Reusable Breast Implant Delivery Apparatus with External Fluid Pressure Delivery System

Abstract

An implant delivery device suitable for delivery of breast implants features a reusable design that can be autoclaved to sterilize between uses. External fluid pressure is selectively delivered to a housing with the implant inside and can be regulated by the surgeon. The application of fluid pressure can be paused with the already applied pressure retained in the housing giving mechanical advantages for easier force application by the surgeon for enhanced control of the position of the implant within the housing and as it exits the outlet of the housing. The housing can be transparent to aid in observing the implant position and orientation as it moves through the housing. The outlet tip can be slant cut to allow for a fixed opening of the incision before delivering the implant to the surgical site. The housing cover is configured for rapid attachment with a seal that is amenable for autoclaving.

Claims

1. An implant delivery system, comprising: at least one implant; a housing to selectively retain said at least one implant further comprising an outlet through which said at least one implant is delivered; a fluid pressure source located completely externally of said housing and selectively connected to said housing for delivery of fluid pressure to advance said at least one implant toward said outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a pressure retention device associated with said fluid pressure source to retain fluid pressure delivered to said housing and against said at least one implant in the event said fluid pressure source is shut off to selectively have said at least one implant hold position in said housing.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a vent device to deplete pressure in said housing against said at least one implant in the event access to said at least one implant therein is needed.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a removable cover for said housing further comprising a pressure retention device and a vent device thereon.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein: said removable cover is quick connected to said housing with at least one of a snap fit or a bayonet mount with relative rotation.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: said housing is at least in part see through near said outlet.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein: said housing is made of a material that renders said housing reusable after being autoclaved.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a beveled tip adjacent said outlet that is linear or arcuate or a combination thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a removable cover connected to said housing with a seal; at least one of said removable cover and said seal being made of a material that can be autoclaved to make said at least one of said removable cover and said seal reusable.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein: said at least one implant comprises a plurality of implants; said housing accommodates said plurality of said implants for sequential delivery.

11. The system of claim 2, wherein: said pressure retention device comprises a check valve.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein: said housing comprises a cone shape tapering to said outlet.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein: said housing has a shape conforming at least in part to the shape of said at least one implant to aid in retaining the orientation of said at least one implant as said at least one implant advances toward said outlet.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein: said housing is sized to accommodate a plurality of implant sizes through a removable cover, said plurality of implant sizes moving through a given outlet size.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein: said fluid pressure source delivers up to three atmospheres of fluid pressure and said housing contains said pressure with flexing under elastic deformation.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein: said housing, cover and seal are made from at least one of high-temperature thermoplastics, fluoropolymers, stainless steel, titanium, and a high temperature silicone.

17. An implant delivery system for a surgeon, comprising: at least one implant; a housing to selectively retain said implant further comprising an outlet through which said at least one implant is delivered; said housing comprising a rigid shape that flexes in elastic deformation when fluid pressure is applied therein and against said at least one implant and said housing is made of a material that renders said housing reusable after being autoclaved.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein: a fluid pressure source independent of the surgeon selectively connected to said housing for delivery of fluid pressure to advance said at least one implant toward said outlet; a pressure retention device associated with said fluid pressure source to retain fluid pressure delivered to said housing and against said at least one implant in the event said fluid pressure source is shut off by the surgeon to selectively have said at least one implant hold position in said housing.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein: said housing comprises a removable cover made of a material that can be autoclaved rendering said removable cover reusable.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein: said housing comprises a seal made of a material that can be autoclaved rendering said seal reusable.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 is a section view of the apparatus with an implant within without pressure being applied;

[0012] FIG. 2 is the view of FIG. 1 with external fluid pressure applied;

[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus with an implant;

[0014] FIG. 3A is an alternative to FIG. 3 showing a handle on the cover and an alternate locking mechanism;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 1; and

[0016] FIG. 4A is an alternative to FIG. 4 showing an optional retractor holder

[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 4; and

[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative housing shape to the version shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] A housing 10 had an inlet 12 with a flange 14 further comprising a groove 16 into which fits an o-ring 18. A cover 20 has spaced axially extending tabs 22 that can be snapped onto flange 14 for a leak tight connection. Other types of quick connections are contemplated such as putting external gaps in tapered flange 14 and advancing tapered tabs 22 through those gaps and then relatively rotating the cover 20 with respect to the housing 10. Furthermore, a radial tapered boss extending from the cover 20 and a mating tapered surface in the respective flange 14 inner diameter can aid with the sealing when the two parts are assembled. This taper 21 can be approximately 8 degrees. Another example is the screw-in-method, shown in FIG. 3A, that entails an internal thread on flange 14′ and external mating threads on cover 20′ that aids in sealing the cover 20′ to the housing 10. A handle 19 on the cover 20′ can aid the operator to rotate and advance the cover 20′ to lock with the sealing surface of the housing flange 14′. Locking latches from the extending tabs 22′ of the cover 20′ can lock onto the housing flange 14′ as another method to seal the cover 20′ to the housing 10. The implant 24 is preferably a breast implant but could be an implant for another location in the body of the patient. The implant 24 is sized to easily slip through inlet 12 directly from the packaging or when manipulated by the surgeon using a gloved hand or a sterile tool. More than a single size of implant 24 can fit into the inlet 12. The outlet 26 can have preferably arcuate taper 28 whose purpose is to open a surgical incision in the patient for access into the surgical pocket in the breast that is also not shown. Taper 28 may also be linear or a combination shape. The opening size of the outlet 26 can vary depending on the incision length in the patient all the while keeping the inlet 12 size within a range of sizes that is allocated for a range of sizes of implants to reduce inventory of covers 20. This outlet 26 can also be a circular, oval, bun shaped or other geometric shapes with or without arcuate taper 28 going radially in or out to accommodate different implant shapes. The outlet 26 can also accommodate a holder 27 for a retractor, shown in FIG. 4A, to rest and lock on top of the delivery device as the retractor supports the skin, soft tissue, and muscle around the surgical site. The retractor can also support the delivery device.

