Patents by Inventor Dennis Van Epps

Dennis Van Epps has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20240041586
    Abstract: A method of augmenting or reconstructing a breast of a patient includes providing an implantable member and implanting the implantable member. The implantable member includes an exterior surface defined by an anterior face and a posterior face, wherein one of the anterior face and the posterior face includes at least one fixation region defined by a texture, roughness or sheen different from a respective texture, roughness or sheen of a balance of said one of the anterior face and posterior face. The implantable member is implanted into a breast of a patient such that the fixation region of the implantable member generally aligns with the pectoralis major muscle group or the pectoralis minor muscle group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Patent number: 10864661
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for making a variable textured breast implant when used in conjunction with a breast implant mandrel having a molding surface and a stem depending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: ALLERGAN, INC.
    Inventors: Robert L. Nieto, Claudia Renteria, Phat Ngo, David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20200297479
    Abstract: A method of augmenting or reconstructing a breast of a patient includes providing an implantable member and implanting the implantable member. The implantable member includes an exterior surface defined by an anterior face and a posterior face, wherein one of the anterior face and the posterior face includes at least one fixation region defined by a texture, roughness or sheen different from a respective texture, roughness or sheen of a balance of said one of the anterior face and posterior face. The implantable member is implanted into a breast of a patient such that the fixation region of the implantable member generally aligns with the pectoralis major muscle group or the pectoralis minor muscle group.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Patent number: 10675144
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell, that has discrete fixation surfaces thereon for tissue adhesion. The fixation surfaces may be provided on the posterior face of the shell, as well as either on the periphery or at discrete areas on the anterior face. Band-shaped fixation surfaces may be provided on the anterior face of the shell to generally match the angle of pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscle groups. The fixation surfaces may be roughened areas of the shell, or may be separate elements adhered to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: ALLERGAN, INC.
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Patent number: 10449268
    Abstract: Dermal filler hydrogel compositions, methods of making them, and methods of using them to treat soft tissue conditions, such as wrinkles, are provided. The compositions contain a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based polymer and one or more additional ingredients, and are stable to sterilization by heat and/or pressure treatment. The additional ingredients include vasoconstrictive agents, antioxidant agents, such as a ascorbic acid agents, and/or anesthetic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: ALLERGAN INDUSTRIE, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Cecile Gousse, Pierre F. Lebreton, Nicolas Prost, Sumit Paliwal, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20180360594
    Abstract: A variable textured breast implant can be formed using a mandrel and a shield device. The shield device can receiving a stem and posterior section of the mandrel to provide a seal between a base engaging surface of the shield device and a posterior section of the mandrel such that multiple layers of elastomer and texturing particles can be applied to the mandrel and the shield device to form texture layers along only an anterior region of an elastomeric shell. Thereafter, the texture layers of the shell can be partially cured and the texturing particles can be removed from the texture layers to form a first textured surface on the anterior region of the shell. The first textured surface can thus define interconnected pores that extend at least about two to about five pore diameters deep into the shell outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20180200045
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell, that has discrete fixation surfaces thereon for tissue adhesion. The fixation surfaces may be provided on the posterior face of the shell, as well as either on the periphery or at discrete areas on the anterior face. Band-shaped fixation surfaces may be provided on the anterior face of the shell to generally match the angle of pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscle groups. The fixation surfaces may be roughened areas of the shell, or may be separate elements adhered to the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Publication number: 20180110612
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant, such as a silicone breast implant, is provided. The implant has a variety of different surfaces, for example, different textures, located on different areas of the outer surface of the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Patent number: 9918829
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell, that has discrete fixation surfaces thereon for tissue adhesion. The fixation surfaces may be provided on the posterior face of the shell, as well as either on the periphery or at discrete areas on the anterior face. Band-shaped fixation surfaces may be provided on the anterior face of the shell to generally match the angle of pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscle groups. The fixation surfaces may be roughened areas of the shell, or may be separate elements adhered to the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Patent number: 9848972
    Abstract: A soft breast prosthesis is provided, the prosthesis having a surface configuration advantageous for dual plane placement of the prosthesis in a breast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, David Schuessler
  • Patent number: 9808338
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant, such as a silicone breast implant, is provided. The implant has a variety of different surfaces, for example, different textures, located on different areas of the outer surface of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20170290652
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for making a variable textured breast implant when used in conjunction with a breast implant mandrel having a molding surface and a stem depending therefrom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventors: Robert L. Nieto, Claudia Renteria, Phat Ngo, David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20170216488
    Abstract: Dermal filler hydrogel compositions, methods of making them, and methods of using them to treat soft tissue conditions, such as wrinkles, are provided. The compositions contain a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based polymer and one or more additional ingredients, and are stable to sterilization by heat and/or pressure treatment. The additional ingredients include vasoconstrictive agents, antioxidant agents, such as a ascorbic acid agents, and/or anesthetic agents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Cecile Gousse, Pierre F. Lebreton, Nicolas Prost, Sumit Paliwal, Dennis Van Epps
  • Patent number: 9688006
    Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for making a variable textured breast implant when used in conjunction with a breast implant mandrel having a molding surface and a stem depending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert L. Nieto, Claudia Renteria, Phat Ngo, David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Patent number: 9655991
    Abstract: Dermal filler hydrogel compositions, methods of making them, and methods of using them to treat soft tissue conditions, such as wrinkles, are provided. The compositions contain a crosslinked hyaluronic acid-based polymer and one or more additional ingredients, and are stable to sterilization by heat and/or pressure treatment. The additional ingredients include vasoconstrictive agents, antioxidant agents, such as a ascorbic acid agents, and/or anesthetic agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Allergan Industrie, S.A.S.
    Inventors: Cecile Gousse, Pierre F. Lebreton, Nicolas Prost, Sumit Paliwal, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20170020657
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant, such as a silicone breast implant, is provided. The implant has a variety of different surfaces, for example, different textures, located on different areas of the outer surface of the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Patent number: 9539086
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant, such as a silicone breast implant, is provided. The implant has a variety of different surfaces, for example, different textures, located on different areas of the outer surface of the implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Allergan, Inc.
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20160324627
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant shell, such as a silicone breast implant shell, that has discrete fixation surfaces thereon for tissue adhesion. The fixation surfaces may be provided on the posterior face of the shell, as well as either on the periphery or at discrete areas on the anterior face. Band-shaped fixation surfaces may be provided on the anterior face of the shell to generally match the angle of pectoralis major or pectoralis minor muscle groups. The fixation surfaces may be roughened areas of the shell, or may be separate elements adhered to the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Dennis Van Epps, Thomas E. Powell
  • Publication number: 20150327987
    Abstract: A soft prosthetic implant, such as a silicone breast implant, is provided. The implant has a variety of different surfaces, for example, different textures, located on different areas of the outer surface of the implant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: David Schuessler, Dennis Van Epps
  • Publication number: 20150314040
    Abstract: The present specification generally relates to hydrogel compositions and methods of treating a soft tissue condition using such hydrogel compositions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Cecile Gousse, Pierre F. Lebreton, Nicolas Prost, Sumit Paliwal, Dennis Van Epps