TISSUE EXPANDER IMPLANT WITH SELF-SEALING SAFETY PATCH

摘要

Disclosed is a self-sealing patch for use with a tissue expander implant. The self-sealing patch (16) serves as protection for the tissue expander (10) against a hypodermic needle inadvertently missing a fluid injection port (18) thereof by sealing a puncture through the patch. The patch includes a first sheet having a first sheet perimeter, a second sheet having a second sheet perimeter attached to the first sheet perimeter to form a pocket between the first sheet and the second sheet. Material is disposed within the pocket, where the material is hydrophobic material having a viscosity high enough that the material is prevented from flowing outside the pocket when either the first or second sheet is punctured with a hypodermic needle but low enough that the material flows to close a track made by a hypodermic needle puncturing the first or second sheet.