Breasts firmness testing
To detect ruptured breasts implants
With Tim Brown - Plastic Surgeon
(Australia) : www.timbrown.com.au
Working on the results of a very complete
study involving more than 50 patients
concerning a device for measuring soft
tissue firmness and its application in
cosmetic breast surgery
Agrosta has proposed to Tim 3 generations of devices, with big improvements
between each of them :
- The first machine had a visual abutment, and hemispheric tip
- The second machine had a big head with 3 touch sensors on the abutment
- The third machine had a touch sensor with a small head, and was giving very
consistent results
First generation firmness tester for breasts, with hemispheric tip, and no tactile
sensor on abutment
In order to assess inter and intra observer reproducibility, 10 observers
measured breast implant firmness at nine different regions of a single silicone
breast implant, placed on a hard flat surface. Each observer measured the
same point, 10 times consecutively. Inter-observer reproducibility was the
consistency of pressure readings between different observers on the same
point. Intra-observer reliability was the consistency of pressure readings each
observer made on the same point.
Measurements of firmness of the implant confirmed that inter observer error
was unacceptable with the first prototype. The limitations lay in the operator
dependant speed at which the probe was applied to the implant and visual
assessment of when abutment of the base plate on the breast had occurred.
Despite this, measurements made by the same operator using the first
prototype had good reproducibility and were therefore used in this study.
The last instrument we have designed and proposed includes a specific
spheric tip, with a smaler abutment, and a touch sensor (Copper ring fixed on
the sensor head)
This prototype addressed the problem of inter observer error by including a
touch sensor on the abutment, so the contact was detected by the instrument
ensuring consistent deformation of the implant or breast. The problem of inter
operator speed was resolved by including a timer that commences once the
pressure reaches 3 kgms-2 and stops as soon as the touch sensors are in
contact with the breast.
Several publications are available concerning “Mammacompliance”, measuring
Capsular Fibrosis, or Identation Tonometry of breasts. Breast tonometry is
difficult because the breast varies in thickness and density, and it overlies a
hard chest wall. The results achieved with silicone implants are usually
assessed on the basis of the clinical and therefore subjective technique of
Baker’s classification.
The implantation of silicone protheses for breast augmentation is one of the
most frequent operations performed by plastic surgeons. The most feared
complication that can develop is capsular fibrosis, which may adversely affect
the cosmetic success of the operation. None of the techniques for objectively
measuring capsular fibrosis has so far been wholly convincing because the
measuring devices available to date have been too inaccurate and unreliable.
The last progresses of Makers technologies, like 3D printing or Arduino boards
with standard touch modules allow Agrosta to propose a very accurate and up
to date device with high accuracy for an affordable price
This instrument is proposed for a price of 4800 € including freight worldwide
Instrumentos para productos vivos