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US 2013/0158657 A1Published application
Surgical methods for breast reconstruction or augmentation
AssigneeAllergan, Inc.
InventorsBarbara Nofrey, Dennis Van Epps
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for breast reconstruction and augmentation are provided which may reduce the incidence of capsular contracture. Methods for treating an encapsulated breast and reducing potential for capsular contracture in the breast are also provided.
Claims15
A method for reconstructing a breast in a patient, the method comprising the steps of:
- introducing a first prosthesis having a first surface texture, into a breast;
- allowing the first prosthesis to remain in the breast for a time sufficient for a tissue capsule to form about the first prosthesis;
- removing the first prosthesis from the breast to form a breast cavity while leaving the tissue capsule substantially intact in the breast;
- and
- introducing a second prosthesis into the breast cavity, the second prosthesis being placed inside the substantially intact tissue capsule, the second prothesis having a second surface texture, the second surface texture being different from the first surface texture, and the second surface texture having a characteristic structure that results in remodeling and/or disruption of said tissue capsule.
2 more elements
A method for treating a breast having an encapsulated prosthesis therein, the method comprising the steps of:
- removing the encapsulated prosthesis from the breast to form a breast cavity and leaving the capsule tissue substantially intact in the breast;
- and
- introducing a prosthesis having an elastomeric open-celled textured surface having an average pore size of greater than about 600 μm into the breast cavity such that the textured surface is in contact with the capsule tissue, thereby causing disorganization of the capsule tissue.
A device useful for treating capsular contracture in a breast, the device comprising:
- a breast implant having a textured surface that, when implanted into a breast cavity defined by a preformed, intact, organized collagen capsule, results in remodeling and/or disruption of the preformed intact collagen capsule to result in a softer, less organized capsule less likely to contract had the primary implant been left in place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.