U.S. patent number 3,845,507 [Application Number 05/315,003] was granted by the patent office on 1974-11-05 for brassiere worn breast prosthesis.
This patent grant is currently assigned to George C. Batchelder Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Louis J. Colonnese, John Ashley Kirby.
United States Patent |
3,845,507 |
Kirby , et al. |
November 5, 1974 |
BRASSIERE WORN BREAST PROSTHESIS
Abstract
An outer bag comprises two formed surfaces joined at their
peripheries. The formed surfaces are substantially the same size
and shape as the brassiere bust cup within which the prosthesis is
to be worn, and each includes a vertical extension having an air
valve therein and an underarm extension. An inner liquid-filled bag
is suspended by two hangers from the top periphery of the outer bag
at either side of the valve. The inner bag is also formed of two
substantially identical formed surfaces joined at their peripheries
of the same shape as the bust cup, but of smaller size, and
comprise an underarm extension and a somewhat shorter vertical
extension. When worn the inner bag of the prosthesis is supplied
with a volume of jell-like liquid equal to 40 to 75 percent of the
total volume of the outer bag. The space between the bags is filled
with air. Preferably the percentage of the volume of total
prosthesis when worn is 50 to 60 percent liquid in the inner bag
and 40 to 50 percent air in the outer bag. The prosthesis can be
worn in either the right or the left breast cup. The then back
formed surfaces of the bags are randomly flattened and cooperate
with the air and gel to provide the deformation and tactile
qualities of the human breast. The prosthesis is provided with an
outer fabric cover and a thin, soft, flat pad against the back
surface of the fabric cover, a hook for hanging the fabric cover
from a brassiere shoulder strap, and a smooth-to-the-touch backing
behind the hook.
Inventors: |
Kirby; John Ashley (Fairfield,
CT), Colonnese; Louis J. (Fairfield, CT) |
Assignee: |
George C. Batchelder Co., Inc.
(Bridgeport, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
23222445 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/315,003 |
Filed: |
December 14, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
623/7;
450/38 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
2/52 (20130101); A61F 2002/501 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
2/52 (20060101); A61F 2/50 (20060101); A41c
003/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;3/36 ;128/462 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gaudet; Richard A.
Assistant Examiner: Yasko; J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Mattern, Ware and Davis
Claims
Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent, is:
1. A breast prosthesis adapted to be worn in the bust cup of a
brassiere comprising, in combination:
A. an outer air impervious bag, the front surface of which is
substantially the same size and shape as the bust cup within which
it is to be worn;
B. an inner air and liquid impervious bag within said outer bag
containing a liquid;
C. a valve for admitting or releasing air to or from said outer
bag; and
D. means joining said inner and outer bags to each other along the
top peripheries thereof.
2. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 1, further defined in
that when the prothesis is worn in a brassiere by a mastectomy
patient and inflated to match the volume of the removed breast the
prothesis is filled with less than substantially 75 percent liquid
and more than substantially 25 percent air by volume.
3. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 2, more specifically
defined in that the breast prothesis is filled with substantially
40 to 75 percent liquid and 25 to 60 percent air by volume when
worn by the mastectomy patient.
4. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 3, further defined in
that, when the prothesis is worn by the mastectomy patient, the
weight of the prothesis ranges between 30 and 70 percent of the
weight of the removed tissue.
5. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 1, more specifically
defined in that the breast prothesis is filled with substantially
50 to 60 percent liquid and 40 to 50 percent air by volume when
worn by the mastectomy patient.
6. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 5, further defined in
that, when the prothesis is worn by the mastectomy patient, the
weight of the prothesis ranges between 30 to 70 percent of the
weight of the removed tissue.
7. A breast prosthesis adapted to be worn in the bust cup of a
brassiere comprising, in combination:
A. an outer air impervious bag, the front surface of which is
substantially the same size and shape as the bust cup within which
it is to be worn;
B. an inner air and liquid impervious bag within said outer bag
containing a liquid, the space between said inner and outer bags
being such that the prosthesis is filled with substantially 50 to
60 percent liquid and 40 to 50 percent air by volume when worn by
the mastectomy patient; and,
C) means joining said inner and outer bags to each other such that
a substantial portion of the liquid in said inner bag does not flow
to fill the bottom of said outer bag.
8. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 7, further defined in
that, when the prothesis is worn by the mastectomy patient, the
weight of the prothesis ranges between 30 and 70 percent of the
weight of the removed tissue.
9. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 8, and:
C. an air valve located at the top of said inner air bag.
10. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 8, wherein said outer
bag comprises a vertical extension at the top thereof.
11. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 10, and:
C. an air valve located in said vertical extension.
12. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 10, wherein said outer
bag comprises an underarm extension.
13. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 12, wherein said inner
bag also comprises an underarm extension.
14. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 8, wherein the front
surface of said inner bag when worn by the mastectomy patient is
substantially the shape of the bust cup within which it is worn but
of a smaller size.
15. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 8, wherein said outer
bag is formed of two substantially identical surfaces which are the
same size and shape as the bust cup within which it is worn whereby
the breast prothesis may be worn in both the left or the right cup
of a brassiere.
16. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 15, wherein said inner
bag is comprised of two surfaces, each of which is substantially
the same shape as the bust cup within which it is worn but of
smaller size.
17. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 8, and:
C. a fabric cover surrounding said breast prothesis having a front
surface which is substantially the same size and shape as the bust
cup within which it is worn and a substantially flat back surface
joined at their peripheries.
18. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 17, and:
D. a thin, soft, deformable pad within said fabric cover against
and substantially the same size and shape as said flat back surface
of said fabric cover.
19. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 17, wherein said outer
bag and said fabric cover comprise vertical extensions, and:
D. a hanger attached to the vertical extension of said fabric cover
adapted for hanging said fabric cover from a brassiere shoulder
strap.
20. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 19, wherein said hanger
is attached to the front of said vertical extension of said fabric
cover, and:
E. a soft piece of material smooth to the touch attached to the
back of said vertical extension of said fabric cover behind said
hanger.
21. A breast prosthesis adapted to be worn in the bust cup of a
brassiere comprising, in combination:
A. an outer air impervious bag formed of two surfaces which are
substantially the same size and shape as the bust cup within which
it is to be worn by a mastectomy patient, said two surfaces joined
at their peripheries whereby the prothesis may be everted and worn
in a right or a left bust cup;
B. an inner air and liquid impervious bag within said outer bag
containing a liquid; and,
C. means joining said inner and outer bag to each other along the
top peripheries thereof.
22. A breast prosthesis as defined in claim 21, wherein said inner
bag is formed of two surfaces, each of which is substantially the
same shape as the bust cup within which it is to be worn by the
mastectomy patient but of smaller size.
23. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 22, wherein said outer
bag is provided with an underarm extension.
24. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 23, wherein said outer
bag is provided with a vertical extension, and:
D. a valve for the introduction or release of air into or out of
said outer bag within said vertical extension.
25. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 21, and:
D. a fabric cover surrounding said breast prothesis having a front
surface which is substantially the same size and shape as the bust
cup within which it is to be worn and a substantially flat back
surface.
26. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 25, and:
E. a thin, soft, deformable pad within said fabric cover against
and substantially the same size and shape as said flat back surface
of said fabric cover.
27. A breast prosthesis adapted to be worn in the bust cup of a
brassiere comprising, in combination:
A. an outer air impervious bag formed of two surfaces joined at
their peripheries, each of which is substantially the same size and
shape as the bust cup within which it is to be worn, and comprising
a vertical extension within which is located a valve for admitting
or releasing air to or from said outer bag, and further comprising
an underarm extension; and
B. an inner, air and liquid impervious, liquid-filled bag within
said outer bag also formed of two surfaces joined at their
peripheries, each of which is substantially the same shape as the
bust cup within which it is to be worn by the mastectomy patient
but of smaller size; said inner bag having an underarm extension
and being suspended along the upper periphery thereof from the
upper periphery of said outer bag, said prothesis when worn by the
mastectomy patient being filled with substantially 50 to 60 percent
liquid in said inner bag and 40 to 60 percent in said outer bag air
and weighing 30 to 70 percent of the weight of the removed
tissue.
28. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 27, and:
C. a thin, soft, deformable pad within said fabric cover against
and substantially the same size and shape as said flat back surface
of said fabric cover.
29. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 28; wherein said outer
bag and said fabric cover comprise vertical extensions, and:
D. a hanger attached to the vertical extension of said fabric cover
adapted for hanging said fabric cover from a brassiere shoulder
strap.
30. The breast prosthesis defined in claim 29, wherein said hanger
is attached to the front of said vertical extension of said fabric
cover, and:
E. a soft piece of material smooth to the touch attached to the
back of said vertical extension of said fabric cover behind said
hanger.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Many prosthesis have been devised for mastectomy patients. Those
that have been successful in the past are based on different
philosophies. One comprises an envelope the same size and shape as
the bust cup within which it is to be worn, completely filled with
a jell-like liquid. The philosophy is that the liquid, being
weighty, will supply the mass of the removed breast tissue and thus
provide the wearer with the weight of the removed breast. Another
device is merely filled with air to take the same size and shape of
the removed breast within the normal brassiere and is preferably
provided with a valve for adjusting the amount of air in the
device. This device presupposes that it is not necessary to provide
any weight to the brassiere. It has been found that the
philosophies of both of these devices are incorrect in that the
normal breast does not provide weight to the brassiere equal to its
own weight, some of its own weight being carried by the breast
tissue itself, and it has therefore been proposed that a breast
prosthesis comprise an outer bag filled with air containing an
entirely freely disposed inner liquid-filled bag. In U.S. Pat. No.
3,663,968 issued to Wilhelm Mohl et al. on May 23, 1972 and
entitled "Artificial Breast," it is proposed that the inner and
outer bags be flat backed and that an air valve be provided to the
air space between the bags. The inner bag is filled with liquid to
give "to the artificial breast a weight about equal the weight of a
natural breast" and the air space provides some adjustability.
However, all of these prior art devices leave much to be desired in
providing the mastectomy patients with a prosthesis which as
closely as possible duplicates for the patient all of the qualities
of the normal breast.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide a
breast prosthesis adapted to be worn within a brassiere that
provides as many of those qualities of the normal human breast as
possible. Some of these qualities are that it transfer to the chest
wall and to the brassiere and to the brassiere back and shoulder
straps the same forces created by its weight as the normal breast
does when the patient assumes any position, e.g., lying down,
standing up, leaning over, bending to the side, etc.
Another quality that it is desired to simulate is to fill the
brassiere bust cup in the same way as the removed body tissue and
be able to compensate for various degrees of radical surgery.
Further qualities that it is desired to simulate are the
deformation and tactile qualities of the normal breast.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a breast prosthesis
of the above character which is adjustable in size, which can be
manufactured from a few basic sizes for all mastectomy patients,
which is comfortable to wear, which is attractive to the mastectomy
patient, and which provides one appliance that can be worn in
either the right or left breast cup.
Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in
part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises an article of manufacture
possessing the features, properties, the relation of elements, the
features of construction, combinations of elements, and
arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the construction
hereinafter set forth. The scope of the invention is indicated in
the claims.
In general, the above objects are achieved by providing an outer
air-filled bag formed of two shaped pieces of plastic sheet the
same size and shape as the bust cup within which the prothesis is
to be worn. These formed sheets of plastic are joined at their
peripheries. An inner bag within the outer bag is filled with a
jell-like liquid. The inner bag is also formed of two substantially
identical formed sheets of plastic which are smaller in size than
the outer bag but of substantially the same shape as the bust cup.
These sheets are also joined at their peripheries to form the inner
bag. The inner bag is suspended from the outer bag by two hangers
connected between the upper peripheries of the inner and outer
bags. Between the two hangers there is located a valve for
admitting air into and out of the space between the inner and outer
bag. The valve is formed in a vertical extension of the outer bag
which helps to fill in the vertical extension or tail of the breast
normally removed during a mastectomy. The outer and inner bags are
preferably provided with an elongated horizontal extension for
filling in after radical surgery. However, if radical surgery has
not been performed this extension will collapse under the force of
the brassiere and thus will adjust to the degree of radical
surgery.
When the volume of liquid is between 40 and 75 percent of the total
volume of air within the prosthesis when worn in the brassiere, the
wearer is given substantially all of those qualities previously
mentioned of the normal breast within the brassiere. For the vast
majority of mastectomy patients, it has been found that the
preferred range of liiquid volume to air volume is 50 to 60 percent
liquid and 40 to 50 percent air.
The entire prosthesis is contained within a fabric cover which
makes it attractive and comfortable to wear. Between the back of
the plastic cover and the bags of the prosthesis there is
preferably incorporated a thin, flat, very soft pad. When worn, the
flattened rear portions of the bags forming the prosthesis bunch up
in a random manner and play a part in providing the wearer with the
deformation qualities of the normal breast within the brassiere.
The fabric cover is provided with a hook for hinging the appliance
from the brassiere shoulder strap.
The completed appliance with cover ranges in weight from 30 to 70
percent of the tissue removed in the mastectomy. Smaller sizes
prefer as little as 30 to 35 percent weight replacement, and the
preferred replacement ranges up to 60 to 70 percent in the larger
sizes.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the
invention, reference should be had to the following detailed
description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the breast prosthesis of the
invention incorporated in a brassiere;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the breast prosthesis of the
invention taken along the plane 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a front view of the breast prosthesis of FIG. 1 with the
fabric cover turned back and the outer bag patially cut away;
FIG. 4 is a rear view of the portion of the breast prosthesis of
FIG. 1 with the fabric cover removed and the outer bag partly cut
away;
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the inner bag of the breast prosthesis of
FIG. 1 cut away to show the jell-like liquid therein;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the breast prosthesis of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary diagrammatic cross-sectional views
taken along the lines 7--7 of FIG. 4; and
FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view taken along the line 9--9 of FIG.
4.
The same reference characters refer to the same elements through
out the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In FIG. 1, the breast prosthesis of the invention is generally
indicated at 12 in phantom lines. It is worn within the bust cup 14
of a conventional brassiere 16. Referring to FIG. 2l the prosthesis
comprises an outer envelope 18 of plastic sheet material such as
polyvinylchloride or polyethylene, which is air-impervious. The
outer bag 18 is formed of two substantially identical formed sheets
20 and 22 joined at their peripheries 24 by means of heat sealing
or the like. The surfaces 20 and 22 thus formed are of
substantially the same size and shape as the inner contours of the
bust cup 14
An inner bag, generally indicated at 26, is also formed of two
formed sheets 28 and 30 of the same or similar plastic material,
which is air and liquid impervious. The formed sheets 28 and 30 are
of the same shape as the bust cup 14 but of smaller size. They are
joined at their peripheries 32 as by heat sealing or the like, and
the inner bag thus formed is filled with a jell-like liquid 34 such
as the carboxymethylcellulose known in the prior art.
Although the liquid 34 contains some air bubbles 36, these are
merely left by the manufacturing process and the inner bag 26 is
substantially filed with a jell-like liquid 34. The space 38
between the inner and outer bags 18 and 26 is filled with air. It
will be noted that the back surfaces 22 and 30 of the outer bag 18
and inner bag 26 form themselves into random folds and are disposed
generally flat along the chest wall of the wearer. The prosthesis
is preferably provided with a fabric cover 40 of nylon tricot or
the like and can be inserted or withdrawn therefrom through the
opening 42 in the back thereof. The prosthesis is further
preferably provided with a soft, thin, flat pad 44 which may be a
foam plastic material covered with fabric on both sides thereof to
provide strength, so that the random folds of the back surfaces 22
and 30 of the inner and outer bags 26 and 18 will not irritate the
wearer.
It has been found through extensive testing that the vast majority
of mastectomy patients prefer a breast prosthesis constructed as
disclosed herein when the ratio of air to liquid volume is such
that the prosthesis within the brassiere when worn on the
mastectomy patient comprises between 50 and 60 percent liquid and
40 to 50 percent air. It has been further found that all patients
feel comfortable if the range of air to liquid volume is such that
the prothesis as disclosed herein is filled with 40 to 75 percent
liquid and 25 to 60 percent air.
The complete appliance 12 is found to preferably weigh 30 to 35
percent of the removed tissue for small sizes such as 34A or 32B.
The percentage of weight replacement preferred by the patient
increases for increasing size reaching 60 t0 70 percent of the
weight of the removed tissue for large sizes such as 44D or 42C.
These results are consistent with the observation that the larger
sizes of normal breasts require greater brassiere support, i.e., a
larger percentage of the weight of the breast is transferred to the
brassiere in the larger sizes.
It has been found that six or seven sizes of appliances constructed
according to the invention are sufficient to meet the needs of all
mastectomy patients.
Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner bag 26 is suspended from
the outer bag 18 by means of two tab-like supports or hangers 46
and 48 sealed to the top peripheries thereof by heat sealing.
During manufacturing, the tabs 46 and 48 are applied to the inner
bag 26 by heat sealing after the inner bag has been formed and
filled with the liquid 34 and then the outer bag 18 is heat-sealed
around its entire periphery 24, thus sealing the hangers 46 and 48
to the outer bag 18.
Still referring to FIG. 4, both the inner and outer bags are
preferably provided with the extended underarm extension generally
indicated at 50 (see also FIG. 2), which in cooperation with the
horizontal brassiere strap 52 of FIG. 1 will fill in for the
underarm extension of the breast if it has been removed during
radical surgery. The pressure of the horizontal brassiere strap 52
will cause the underarm extension 50 to substantially collapse if
such radical surgery was not extensive, thus compensating for
variations between patients.
The prosthesis 12 is provided with a vertical extension generally
indicated at 53 in FIG. 4 to: 1) fill in the so-called tail of the
breast if it has been removed by radical surgery in the same manner
as the underarm extension 50, and 2) to provide for a valve
generally indicated at 54 comprising valve triangle plastic pieces
56 (best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8) which cooperate with a tube 58 in
FIGS. 7 and 8 for adding or subtracting air from the device in a
known manner. Thus, the patient can add or subtract air to fill the
breast cup 14 until she is comfortable with the prothesis.
In FIG. 6 the back of the fabric cover 40 is shown, better
illustrating the opening 42 by which the plastic bags can be
inserted or removed from the fabric cover 40.
Also shown is a soft, smooth-to-the-touch plush pad 62 sewn on the
back of the fabric cover 40 to prevent any discomfort from the hook
64 on the opposite side, shown in FIG. 3.
The hook 64 may be used to attach the prosthesis to the brassiere
strap 66 as shown in FIG. 1, to help keep it in proper registration
within the bust cup 14.
An opening 68 is also shown in FIG. 6, through which the tube 58
may be introduced into the valve 54.
By reference to FIG. 9, it may be seen how the prosthesis may be
everted to be used in either the left or the right bust cup of a
brassiere. In both cases, whatever becomes the back portions 22 and
30 of the plastic bags 18 and 26 (see FIG. 2) dispose themselves in
the random flattened manner as shown in FIG. 2 and, in addition to
providing a device that can be worn either in the right or the left
bust cup, this symmetry between the front and the back of the inner
and outer bags 18 and 26 is important in providing the prosthesis
with the deformation and tactile qualities of a normal breast.
However, even though the inner and outer plastic bags 18 and 26 may
be everted to be used in either the right or the left breast cup,
the fabric covers 14 are preferably separately provided for the
left and the right bust cup so that (1) the back portion 70 of the
fabric cover 40 (FIG. 2) may be flat, and (2) so that the hook 64
and plush pad 62 (FIGS. 3 and 6) may be provided.
It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above among those
made apparent from the preceding description are efficiently
attained and, since certain changes may be made in the above
article and construction without departing from the scope of the
invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above
description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended
to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention
herein described, and all statements of the invention which, as a
matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.
* * * * *