Systems and methods for preparing a transplant site for receiving follicular transplants and for effectuating follicular transplants
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorWilliam Gerald Austen, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removing dermal tissue from a dermis layer. The apparatus can include a hollow needle with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end through the distal end. Properties of the hollow needle can be selected such that the hollow needle can be inserted into dermal tissue to remove a portion of tissue from a transplant site in preparation for the insertion of a hair follicle from a donor site. Some apparatus can include a plurality of hollow needles and/or a reciprocating arrangement to mechanically advance and withdraw the one or more hollow needles.
Claims21
A method for hair transplantation including steps comprising:
- a) inserting a hollow needle into dermal tissue of a transplant site, the hollow needle having a cutting tip and a central lumen with a central lumen diameter between about 500 nm and about 0.5 mm;
- b) capturing a portion of dermal tissue from a dermis layer within the central lumen;
- c) withdrawing the hollow needle along with the portion of dermal tissue, forming a void in the dermis layer;
- d) repeating steps a) through c) a plurality of times to create a plurality of voids in the dermis layer;
- and
- e) inserting hair follicles into the plurality of voids in the dermis layer of the transplant site without creating bunching of the dermis layer.
An apparatus for removing dermal tissue from a transplant site to receive hair transplants, comprising:
- a hollow needle with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end through the distal end, the distal end having an opening aligned with the central lumen to define a maximum cross-section dimension in the range of about 500 nm to about 0.5 mm and configured to cut into the dermal tissue to allow the dermal tissue to extend into the central lumen and to excise the dermal tissue from the transplant site to create a void sized to counteract bunching of the dermal tissue after receiving hair transplants;
- and
- a grip coupled to the proximal end of the hollow needle and configured to aid in controlling the hollow needle while cutting and excising the dermal tissue.
An apparatus for removing dermal tissue from a transplant site to receive hair transplants, comprising:
- a hollow needle with a proximal end, a distal end, and a central lumen extending from the proximal end through the distal end, the distal end including a cutting tip with an opening diameter in the range of about 500 nm to about 0.5 mm and configured to cut into the dermal tissue to allow the dermal tissue to extend into the central lumen and to excise the dermal tissue from the transplant site;
- a substrate in which the hollow needle is affixed;
- a housing;
- and
- a linkage system coupled to the housing;
- wherein the substrate is configured to translate within the housing upon activation of the linkage system, which extends the hollow needle out of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.