Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes – With step of making mold or mold shaping – per se – Utilizing surface to be reproduced as an impression pattern
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-26
2003-11-11
Kuhns, Allan R. (Department: 1732)
Plastic and nonmetallic article shaping or treating: processes
With step of making mold or mold shaping, per se
Utilizing surface to be reproduced as an impression pattern
C264S227000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06645413
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention, in general relates to reconstructive facial surgery and, more particularly, to methods that permit documenting the three-dimensional appearance of a face before, during, and after reconstructive facial surgery.
People elect to have reconstructive facial surgery performed for a great many reasons. People are sometimes born with or they develop defects and deformities that involve the facial area. Eventually, they rely upon involve the facial area. Eventually, they may rely upon surgery to remedy these types of abnormalities.
Sometimes people experience injury, for example, such as receiving a blunt object type of a trauma as may occur from an automobile or other type of an accident. Such trauma may damage the facial area and therefore require reconstructive surgery.
Patients who either require or elect to have facial reconstructive surgery performed are, at present, unable to adequately and effectively document the progress arising from their reconstructive facial surgery.
The current art of documenting such change relies upon photographs that are taken of the patient before and some time, for example, a few months, after surgery has been completed. These photographs reveal the changes that have taken place, but only in two dimensions.
As such, the changes often appear less dramatic to the patient. In particular, a patient desiring some cosmetic enhancement, for example a change to their nose or to their jaw line or lips may not see much of a change in these “before and after” photographs.
Detecting the changes that have occurred as a result of reconstructive surgery today is a subjective process when one is forced to view a two dimensional image or series of images. There is really no way to take an instrument and literally “measure” dimensions of the face in millimeters, for example, both before and after surgery.
As a result, patients may begin to feel that they did not sufficiently benefit from the surgery that they received. They may develop ill feelings toward their surgeon, and may even seek to have the fees that they paid, refunded. Even worse, they may even file a lawsuit seeking recompense for alleged damages that they claim to have experienced arising from their physical as well as their emotional suffering.
Clearly, these factors are of concern to both the patient and the surgeon. The high cost of malpractice insurance appertaining especially to reconstructive types of surgery must include those types of risks, such as have been described hereinabove. A method that can lessen claims against reconstructive facial surgeons is especially desirable.
Reconstructive facial surgeons (sometimes referred to also as “plastic surgeons”) need a method that can better document the changes that have, in fact, taken effect as a result of the reconstructive facial surgery that they perform.
Any method of ameliorating the potential for misgivings on the part of the patient is especially desirable. It can also reduce the time surgeons spend assuaging the fears and concerns of their patients, both before and especially after having had surgery.
Two dimensional photographs as stated hereinabove are ineffective. Subtle, yet meaningful changes in appearance, are altogether lost in two dimensional photographs. Patients end up feeling that they did not benefit, as promised, by the surgery.
It is important to note that vanity, in some instances, is what motivates a person to ascribe to certain elective surgical procedures. That same vanity may distort that person's perception when in the course of his or her life, that person does not experience the gains that they imagined would occur.
If the person thought that if he or she “fixed” their small lips, for example, that he or she would then be more attractive to members of the opposite sex, that person might wrongly conclude that their lips were perhaps not sufficiently (i.e., significantly) altered as a result of the reconstructive surgery that they had performed when other people neglect to take notice of their “lips” or otherwise fail to desire their company.
As mentioned hereinabove, patients may falsely develop some degree of resentment toward their surgeon and may even seek recompense from damages that they believe they have sustained. Armed only with ineffective and non-dramatic photographs, reconstructive surgeons often find it difficult to defend against such claims of malpractice or of failing to provide promised benefits.
What is needed is a way to demonstrate, even to measure, the changes that have occurred, in particular, a method of making both before and after surgery three-dimensional impressions (i.e., masks) of the face.
There is another problem that also exists that needs solution as well. Patients are hesitant to alter the way their face appears because they know that their “old” appearance is forever lost.
At present, when a patient has an elective procedure performed on their face, the pre-surgical appearance in three-dimensions is lost. There is no way for the patient to view, other than photographically, how they once looked.
Patients would like a method that allows them to forever preserve the pre-surgical three-dimensional likeness of their face. They would especially like to compare this “old” look with their “current” appearance.
Also, there is sometimes a need to document how the person's face appeared immediately before surgery for other reasons. If, for example, the person's face was severely damaged by an automobile accident, then it is indeed most important to be able to document the extent and scope of the injuries incurred before performing any reconstructive surgery.
The scope of damage is useful in determining damages for just and appropriate types of litigation. Therefore, it is important to be able to demonstrate the damage inflicted to a person's face before surgery is commenced.
It is also vitally important, at the same time, to perform the surgery as quickly as possible to prevent the person from needlessly having to endure protracted physical and/or psychological discomfort.
Therefore, there are two seemingly conflicting concerns at play; the first being able to well document and even display (i.e., to a judge or jury) the extent of damages inflicted before attempting reconstructive surgery and also a need to quickly remedy this damage.
Indeed, a quick remedy produces less pain and suffering and therefore may even provide a diminished liability arising from such types of injuries.
Also, the use of x-rays and two-dimensional photographs may not be sufficiently compelling or as revealing as is needed to convey to others the true scope of the injuries.
It is important to note that the steps involved with certain types of reconstructive facial surgery include what can be described as a metamorphosis of the face. This metamorphosis occurs in stages.
Certain types of reconstructive surgeries, for example, often require various steps or phases to complete the process. For example, a nose or other bone may first have to be broken before it can be properly altered so as to achieve a more desirable shape or attitude.
Indeed, the face, during reconstructive surgery, may look considerably worse during certain intermediate phases than it did prior to the commencement of surgery. Being able to document this metamorphosis, that is the various stages of surgery, is especially valuable to two groups of people.
The first group are the patients themselves. Seeing the various steps, patients believe that they received their money's worth. Up until now, there has been no way (other than video) for patients to actually see what the various steps look like. Video is too graphic and blood stained for viewing. Surgeons may be reluctant to film the process as well.
Patients would benefit if they were able to see what is tantamount to a “pretty” view of the intermediate steps, one that is not blood stained and unduly graphic. If they could see a more gentle yet revealing three-dimensional likeness of their face during variou
Kuhns Allan R.
Rinne, Jr. Risto A.
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