[0020] The housing 10 is preferably a transparent conical section as shown in FIGS. 1-5 but may have other shapes such as shown in FIG. 6, for example, to allow the surgeon to observe the implant 24 movement toward the outlet 26. A grip handle 19 can be part of the exterior of the housing 10′ to further make an ergonomic operation for the operator. The low friction interior wall allows for easier implant delivery. The wall material of the housing 10 is sufficiently sturdy to withstand applied pressure, typically within three atmospheres but at times more depending on the application, through connection 30 which features a check valve 32. Cover 20 is also configured to withstand the applied fluid pressure that is expected to be in the range of material characteristic of the delivery device with margin. The walls of the housing 10 while strong enough to contain the applied pressure at connection 30 are still capable of flexing as external pressure is applied but the rigidity prevents advancing the implant 24 by wall squeezing. In essence, the advancement of the implant occurs overwhelmingly by application of a pressurized fluid source represented by arrow 34 connected at connection 30 with mating threads or quick release method. That source could be a compressor, hand operated manual pump, a motor driven pump or a pressurized fluid container, wherein flow from any one of the listed or alternative sources is manipulated by the surgeon or an operating room assistant. The surgeon or the assistant can regulate the fluid delivery and stop such delivery as needed. If the delivery is stopped the check valve 32 holds pressure inside the housing 10 thus keeping the implant in a compressed state but stopping its forward motion toward the outlet 26. The check valve 32 stops the implant 24 from relaxing when pressure from the fluid source 34 is interrupted. This helps the implant 24 from forming folds or creases that can result in a bypassing of the implant 24 by pressurized fluid 34.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, the wall of housing 10′ is designed to flex when pressurized fluid 34 that can be a liquid, or a gas is applied at connection 30. Alternatively, the shape in FIG. 6 can be an initial shape which is more conforming to the shape of the implant 24 such as with a planar portion to align with a planar back shape of the implant 24 to maintain orientation of the implant 24 on the way out of outlet 26. The anticipated pressure internally is still contained despite some wall flexing at the anticipated internal pressure. A vent valve 36 such as a rupture disc or other type of relief valve on the housing cap creates a fail-safe design in the case the pressure is too high by accident. A manual valve to relieve pressure before releasing cover 20 can also be used.

[0022] The material of the housing 10 and the cover 20 is selected from a group that is capable of being autoclaved to temperatures needed to fully sterilize those components for reuse. Reuse is a significant feature of the present invention as it results in considerable cost savings to the surgeon or associated medical practice or hospital as opposed to the above described prior art versions that are of a one and done variety. The housing 10 and cover 20 can be sealingly secured without a sealing element such as o-ring 18 or, alternatively, the sealing element 18 can also be made from a material that can be sterilized in an autoclave. The sealing element can be fitted in a groove as shown or can be flat, so it is secured between the housing 10 and the cover 12. Suitable materials for autoclaving for the housing 10, cover 20 and the seal can be high-temperature thermoplastics, fluoropolymers, stainless steel, titanium. Suitable materials for O-ring 18 can be high temperature silicone. Autoclaving is at a preferred temperature of at least 121-132 degrees Centigrade.

[0023] It should be noted that the housing material need not be completely see through or even see through at all. Preferably, if there is a see-through portion it is located nearest the outlet 26.

[0024] Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that the present invention allows better delivery control of the implant 24 as compared to the prior designs that required hand force to advance the implant. In the hand squeeze housing design, the implant could reverse movement direction if the grip on the housing was relaxed during delivery. In the present design the outside pressure source eliminated the need to squeeze the housing 10 to allow for a more rigid wall design that can retain the desired pressure. The check valve 32 also allows the implant to hold position without backing up if the delivery pressure is cut off. The fluid pressure delivery system 34 can also include a vent or pressure relief valve to relieve pressure to prevent over pressurization and, if at any time, should disassembly be needed. It is noted that pushing the implant 24 through outlet 26 will also act to relieve any internal pressure in the housing 10. The materials picked for the housing 10, the cover 20 and the seal 18, if used, permit autoclaving after use and allow for reuse in the same or another patient. This is a considerable cost savings to the procedure without putting the patient at any risk from reuse. The described device enables an associated delivery method for implants 24 that better assures implant orientation as the implant 24 moves out the outlet 26 and into the incision. The incision is not shown but is in fact opened wider to receive the implant 24 properly oriented in the surgical pocket after which the incision is closed.

[0025] While the above description covers some of the highlights of the apparatus and the associated method, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the full scope of the invention can be determined from the appended claims.