Silicone breast implant delivery

Abstract

A tapered sleeve is provided that includes a hydrophilic coating on an inner surface. In use, the device is typically removed from sterile packaging and soaked to activate the lubricous properties of the coating. 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 device.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An implant delivery sleeve, comprising:
 a sheet of fabric having an overlapped pair of edges; and   adhesive tape adhering the fabric together to form a seam between the overlapped pair of edges, wherein the sheet of fabric is in the shape of a frusto-conical sleeve with an open proximal end and an open distal end.   
     
     
         22 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 21 , wherein the seam formed by the overlapped pair of edges of the fabric and the tape is visible as a landmark along the sleeve. 
     
     
         23 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 21 , wherein the fabric is rip-stop material. 
     
     
         24 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 23 , wherein the rip-stop fabric is nylon fabric of a weight between about 0.75 and 2.25 oz. 
     
     
         25 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 21 , wherein an interior of the sleeve is filled with a liquid and the distal end of the sleeve is closed by an object. 
     
     
         26 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 25 , wherein the liquid is capable of forming a hydrophilic coating when dry. 
     
     
         27 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 25 , wherein the object is a ball. 
     
     
         28 . The implant delivery sleeve of  claim 21 , adaptable to be manipulated by a user's manual twisting and compression to apply pressure to a medical implant within the sleeve to drive the implant out the distal end.