Tissue expanders and methods of use thereof
AssigneeEstablishment Labs S.A.
InventorsNicole MARTINEZ, Nathalia ARAUJO, Roberto DE MEZERVILLE, Juan José Chacón QUIRÓS
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Abstract
Tissue expanders and methods of their manufacture and use are disclosed herein. A tissue expander shell according to the present disclosure may include a shape and topography that facilitates uniform or substantially uniform expansion and contraction of the tissue expander. In at least one example, the shell may include a series of topographical features, such as ridges, grooves, channels, valleys, canals, protrusions, pleats, creases, or folds. In some embodiments, these features may have a curved or wavy cross sectional profile. For example, the shell may include a series of concentric curved ridges.
Claims30
A tissue expander comprising:
- a flexible shell defining a cavity therein, the shell including a plurality of ridges that curve along a surface of the shell about an axis, each ridge having a width and a length longer than the width.
A tissue expander, comprising:
- a flexible shell defining a cavity therein, the shell including:
- a plurality of ridges, each ridge curving along a surface of the shell around an apex, and each ridge having a width and a length longer than the width;
- and
- a channel connecting at least two of the ridges;
- wherein the shell has a uniform thickness.
A tissue expander, comprising:
- a flexible shell defining a cavity therein, the shell including a plurality of parallel ridges that curve along a surface of the shell, each ridge having a width and a length longer than the width;
- and
- a plurality of channels extending radially outward, each channel connecting at least two adjacent ridges of the plurality of ridges.
A method of making a tissue expander, the method comprising:
- coating a mold with a liquid dispersion to form a shell, the mold including a plurality of circumferential grooves;
- curing the shell;
- and
- removing the shell from the mold;
- wherein the shell includes a plurality of ridges corresponding to the plurality of circumferential grooves of the mold.
A tissue expander mold, comprising:
- a body including a plurality of circumferential grooves, each groove curving along a surface of the body about a center axis of the body, each groove having a width and a length longer than the width;
- and
- a depression connecting at least two of the grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.