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US 2016/0235441 A1Published application
Apparatus for extracting hair follicles for use in transplantation
OwnerRoger Parkininventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for surgical extraction of hair follicles for transplantation uses a rotating needle for cutting follicular units from a patient's scalp. Each follicular unit is drawn through the needle and transported through a diverter unit to a selected one of plural collectors, in which the follicular units are accumulated for transplantation. The rotating needle is extends through a seal compartment in which a seal, composed of a spring inside a spring carrier, engages both the needle and a cylindrical inner wall of the seal compartment.
Claims20
Apparatus for extracting hair follicles for use in transplantation comprising:
- an instrument body having a straight, elongated, hollow needle protruding therefrom along an axis, said needle being rotatable about said axis, and having axially spaced distal and proximal openings communicating with each other through an internal passage within the needle extending in the direction of said axis;
- a motor connected to said needle for rotating said needle about said axis;
- a plurality of collectors for receiving hair follicles;
- a diverter having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings;
- a first channel connected from the proximal opening of the needle to the inlet opening of the diverter valve;
- a plurality of second channels, each second channel of said plurality of channels being connected from one of said outlet openings of the diverter to one of said collectors, whereby said first channel and any one of said second channels connected to said first channel through the diverter constitute a passage for connecting said needle to one of said collectors;
- and
- a pump connectible to each said passage for establishing a flow of air through each passage in a direction from said needle toward the collector connected to each passage, said flow of air being sufficient to transport hair follicles from the distal opening of the needle to the collector;
- wherein said diverter includes a movable valve member having an internal channel for selectably connecting said inlet opening to any selected one of said outlet openings.
6 more elements
Apparatus for extracting hair follicles for use in transplantation comprising:
- an instrument body having a straight, elongated, hollow needle protruding therefrom along an axis, said needle being rotatable about said axis, and having distal and proximal openings communicating with each other through an internal passage within the needle, extending in the direction of said axis;
- a motor for rotating said needle about said axis;
- a collector for receiving hair follicles;
- a passage connected to said needle and to said collector;
- a pump connected to said passage for establishing a flow of air through the passage in a direction from said needle toward said collector, said flow of air being sufficient to transport hair follicles from the distal opening of the needle to the collector;
- a cylindrical wall surrounding a proximal portion of the hollow needle and forming a peripheral boundary of a compartment;
- a closure forming a proximal boundary of said compartment and having an opening through which said passage extends, said passage communicating with the proximal opening of the hollow needle;
- and
- a seal disposed in said compartment, said seal being in contact with at least a part of said proximal portion of the needle and with said cylindrical wall.
6 more elements
Apparatus for extracting hair follicles for use in transplantation comprising:
- an instrument body having a straight, elongated, hollow needle protruding therefrom along an axis, said needle being rotatable about said axis, and having distal and proximal openings communicating with each other through an internal passage within the needle, extending in the direction of said axis;
- a motor for rotating said needle about said axis;
- a collector for receiving hair follicles;
- a passage connected to said needle and to said collector;
- a pump connected to said passage for establishing a flow of air through the passage in a direction from said needle toward said collector, said flow of air being sufficient to transport hair follicles from the distal opening of the needle to the collector;
- and
- a spray nozzle in said collector, the spray nozzle being arranged to direct a spray of saline solution toward hair follicles received in said collector.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.