Apparatus and process for delivering a silicone prosthesis into a surgical pocket

Abstract

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 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A breast implant delivery apparatus for inserting a breast implant into a surgical pocket, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the proximal opening being sized to receive a breast implant into an interior of the sleeve and being larger than the distal opening,   wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a dry lubricant on the interior of the flexible sleeve that can be activated by a user, and   wherein the flexible sleeve can be manually manipulated to force the breast implant along a length of the interior of the flexible sleeve and through the distal opening.   
     
     
         14 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible sleeve is tapered from the proximal opening to the distal opening. 
     
     
         15 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the dry lubricant can be activated by the user by being moistened. 
     
     
         16 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the proximal opening is at the termination of the apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible sleeve has indicia for cutting the sleeve to a different dimension. 
     
     
         18 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising the breast implant. 
     
     
         19 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein a lubricant is present on an exterior of the breast implant. 
     
     
         20 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the breast implant is a pre-filled breast implant. 
     
     
         21 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the breast implant is a pre-filled silicone breast implant. 
     
     
         22 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a liner. 
     
     
         23 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible sleeve is in a flattened configuration. 
     
     
         24 . A breast implant delivery apparatus for inserting a breast implant into a surgical pocket, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve having a proximal opening and a distal opening, the proximal opening being sized to receive a breast implant into an interior of the sleeve and being larger than the distal opening,   wherein the flexible sleeve comprises a powdered lubricant on the interior of the flexible sleeve that can be activated by a user, and   wherein the flexible sleeve can be manually manipulated to force the breast implant along a length of the interior of the flexible sleeve and through the distal opening.   
     
     
         25 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the flexible sleeve is tapered from the proximal opening to the distal opening. 
     
     
         26 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the powdered lubricant can be activated by the user by being moistened. 
     
     
         27 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the proximal opening is at the termination of the apparatus. 
     
     
         28 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the flexible sleeve has indicia for cutting the sleeve to a different dimension. 
     
     
         29 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising the breast implant. 
     
     
         30 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein a lubricant is present on an exterior of the breast implant. 
     
     
         31 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the breast implant is a pre-filled breast implant. 
     
     
         32 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the breast implant is a pre-filled silicone breast implant. 
     
     
         33 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a liner. 
     
     
         34 . The breast implant delivery apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the flexible sleeve is in a flattened configuration.