Constance Elaine Holmes

US Patent:

20040143325, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Jan 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/349449

Inventors:

Constance Holmes - New York NY, US

International Classification:

A61F002/52

US Classification:

623/007000

Abstract:

An artificial nipple prosthetic device attachable to a female human breast that has undergone a stage of breast reconstruction, comprising a substantially cylindrical nipple portion made of a breathable natural or microporous polymeric material. The nipple portion is solid to prevent collapse of the nipple portion. The device includes an areola portion surrounding the nipple portion made of the same breathable water-resistant natural material. The inside of the device, at both the nipple and areola portions, has a concave shape that conforms to an outer contour of a female human breast. The device is attached by means of a water resistant adhesive layer. Upon attachment of the nipple prosthetic device to the breast, the nipple portion projects outwardly from an outer surface of the female human breast, preferably substantially perpendicularly from said outer surface. The shades of color of the nipple and areola portions conform to the female anatomy.

US Patent:

20040143326, Jul 22, 2004

Filed:

Feb 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/374481

Inventors:

Constance Holmes - New York NY, US

International Classification:

A61F002/52

US Classification:

623/007000

Abstract:

A method of enhancing the third stage of breast reconstruction involves sampling an artificial nipple prosthetic device attachable to a female human breast by trying on and wearing different sized and colored devices at different locations of the breast. This allows the female patient to advise her surgeon where, what size and what color nipple she wants the surgeon to reconstruct. The nipple prosthetic devices have a substantially cylindrical solid nipple portion made of a breathable water-resistant natural or microporous polymeric material and an areola portion surrounding the nipple portion made of the same material. The inside of the device, at both the nipple and areola portions, has a concave shape that conforms to an outer contour of a female human breast and the device is attached by means of a water resistant adhesive layer. The shades of color of the nipple and areola portions conform to the female anatomy.