Follicle extraction system and related methods

• US 10,448,968 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2015
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Infuez LLC
• Original Assignee: Infuez LLC
• Inventors: Lewallen, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lynch, Robert A
• Application Number:
  US15/121,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20170065291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means

Abstract

A follicle container for transporting an extracted hair follicle from a follicle extractor and containing the hair follicle for future use includes a receptacle, a conduit coupleable with the follicle extractor, to convey the extracted hair follicle toward the receptacle; and an injector to aerosolize and inject an irrigant into the conduit while the extracted hair follicle travels toward the receptacle. The irrigant lubricates the interior wall of the conduit and thus reduces friction as the follicle travels in the conduit. The irrigant also washes the conduit and keeps the extracted follicle moist and thus viable and more flexible. Flexibility allows the follicle to more easily suffer without damage bumps with the wall of the conduit and/or other extracted follicles as the follicle travels in the conduit.

Claims

1. A method for transporting and containing a hair follicle extracted from skin, the method comprising:

moving air through a conduit and a receptacle of a follicle container to urge an extracted hair follicle to travel toward the receptacle;

aerosolizing an irrigant; and

injecting the aerosolized irrigant into the conduit at a location between the receptacle and an entrance of the conduit, and while the extracted hair follicle moves through the conduit toward the receptacle.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving air through the conduit and the receptacle includes reducing the pressure in the receptacle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein aerosolizing the irrigant includes aerosolizing the irrigant as the irrigant is injected into the conduit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein injecting the irrigant includes directing the irrigant into a throat of an injector'"'"'s first passage, in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the throat.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein aerosolizing the irrigant includes opening a valve to allow irrigant to flow toward an injector that aerolizes and injects the irrigant into the conduit.

6. A method for extracting a hair follicle from skin, the method comprising:

rotating an end of a follicle extractor to cut skin around a hair follicle;

reducing pressure inside the end of the follicle extractor to urge the hair follicle inside the end to move toward a receptacle that is coupled to the follicle extractor;

aerosolizing an irrigant; and

injecting the aerosolized irrigant into a conduit that couples the follicle extractor with the receptacle, wherein injecting occurs at a location between the receptacle and an entrance of the conduit, and while the hair follicle moves through the conduit toward the receptacle.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the irrigant is aerosolized as the irrigant is injected into the conduit.

8. A method for transporting and containing a hair follicle extracted from skin, the method comprising:

moving air through a conduit and a receptacle of a follicle container to urge an extracted hair follicle to travel toward the receptacle;

aerosolizing an irrigant; and

injecting the aerosolized irrigant into the conduit while the extracted hair follicle moves through the conduit toward the receptacle by directing the irrigant into a throat of an injector'"'"'s first passage, in a direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the throat.

9. A method for transporting and containing a hair follicle extracted from skin, the method comprising:

moving air through a conduit and a receptacle of a follicle container to urge an extracted hair follicle to travel toward the receptacle;

aerosolizing an irrigant by opening a valve to allow irrigant to flow toward an injector that aerolizes and injects the irrigant into the conduit; and

injecting the aerosolized irrigant into the conduit while the extracted hair follicle moves through the conduit toward the receptacle.