Patent US3366924A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4969901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic surgery implant
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-05-02
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Granted: 1990-11-13
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Expires: 2009-05-02
Abstract
Abstract An improved implant for the mid-facial or submalar region of a patient's face. The implant is relatively thin with a teardrop-shaped profile. It has a relatively broad head which is adapted to fit in the canine fossa of the maxillary bone, and a tapered, relatively narrow tail which extends laterally under the zygomatic eminence. The implant is anatomically correct to create the appearance of soft tissue restoration without distorting the normal facial bone structure. In addition, it softens prominent nasolabial folds, and provides a more youthful looking fullness to the cheeks by repositioning and augmenting soft tissue which has lost the underlying support of an atrophied fat pad of the cheeks.
Inventors
- 👤 William J. Binder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/0059
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A facial implant for submalar placement, comprising an integrally molded and elongated curved strip of body-compatible plastic, the strip having a convex front surface and a concave rear surface, the front surface being convex in cross-section; the strip having a head portion and a tail portion, the head portion having a generally central-thickened section which extends with reducing cross-sectional thickness to a thin mesial end portion, and the tail portion extending distally with reducing and tapering cross-sectional height and thickness to a thin distal tip; the head portion having an upper edge defining a downwardly extending depression.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A facial implant for submalar placement, comprising an integrally molded and elongated curved strip of body-compatible plastic, the strip having a convex front surface and a concave rear surface, the front surface being convex in cross-section; the strip having a head portion and a tail portion, the head portion having a generally central-thickened section which extends with reducing cross-sectional thickness to a thin mesial end portion, and the tail portion extending distally with reducing and tapering cross-sectional height and thickness to a thin distal tip; the head portion having an upper edge defining a downwardly extending depression.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The implant defined in claim 1 wherein the head portion has a lower edge which extends upwardly to merge with the tapering tail portion, and the upper edge of the head portion extends mesially upwardly from the depression, and then downwardly to merge with the tail portion, the downward angulation of the upper edge being greater than the upward angulation of the lower edge.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The implant defined in claim 2 wherein the elongated concave rear surface of the strip is generally flattened in transverse cross section, the elongated concave rear surface having a substantially constant cylindrical radius with respect to a transverse axis with the exception of a portion extending mesially from the general area of the upper-edge depression which is of increasing cylindrical radius.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant defined in claim 3 wherein the head portion defines a pair of spaced-apart holes therethrough for suture anchorage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
126 words
An implant for facial augmentation by surgical submalar placement against a maxillary canine fossa to extend rearwardly beneath a zygomatic arch of a patient's skeletal bone structure, the implant comprising an integrally molded and elongated curved strip having a convex front surface and a concave rear surface, the front surface being generally convex in cross section; the strip having an enlarged head portion configured to seat in the canine fossa, and an integrally formed tail portion extending laterally and rearwardly from the head portion to a distal tip, the tail portion tapering in cross-sectional thickness and height toward the distal tip; the head portion having an upper edge defining a downwardly extending depression to accommodate an infraorbital nerve beneath which the implant is to be positioned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
126 words
An implant for facial augmentation by surgical submalar placement against a maxillary canine fossa to extend rearwardly beneath a zygomatic arch of a patient's skeletal bone structure, the implant comprising an integrally molded and elongated curved strip having a convex front surface and a concave rear surface, the front surface being generally convex in cross section; the strip having an enlarged head portion configured to seat in the canine fossa, and an integrally formed tail portion extending laterally and rearwardly from the head portion to a distal tip, the tail portion tapering in cross-sectional thickness and height toward the distal tip; the head portion having an upper edge defining a downwardly extending depression to accommodate an infraorbital nerve beneath which the implant is to be positioned.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The implant of claim 5 wherein the strip has an arc length in the range of about 15/8 inches to 23/4 inches, a maximum cross-section height in the range of about 0.3 inch to 0.9 inch, and a maximum cross-sectional thickness in the range of about 0.10 inch to 0.25 inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2040688A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-11-12 | 1994-05-14 | 1994-11-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-12 | 1998-05-14 | 1998-11-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-12 | 2002-05-14 | 2002-11-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |