Female breast cage

The present invention relates to a breast shell of the type comprising a wall elastically deformable polymer material.

Plastic or reconstructive surgery, surgeons are brought to breast implants.

Known prostheses have a closed flexible pouch made silicone on the inside of which is confined a filling liquid such as saline or silicone gel. The filling fluid guarantees a visual and a touchdown close prosthetic gland initial breast.

However, some prostheses present risks of ruptures which can lead to a release of the filling fluid in the body, which is not desirable. In addition, seepage of the fluid through the envelope can happen with age.

In addition, it is common during the procedure, and prior to Seating the final breast implant, surgeons use templates, also referred to as "simulators" or "ghosts" to assess the final aesthetic result before laying the final prosthesis. these templates are implanted temporarily and then removed to allow the establishment of the final prosthesis.

The templates have a volume identical to that of the final prosthesis.

Thus, the surgeon can assess the fit between the patient and the final breast implant even before it is in place.

Sometimes several tests of different size templates are necessary to achieve a satisfactory result.

jigs are known which are in fact simple breast implants consist of a flexible envelope containing a material of clause filling such as a gel or saline. Templates are generally decommissioned prostheses, which are colored to attract the eye of surgeon and thus prevent it from being confused with the final prosthesis.

These templates from breast prosthesis have the disadvantage to be expensive. They are therefore used several times after washing and re-sterilization. However, the process of re-sterilization deteriorate significantly the quality of the gel contained in the prosthesis. These sterilizations and uses successive thus of inadmissible risk to the patient.

The invention aims to provide a reliable and inexpensive equipment to the use of interventions for breast surgery, aesthetic or reconstructive.

To this end, the invention relates to a hull according to claim 1.

According to particular embodiments, the shell comprises one or more of the features of the dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which given purely by way of example and with reference to the drawings, on which ones :<ul><li>Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a hull according to the invention;</li><li>Figure 2 is a cover, the sectional view of Figure 1;</li><li>2A is a view identical to that of Figure 2 of a variant Hull embodiment of Figures 1 and 2;</li><li>Figure 3 is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the shell illustrated in Figures 1 and 2; and</li><li>Figure 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the hull according to the invention.</li></ul>

10 illustrated in FIGS shells are intended to form either implantable breast implants or prosthetic templates breast. Therefore, they will be referred to below by the generic term "shell".

An implantable mammary prosthesis is to be implanted permanently by a surgeon or under the pectoral muscle or directly under the mammary gland.

In contrast, a breast prosthesis template is intended to be placed temporarily by a surgeon or under the pectoral muscle or directly under the mammary gland can be extracted and replaced by a prosthesis final mammary which may or may not be of the same structure.

The shell 10 has a generally bell-shaped. More precisely, it has a hemispherical shape. Thus, it has externally a convex surface 12 and a concave inner surface 14 defining a recess 16 without any filling.

Thus, the shell 10 is formed by a wall 17 of polymeric material a constant thickness of between 0.5 and 10 mm and preferably between 2 and 5 mm. This wall has a peripheral support edge 18 defining the opening through which opens the recess 16. The edge 18 extends substantially in the same plane. From the edge 18, the shell has a section taken parallel to the plane of the board 18 which is progressively decreasing the edge 18 to the noted top 20 of the shell.

The height of the shell measured between its base 18 and the top 20 is between 15 and 100 mm.

The diameter of the base 18 is between 70 and 200 mm.

The structure of the hull is such that it can be elastically deformed by crushing its open edge so that the edge 18 can be flattened on itself.

Alternatively, the shell is rolled around the edge 18.

The hull structure is sufficiently flexible and resilient to that the deformation of the hull, leading to the disappearance of the recess 16 by bringing the opposed wall 17 can be achieved parts manually. In this folded position, the shell may be introduced in the skin of the patient.

Alternatively, the shell is wrapped around the edge 18.

In addition, the material is sufficiently elastic and the structure is such the hull regains its shape when it is released under the action the elasticity of the wall 17, even when it is constrained by the pressure applied through the skin, and optionally the pre-existing mammary gland of the patient.

In order to ensure a stiffening of the shell, the edge 18 advantageously a peripheral rim rim 22 best seen in Figure 2. This flange is integral with the rest of the wall 17. It forms a rib and has a thickness substantially equal to the average thickness of the wall 17. It extends radially over a distance less than the radius of the base so that it remains open. This distance is especially between 1 mm and the radius of the base decreased by 5 mm.

Advantageously, the flange 22 is slightly tapered and is curved inwardly of the shell. Thus it defines a support surface clean concave to exactly match the body surface on which it is applied after implantation.

In order to also increase the rigidity of the hull, the latter comprises advantageously on the inner surface 14, two stiffening ribs semi-equatorial 24, 26 offset with respect to one another of about 90 ° and intersecting near the top 20 of the shell.

Its ribs extend from two diametrically opposite points the edge 18. They have a height between 1 and 5 mm.

Preferably, the ribs 22, 24 and 26 are integral with the wall 17. However, they may be formed in another material so that the hull is multi-component.

semi-equatorial stiffeners formed, for example metal rods are deformable, alternatively, integrated into the wall 17.

Moreover, advantageously, the shell has in its wall 17, a gripping profile allowing the surgeon to grasp it easily to withdrawal from breast lodge.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, this grip profile is formed of a light 28 passing through the wall 17 from one side. this light has a sufficient diameter for the introduction of a collecting member. Thus, the light 28 is formed, for example, a circular hole therethrough having a diameter greater than 8 mm. This diameter is preferably between 8 mm and 20 mm.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2A, the light 28 is replaced by a gripping tab 29 projecting from the surface outer wall 17. The grip tab protrudes easily seizable by the practitioner when the hull is in the mammary lodge. This lug is integral with the wall 17 or added. She is preferably formed in one of the materials mentioned for the wall 17.

Such a shell is formed by molding, dipping, casting or injection polymers.

In the case of an implantable mammary prosthesis, material to form the wall 17 and any other possible components of the prosthesis is a material that meets the regulatory requirements specific to prostheses Implantable breast. The material is particularly suited for be maintained for at least ten years in the body.

Whether a prosthesis or a template, the material to form the shell is, for example low density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride vinyl (PVC), polyurethane, silicone, or any other semi-rigid polymer. This polymer can be sterilized so that when marketed, Hull is sterile and packaged in a sealed packaging. Thus, before any intervention, the hull is provided sterile and packaged in its sealed packaging.

It is understood that the bell shape of the shell is that it is formed little material and is therefore of extremely low cost.

In addition, the absence of material in the recess 16, allows the shell can be easily folded for insertion under the skin of the patient. The own elasticity to form the shell of bell allows easy deployment of it after introduction under the skin.

Finally, the shell being formed only by a deformable wall, thereof contains no gel or other filling liquid, which suppresses risks suinteme nts and unwanted fluid release in the organism, including in the case of a prosthesis.

Figure 3 schematically a further embodiment of the hull. To ease deployment, the wall 17 has in the crown region 20 an internal projection 30 projecting the inner surface 14 of the shell. This protuberance 30 is such hemispherical and has a height between 1 and 10 mm.

In yet another embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the shell 40 has not hemispherical but called an anatomical shape, that is to say the top of the shell is eccentric with respect to the base 18, which is generally more elongated.

Thus, the shell has a teardrop shape may be asymmetrical with respect to its vertical axis.

In the case where the shell constitutes a template, the latter can be used by the patient on the skin, so as to enjoy the selected volume, at a pre-operative consultation.