Multi-lumen Breast Implant with Radiating Pouches

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional breast implants often result in unnatural-looking and feeling breasts due to their stiff texture and inability to mimic the natural movement of a human breast, leading to issues like capsular contracture, uneven appearance, and a palpable edge, which are aesthetically and tactically undesirable.

Innovation Solution

A modular multi-lumen breast implant system comprising a large outer pouch with smaller inner pouches and lumens filled with a biocompatible filler, designed to resemble the structure and movement of a natural breast, featuring a dome-shaped first pouch, radiating second pouches, string-connected third pouches, and randomly distributed fourth pouches, which provide a natural shape, feel, and wobble-like motion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional single-chamber breast implant is used, then the implantation process is simple, but the breast feels stiff and unnatural to the touch

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplantation processVSAvoidtactile feel
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The breast implant is divided into multiple independent lumens (first lumen, second lumen, third lumen, fourth lumen) instead of a single chamber. Each lumen can be filled with different fillers or configurations, allowing the implant to better mimic the heterogeneous structure of natural breast tissue and provide a more natural tactile feel while maintaining relatively simple implantation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If a conventional breast implant is used, then the implant structure is simple, but the breast cannot move naturally and looks artificial

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplant structureVSAvoidnatural appearance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

Different regions of the implant are designed with different characteristics. The first lumen contains a dome and bottom portion with specific geometric features, while the second, third, and fourth lumens have different shapes and filler configurations. This local differentiation allows each region to contribute to natural breast appearance and movement in specific areas, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and natural appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If a conventional breast implant is used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but capsular contracture and uneven appearance occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing processVSAvoidcapsular contracture prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The implant structure employs a nested configuration where multiple lumens are arranged within the implant shell. The first lumen with its dome and bottom portion is positioned centrally, while other lumens are distributed around it. This nested multi-lumen design creates internal structural complexity that helps prevent capsular contracture and ensures even filler distribution, thereby improving reliability while maintaining manufacturability through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3679890B1Breast implant
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 HSIEH JUI YANG
  • EP3679890B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3679890B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3679890B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The breast implant (100) of the present invention comprises a first pouch (1), a plurality of second pouches (1), and a plurality of third pouches (3). The first pouch has a first enclosing membrane (11) and a first lumen (12) formed by the first enclosing membrane. The interior of the first lumen includes a dome (13) and a bottom portion corresponding to the dome. Each second pouch has a second enclosing membrane (21) and a second lumen (22) formed by the second enclosing membrane. The second pouches are provided in the first lumen and radiate from the center of the dome. Each third pouch has a third enclosing membrane (31) and a third lumen (32) formed by the third enclosing membrane. The third pouches are provided between the second pouches in the first lumen and are arranged in strings that extend from the center of the dome.