Lighter Weight Implant

Abstract

A breast implant is provided which includes a filling, or core having a lower overall density relative to silicone gel-filled or saline-filled implant. The core may be a composite including flexible, bodies, for example, air-containing, or gas-containing, bodies, and a gel medium between or around the bodies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breast implant comprising:
 a shell; and   a filling, enclosed within the shell, comprising flexible hollow bodies having multiple voids and a medium surrounding the flexible hollow bodies for providing a desired volume and firmness to the implant.   
     
     
         2 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow bodies comprise a foam material. 
     
     
         3 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow bodies comprise tubing. 
     
     
         4 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing comprises silicone. 
     
     
         5 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing comprises about 10 tubing segments. 
     
     
         6 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing comprises about 50 tubing segments. 
     
     
         7 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing comprises about 100 tubing segments. 
     
     
         8 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing has an outer diameter of between about 1 mm and about 10 mm. 
     
     
         9 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing has a wall thickness of between about 0.5 mm and about 4 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing has a bore with a diameter of about 0.5 mm and about 4 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tubing has a circular cross section, a rectangular cross section, or a cross section with a plurality of ridges. 
     
     
         12 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the medium comprises a form stable gel. 
     
     
         13 . The implant of  claim 1 , wherein the filling has a relatively higher concentration of hollow bodies in at least one region of the filling relative to another region of the filling, thereby providing an implant having a variable density. 
     
     
         14 . The implant of  claim 13 , wherein the higher concentration is located in a posterior region of the implant. 
     
     
         15 . A breast implant comprising a shell and a filling within the shell, the filling comprising members having multiple cavities and a medium surrounding the members. 
     
     
         16 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the cavities contain a gas. 
     
     
         17 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the members are a foam material. 
     
     
         18 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the cavities are microcavities. 
     
     
         19 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the members are cylindrical. 
     
     
         20 . The implant of  claim 15 , wherein the members medium comprises a form stable gel.