Adjustable Breast Implant Self-Contained Pump System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current breast implants, such as tissue expanders and adjustable implants like the Becker Expander/Mammary Prostheses, require external fluid introduction or removal to adjust size, which is invasive and requires medical assistance, limiting user control and convenience.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable breast implant design featuring a shell with two fluid reservoirs and a pump system, including actuators and valves, allowing for self-contained fluid transfer between reservoirs to expand or contract the implant, enabling user-controlled size adjustments without external fluid addition or removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If external fluid introduction or removal is used to adjust implant size, then implant size adjustment is achieved, but medical intervention is required and user control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The implant incorporates an integrated pump system with actuators that enables the implant to adjust its own size by transferring fluid between reservoirs, eliminating the need for external medical intervention. The device serves itself by containing all necessary components (pump, reservoirs, actuators, valves) within the implant structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant is divided into multiple functional segments including a first reservoir, second reservoir, pump system, and control mechanisms. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component and enables the complex function of self-adjustment through coordinated operation of discrete parts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a pump system with multiple reservoirs is integrated into the implant, then user-controlled size adjustment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system serves multiple functions: it transfers fluid between reservoirs for size adjustment, maintains implant shape through controlled fluid distribution, and enables both expansion and contraction phases. The actuators and valves are designed to perform multiple operations within the constrained implant environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant structure employs nested reservoirs where the second reservoir is positioned within or adjacent to the first reservoir. The pump system is integrated within the shell structure, and actuators are disposed within or upon the resilient shell membrane, creating a compact nested arrangement that reduces overall device complexity.
3Ease of operation
If incremental adjustments are made possible, then user convenience is enhanced, but control mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump actuator operates through periodic compression and expansion cycles to transfer fluid incrementally between reservoirs. Each actuation cycle produces a controlled amount of fluid transfer, enabling stepwise size adjustments. The periodic nature of the action allows precise control through repeated small increments rather than requiring complex continuous control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables user-friendly, incremental adjustments to breast implant size without medical intervention, maintaining implant shape and stability through resilient materials and fluid dynamics, enhancing user convenience and control.
Implementation Method 1
a shell including a resilient shell membrane
Implementation Method 2
The elastomeric button may be depressed. At least a portion of the second volume of fluid may be advanced past the first valve.
Implementation Method 3
a first valve disposed proximate the first pump outlet. The first valve may be a backflow prevention valve having a first-valve outlet disposed further from the first pump actuator than a first-valve inlet.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes various embodiments of adjustable implants, particularly permanent breast implants, intended for implantation into a subject, particularly a human subject. In some embodiments, the adjustable implant comprises a shell including a resilient shell membrane, a first reservoir containing a fluid, e.g., a saline, a second reservoir including a resilient second-reservoir membrane, and a pump. The pump may include a first pump actuator, a first pump inlet, and a first pump outlet. The first reservoir and second reservoir may be disposed within the shell and be in fluid communication via the pump. Fluid may be transferred between the two reservoirs to change the profile of the implant.