Method and apparatus for production of a skin graft and the graft produced thereby

A method of determining the amount of a therapeutic micro-organ to be implanted in a patient, the method comprising:

• determining a secretion level of a therapeutic agent by a quantity of the micro-organ in vitro;
• estimating a relationship between in vitro secretions and in vivo serum levels of the therapeutic agent;
• and
• determining an amount of therapeutic micro-organ to be implanted, based on the determined secretion level and the estimated relationship.

A method of implanting a micro-organ in a patient comprising:

• advancing a catheter beneath the skin surface from said puncture;
• inserting an elongate carrier having a micro-organ attached thereto at a known position thereon, into and through the catheter so that it exits the surface of the tissue;
• positioning the carrier such that the micro-organ is at a known position within the catheter under the surface of the tissue;
• and
• removing the catheter while holding the micro-organ in position.

A method of adjusting the dosage of a therapeutic agent produced by a therapeutic micro-organ implanted in a subject and excreting a therapeutic agent, comprising:

• (a) monitoring level of therapeutic agent in the subject;
• (b) comparing the level of agent to a desired level;
• (c) if the level is lower than a minimum level, then implanting additional therapeutic micro-organ;
• and
• (d) if the level is higher than a maximum level, then inactivating or removing a portion of the implanted micro-organ.