US 12,303,379 B2
Implant with elastomeric membrane and methods of fabrication thereof
Peter Renke, Richmond (CA)
Assigned to Mentor Worldwide, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
Appl. No. 17/274,615
Filed by Mentor WorldWide, LLC, Irvine, CA (US)
PCT Filed Sep. 9, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/050192
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 9, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/055740, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 19, 2020.
Application 17/274,615 is a continuation of application No. 16/126,232, filed on Sep. 10, 2018, granted, now 10,820,984.
Prior Publication US 2022/0047380 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/12 (2006.01); B29C 35/02 (2006.01); B29C 39/10 (2006.01); B29C 41/08 (2006.01); B29C 41/22 (2006.01); B29C 41/50 (2006.01); B29C 61/00 (2006.01); B32B 1/00 (2006.01); B32B 3/26 (2006.01); B32B 27/08 (2006.01); B32B 27/20 (2006.01); B32B 27/28 (2006.01); B29C 73/20 (2006.01); B29K 21/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29L 31/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/12 (2013.01) [B29C 35/0266 (2013.01); B29C 39/10 (2013.01); B29C 41/08 (2013.01); B29C 41/22 (2013.01); B29C 41/50 (2013.01); B29C 61/006 (2013.01); B32B 1/00 (2013.01); B32B 3/266 (2013.01); B32B 27/08 (2013.01); B32B 27/20 (2013.01); B32B 27/283 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0076 (2013.01); A61F 2240/001 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0003 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0004 (2013.01); B29C 73/20 (2013.01); B29K 2021/00 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0058 (2013.01); B29K 2805/00 (2013.01); B29K 2909/00 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0046 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0069 (2013.01); B29L 2031/7532 (2013.01); B32B 2250/03 (2013.01); B32B 2307/51 (2013.01); B32B 2307/7265 (2013.01); B32B 2535/00 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of forming a shell for an implant comprising an elastomeric membrane, the implant being configured to volumetrically alter, replace, expand, or augment body tissues, the method comprising:
forming an outer zone of the elastomeric membrane by casting in a casting mold enclosing a first volume, the outer zone comprising at least one outer elastomeric layer and an opening;
positioning the formed outer zone in a vacuum chamber mold enclosing a second volume that is greater than the first volume and pressurizing an interior cavity defined by the outer zone through the opening to inflate the outer zone to an expanded state in which an exterior surface of the outer zone contacts an inner surface of the vacuum chamber mold; and
with the outer zone in the expanded state, forming an inner zone of the elastomeric membrane comprising at least one inner elastomeric layer on an inner surface of the outer zone.