Medical implant for filling a cavity in a glandular tissue and method of manufacturing a medical implant for filling a cavity in a glandular tissue

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical implant (1) for filling a cavity in a glandular tissue, in particular in the glandular tissue of the human breast, wherein the medical implant (1) consists of a titanized polymer and is designed as a mesh to cover the cavity to be filled. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the medical implant (1).

Claims

1. A medical implant (1) for filling a cavity in a glandular tissue, in particular in the glandular tissue of the human breast, wherein the medical implant (1) is made of a titanized polymer and is formed as a mesh to cover the cavity to be filled.

2. A medical implant (1) according to claim 1, wherein the medical implant (1) consists of a titanized polypropylene.

3. A medical implant (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the medical implant (1) has the shape of a plus sign.

4. A medical implant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the mesh has a mesh size of less than 2 mm, preferably a mesh size of 1 mm.

5. A medical implant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the medical implant (1) has a weight of less than 50 g/m.sup.2, in particular of 16 g/m.sup.2 or 35 g/m.sup.2.

6. A method of manufacturing a medical implant (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising the steps of: providing a mesh (2) of a titanized polymer, wherein the dimensions of the mesh (2) being larger than the medical implant (1) to be manufactured, cutting out areas of the provided mesh (2) to obtain the desired shape of the medical implant (1), wherein the obtained shape of the desired implant (1) remaining connected to the offcut of the provided mesh (2) at predefined locations (3).

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein at least two medical implants (1) of different sizes are cut out in the provided mesh (2).

8. A method according to claim 6 or claim 7, comprising the step of packaging and sterilizing the provided mesh (2) and the at least one medical implant (1) cut out therein.

9. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the titanized mesh (2) is produced by: providing a polymer mesh, and applying a titanium layer to the provided polymer mesh.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the thickness of the titanium layer is selected such that the elasticity and flexibility of the polymer network is not impaired.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to embodiments shown in the figures. They show:

[0027] FIG. 1 schematic view of a medical implant according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 2 schematic view of a titanized polymer mesh with two medical implants according to the invention cut out therein, and

[0029] FIG. 3 a flow chart of a method according to the invention for manufacturing a medical implant according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a medical implant 1 according to the invention for filling a cavity in a glandular tissue, in particular in the glandular tissue of the human breast. The medical implant 1 of FIG. 1 consists of a titanized polymer and is designed as a mesh to cover the cavity to be filled.

[0031] Because the medical implant 1 according to the invention is designed as a mesh and covers the cavity to be filled in the implanted state, the surrounding glandular tissue (breast tissue) can grow into the mesh structure of the medical implant 1. At the same time, the use of a titanized polymer prevents the formation of encapsulations, inflammations, growths or rejection reactions. The medical implant 1 according to the invention promotes growth of the surrounding tissue, which is covered by the medical implant 1 in the implanted state, into the mesh structure of the medical implant 1. The generated growth of the surrounding tissue fills the cavity with the patient's own tissue. The biocompatibility of the titanized polymer prevents encapsulation or growths in the newly grown tissue, which are caused in particular by inflammatory processes or rejection reactions.

[0032] A titanized polymer within the meaning of the invention is a polymer fibre which is coated with titanium. Conveniently, the titanium coating is applied so thinly that the elasticity and flexibility of the polymer fiber is not restricted. Preferably, the medical implant 1 is made from a polymer mesh which is subsequently titanized. This has the advantage that the subsequently applied titanium coating fixes the mesh structure so that the medical implant 1 can be cut to size at a later time without the mesh structure dissolving.

[0033] Preferably, the medical implant 1 consists of a titanized polypropylene. The mesh structure of the medical implant 1 preferably has a mesh size of less than 2 mm, in particular a mesh size of approximately 1 mm. The medical implant 1 preferably has a weight of less than 50 g/m.sup.2, in particular 16 g/m.sup.2 or 35 g/m.sup.2.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the medical implant 1 has the shape of a plus sign, or an X-shape after a rotation of 45. The intersection of the two legs of the plus sign is positioned at the deepest point of the cavity to be filled during implantation of the medical implant 1 and the legs extending from it cover the side walls of the cavity to be filled at least partially, preferably completely. In order to adapt the implant according to the invention particularly easily to the size, in particular the depth, of the cavity to be filled, the parts of the legs that protrude from the cavity to be filled can be cut off.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a titanized polymer mesh 2 with two medical implants 1 according to the invention cut out therein. The two medical implants 1 are connected to the mesh 2 at predefined points 3 and can be detached (cut) from the mesh 2 before implantation.

[0036] The two medical implants 1 cut out in the mesh 2 have different sizes, so that the surgeon can select the medical implant 1 in the appropriate size during the operation. The surgeon can also compare the fit of the two medical implants 1 with each other and determine the appropriate size of the medical implant 1 on this basis.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of a method according to the invention for manufacturing a medical implant 1 according to the invention. In a first step, a mesh 2 of polymer fibers is provided. For example, the polymer fibers have a diameter of 50 to 100 m. The dimensions of the mesh 2 are larger than the medical implant 1 to be produced or the medical implants 1 to be produced therefrom.

[0038] In the next step, a titanium layer is applied to the prepared mesh. The titanium layer has a thickness in the range of 15 to 75 nm, for example. Conveniently, the titanium layer applied does not impair the elasticity and flexibility of the polymer mesh 2.

[0039] In the final step of the manufacturing process, areas of the prepared and titanized mesh 2 are cut out in order to obtain the desired shape of the medical implant 1. As shown in FIG. 2, several medical implants 1 of different sizes can also be cut out of the mesh 2.

[0040] The resulting shape of the desired implant 1 remains connected to the offcut of the provided mesh 2 at predefined points 3.

[0041] Finally, the prepared mesh 2, including the medical implant 1 cut out of it, can be packaged and sterilized. In this state, the packaged mesh 2 is transported and stored until it is inserted into the cavity to be filled by a surgeon in a breast-conserving operation. During the operation, the surgeon can detach the medical implant 1 from the surrounding mesh 2 by separating, in particular cutting, the predefined areas.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0042] 1medical implant [0043] 2mesh [0044] 3predefined connection point