Method and apparatus for expanding soft tissue with shape memory alloys
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United States of America Patent
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Nov 12, 2002
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N/A
app pub date -
Dec 1, 1998
filing date -
Dec 1, 1998
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Abstract
A soft tissue expander comprises a dome having a layer of memory material which transitions from a first, shallower, malleable configuration to a second, deeper configuration in response to its being heated to its transition temperature which is set at human body surface temperature. The second, deeper configuration is first 'set' in the memory of the memory material so that the dome returns to it upon being heated by the body temperature of the patient. The memory material may be any one of the shape memory alloys, or plastic materials. The interior of the dome is adhered to the skin of the soft tissue to be expanded, such as through sticky layer of gel or surface tension provided by a thin layer of fluid. In one embodiment, a bra has a pair of domes for covering a patient's breasts and which applies a tensile force thereon to thereby increase their size.
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