Apparatus and process for delivering a silicone prosthesis into a surgical pocket
A tapered sleeve is provided that includes a lubricating coating on an inner surface. An implant (e.g., a pre-filled silicon breast implant) is introduced into a large end of the sleeve and extruded into a surgical pocket of minimal access incision size through a small-sized end of the apparatus.
1. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve by moistening the dry or powdered lubricant;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
5. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
closing the first opening; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
9. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening, until approximately half of the silicone breast implant has passed through the second opening, such that the remainder of the silicone breast implant flows out of the second opening and is deposited into the surgical pocket without additional manual pressure.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
13. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening and wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising observing the silicone breast implant through the sleeve to orient the silicone breast implant.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
17. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening and wherein a series of indicia are present on the exterior of the sleeve, the method comprising:
selecting a size of the silicone breast implant;
using the series of indicia to determine the proper dimension of the second opening for the selected silicone breast implant;
cutting the sleeve to provide the determined dimension for the second opening; activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
21. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening and wherein the sleeve comprises a liner, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
25. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening and wherein the sleeve is tapered, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant through the second opening and into the surgical pocket.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.
28. A method of using a sleeve to insert a silicone breast implant into a surgical pocket in a breast of a human patient, the sleeve having a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is relatively larger than the second opening, the method comprising:
activating a dry or powdered lubricant on the interior of the sleeve;
inserting the silicone breast implant through the first opening of the sleeve such that the silicone breast implant comes into contact with the activated lubricant on the interior of the sleeve; and
applying manual pressure through the sleeve to the silicone breast implant to push the silicone breast implant toward and through the second opening, without direct hand manipulation of the silicone breast implant, until the silicone breast implant is deposited from the second opening into the surgical pocket.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the sleeve is transparent or semi-transparent.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the sleeve is tapered.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the sleeve is generally conical.