The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2001
Anita M. Falcon, Euless, TX (US);
Robert L. Guest, Colleyville, TX (US);
Keith Job, Colleyville, TX (US);
Steven Weir, Arlington, TX (US);
Shijung Zhou, Southlake, TX (US);
Mentor Corporation, Santa Barbara, CA (US);
Abstract
The prosthesis of the invention are configured such that the average thickness of the shell in the region where the posterior and anterior faces meet is greater, e.g., at least twice, the average thickness of the shell in the region of the anterior face. This reinforcement can reduce or eliminate undesirable scalloping effects along the upper perimeter of the prosthesis that can otherwise occur when gravity pulls downward on a filled prosthesis. Moreover, because the reinforcement is preferably confined to a radius/posterior region extending at least part of the way around the perimeter of the prosthesis, it is possible for the shell of the prosthesis in nearly the entire anterior face of the prosthesis to be formed of relatively thin material. This preserves a natural appearance of the prosthesis when it is implanted.