Patent ID: 9630366
Date: 2017-04-25
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F,B29C,B29K,B29L

Claim:
1. A method of making an implantable and inflatable prosthesis, the method comprising the steps of: providing a curable polymer-based liquid; distributing a plurality of solid, water-swellable particles in the liquid to form a fluid mixture comprising the liquid polymer and the solid, water-swellable particles; solidifying the mixture to form a matrix of the polymer having the solid, water-swellable particles occupying enclosed spaces in the matrix; and forming the mixture into a wall of an inflatable prosthesis comprising the matrix and enclosed particles, wherein, when the wall is contacted with an aqueous fluid, the water-swellable particles expand and the wall becomes self-sealing to a needle puncture.