IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,357,418
Granted Patent B2
US 12,357,418 · App. 18/593,019 · Granted Jul 15, 2025

Surgical implant for marking soft tissue

Inventors: George D. Hermann (Los Altos Hills, CA); David B. Willis (Mountain View, CA); Michael J. Drews (Palo Alto, CA); Gail S. Lebovic (Frisco, TX); James B. Stubbs (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: HOLOGIC, INC.
A61B90/39A61N5/1015A61B2017/00004A61B2090/3908A61B2090/3925A61B2090/3954A61B2090/3966A61F2/12A61F2240/005A61N5/10F04C2270/041G01R33/58
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,357,418
App. No.
18/593,019
Granted
Jul 15, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An implantable tissue marker device is provided to be placed in a soft tissue site through a surgical incision. The device can include a bioabsorbable body in the form of a spiral and defining a spheroid shape for the device, the spiral having a longitudinal axis, and turns of the spiral being spaced apart from each other in a direction along the longitudinal axis. A plurality of markers can be disposed on the body, the markers being visualizable by a radiographic imaging device. The turns of the spiral are sufficiently spaced apart to form gaps that allow soft tissue to infiltrate between the turns and to allow flexibility in the device along the longitudinal axis in the manner of a spring.

Claims (27)

1. A method of fabricating a surgical implant, the method comprising:

forming a two-dimensional planar structure from a bioabsorbable polymer; and

shaping the two-dimensional planar structure into a three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure, the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure having an open architecture and being sized and shaped to fill a surgically created cavity.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the two-dimensional planar structure comprises injection molding the two-dimensional planar structure.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the two-dimensional planar structure comprises extruding the two-dimensional planar structure.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the two-dimensional planar structure comprises forming first and second planar spirals, the first planar spiral being opposite to the second planar spiral and connected to the second planar spiral via a connecting segment.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein forming the first planar spiral comprises forming a first polar region having a first extension and forming the second planar spiral comprises forming a second polar region having a second extension.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the first extension and the second extension each include a pocket or an opening, and further including disposing respective first and second radio-opaque markers in each pocket or opening.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein shaping the two-dimensional planar structure into the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure comprises forming a three-dimensional spiral having an equatorial region extending between the first polar region and the second polar region, wherein the first extension and the second extension each extend into and terminate within an open center of the three-dimensional spiral.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the first extension and the second extension are coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the three-dimensional spiral, and wherein the first extension extends orthogonally from the first polar region at a first end portion of the three-dimensional spiral and the second extension extends orthogonally from the second polar region at a second end portion of the three-dimensional spiral.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising connecting a strut between the first extension and the second extension.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after forming the two-dimensional planar structure, securing a plurality of visualization markers to the two-dimensional planar structure.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the two-dimensional planar structure includes forming a plurality of pockets in the two-dimensional planar structure, and wherein securing the plurality of visualization markers comprises inserting a respective visualization marker into each of the plurality of pockets.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein shaping the two-dimensional planar structure into the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure comprises forming the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure, with the plurality of visualization markers secured at various locations along a peripheral surface of the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein shaping the two-dimensional planar structure into the three-dimensional, hollow spheroid support structure comprises heat molding the two-dimensional planar structure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein heat molding the two-dimensional planar structure comprises heat molding the two-dimensional planar structure around a spheroid forming mandrel.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein forming the two-dimensional planar structure comprises forming the two-dimensional planar structure in a two-part mold.

16. A method of fabricating a surgical implant, the method comprising:

injection molding a two-dimensional body from a bioabsorbable polymer, the two-dimensional body comprising a first planar spiral terminating in a first end portion and a second planar spiral terminating in a second end portion, the first planar spiral being opposite to the second planar spiral and connected to the second planar spiral via a connecting segment; and

heat molding the two-dimensional body into a three-dimensional spiral having an equatorial region extending between the first end portion and the second end portion.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein forming the first planar spiral comprises forming a first polar region having a first extension at the first end portion and forming the second planar spiral comprises forming a second polar region having a second extension at the second end portion.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein heat molding the two-dimensional body into the three-dimensional spiral comprises molding the first extension and the second extension to be coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the three-dimensional spiral, such that the first extension extends orthogonally from the first polar region into an open center of the three-dimensional spiral and the second extension extends orthogonally from the second polar region into the open center of the three-dimensional spiral.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising connecting a strut between the first extension and the second extension.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the first end portion and the second end portion each include a pocket or an opening, and further including disposing respective first and second radio-opaque markers in each pocket or opening.

