METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN SITU TISSUE EXPANSION

摘要

Tissue expansion system includes a pump, a controller, and inflatable bladder, and a pressure sensor. The pump is adapted for substantially continuous operation in response to a pressure within a subcutaneously implanted inflatable bladder. The pump is thus able to deliver inflation medium to the bladder when the pressure within the bladder is below a predetermined lower threshold while stopping delivery of the fluid when the pressure rises above a higher threshold or reaches a predetermined maximum volume.

主权项

1. A system for expanding tissue, said system comprising:
an expandable bladder adapted to be located beneath a region of skin to be expanded; a pump adapted to be connected to a source of inflation medium and to deliver said inflation medium to the expandable bladder; a pressure sensor adapted to monitor pressure within the expandable bladder on a substantially continuous basis; a controller which receives pressure data from the pressure sensor and controls the pump to deliver inflation medium to the bladder when the pressure falls below a lower threshold value; and a portable carrier which holds the pump, pressure sensor, and controller, wherein the portable carrier is adapted to be worn by a patient.