Implantable Prosthetic Scaffold for Form Stability and Weight Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional breast implants face issues such as the 'ashtray effect,' rippling, wrinkling, and scalloping, which affect their aesthetic appearance and structural integrity, while increasing the gel or saline volume to address these issues leads to increased weight and discomfort for patients.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a scaffold made of biocompatible elastomeric material within the implant shell to enhance form stability and maintain shape without increasing the gel volume, thereby reducing the firmness and weight of the implant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the gel or saline volume is increased to address ashtray effect and rippling, then the form stability is improved, but the weight of the implant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into multiple functional components: an outer shell, an internal scaffold structure, and gel filler. The scaffold acts as a separate structural element that provides form stability without requiring additional gel volume, thus avoiding weight increase while maintaining shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The implant uses a composite structure combining a flexible outer shell made of elastomeric material with an internal scaffold. This composite design allows the shell to remain soft and pliable while the scaffold provides structural support, eliminating the need to increase gel volume for stability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the shell tension is increased to reduce wrinkling, then the form stability is improved, but the softness and pliability of the implant decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant structure is divided into a flexible outer shell and an internal scaffold. The shell maintains softness and pliability by not increasing its tension, while the scaffold separately provides the necessary structural support to prevent wrinkling and maintain form stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The internal scaffold acts as an intermediary structural element between the flexible shell and the gel filler. It mediates the mechanical properties by providing structural support without requiring the shell itself to be under high tension, thus preserving softness while preventing wrinkles.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the outer diameter of the implant is increased to reduce the ashtray effect, then the form stability is improved, but the overall size and visibility of the implant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implant is segmented into a flexible outer shell and an internal scaffold structure. The scaffold provides the necessary structural support to eliminate the ashtray effect without requiring an increase in the outer diameter of the implant, thus maintaining a compact size while improving form stability.
Data Source
AI summary
An implantable prosthetic device, such as a breast implant, includes a shell made of a biocompatible elastomeric material. The shell has a front portion and a base that surround an interior volume of the shell. A scaffold is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has an inner surface facing the base and an outer surface facing the front portion of the shell. A biocompatible filler material, such as a silicone gel, is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has a shape that mirrors the shape of the front portion of the shell. The scaffold reinforces the shell to provide form stability for maintaining the shape of the shell and minimizing folding, dimpling and/or wrinkling of the shell. The scaffold has one or more openings formed therein for allowing the biocompatible filler material to fill the one or more openings. A second scaffold may be nested within the first scaffold. The second scaffold has a smaller outer dimension than an inner dimension of the first scaffold.