External tissue expansion device for breast reconstruction, male pattern baldness and removal of nevi and keloids

摘要

An external tissue expansion device applies constant continuous low grade force to skin to obtain additional tension free skin and subcutaneous tissue prior to a surgical procedure. The device consists of two suture plates each being laminated structure of steel and an adhesive attached foam cushion. On the each end of one suture plate is a housing that contains a constant force spring placed over a post. The ends of the constant force spring protrude from the housing and there is a hook attached to the end of the constant force spring. On each end of the other suture plate there is a housing, with a opening that can accept the hook of the opposite suture plate. These suture plates are constructed so that they can be manually shaped to conform to the topography of the body part to be corrected and are attached to skin near the defect to be corrected prior to a surgical procedure. When the hooks from one suture plate are inserted into the openings of the housing of the other suture plate, the constant force springs pulls the suture plates together and over a time period stretches and expands skin and subcutaneous tissue external from the suture plates and accumulates this additional tension free skin and subcutaneous tissue in the opening between the two suture plates. This invention further provides a method to permit breast reconstruction without the use of any prosthesis, whereby a surgeon expands a breast mound of the patient's own body tissue at a specific location consisting of tension free skin and subcutaneous tissue and shapes this breast mound into a breast.