# US 2019/0167272 A1 · Inflatable implant > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0167272 A1 - Document ID: US20190167272A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/273,008 - Filed: 2019-02-11 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-13 - Assignees: TriVascular, Inc. - Applicants: TriVascular, Inc. - Inventors: W. Patrick Stephens; Gerald Ray Martin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190167272A1 ## CPC - A61B 17/12113: {within an aneurysm} - A61B 17/12022: {Occluding by internal devices, e.g. balloons or releasable wires (plugging an opening in the wall of an organ A61B17/0057; occluders for the cervical canal A61F6/146; vas deferens occluders A61F6/20)} - A61B 17/12136: {Balloons} - A61B 17/12159: {Solid plugs; being solid before insertion} - A61B 17/12195: {comprising a curable material} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Described is an inflatable implant suitable for placement in the human body and left there for an indeterminate and potentially lengthy period of time. The implant is one that has a low profile when introduced into the body and a larger profile when it is inflated with one or more filler materials. Depending upon design and use choices the delivered implant may be removable and adjustable in situ in size, position, location, form, and rigidity. Indeed, in some variations, the design of the implant may be such that it may be removed at a potentially fairly lengthy time after implantation. The implant includes at least one bladder wall that generally is at least partially non-elastic (or unexpandable) after the preselected size is reached. The bladder wall will define at least one fillable volume and may form more than one independent fillable volumes. The bladder wall, in some variations, may be partially elastic or expandable to permit adjustment of implant size or configuration after or during delivery. The implant may be used as a supporting structure in a variety of differing body tissues and structures, e.g., in the spine or as a prosthetic in plastic surgery. The implant may also be used in conjunction with other components (often having a springed bias) as a source of movement in controlling the opening of a lumen or duct, that is to say, as a type of onoff valve or as a controlled flow valve. The implant may be used as an occludant within, or adjacent to, a variety of natural or abnormal anatomical body openings, e.g., vascular and genital lumina, aneurysms, ducts, septal defects, fistulae, esophagus, etc. The wall and filler material may be selected to deliver treatment materials the locale of the implant site or to remove amounts of harmful materials from such a region. The implant may, with an appropriate filler material or bladder wall material, be used in cooperation with an appropriate radio frequency (RF) source to cause the increase of a localized internal temperature and a resulting tissue change such as coagulation, ablation, or the like. Methods of using the implant are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An inflatable, expandable implant suitable for implantation in a human body, comprising: a bladder comprising a substantially non-elastic bladder wall defining a volume and having at least one bladder wall opening for introduction of filler material; and an elastic bladder wall defining a volume and having at least one bladder wall opening for introduction of the filler material. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, further comprising at least one closure for each of the bladder wall openings for maintaining the filler material within the volume after introduction of the filler material into the volume. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, where the substantially non-elastic and elastic bladder walls comprise fabrics selected from the group consisting of woven fabric and non-woven fabric. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, where the substantially non-elastic bladder wall comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of polyethyleneterephthalate, polyvinylchloride, polyurethanes, polyolefins, polyamides, and fluoropolymers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, where the substantially non-elastic bladder wall comprises at least one fluoropolymer selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, poly(ethylene-chlorofluoroethylene-), poly(fluorinated ethylene propylene), polyperfluoroalkoxy, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, polyvinylfluoride, polyvinylidenefluoride, and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1, where the substantially non-elastic bladder wall comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The implant of claim 1 further comprising the filler material. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7 wherein the filler material is a filling liquid. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The implant of claim 8 wherein the filling liquid is selected from the group consisting of water, saline, and biocompatible liquids. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7 wherein the filler material contains bioactive or chemi-active material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7 wherein the filler material comprises a reactive mixture adapted to react within the bladder volume. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7 wherein the filler material comprises a member selected from the group consisting of elastic solids, viscoelastic solids, viscoelastic liquids, viscoelastic liquids comprising gel microparticles, viscous liquids, and their precursors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The implant of claim 7 wherein the filler material comprises a copolymer of a first member selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene glycol), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), poly(ethyloxazoline), poly(vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(ethylene-co-vinyl pyrrolidone), poly(maleic acid), poly(ethylene-co-maleic acid), poly(acrylamide), and poly(ethylene oxide)-co-poly(propylene oxide) block copolymers and a second member having a strong nucleophile selected from the group consisting of a thiol or a group containing a thiol.