Apparatus for breast reduction surgery

Claim 2

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough, sized, dimensioned and configured to generally correspond the areola of the breast, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures secured to said shield body and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield; and means on a shield body for removably fastening said shield body to said breast.

Claim 3

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a means for positioning said shield body on a breast.

Claim 4

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein said positioning means comprise an aligning ring.

Claim 5

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein said aligning ring is sized, dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond an outer diameter of a nipple of a breast.

Claim 6

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising an angled guide secured to each of said elongated tubular structures and to said outer edge of said shield body, each of said angled guides structured and disposed to give a predetermined angle to each of said tubular structures relative to said shield body.

Claim 7

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said elongated tubular structures and said corresponding angled guides are disposed near said outer edge of said shield body in positions generally corresponding the 8 o'clock, 10 o'clock, 12 o'clock, 2 o'clock, and 4 o'clock positions on a clock.

Claim 8

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for removably fastening said shield body to a breast comprise a plurality of suture openings.

Claim 9

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said plurality of suture openings are disposed in a generally circular arrangement on said shield body.

Claim 10

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said shield body is slightly dome-shaped in contour.

Claim 11

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said shield body further includes a means for lifting said shield body.

Claim 12

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein said means for lifting said shield body is a handle.

Claim 13

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a substantially circular, generally flat yet dome shaped shield body, said shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and having a circular opening extending therethrough bounded by said inner edge, said shield body being sized, dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond an areola of a breast and said opening being sized, dimensioned and configured to reveal a large portion of an areola therethrough, means for positioning and centering said shield body on a nipple of a breast about an areola, means for removably fastening said shield body to a breast; means for lifting said shield body after being fastened to a breast, said shield body including a plurality of angled guides formed on an upper surface thereof and generally along and near said outer edge of said shield body, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having a top open end, a bottom open end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular segments being secured to a corresponding one of said angled guides, said angled guide disposing said elongated tubular structures at a predetermined angle to said shield body, and a marker having a bovie, an open tip and a stopper, said open tip being structured and disposed to penetrate beneath an epidermal layer of breast tissue, said marker being sized, dimensioned and structured for insertion first into and passage through said elongated tubular structures and then into a breast thereby opening a marking track into a breast secured underneath said shield body, said stopper of said marker being positioned on said marker so that said open tip extends a maximum pre-selected distance below said bottom open end of said tubular structure when said marker is fully inserted into said tubular structure such that said marker is prevented from opening a marking track, into a breast, of greater length than is desired.

Claim 14

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a substantially circular, generally flat yet dome shaped shield body, said shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and having a circular opening extending therethrough bounded by said inner edge, said shield body being sized, dimensioned and configured to substantially correspond an areola of a breast and said opening being sized, dimensioned and configured to reveal a large portion of an areola therethrough, means for positioning and centering said shield body on a nipple of a breast about an areola, means for removably fastening said shield body to a breast; means for lifting said shield body after being fastened to a breast, said shield body including a plurality of angled guides formed on an upper surface thereof and generally along and near said outer edge of said shield body, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having a top open end, a bottom open end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular segments being secured to a corresponding one of said angled guides, said angled guide disposing said elongated tubular structures at a predetermined angle to said shield body, and a marker having a bovie, an open tip and a stopper, said open tip being structured and disposed to penetrate beneath an epidermal layer of breast tissue, said marker being sized, dimensioned and structured for insertion first into and passage through said elongated tubular structures and then into a breast thereby opening a marking track into a breast secured underneath said shield body, said stopper of said marker being positioned on said marker so that said open tip extends a maximum pre-selected distance below said bottom open end of said tubular structure when said marker is fully inserted into said tubular structure such that said marker is prevented from opening a marking track, into a breast, of greater length than is desired.

Claim 15

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said marker includes a chamber between said bovie and said open tip end, said chamber structured for holding fluid and being in fluid communication with said open tip, and said marker further including means structurally connected to said chamber for releasing said fluid out of said chamber and through said open tip end.

Claim 16

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said marker includes a hollow interior structured for maintaining fluid therein and for allowing fluid to flow through said hollow interior and to exit at said open tip, and said marker further including means operably connected to said marker for supplying fluid from an outside source to said hollow interior of said marker.

Claim 17

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein selected portions of said marker are non-conductive.

Claim 18

A breast reduction apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said stopper is adjustable along the length of said marker.

Claim 19

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a generally flat shield body having a substantially circular shape, said shield body including an inner edge and an outer edge, said inner edge defining a substantially circular aperture therethrough, said shield body further including an upper exposed surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being slightly dome-shaped, said shield body further including a lip member extending from a bottom portion of said shield body, said lip member being sized, configured and dimensioned to cover a portion of skin on an underside of the breast, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, each of said elongated tubular segments secured to said shield and at a predetermined angle to said shield; means on said body for removably fastening said shield to said breast, means on said body for positioning said shield on the breast, and means for lifting said shield body and breast tissue connected thereto, after said shield body has been secured to the breast.

