| 摘要 |
The invention relates to a mechanical tissue expansion device for use in the reconstruction or augmentation of a portion of an individual's body. The invention includes a pair of tissue expansion plates which may be substantially flat or which may include an arcuate curved shape. Each of the tissue expansion plates has a plurality of apertures therethrough in order to facilitate the ingrowth of natural tissue within an enlarged cavity. The tissue expansion plates are mechanically separated by a means for expansion which preferably includes a cylinder having three telescopically expanding rods engaged thereto. The means for expansion is incrementally regulated by an operating means. The operating means preferably includes tubing engaged to the cylinder and to a port having a silicone membrane, for receipt of incremental portions of saline solution or water for telescopic expansion of the rods from the cylinder. In alternative embodiments, the means for expansion may include a rotatable flexible threaded arm for expansion of the rods from the cylinder, a worm gear engaged to a keyed-threaded surface for expansion of the rods from the cylinder, or a hydraulic cylinder engaged to expansible linkages for separation of the tissue expansion plates from each other. In the alternative embodiments, the operating means may include motors, batteries, drive shafts, and various gears for incremental enlargement of the means for expansion.
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