21. A method of fabricating a surgical implant, the method comprising:

forming a two-dimensional planar structure from a bioabsorbable polymer, the two-dimensional planar structure comprising a first polar region having a first extension and a second polar region having a second extension; and

shaping the two-dimensional planar structure into a three-dimensional support structure having an equatorial region extending between the first polar region and the second polar region, wherein the first extension and the second extension each extend into and terminate within an open center of the three-dimensional support structure, and wherein the three-dimensional support structure has an open architecture and is sized and shaped to fill a surgically created cavity.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME 069172/0436 Recorded Apr 28, 2026
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HOLOGIC, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC
Reel/Frame 075503/0086 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 8, 2026
From: BIOTHERANOSTICS, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; GEN-PROBE PRODESSE, INC.; CYTYC CORPORATION; SUROS SURGICAL SYSTEMS, INC.; GYNESONICS, INC.; BOLDER SURGICAL, LLC; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC; HEALTH BEACONS, INC.; HOLOGIC, INC.
To: ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075462/0440 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 14, 2024
From: HOLOGIC, INC.; GEN-PROBE INCORPORATED; FAXITRON BIOPTICS, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069172/0436 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: HERMANN, GEORGE D.; WILLIS, DAVID B.; DREWS, MICHAEL J.; LEBOVIC, GAIL S.; STUBBS, JAMES B.
To: FOCAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 066847/0449 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 20, 2024
From: FOCAL THERAPEUTICS, INC.; HOLOGIC, INC.
To: HOLOGIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 066847/0462 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 17953996 · Sep 27, 2022
Continuation 16661663 · Oct 23, 2019
Continuation 15920126 · Mar 13, 2018
Continuation 13456435 · Apr 26, 2012
Related Publication 20240277445A1 · Aug 22, 2024
References Cited (260)
US 3157524A · Artandi · 1964 [cited by applicant]
US 3520402A · Nichols · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 4298998A · Naficy · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4832686A · Anderson · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4957479A · Roemer · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5019087A · Nichols · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5429582A · Williams · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5480432A · Suding et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5501706A · Arenberg · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545229A · Parsons et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5607477A · Schindler et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5626611A · Liu et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5676146A · Scarborough · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5716404A · Vacanti et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5853366A · Dowlatshahi · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5873865A · Horzewski et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6030333A · Sioshansi et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6071301A · Cragg et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6080099A · Slater et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6159165A · Ferrera et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6161034A · Burbank et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6174330B1 · Stinson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6203570B1 · Baeke · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6214045B1 · Corbitt, Jr. et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6228055B1 · Foerster et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6234177B1 · Barsch · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6245103B1 · Stinson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6270464B1 · Fulton, III et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6340367B1 · Stinson et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6356782B1 · Sirimanne et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6363940B1 · Krag · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6371904B1 · Sirimanne et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6477423B1 · Jenkins · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6575991B1 · Chesbrough et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6579310B1 · Cox et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6626939B1 · Bumside et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6638308B2 · Corbitt, Jr. et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6699205B2 · Fulton et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6725083B1 · Burbank et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6730042B2 · Fulton et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6746458B1 · Cloud · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6766186B1 · Hoyns et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6881226B2 · Corbitt, Jr. et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6893462B2 · Buskirk et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6993375B2 · Burbank et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7047063B2 · Burbank et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7229417B2 · Foerster et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7424320B2 · Chesbrough et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7547274B2 · Rapach et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7572287B2 · Stinson · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7637948B2 · Corbitt, Jr. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7670350B2 · Selis · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7837612B2 · Gill et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7871438B2 · Corbitt, Jr. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7875059B2 · Patterson et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7972261B2 · Lamoureux et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7972619B2 · Fisher · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8052658B2 · Field · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8060183B2 · Leopold et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8114006B2 · Cox et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8157862B2 · Corbitt, Jr. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8320993B2 · Sirimanne et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8486028B2 · Field · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8600481B2 · Sirimanne et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8680498B2 · Corbitt et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9014787B2 · Stubbs et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9199092B2 · Stubbs et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9615915B2 · Lebovic et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9980809B2 · Lebovic et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10500014B2 · Hermann et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 11337772B2 · Stubbs · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11752361B2 · Stubbs et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 11944509B2 · Hermann et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20010034528A1 · Foerster et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20010041936A1 · Corbitt, Jr. et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20010047164A1 · Teague et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20020035324A1 · Sirimanne et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020072806A1 · Buskirk et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030083732A1 · Stinson · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030195561A1 · Carley et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040109823A1 · Kaplan · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040249457A1 · Smith et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050049489A1 · Foerster et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050074405A1 · Williams · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050080338A1 · Sirimanne et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050080339A1 · Sirimanne et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050101860A1 · Patrick et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050113686A1 · Peckham · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050143770A1 · Carter et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050165480A1 · Jordan et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050234336A1 · Beckman et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060025795A1 · Chesbrough et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060058570A1 · Rapach et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060116713A1 · Sepetka et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060173296A1 · Miller et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070021642A1 · Lamoureux et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070038014A1 · Cox et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070038017A1 · Chu · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070104695A1 · Quijano et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070141111A1 · Suokas · 2007 [cited by examiner]
