Breast treatment device

Abstract

The present disclosure provides devices and methods for treating breasts. The devices can include an acellular tissue matrix having a predefined shape that allows for complete or enhanced coverage of an anterior portion of a breast implant or tissue expander or to support an implant and/or surrounding tissues.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 selecting a device comprising:   a sheet of acellular tissue matrix, wherein the sheet of acellular tissue matrix comprises a flexible sheet with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the sheet has an upper curved border having a first degree of curvature and a lower curved border having a second degree of curvature, wherein the lower curved border is shaped and sized to conform to a desired shape of a lower margin of a breast, and wherein the upper curved border is sized and shaped such that the flexible sheet of acellular tissue matrix can cover substantially all of the anterior surface of a breast implant or tissue expander when implanted in a breast; and   implanting the device along with a breast implant or tissue expander within a breast.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises implanting the breast implant or tissue expander anterior to pectoralis muscles. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising positioning the sheet of acellular tissue matrix adjacent to the breast implant or tissue expander to cover substantially all of an anterior surface of the breast implant or tissue expander. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising securing a portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to tissue. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix further comprises securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to a portion of a chest wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix further comprises securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix with at least one of sutures, staples, clips, or surgical adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein securing the sheet of acellular tissue matrix includes attaching a perimeter of the sheet to chest wall to enclose the breast implant or tissue matrix between the sheet and the chest wall. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix comprises securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to superomedial and lateral edges of a pectoralis major. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper curved border and the lower curved border are joined at lateral apices separated by a distance between about 15-30 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upper curved border and the lower curved border define a height of at least 15 cm. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 selecting a device comprising:   a sheet of acellular tissue matrix, wherein the sheet of acellular tissue matrix comprises a flexible sheet with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the sheet comprises a lower curved border and an upper curved border, wherein the upper curved border and lower curved border are joined at apices at lateral ends of the device, and the sheet is symmetrically shaped about an axis midway between the apices and parallel to the top and bottom surfaces when lying on a flat surface, wherein the lower border forms a single outward arc shape, and wherein the upper border has three arc sections including first and second sections each extending from one of the apices, and a third section joining the first and second sections, the third section having a degree of curvature that is different than the degree of curvature of the first and section sections; and   implanting the device along with a breast implant or tissue expander within a breast.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising implanting the breast implant or tissue expander anterior to pectoralis muscles. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising positioning the sheet of acellular tissue matrix adjacent to the breast implant or tissue expander to cover substantially all of an anterior surface of the breast implant or tissue expander. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising securing a portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to tissue. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix further comprises securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to a portion of a chest wall. 
     
     
         16 . A method of treatment, comprising:
 selecting a device comprising:   a sheet of acellular tissue matrix, wherein the sheet of acellular tissue matrix comprises a flexible sheet with a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the sheet has an upper curved border having a first degree of curvature and a lower curved border having a second degree of curvature, wherein the lower curved border is shaped and sized to conform to a desired shape of a lower margin of a breast; and   implanting the device along with a breast implant or tissue expander within a breast.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising implanting the breast implant or tissue expander anterior to pectoralis muscles. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising positioning the sheet of acellular tissue matrix adjacent to the breast implant or tissue expander to cover substantially all of an anterior surface of the breast implant or tissue expander. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising securing a portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix further comprises securing the portion of the sheet of acellular tissue matrix to a portion of a chest wall.