Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device, such as a breast implant, includes a shell made of a biocompatible elastomeric material. The shell has a front portion and a base that surround an interior volume of the shell. A scaffold is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has an inner surface facing the base and an outer surface facing the front portion of the shell. A biocompatible filler material, such as a silicone gel, is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has a shape that mirrors the shape of the front portion of the shell. The scaffold reinforces the shell to provide form stability for maintaining the shape of the shell and minimizing folding, dimpling and/or wrinkling of the shell. The scaffold has one or more openings formed therein for allowing the biocompatible filler material to fill the one or more openings. A second scaffold may be nested within the first scaffold.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic device, such as a breast implant, includes a shell made of a biocompatible elastomeric material. The shell has a front portion and a base that surround an interior volume of the shell. A scaffold is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has an inner surface facing the base and an outer surface facing the front portion of the shell. A silicone gel is disposed within the interior volume of the shell. The scaffold has a shape that mirrors the shape of the front portion of the shell. The scaffold reinforces the shell to provide form stability for maintaining the shape of the shell and minimizing folding, dimpling and/or wrinkling of the shell. A second scaffold may be nested within the first scaffold. The second scaffold has a smaller outer dimension than an inner dimension of the first scaffold.

Abstract: A test fixture for mechanically testing breast implants includes a frame, a base plate coupled with the frame, and a first actuator coupled with the base plate for providing reciprocating motion to the base plate along a first axis. The test fixture includes a compression plate coupled with the frame that opposes the base plate, a second actuator coupled with the compression plate for providing reciprocating motion to the compression plate along a second axis that intersects the first axis, and a third actuator coupled with the compression plate for providing reciprocating motion to the compression plate along a third axis that intersects both the first axis and the second axis. The test fixture includes a control system in communication with the first, second, and third actuators for controlling the movement of the base plate along the first axis and the movement of the compression plate along the second and third axes.

Abstract: A wound closure assembly includes an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal section, such as a curved distal section, having a penetrating tip and first and second notches that are formed on opposite sides of the distal section. The assembly includes a tissue anchor having a hollow body and an insertion tool channel extending through the hollow body. First and second spaced tips project distally from the distal end of the hollow body and oppose one another on opposite sides of the insertion tool channel. The distal section of the insertion tool is inserted into the insertion tool channel of the tissue anchor so that the penetrating tip is distal to the first and second spaced tips, with the first and second spaced tips nested within the first and second notches for generating a releasable interference fit between the tissue anchor and the insertion tool.

Abstract: A wound closure assembly includes an insertion tool having a proximal end and a distal section, such as a curved distal section, having a penetrating tip and first and second notches that are formed on opposite sides of the distal section. The assembly includes a tissue anchor having a hollow body and an insertion tool channel extending through the hollow body. First and second spaced tips project distally from the distal end of the hollow body and oppose one another on opposite sides of the insertion tool channel. The distal section of the insertion tool is inserted into the insertion tool channel of the tissue anchor so that the penetrating tip is distal to the first and second spaced tips, with the first and second spaced tips nested within the first and second notches for generating a releasable interference fit between the tissue anchor and the insertion tool.