US 20070167665A1 · Hermann et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070167668A1 · White et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070198021A1 · Wales · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070219446A1 · Beyhan · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080015472A1 · Ressemann et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080045773A1 · Popowski et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080082113A1 · Bishop et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080097199A1 · Mullen · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080228164A1 · Nicoson et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080243226A1 · Fernandez et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080281388A1 · Corbitt et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090024225A1 · Stubbs · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090030298A1 · Matthews et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090143747A1 · Dias et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090149833A1 · Cima et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090319046A1 · Krespi et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090326577A1 · Johnson et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100010341A1 · Talpade et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100030072A1 · Casanova et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100042104A1 · Kota et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100222802A1 · Gillespie, Jr. et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110004094A1 · Stubbs et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110028831A1 · Kent · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110130655A1 · Nielson et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110313288A1 · Chi Sing · 2011 [cited by examiner]
US 20120059285A1 · Soltani et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120116215A1 · Jones et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120123535A1 · Alejandro · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130489A1 · Chernomorsky et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130032962A1 · Liu et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130289389A1 · Hermann et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130289390A1 · Hermann et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130317275A1 · Stubbs · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140100656A1 · Namnoum et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140200396A1 · Lashinski et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140275984A1 · Hermann et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150112194A1 · Stubbs · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150112434A1 · Felix et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150250582A1 · Cgeenhalgh et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150313708A1 · Mayo Martin · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160022416A1 · Felix et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160082286A1 · Stubbs et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160242899A1 · Lee et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181842A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181843A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181844A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181845A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180036096A1 · Stubbs · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180092703A1 · Rodriguez-Navarro et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180200020A1 · Hermann et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190336274A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190358468A1 · Stubbs et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200113647A1 · Hermann et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20230093141A1 · Hermann et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230157810A1 · Lebovic et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
EP 1997457 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008515592 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008143896 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008538303 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009500089 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2012528687 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 3030534 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 9818408 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006044132 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2006110733 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007000756 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007006303 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010141422 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012122215 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013009282 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2013163381 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016014990 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
Appeal Brief (replacement) filed on Feb. 1, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/456,435, by Hermann et al., 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Corrected Notice of Allowability mailed on Apr. 4, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Corrected Notice of Allowability mailed on May 2, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Examiners Answer to Appeal Brief mailed on Sep. 14, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/456,435 by Hermann et al., 23 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report mailed on Nov. 30, 2015, for EP Application No. 13782314.2 filed on Apr. 25, 2013, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report mailed on Jan. 23, 2015, for EP Application No. 10783902.9, filed on Jun. 1, 2010, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report mailed on Dec. 22, 2017, for EP Application No. 15825567.9, filed on Jul. 24, 2015, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Jan. 22, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/456,435, filed Apr. 26, 2012, 22 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action mailed on Nov. 6, 2013, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Dec. 17, 2014, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Mar. 21, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/802,041, filed Mar. 13, 2013, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Aug. 22, 2013, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/790,314, filed May 28, 2010, 24 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Jun. 27, 2014, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/173,881, filed Jul. 16, 2008, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 11, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,852, filed Jul. 24, 2015, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on May 10, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 6, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/455,977, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 16, 2017, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/455,994, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 20, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/954,589, filed Nov. 30, 2015, 33 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Nov. 14, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,030, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Nov. 17, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/466,619, filed Mar. 22, 2017, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Dec. 20, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Hudson Tech Files. (2015). “Thermoset vs Thermoplastic: Heat Affects Polymers,” RL Hudson & Company, located at ittp://www.dhudson.com/thermoplastic-vs-hermoset.html#sthash.ORtnThLj.W32KgPSn.dpbs, 1 total page. