US4950291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Breast prosthesis
Assignee: Amoena Medizin Orthopaedie Technik GmbH
•
Filing: 1988-11-16
•
Granted: 1990-08-21
•
Expires: 2008-11-16
Abstract
Abstract An external breast prosthesis is disclosed including two shell shaped chambers containing silicone rubber material of different softness. The silicone rubber material is confined by outer front and back polyurethane films, and the chambers are divided by an intersitial film. The films are welded together along their common peripheral edge. The silicone rubber in the back chamber which is placed next to the chest wall is softer than that in the front chamber, and conforms to the shape of the chest wall following surgery.
Inventors
- 👤 Elisabeth Mulligan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:21
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/50; A61F2/52; A61F2002/523
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
An external breast prosthesis, comprising: a breast member comprising an inner layer of soft, flowable gel-like elastic material capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer, and an outer layer of elastic material, said outer layer being stiffer than said inner layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
An external breast prosthesis, comprising: a breast member comprising an inner layer of soft, flowable gel-like elastic material capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer, and an outer layer of elastic material, said outer layer being stiffer than said inner layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said outer layer is thinner than said inner layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The prosthesis of claim 2, further comprising a wall of film separating said inner layer and said outer layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein said outer layer is sufficiently soft to yield to the touch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are each confined by a film envelope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
The prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said film envelopes comprise polyurethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The prosthesis of claim 3, wherein said elastic materials comprise silicone materials.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said outer layer is sufficiently stiff to substantially prevent wrinkling of said film envelope confining said outer layer and said outer layer is sufficiently soft to yield to the touch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said outer layer is sufficiently stiff to generally retain the shape of a human breast.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said outer layer is approximately 10-30% of the thickness of said breast member at its thickest location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
A breast prosthesis comprising: two shell shaped components made of a meshing two component silicone material of varying softness; plastic film wrappings of the exterior and interior sides of said components are welded together, and an interstitial plastic film separating the two components along their common encircling edge; the outer edge of said components mimicking the breast shape and having a hardness which imitates the soft elastic responsiveness of natural breast tissue, and the inner of said components having a soft, flowable gel-like consistency capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
95 words
A breast prosthesis comprising: two shell shaped components made of a meshing two component silicone material of varying softness; plastic film wrappings of the exterior and interior sides of said components are welded together, and an interstitial plastic film separating the two components along their common encircling edge; the outer edge of said components mimicking the breast shape and having a hardness which imitates the soft elastic responsiveness of natural breast tissue, and the inner of said components having a soft, flowable gel-like consistency capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of making a breast prosthesis, comprising the steps of: welding together three plastic films along the edge of the prosthesis; inserting between two of said films an outer elastic material; inserting between said third film and the film adjacent thereto an inner soft, flowable gel-like elastic material capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer, said third film forming the back of said prosthesis to be placed against the chest of a wearer.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of making a breast prosthesis, comprising the steps of: welding together three plastic films along the edge of the prosthesis; inserting between two of said films an outer elastic material; inserting between said third film and the film adjacent thereto an inner soft, flowable gel-like elastic material capable of conforming to irregularities in the chest of a wearer, said third film forming the back of said prosthesis to be placed against the chest of a wearer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The prosthesis of claim 7, wherein said silicone material of said inner layer comprises silicone gel.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The breast prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said stiffer outer layer is spaced from the chest of a wearer by said inner layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The breast prosthesis of claim 5, wherein said film envelope confining said inner layer conforms to irregularities in the chest of a wearer with said soft, flowable gel-like elastic material of said inner layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein said material of said outer layer has a penetration in a range from about 20.0 to about 24.0 mm, and said material of said inner layer has a penetration of at least about 30 mm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2543499A
Cited
US2580264A
Cited
US2651783A
Cited
US2814808A
Cited
US2962767A
Cited
US3048169A
Cited
US3196464A
Cited
US3067431A
Cited
US3494365A
Cited
DE2605148A1
Cited
US4086666A
Cited
US4172298A
Cited
US4247351A
Cited
US4185332A
Cited
US4249975A
Cited
US4249975B1
Cited
US4317241A
Cited
US4681587A
Cited
US4600551A
Cited
US4676795A
Cited
US4701230A
Cited
US4795464A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-02-19 | 1994-08-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-08-20 | 1998-02-19 | 1998-08-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-08-20 | 2002-02-19 | 2002-08-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |