Breast Prosthesis

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a breast prosthesis consisting of an elastically deformable envelope which is at least partially filled with a sluggishly flowing substance. The shape of the prosthesis simulates the natural shape of the breast, while that surface of the envelope, which is directed towards the thorax, has a substantially concavely curved shape.

2. Description of the Related Art

Breast prostheses of the aforementioned kind are known from DE-OS No. 34 40 960 (U.S. Pat. No. 4,676,795). The known breast prostheses can, upon movement of the body, move swinging like a normal breast. Even when a part of the interior of the envelope is replaced by an elastically deformable, porous formed member, e.g. made of natural or synthetic foam, the weight of the breast prosthesis is still considerable. This weight has to be absorbed by a brassiere, the supports of which lead to constrictions on the shoulders of the wearer. In this respect, the proper fitting of the prosthesis on the body of the chest cannot be affected.

The problem of the invention consists in providing for a breast prosthesis, on the one hand a secure specific seat on the body and in so designing the prosthesis that the body of the wearer at least partially directly absorbs the weight of the prosthesis.

In accordance with the invention, this problem is solved by providing at least one duct extending through the body of the prosthesis, which duct connects apertures on the inner and outer surfaces of the envelope and that a valve, which allows a flow of air only from the inside outwardly, is arranged in the duct.

As a result of this solution, the wearer needs to press the prosthesis only once or several times against the chest and then release it again, so that, when between the prosthesis and the chest a vacuum arises, the peripheral edge of the prosthesis acts to apply a sealing action against the thorax. Thereby a secure position of the prosthesis is achieved and the weight of the prosthesis, at least part of the same, is sustained directly by the thorax.

The duct is, in accordance with a further development, formed by a tube which is connected to the valve which is provided in the envelope. In this respect, the valve lies in the nipple region of the envelope which is appropriately thickened, and is for example vulcanized in the envelope.

It is advantageous for the prosthesis to be provided, on the surface facing the chest, in the vicinity of the peripheral edge with an encircling groove which is filled with a sealing compound which adheres to the thorax.

In order to guarantee the creation of an underpressure in the region between the prosthesis and the surface of the thorax, it is necessary that the wall of the prosthesis envelope, which faces the thorax, is of a stable shape in design and spatially so curved that a cavity is formed between the prosthesis and the thorax. After the prosthesis has been compressed once or several times, the air will after each release of the prosthesis flow out of the space between the prosthesis and the thorax by way of the check valve. In this way, in this space through the return of the prosthesis into the initial shape an underpressure is generated by which the prosthesis is secured in position at its applied location and in which respect the weight is at least partially supported by the thorax. Thus, a brassiere has to absorb a slight weight and forms an additional retention security.

The invention will be explained hereinunder with reference to the drawings, in which an exemplified embodiment of a breast prosthesis is shown and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a horizontal section through the breast prosthesis in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, a section through the check valve installed in the axial region of the prosthesis.

The prosthesis as a replacement for an amputated breast consists of an inherently stable, elastic envelope 1, which is matched in shape to the natural breast. This envelope 1 advantageously consists of a vulcanized silicon rubber and is filled with a sluggishly flowing substance in space 2, for example a partly-vulcanized silicon rubber gel. The space 2 to be filled can, to reduce weight, be partially occupied by a natural or synthetic foam body 3.

The outer wall of the envelope is thickened in the nipple region 4, and a check valve 5 is vulcanized into this thickened weall. This check valve 5, shown enlarged in FIG. 2, is provided with a branch 5a which extends freely into the envelope space 2 and onto which is slipped the end of a tube 6 which extends transversely through the prosthesis and which ends flush with the surface 7, directed towards the chest, of the wall 8 of the envelope. The end of the tube 6 which faces the chest may be widened in a trumpet-shaped manner.

The wall 8 of the envelope which faces the chest is provided in the vicinity of the peripheral edge with a groove 9, for example an undercut groove, into which is filled a compound, for example an appropriately prepared silicon rubber gel, which adheres in sealing manner to the thorax. The surface 8 of the envelope is so curved in an inherently stable manner that, when the prosthesis is applied to the chest, a cavity is formed between the wall 8 of the envelope and the surface of the chest. So that the air in this cavity, after the prosthesis has been applied against the surface of the chest, can be vented by way of the tube 6 and the check valve 5 into the outside air. The wall 8 is provided with a pierced hole 10 in the region of the valve 5.

The breast prosthesis is so placed against the thorax that the sealing compound in the edge region of the wall 8 abuts against the thorax, so that the prosthesis is thereby held adheringly by the thorax. Then, the prosthesis, as a whole, is pressed by manual pressure against the thorax, so that in this way the trapped air at least partially escapes outwardly out of the cavity between the wall 8 of the envelope and the thorax by way of the tube 6, the check valve 5 and the pierced hole 10. When the prosthesis is released, the deformed prosthesis attempts, as a result of the elasticity of its envelope, to assume its initial position again. As a result, the space between the wall 8 of the envelope and the thorax is enlarged. In this space an underpressure arises, i.e. the ball of the check valve 5 is applied to its seat, so that the underpressure is maintained in the aforesaid space. This procedure may be repeated several times, until the desired underpressure is achieved in the space between the wall 8 of the envelope and the thorax. Thus the prosthesis is seated securely at the correct position and the weight of the prosthesis is thus at least partially supported by the thorax itself, so that the brassiere being used and the supports thereof are relieved.