Back to results
US 8,557,168 B2Granted
External breast prosthesis and method of fabricating same
OwnerSean P. Halpininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An external breast prosthesis having a thin-walled outer shell and an air-filled interior cavity. The prosthesis is fabricated using a method and die set to form the two-part shell without internal supporting structure. The method provides a repeatable process which yields a prosthesis having durable air-tight seal between the anterior and posterior shell and a Class-A exterior surface which accurately replicates the visual and tactile characteristics of a human breast.
Claims13
A method for molding an external breast prosthesis comprising:
- providing a die mold having a concaved cavity;
- positioning a die cover on the die mold to enclose the concaved cavity to form a thin cup-shaped die cavity;
- injecting an elastomeric material into the die cavity;
- curing the elastomeric material in the die cavity to form a thin-walled anterior shell;
- removing the die cover from the die mold;
- forming a chamfered perimeter edge on the anterior shell;
- spreading an elastomeric material on a surface of a die plate, wherein the elastomeric material has a viscosity which allows the elastomeric material to remain on the surface of the die plate and form a thin-walled posterior shell;
- locating the die mold in an inverted position on top of the surface of the die plate such that the die mold supports the anterior shell over the posterior shell;
- curing the elastomeric material on the die plate such that the anterior shell bonds with the posterior shell at the chamfered perimeter edge to form an external breast prosthesis having an air-filled interior cavity, wherein the chamfered perimeter edge forms a mitered joint between the anterior shell and the posterior shell;
- removing the die mold from the die plate:
- and
- removing the breast prosthesis from the mold cavity.
9 more elements
A method for molding an external breast prosthesis comprising:
- providing a die mold having a concaved cavity;
- positioning a die cover on the die mold to enclose the concaved cavity to form a thin cup-shaped die cavity;
- injecting an elastomeric material into the die cavity;
- curing the elastomeric material in the die cavity to form a thin-walled anterior shell;
- removing the die cover from the die mold;
- forming a perimeter edge on the anterior shell;
- spreading an elastomeric material on a surface of a die plate, wherein the elastomeric material has a viscosity which allows the elastomeric material to remain on the surface of the die plate and form a thin-walled posterior shell;
- locating the die mold in an inverted position on top of the surface of the die plate such that the die mold supports the anterior shell over the posterior shell;
- curing the elastomeric material on the die plate such that the anterior shell bonds with the posterior shell at the perimeter edge to form an external breast prosthesis having an air-filled interior cavity, wherein the perimeter edge forms a joint between the anterior shell and the posterior shell;
- removing the die mold from the die plate:
- and
- removing the breast prosthesis from the mold cavity.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.