University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Strength of silicone breast implants

Phillips, James W.; De Camara, Donna L.; Lockwood, Michelle D.; Grebner, Wendy C.C.

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/112475

Description

Title
Strength of silicone breast implants
Author(s)
  • Phillips, James W.
  • De Camara, Donna L.
  • Lockwood, Michelle D.
  • Grebner, Wendy C.C.
Issue Date
1995-01
Keyword(s)
Silicone Breast Implants
Abstract
Rupture and leakage are recognized problems associated with silicone breast implants. Data are scarce about the durability of the silicone shell, and the life span of this device is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the strength of silicone breast implants. Thirty implant shells were subjected to mechanical testing. Twenty-nine of the shells were tested after explantation and one unused implant served as a control. Implantation time varied from 4 months to 20 years and all shells were tested, regardless of condition. Fourteen implant shells were intact, 8 were leaking and 7 were ruptured. All ruptured implants had been in place for l 0 years or longer. Specimens from the control shell required 15.5 to 25.6 N (3.5 to 5.8 lb) of force to fail. The breaking force of all other specimens ranged from 1.3 to 15.6 N (0.3 to 3.5 lb). The weakest group of specimens was from thin-shelled implants between 10 and 16 years of age. More than half of these specimens failed with less than 1 lb of force. The average breaking force of ruptured shell material was less than that of intact shells. A comparison of strength data in this study with manufacturers ' data suggests that breaking force is dependent on implant type, shell thickness and implantation time.
Publisher
Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. College of Engineering. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Series/Report Name or Number
  • TAM R 779
  • 1995-6001
ISSN
0073-5264
Type of Resource
text
Language
eng
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/112475
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Carle Foundation 95/01
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 1995 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (TAM) PRIMARY
TAM technical reports include manuscripts intended for publication, theses judged to have general interest, notes prepared for short courses, symposia compiled from outstanding undergraduate projects, and reports prepared for research-sponsoring agencies.