Tissue expanders and methods of use

Abstract

A tissue expansion system including an implantable device that includes a compressed gas canister with a compressed gas disposed therein, and an expandable chamber, the compressed gas canister disposed within a cradle, wherein the cradle is disposed within the expandable chamber, wherein the cradle is directly secured to a posterior portion of the expandable chamber and the compressed gas canister is indirectly secured to the posterior portion of the expandable chamber, the compressed gas canister being movable within the cradle and relative to the posterior portion of the expandable chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tissue expander, comprising:
 a fluid source and an inflatable chamber, the fluid source disposed within a hammock, the hammock disposed within the inflatable chamber, wherein the hammock is directly secured to a posterior portion of the inflatable chamber and the fluid source is indirectly secured to the posterior portion of the inflatable chamber, the fluid source being movable within the hammock and relative to the posterior portion of the inflatable chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The tissue expander of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid source comprises a compressed gas canister with a compressed gas disposed therein. 
     
     
         3 . The tissue expander of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication component secured to an anterior portion of the tissue expander. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue expander of  claim 1 , further comprising an external controller with an external communication component adapted to wirelessly communicate with the communication component to facilitate the release of fluid from the fluid source into the inflatable chamber to inflate the inflatable chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue expander of  claim 4 , further comprising a processing component that, in response to actuation of the external controller, compares the number of times fluid has been released from the fluid source within a given period of time with a maximum number of times fluid is allowed to be released from the fluid source within the given period of time,
 wherein the processing component prevents the release of fluid from the fluid source into the inflatable chamber if the number of times that fluid has been released from the fluid source within the given period of time is greater than or equal to the maximum number of times that fluid is allowed to be released from the fluid source within the given period of time.   
     
     
         6 . The tissue expander of  claim 5 , wherein the processing component is disposed within the external controller. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue expander of  claim 5 , wherein the processing component prevents the fluid from being released from the fluid source more than 3 times within about a 24 hour period. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue expander of  claim 5 , wherein the processing component prevents the fluid from being released from the fluid source more than once about every 3 hours. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue expander of  claim 4 , further comprising a processing component that, in response to actuation of the external controller, compares the number of times the external controller has been actuated within a given period of time with a maximum number of times the external controller can be actuated to facilitate release of the fluid from the fluid source within the given period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue expander of  claim 4 , further comprising a processing component that, in response to actuation of the external controller, compares the volume of fluid that has been released from the fluid source within a given period of time with a maximum volume of fluid that is allowed to be released from the fluid source within the given period of time,
 wherein the processing components prevents the release of fluid from the fluid source into the inflatable chamber if the volume of fluid that has been released from the fluid source within the given period of time is greater than or equal to the maximum volume of fluid that is allowed to be released from the fluid source within the given period of time.   
     
     
         11 . The tissue expander of  claim 10 , wherein the processing component prevents more than about 30 mL of fluid from being released from the fluid source within about 24 hours. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue expander of  claim 10 , wherein the processing component prevents the release of fluid from the fluid source if about 5 mL to about 100 mL of fluid has already been released from the fluid source during a 24 hour period. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue expander of  claim 1 , wherein the posterior portion comprises a flat posterior backing, the hammock being directly attached to the flat posterior backing.