A method of manufacturing an external breast prosthesis (12), includes the steps of providing a 3D image of the breast prosthesis, forming the breast prosthesis using an additive manufacturing process, in which additive manufacturing process the breast prosthesis is made by forming a structure of a thermoplastic elastomer, the structure corresponding to the 3D image of the breast prosthesis, wherein the structure is a reticulated solid foam.

A method of manufacturing an external breast prosthesis (12), includes the steps of providing a 3D image of the breast prosthesis, forming the breast prosthesis using an additive manufacturing process, in which additive manufacturing process the breast prosthesis is made by forming a structure of a thermoplastic elastomer, the structure corresponding to the 3D image of the breast prosthesis, wherein the structure is a reticulated solid foam.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a breast prosthesis, in which a first dispersion of a first granular material is introduced into a cross-linkable silicone compound. The silicone compound subsequently is cured in order to form a prosthesis body, wherein the prosthesis body is heated to a shrinking temperature which lies above the melting point of the thermoplastic material.

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a breast prosthesis, in which a first dispersion of a first granular material is introduced into a cross-linkable silicone compound. The silicone compound subsequently is cured in order to form a prosthesis body, wherein the prosthesis body is heated to a shrinking temperature which lies above the melting point of the thermoplastic material.

A passive stent for retaining an organ in an expanded state configured to adhere and substantially conform to an external surface of the organ may include an inner layer, an outer layer, and a middle layer that is enclosed by the inner layer and the outer layer, comprising a plurality of components configured to interlock and maintain the organ in an expanded state upon application of a vacuum. A method for retaining an organ in an expanded state may include applying at least one force to the organ to place the organ in the expanded state; applying a passive stent to an external surface of the organ; and applying a vacuum to the passive stent sufficient to cause a plurality of components of at least one layer of the passive stent to interlock, where the at least one layer is configured to maintain the organ in the expanded state after interlocking.

An external breast prosthesis (12) includes a main body made from a polymer, the body having an inner surface (13) for coinciding with an outer chest surface of a person wearing the breast prosthesis and an opposing outer surface (14), wherein the main body includes multiple elongated thermal conductors (15) that extend from a position adjacent the inner surface of the breast prosthesis to a position adjacent the outer surface of the breast prosthesis.

An external breast prosthesis (12) includes a main body made from a polymer, the body having an inner surface (13) for coinciding with an outer chest surface of a person wearing the breast prosthesis and an opposing outer surface (14), wherein the main body includes multiple elongated thermal conductors (15) that extend from a position adjacent the inner surface of the breast prosthesis to a position adjacent the outer surface of the breast prosthesis.

A brace for retaining an organ in an expanded state configured to adhere and substantially conform to an external surface of the organ includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one sheet of thin malleable material forming a middle layer between the inner layer and outer layer, the at least one sheet being enclosed and configured to rigidify and maintain the organ in an expanded state upon application of a vacuum. The brace can be incorporated into a brassiere.

A brace for retaining an organ in an expanded state configured to adhere and substantially conform to an external surface of the organ includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and at least one sheet of thin malleable material forming a middle layer between the inner layer and outer layer, the at least one sheet being enclosed and configured to rigidify and maintain the organ in an expanded state upon application of a vacuum. The brace can be incorporated into a brassiere.

In a method of making a breast prosthesis for use by a wearer having a body temperature, a plurality of dissolvable beads is placed into an open back of a breast-shaped mold. The open back of the mold is sealed. A suspension of an uncured silicone rubber liquid and a plurality of phase change material pellets is injected into the mold around the beads. The uncured silicone rubber is allowed to cure, thereby forming a breast shape. The phase change material has a latent heat of fusion at a melting point so as to remove heat from the wearer when the body temperature is at least at the melting point. The breast shape is removed from the mold and the dissolvable beads are dissolved from the breast shape.