0.0254 mm) to about 0.020 inch (0.5080 mm).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the envelope has a potential volume of from about 10 ml. to about 300 cc.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the material which provides osmotic potential across the membrane is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, magnesium sulphate, potassium sulphate, sodium sulphite, potassium chloride, sodium acetate, ammonium phosphate, ammonium sulphate, sucrose, glucose, fructose, glycine, alanine, valine, vinyl pyrrolidone, poly-n-vinylpyrrolidone, calcium lactate, magnesium succinate, carboxymethylcellulose, polyethylene glycols, manitol, urea, proteins, blood by-products, dextran and mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the material which provides osmotic potential across the membrane is sodium chloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the material which provides osmotic pressure across the membrane is present in an amount sufficient to achieve an isotonic solution in the envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 1 wherein the material which provides osmotic pressure across the membrane is present in an amount sufficient to provide osmotic pressure as long as the device is implanted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for expanding skin tissue and mucous membrane in animals, the method comprising surgically implanting the device of claim 1 beneath the tisue and allowing the device to expand for a time sufficient to result in a corresponding tissue expansion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 including the subsequent step of surgically removing the device of claim 1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 including the additional subsequent step of using the expanded tissue in a surgical procedure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the device of claim 1 is surgically implanted sufficiently close to the site of the subsequent surgical procedure that the expanded tissue can be used in the subsequent procedure without totally interrupting the vascular supply to the expanded tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 11 including the additional subsequent step of using the expanded tissue to receive a prosthetic device.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the prosthetic device is a mammary prosthesis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3093831A
Cited
US3416160A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-06-04 | 1982-12-04 | 1983-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-04 | 1986-12-04 | 1987-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-04 | 1990-12-04 | 1991-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |