| 摘要 |
TISSUE EXPANDER AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING Described herein is a tissue expander which includes a) a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation and which has an expandable upper section formed of i) a first elastic portion and ii) a second elastic portion formed of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material forming the first portion, so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each portion at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion, thereby allowing the envelope to assume a complex shape. The tissue expander also has a means for the controlled inflation of the envelope with a biocompatible fluid. Also described is a method of making an envelope for a tiss? expander comprising a) forming an expandable upper section having a first elastic portion and a second elastic portion formed of a material having a lower modulus of elasticity than that of the material forming said first portion, b) forming a bottom, and c) attaching said upper section to the periphery of said bottom to form a fluid-tight envelope which is inflatable by a single means for inflation, said second portion having a lower modulus of elasticity than said first portion so that during the inflation of said envelope the modulus of elasticity of each portion at least partially controls the amount of expansion of each portion and causes the envelope to assume a complex shape. The tissue expander, in use, is placed beneath a section of tissue to be expanded, and the envelope is inflated gradually over a period of time. |
