3D-Printed Shape-Memory Breast Implant for Symmetric Reconstruction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing breast-conserving surgeries, such as lumpectomy or partial mastectomy, result in breast deformation and adhesions due to skin depression and tissue contraction, lacking effective methods for reconstructing the breast shape to achieve symmetry and patient satisfaction.
Innovation Solution
A patient-specific breast implant with a shell portion made of shape memory polymer, designed through 3D printing, that changes shape according to temperature to fit the inner space created by a breast tissue expander, minimizing healthy tissue resection and ensuring symmetry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If breast-conserving surgery is performed to preserve healthy tissue, then the amount of healthy tissue removed is reduced, but breast deformation and adhesions occur due to skin depression and tissue contraction
Solution Approach 1:
A tissue expander is inserted into the breast pocket before the actual breast-conserving surgery to pre-expand the skin and underlying tissue in the area to be resected. This preliminary expansion prevents skin depression and tissue contraction deformities that would otherwise occur after surgery, allowing for minimal healthy tissue removal while maintaining breast shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue expander acts as an intermediary device between the surgery and final breast reconstruction. It temporarily occupies the breast pocket and applies controlled expansion force to the surrounding tissue, preventing adhesions and deformation while the cancerous tissue is being removed and healthy tissue is being preserved.
2Area of stationary object
If a conventional tissue expander is used to expand the breast pocket, then the skin can be expanded, but the remaining surrounding breast tissue is also expanded causing unwanted area expansion
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue expander is designed with a localized expansion mechanism that targets only the specific breast pocket area where cancerous tissue will be removed. The expansion force is concentrated in the intended resection zone rather than diffusely affecting the entire breast, allowing precise control over which tissue is expanded and which remains unchanged.
3Shape
If multiple surgical procedures are performed to achieve breast symmetry after conservation surgery, then breast shape can be improved, but surgery time and patient burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tissue expander is inserted and activated during the initial breast-conserving surgery itself, combining multiple functions into a single surgical procedure. This eliminates the need for separate staged procedures to address skin depression and tissue contraction, reducing total surgery time and patient burden while achieving breast symmetry.
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
The implant prevents breast deformation and adhesions, reduces surgery time, and enhances surgical success and patient satisfaction by maintaining a cosmetically satisfactory breast reconstruction.
Implementation Method 1
a shell portion made of shape memory polymer, designed through 3D printing, that changes shape according to temperature to fit the inner space created by a breast tissue expander
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a patient-specific breast implant. More particularly, the present invention relates to a patient-specific breast implant which, when a breast-conserving surgery (BCS, also called lumpectomy or partial mastectomy) is performed to remove breast cancer while leaving as much normal breast tissue as possible, prevents deformation of breast that may occur due to the depression of breast skin or adhesions of remaining breast tissues after the BCS, shortens surgery time, and facilitates securing breast symmetry, thereby ultimately dramatically increasing the success rate of surgery and maximizing patient satisfaction.