This breast tissue expander uses low-z materials to prevent interference with radiation therapy, MRI, or pacemakers. Breast tissue expanders play a crucial role in breast reconstruction following mastectomies, a common procedure for breast cancer patients. The expanders gradually stretch the tissue and shape of the body, creating space for a permanent implant. To expand the breast tissue, surgeons use a port on the expander to inject fluid. The current design of expanders incorporates stainless steel and high-density rare earth magnets for localizing the injection port. However, this presents significant challenges to medical treatments. The metallic components interfere with proton radiation therapy, a highly targeted cancer treatment, distorting diagnostic tools images from CT and MRI scans. This compromises the accuracy of radiation delivery and hinders effective monitoring of treatment progress.
For patients undergoing breast reconstruction, these limitations pose a considerable burden. The metallic components in the expanders can lead to inaccurate radiation doses, potentially harming healthy tissues and compromising the effectiveness of cancer treatment. Additionally, the image artifacts can obscure important details during diagnostic imaging, making it difficult to assess the patient's condition accurately. This can delay diagnoses, hinder treatment planning, and ultimately impact patient outcomes.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed an alternative tissue expander design. This design replaces the metallic components with low-Z materials, such as aluminum and magnesium alloys. These materials interact minimally with proton beams and are less likely to create artifacts in medical images. The modifications enable surgeons to find the port and orient the needle for injection efficiently and accurately. It also enhances the compatibility of tissue expanders with proton radiation therapy and improves the accuracy of diagnostic imaging. This advancement holds the potential to revolutionize breast reconstruction procedures, offering patients safer, more effective, and more personalized care.
Replaces metallic components in breast expanders with low-Z materials, improving diagnostic imaging and reducing side effects in patients
Breast tissue expanders are silicone implants surgeons place under the skin after a mastectomy to stretch the tissue and create space for a permanent breast implant. The expander has a port that allows the surgeon to inject saline periodically to gradually increase the size of the expander. The current design of this port includes a neodymium magnet encased in a stainless steel or titanium shell. The magnet allows the surgeon to easily locate the port using an external handheld magnet. However, the metal components of the port can interfere with proton radiation therapy and imaging techniques, such as CT and MRI scans.
The new breast tissue expander design replaces the metallic port and neodymium magnet with low atomic number (low-Z) materials and an ultrasonic probe. Low-Z materials, such as magnesium, do not interfere with proton therapy or imaging techniques. The ultrasonic probe allows the surgeon to locate the port by emitting sound waves that reflect off the metal port and create an image on an ultrasound screen. This eliminates the need for a magnet and allows for MRI compatibility. The new design also reduces streak artifacts in CT scans, improving the accuracy of tumor identification and treatment planning.