Abstract: A skin protector and accessories for protection of a skin incision during minimally invasive surgical procedures requiring protection from thermal and frictional abrasion, for example, during ultrasonic-assisted liposuction. The skin protector incorporates an outer configuration to assist in maintaining in situ positioning of the skin protector during operative procedure. An introducer member for blunt dissection of a tunnel is provided to allow easy insertion of the skin protector. A driver member for dilatation of the skin incision, and for facilitating implantation and withdrawal of the skin protector is provided with a complementary configuration to that of the skin protector to cause the skin protector to be taken along with rotary motion of the driver member.

Abstract: A skin protector and accessories for protection of the skin incision during ultrasonic-assisted liposuction from thermal and frictional abrasion includes a skin protector made from sterilizable material which resists deformation and incorporates an outer configuration to assist in maintaining in situ positioning of the skin protector during operative procedure. An introducer member for blunt dissection of a tunnel is provided to allow easy insertion of the skin protector and ultrasonic probe. A driver member for dilatation of the skin incision, and for insertion and removal of the skin protector is also provided to assist in the use of the skin protector, properly speaking.

Abstract: This invention relates to a medical prosthesis containing a gel filler material comprising principally a cellulose derivative in water. The gel filler in the prosthesis may further contain a lubricating agent. The invention also relates to a method of augmenting or reconstructing a human breast comprising the steps of subcutaneously implanting a medical prosthesis with the gel filler material into a human body. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of preparing medical protheses comprising the steps of filling an outer envelope of a medical-grade elastomer with the gel filler material and sealing the envelope to form a medical prosthesis. The components of the gel are preferably biocompatible so as not adversely to affect human beings. The materials used to make the gel filler are non-toxic. The prostheses of the present invention have similar characteristics to the human breast. These protheses may be used for breast augmentation or reconstruction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a medical implant, which comprises an outer envelope and a gel filler material, wherein the gel comprises water and a cellulose gelling agent. The gel in the implant may further contain a lubricating agent. The components of the gel are a biocompatible and do not adversely affect human beings. Implants containing the lubricating agent have a decreased tendency of failure caused by internal friction on the envelope. The implants of the present invention have similar characteristics of the human breast.