Claim 20

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a generally flat shield body having a substantially circular shape, said shield body including an inner edge and an outer edge, said inner edge defining a substantially circular aperture therethrough, said shield body further including an upper exposed surface and a lower surface, said lower surface being slightly dome-shaped, said shield body further including a lip member extending from a bottom portion of said shield body, said lip member being sized, configured and dimensioned to cover a portion of skin on an underside of the breast, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, each of said elongated tubular segments secured to said shield and at a predetermined angle to said shield; means on said body for removably fastening said shield to said breast, means on said body for positioning said shield on the breast, and means for lifting said shield body and breast tissue connected thereto, after said shield body has been secured to the breast.

Claim 21

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures secured to said shield body and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body, said shield body including an aligning ring disposed within said substantially circular opening, said aligning ring being sized, dimensioned, and configured to substantially correspond an outer diameter of a nipple of a breast, a pair of cross hairs extending from said aligning ring to said shield body for precise positioning of said aligning ring over a nipple; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.

Claim 22

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures secured to said shield body and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body, said shield body including an aligning ring disposed within said substantially circular opening, said aligning ring being sized, dimensioned, and configured to substantially correspond an outer diameter of a nipple of a breast, a pair of cross hairs extending from said aligning ring to said shield body for precise positioning of said aligning ring over a nipple; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.

Claim 23

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough, a lip member extending from a bottom portion of said shield body, said lip member structured and disposed to cover and generally correspond an inferior portion of a breast; a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures secured to said shield body and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.

Claim 24

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough, a lip member extending from a bottom portion of said shield body, said lip member structured and disposed to cover and generally correspond an inferior portion of a breast; a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body and an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures secured to said shield body and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.

Claim 25

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a substantially circular, generally flat yet dome shaped shield body, said shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and having a circular opening extending therethrough bounded by said inner edge, said shield body being sized, dimensioned and configured to generally correspond an areola of a breast and said opening being sized, dimensioned and configured to reveal a large portion of an areola therethrough, means on said shield body for positioning and centering said substantially circular opening of said shield body on a nipple of a breast and about an areola, means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast, means on said shield body for lifting said shield body and a breast fastened thereto, said shield body including a plurality of angled guides formed on an upper surface thereof and generally along and near said outer edge of said shield body, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having a top open end, a bottom open end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures being secured to a corresponding one of said angled guides, each one of said angled guides disposing one of said elongated tubular structures at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body, a marker having a bovie, an open tip and a stopper, said open tip being conductive and said marker being sized, dimensioned and structured for insertion into and passage through said elongated tubular structures and then into a breast thereby opening a marking track into a breast, said stopper of said marker being positioned on said marker so that said open tip extends a maximum pre-selected distance below said bottom open end of one of said elongated tubular structures when said marker is fully inserted into said tubular structure, such that said marker is prevented from opening a marking track, into a breast, of a greater length than is desired; and said marker including a hollow interior structured for maintaining fluid therein and for allowing fluid to flow and exit said open tip, and said marker further including means operably connected to said marker for supplying fluid from an outside source to said hollow interior of said marker.

Claim 26

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a substantially circular, generally flat yet dome shaped shield body, said shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and having a circular opening extending therethrough bounded by said inner edge, said shield body being sized, dimensioned and configured to generally correspond an areola of a breast and said opening being sized, dimensioned and configured to reveal a large portion of an areola therethrough, means on said shield body for positioning and centering said substantially circular opening of said shield body on a nipple of a breast and about an areola, means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast, means on said shield body for lifting said shield body and a breast fastened thereto, said shield body including a plurality of angled guides formed on an upper surface thereof and generally along and near said outer edge of said shield body, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having a top open end, a bottom open end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures being secured to a corresponding one of said angled guides, each one of said angled guides disposing one of said elongated tubular structures at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body, a marker having a bovie, an open tip and a stopper, said open tip being conductive and said marker being sized, dimensioned and structured for insertion into and passage through said elongated tubular structures and then into a breast thereby opening a marking track into a breast, said stopper of said marker being positioned on said marker so that said open tip extends a maximum pre-selected distance below said bottom open end of one of said elongated tubular structures when said marker is fully inserted into said tubular structure, such that said marker is prevented from opening a marking track, into a breast, of a greater length than is desired; and said marker including a hollow interior structured for maintaining fluid therein and for allowing fluid to flow and exit said open tip, and said marker further including means operably connected to said marker for supplying fluid from an outside source to said hollow interior of said marker.

Claim 27

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola, and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough sized, dimensioned and configured to generally correspond an areola of a breast, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body with an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures fixed on said shield body generally near said outer edge and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.

Claim 28

A breast reduction apparatus to be used during a surgery to reduce the size of a breast, the breast having a nipple, an areola, and superior and inferior portions; said apparatus comprising: a shield body having an inner edge and an outer edge, and a substantially circular opening extending therethrough sized, dimensioned and configured to generally correspond an areola of a breast, a plurality of elongated tubular structures, each elongated tubular structure having an elongated body with an opening at a first, top end and an opening at a second, bottom end, and being hollow between said ends, each of said elongated tubular structures fixed on said shield body generally near said outer edge and at a predetermined angle relative to said shield body; and means on said shield body for removably fastening said shield body to a breast.