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AssigneeMentor Corporation
InventorsAnita M. Falcon, Robert L. Guest, Keith Job, Steven Weir, Shijung Zhou
Estimating the term…
The prosthesis of the invention are configured such that the average thickness of the shell in the region where the posterior and anterior faces meet is greater, e.g., at least twice, the average thickness of the shell in the region of the anterior face. This reinforcement can reduce or eliminate undesirable scalloping effects along the upper perimeter of the prosthesis that can otherwise occur when gravity pulls downward on a filled prosthesis. Moreover, because the reinforcement is preferably confined to a radius/posterior region extending at least part of the way around the perimeter of the prosthesis, it is possible for the shell of the prosthesis in nearly the entire anterior face of the prosthesis to be formed of relatively thin material. This preserves a natural appearance of the prosthesis when it is implanted.
An implantable prosthesis comprising an elastomeric shell having an anterior face, a posterior face, a perimeter region where the anterior face and the posterior face meet, and a smoothly curved transition between the posterior face and the anterior face, wherein the average thickness of the shell in at least a reinforced portion of the perimeter region is greater than the average thickness of the shell in the anterior face, wherein the reinforced portion of the perimeter region extends less than 2 inches, but more than 0.5 inches onto the anterior face of the prosthesis, and wherein there is a smooth transition between the reinforced portion of the perimeter region and the anterior face of the shell on the exterior surface of the shell.
An implantable prosthesis comprising an elastomeric shell having an anterior face, a posterior face, a perimeter region where the anterior face and the posterior face meet, and a smoothly curved transition between the posterior face and the anterior face, wherein the average thickness of the shell in at least a reinforced portion of the perimeter region is greater than the average thickness of the shell in the anterior face, wherein the reinforced portion of the perimeter region extends no more than 0.5 inches onto the anterior face of the prosthesis, and wherein there is a smooth transition between the reinforced portion of the perimeter region and the anterior face of the shell on the exterior surface of the shell.
A method for forming a prosthesis, comprising:
A method for forming a prosthesis, comprising:
A method for forming a prosthesis, comprising:
A method for forming a prosthesis, comprising:
A method for forming a prosthesis shell, comprising:
A method for forming a prosthesis shell, comprising:
A method for forming a reinforced mammary prosthesis, comprising:
A method for forming a reinforced mammary prosthesis, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.