Protectors of reconstructed nipples in human post-mastectomy breast reconstruction
AssigneeUniversity of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsJohn D. Murray, Sheri Shelley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed herein are devices and methods for protecting reconstructed nipples, typically post-surgery. The nipple protector may include a circular base portion and an annular ridge concentrically disposed to define a central aperture. The nipple protector In may further include an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion for adhering the nipple protector to an area surrounding the reconstructed nipple. The nipple protector is fashioned to allow for direct access to the new nipple, which facilitates application of antibiotic ointments. The nipple protector softly adheres to the skin to provide flexible, adherent, comfortable, and water tolerant usage.
Claims19
A nipple protector for protecting a reconstructed nipple, the nipple protector comprising a circular base portion and an annular ridge concentrically disposed to define a central aperture that extends from an upper surface of the annular ridge to a bottom surface of the circular base portion, the nipple protector further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion,
- the circular base portion having a diameter of about 46 mm, and a thickness of about 1 mm;
- the annular ridge having an outer diameter of from about 15 to about 17 mm, an inner diameter of from about 12 to about 14 mm;
- and a thickness of about 4 to about 5 mm, inclusive of the thickness of the circular base portion,
- wherein a magnitude of an inner diameter of the central aperture is constant from the upper surface of the annular ridge to the bottom surface of the circular base portion.
A method for treating a reconstructed nipple, the method comprising applying a nipple protector to the reconstructed nipple, the nipple protector comprising a circular base portion and an annular ridge concentrically disposed to define a central aperture that extends from an upper surface of the annular ridge to a bottom surface of the circular base portion, the nipple protector further comprising an adhesive layer disposed on a bottom surface of the base portion,
- the circular base portion having a diameter of about 46 mm, and a thickness of about 1 mm;
- the annular ridge having an outer diameter of from about 15 to about 17 mm, an inner diameter of from about 12 to about 14 mm;
- and a thickness of about 4 to about 5 mm, inclusive of the thickness of the circular base portions,
- wherein a magnitude of an inner diameter of the central aperture is constant from the upper surface of the annular ridge to the bottom surface of the circular base portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.