Directional tissue expander

摘要

An expandable mammary tissue implant including a shell having an anterior face (705) and a posterior face (702), the anterior face having an upper pole portion and a lower pole portion meeting at an apex, and an injection zone (740) for receiving fluid therethrough to inflate the implant. The implant further includes a vertical tether member (700) having first and second ends (718a, 718b) and a central region (712) therebetween having an aperture (716) therethrough. The central region is coupled to the anterior face of the implant at a location such that the injection zone is positioned within the aperture in the central region. The first and second ends of the vertical tether member are coupled to the posterior face of the implant.