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report mailed on Mar. 10, 2014 for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US13/64168 filed on Oct. 9, 2013, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report mailed on Jul. 9, 2013, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/38145, Apr. 25, 2013, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report mailed on Jul. 28, 2010, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/036828, filed on Jun. 1, 2010, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Intemational Search Report mailed on Oct. 28, 2015, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2015/042082, filed on Jul. 24, 2015, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Lakeshore Biomaterials, “General Mechanical Properties Chart”. Feb. 19, 2009, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Middleton, J., “Tailoring of Poly(lactide-co-glycolide) to Control Properties”, Lakeshore Biomaterials, 2007, 67 pages. [cited by applicant]
Medical Device Daily, (Sep. 30, 2005) The Medical Technology Newspaper 9(188):pp. 1 and 9 (2 pages). [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed Apr. 25, 2014, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/456,435, filed Apr. 26, 2012, 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed Aug. 27, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/802,041, filed Mar. 13, 2013, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Mar. 22, 2013, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 17 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Apr. 3, 2014, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Dec. 1, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed Oct. 19, 2012, 23 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Jan. 3, 2013, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/790,314, filed May 28, 2010, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 10, 2014, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/790,314, filed May 28, 2010, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on May 8, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/581,146, filed on Dec. 23, 2014, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Aug. 16, 2011, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/173,881, filed Jul. 16, 2008, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Sep. 23, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/581,807, filed Dec. 23, 2014, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Mar. 25, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,852, filed Jul. 24, 2015, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Jun. 29, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,852, filed Jul. 24, 2015 14 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Jan. 5, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/954,589, filed Nov. 30, 2015, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on May 5, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/455,994, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on May 5, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,030, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 12 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Apr. 21, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on May 24, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/455,977, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Aug. 31, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed on Sep. 25, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/581,146, filed Dec. 23, 2014, 9 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed on Mar. 17, 2015, for U.S. Appl. No. 12/790,314, filed May 28, 2010, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed on Feb. 1, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,852, filed on Jul. 24, 2015, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed on Oct. 25, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance mailed on Feb. 28, 2018 for U.S. Appl. No. 15/456,078, filed Mar. 10, 2017, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Author unknown, “Purasorb® Technology”, Purac Biomaterials, 2009, 1 page. [cited by applicant]
Reply Brief filed on Nov. 14, 2016, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/456,435, by Hermann et al., 5 pages. [cited by applicant]
Supplemental Notice of Allowability mailed on Mar. 10, 2017, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/808,852, filed Jul. 24, 2015, 2 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority mailed on Jul. 9, 2013, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/38145, Apr. 25, 2013, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion mailed on Mar. 10, 2014 for PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US13/64168, filed on Oct. 9, 2013, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority mailed on Jul. 28, 2010, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2010/036828, filed on Jun. 1, 2010, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority mailed on Oct. 28, 2015, for PCT Application No. PCT/US2015/042082, filed on Jully 24, 2015, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action mailed on Dec. 27, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/920,126, filed on Mar. 13, 2018, 18 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Aug. 1, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 14/954,589, filed Nov. 30, 2015, 16 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on Oct. 23, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 13/656,068, filed pn Oct. 19, 2012, 22 pages. [cited by applicant]
Non-Final Office Action mailed on May 3, 2018, for U.S. Appl. No. 15/920,126, filed on Mar. 13, 2018, 15 pages. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Nov. 10, 2020 in U.S. Appl. No. 15/982,903. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated May 4, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 15/982,903. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Aug. 26, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 15/982,903. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Mar. 9, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Jun. 25, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Aug. 30, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Dec. 6, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/518,139. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Dec. 13, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Mar. 25, 2021 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Jan. 26, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 15/982,903. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Mar. 3, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/661,663. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Jun. 14, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/518,139. [cited by applicant]
Bouman, Reconstruction of the breast after subcutaneous mastectomy. Possibilities and problems, 1974, Achivum Chirurgicum Neerlandicum, 26, 4:343-352 (Year: 1974). [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Jun. 27, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/661,663, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report dated Jul. 22, 2022 for EP 22173509.5, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 31, 2022 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/518,139, 8 pages. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 20, 2022 from U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401, 13 pages. [cited by applicant]
Application and Drawings filed Nov. 21, 2022 from U.S. Appl. No. 18/057,459. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Jan. 24, 2023 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Apr. 4, 2023 in U.S. Appl. No. 16/262,401. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Apr. 11, 2023 from U.S. Appl. No. 17/953,996, 14 pp. [cited by applicant]
Final Office Action dated Jul. 13, 2023 from U.S. Appl. No. 17/953,996, 12 pp. [cited by applicant]
Advisory Action dated Oct. 13, 2023 from U.S. Appl. No. 17/953,996, 3 pp. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 29, 2023 from U.S. Appl. No. 17/953,996. [cited by applicant]
Office Action dated Oct. 1, 2024 in U.S. Appl. No. 18/057,459, 12 pp. [cited by applicant]