Follicular dissection device and method

An apparatus, comprising:

• a follicular extraction punch;
• one or more drivers to move the follicular extraction punch to perform follicular extraction;
• and
• a controller to be communicatively coupled to the one or more drivers to control at least two advance cutting motions of the follicular extraction punch at least partially in response to a user selection, via one or more user inputs, of one or more time-varying motion profiles from among two or more selectable time-varying motion profiles, individual ones of the two or more selectable motion profiles to comprise at least two programmed movement parameters to specify movement of the follicular extraction punch and at least one movement parameter to vary with time for at least a portion of an operation cycle;
• a first of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a first axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a first distance into a patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a first reference point, and a second of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a second axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a second distance, to be deeper than the first distance, into the patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a second reference point, the first and second distances to be specified via the user selection.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a follicular extraction punch;
• and
• one or more drivers to result in movement of the follicular extraction punch in an axial direction, at least in part, the movement of the follicular extraction punch in the axial direction to comprise at least two advance cutting motions of the follicular extraction punch to, at least in part, produce a force to be approximately perpendicular to a scalp at least partially in response to a positioning of the follicular extraction punch approximately perpendicular to the scalp, the movement to be responsive to control signals to be generated at least partially in response to a user selection, via one or more user inputs, of a motion profile from among two or more selectable motion profiles, individual ones of the two or more selectable motion profiles to comprise at least two programmed movement parameters to specify movement of the follicular extraction punch and at least one movement parameter to vary with time for at least a portion of an operation cycle;
• a first of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a first axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a first distance into a patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a first reference point, and a second of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a second axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a second distance, to be deeper than the first distance, into the patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a second reference point, the first and second distances to be specified via the user selection.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a follicular extraction punch;
• and
• one or more drivers to affect movement of the follicular extraction punch to be responsive to one or more control signals to be employed to the one or more drivers, the one or more drivers to produce at least two advance motions and to rotate the follicular extraction punch during the at least one of the at least two advance motions, the control signals to be generated at least partially in response to a user selection, via one or more user inputs, of a motion profile from among two or more selectable motion profiles, individual ones of the two or more selectable motion profiles to comprise at least two programmed movement parameters to specify movement of the follicular extraction punch and at least one movement parameter to vary with time for at least a portion of an operation cycle;
• a first of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a first axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a first distance into a patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a first reference point, and a second of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a second axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch to a second distance, deeper than the first distance, into the patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch to a second reference point, the first and second distances to be specified via the user selection.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a follicular extraction punch means for extracting one or more hair follicles;
• and
• driver means for affecting movement of the follicular extraction punch means in a compound motion to be responsive to one or more control signals to be employed to the one or more drivers, wherein the one or more drivers are to be operable to produce at least two advance cutting motions as part of the compound motion, the one or more control signals to be generated at least partially in response to a user selection, via one or more user inputs, of a motion profile from among two or more selectable motion profiles, individual ones of the two or more selectable motion profiles to comprise at least two programmed movement parameters to specify movement of the follicular extraction punch means and at least one movement parameter to vary with time for at least a portion of an operation cycle;
• a first of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a first axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch means to a first distance into a patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch means to a first reference point, and a second of the at least two advance cutting motions to comprise a second axial cutting motion to move the follicular extraction punch means to a second distance, to be deeper than the first distance, into the patient's skin and to subsequently retract the follicular extraction punch means to a second reference point, the first and second distances to be specified via the user selection.