Importance

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Abstract

The specification describes and claims a flexible article intended for inflation in the human or animal body, e.g. a prosthesis or tissue expander, which comprises an envelope having upon its surface a receptor structure adapted to receive a portion of a tool intended for inserting the article into a subcutaneous cavity in the body and capable of releasing the tool when the article has been inserted subcutaneously in the body. Preferably the receptor structure comprises an abutment portion against which an end portion of the tool may bear during insertion of the article into the cavity and location indicator whereby the end portion of the tool is restrained in contact with the abutment portion during the insertion. The preferred article is an elongate tissue expander and the receptor structure is located adjacent an end portion of the envelope with its abutment portion located nearer to the end portion than the location means. Tools for use with articles of the invention are described. The preferred article may be used to form a flap of tissue on a human or animal body by inserting into the cavity a tool of sufficient length that its distal end portion can penetrate the cavity to its furthermost extremity, on which a tissue expander according to the invention is mounted, disengaging the from the receptor structure and inflating the envelope of the tissue expander progressively to induce formation of flap tissue.

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First Claim