PACKAGING AND DELIVERY DEVICE FOR A BREAST IMPLANT

Abstract

Packaging for a breast implant, the packaging comprising a lid and a cavity, wherein one of the lid or the cavity is configured to provide direct delivery of the breast implant from the packaging to a surgical pocket. A method for the direct delivery of a breast implant from breast implant packaging to a surgical pocket, the method comprising the steps of: a. ensuring that a delivery device present in a lid or a cavity of the packaging is in a delivery position; b. forming an aperture in the delivery device, thereby opening the packaging; c. transferring the breast implant to the delivery device; d. positioning the delivery device in contact with the surgical pocket; and e. delivering the breast implant to the surgical pocket.

Claims

1. A packaging for a breast implant, the packaging comprising a lid and a cavity, wherein one of the lid or the cavity is configured to provide direct delivery of the breast implant from the packaging to a surgical pocket.

2. A packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lid or the cavity comprises a breast implant delivery device.

3. A packaging according to claim 2, wherein the lid comprises the delivery device.

4. A packaging according to claim 3, wherein the lid comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, the inner lid including the delivery device.

5. A packaging according to claim 2, wherein the delivery device is movable between a folded storage position and an unfolded delivery position.

6. A packaging according to claim 2, wherein the delivery device comprises a flexible tapered sleeve, having an open proximal end and a closed distal end, the device being adapted to provide for delivery of the implant from the packaging only upon opening of the distal end of the tapered sleeve.

7. A packaging according to claim 6, wherein the tapered sleeve is pyramidal.

8. A packaging according to claim 6, wherein the tapered sleeve comprises a combination of two or more polymeric materials.

9. A packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lid and the cavity comprise a blister pack.

10. A packaging according to claim 1, wherein the lid and/or cavity comprise one or more resorbable or biodegradable materials.

11. A packaged breast implant, comprising packaging according to claim 1.

12. A method for the direct delivery of a breast implant from breast implant packaging to a surgical pocket, the method comprising the steps of: a. ensuring that a delivery device present in a lid or a cavity of the packaging is in a delivery position; b. forming an aperture in the delivery device, thereby opening the packaging; c. transferring the breast implant to the delivery device; d. positioning the delivery device in contact with the surgical pocket; and e. delivering the breast implant to the surgical pocket.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of ensuring that a delivery device is in a delivery position comprises unfolding the delivery device.

14. A method according to claim 12, wherein the lid comprises an inner lid and an outer lid, the inner lid including the delivery device; the method comprising the additional step of removing the outer lid prior to unfolding the delivery device.

15. A method according to claim 12, wherein the delivery device comprises a flexible tapered sleeve, and wherein opening the packaging comprises trimming a distal end of the tapered sleeve.

16. A method according to claim 12, wherein the distal end of the tapered sleeve is trimmed twice, once to allow hydration of an inner surface of the tapered sleeve, and once to provide a delivery aperture for the breast implant.

17. A method according to claim 12, further comprising the additional step of discarding the lid or cavity once the breast implant has been transferred to whichever of the lid or cavity includes the delivery device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will be described further with reference to the figures and to the detailed description hereinafter.

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a prior art breast implant delivery device of tapered sleeve design;

[0057] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of packaging wherein the lid comprises a delivery device in a folded storage position;

[0058] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the packaging of FIG. 2 with the delivery device in an unfolded delivery position;

[0059] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of packaging wherein the lid comprises an outer layer and an inner layer which comprises a delivery device;

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of packaging wherein the cavity comprises a delivery device; and

[0061] FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of alternative packaging wherein the cavity comprises a cavity body and a delivery device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a prior art breast implant delivery device 10 of tapered sleeve design, this prior art device 10 is frusto-conical in construction with open proximal and distal ends 15, 20 and a sleeve body 25 there between housing an implant 30 in position for delivery. The distal end 20 of the delivery device 10 will be placed in a surgical pocket (not shown), and the implant 30 squeezed through the distal end 20 by manual manipulation.

[0063] FIG. 2 shows packaging 35 for a breast implant 30, the packaging 25 comprising a lid 40 and a cavity (not shown). In this example, the lid 40 comprises a pyramidal tapered sleeve delivery device 10 which includes an open proximal end 15, a distal end 20 and a sleeve body 25 there between, the delivery device 10 is shown in folded configuration. The delivery device 10 includes trimming markers 50,55, specifically, an activation marker 50 and a delivery marker 55. The trimming markers 50,55 are positioned towards a distal end 20 of the delivery device 10. Cutting the sleeve at the actuation marker 50 allows for activation of the inner surface 60 of the device 10 with water or saline solution to reduce the friction coefficient of this surface 60. After activation, the open distal end 20 may be enlarged by further trimming to provide a distal end 20 aperture large enough for delivery of the implant 30 to a surgical pocket (not shown). FIG. 3 shows the packaging 35 of FIG. 2 with the delivery device 10 unfolded.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows an alternative example of the packaging 35, where the lid 40 has two-layers 65,70, such that the inner layer 65 is substantially as shown in FIG. 2, but an outer layer 70 is present to protect the inner layer 65. The outer layer 70 overlays the inner layer 65 during storage and transport and is removed and discarded before delivery of the implant 30.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows an alternative example of the packaging 35, where the cavity 45 comprises the delivery device 10. In this example, the delivery device 10 comprises substantially all of the cavity 45, and is directly heat sealed to the lid 40.

[0066] FIG. 6 shows a further example of the packaging 35 where the cavity 45 comprises the delivery device 10. In this example the delivery device 10 is distal to the lid 40, attached to the cavity body 75.

[0067] It should be appreciated that the methods and packaging of the invention are capable of being implemented in a variety of ways, only a few of which have been illustrated and described above.