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AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsRichard Rox Anderson, Andrea Willey, William A. Farinelli
Estimating the term…
Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide method and apparatus for facilitating stretching of a biological tissue by forming a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue. Each micro-slit can be less than about 2 mm or less than about 1.5 mm long, or even less than about 1 mm, such that small gaps that can heal quickly can be formed when the tissue is stretched. The micro-slits can be formed using a plurality of cutting arrangements or an ablative laser. The micro-slits can be formed in various patterns, including staggered rows, circular or spiral patterns, or random patterns.
1-50. (canceled)
An apparatus for forming micro-slits in a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus, upon application to the tissue, causes a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines comprise substantially parallel lines.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the lines is circular or spiral-shaped.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more lines form a random array, a circular or spiral pattern, or an array of staggered rows of collinear micro-slits.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a circular microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the extensions is connected to the roller apparatus.
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a circular microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a plurality of circular microcutting blades connected to the roller apparatus.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the micro-slits extend through the entire thickness of a tissue graft.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the micro-slits extend through a split-thickness skin graft, wherein the split-thickness skin graft is 0.2 mm thick.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the micro-slits have a depth of less than about 0.6 mm in skin tissue, or less than about one third of a total skin thickness.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the micro-slits have a length of less than about 2 mm, or less than about 1.5 mm.
An apparatus for forming micro-slits in a tissue, the apparatus comprising:
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus, upon application to the tissue, causes a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of extensions is or comprises a stack of microcutting blades spaced apart and configured to create several lines of micro-slits simultaneously.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a circular microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more lines comprise substantially parallel lines.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the lines is circular or spiral-shaped.
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the one or more lines form a random array, a circular or spiral pattern, or an array of staggered rows of collinear micro-slits.
The apparatus of claim 16, wherein each of the extensions is or comprises a circular microcutting blade.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein each of the micro-slits extends through the entire thickness of a tissue graft.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the micro-slits extend through a split-thickness skin graft, wherein the split-thickness skin graft is 0.2 mm thick.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the micro-slits have a depth of less than about 0.6 mm in skin tissue, or less than about one third of a total skin thickness.
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the micro-slits have a length of less than about 2 mm, or less than about 1.5 mm.
A method for forming micro-slits in a tissue, the method comprising, applying to the tissue:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.