Apparatus for automated differential hair transplant

• US 10,449,033 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saúde Viável, Lda.
• Original Assignee: Cosmikbalance Lda.
• Inventors: Silva Ramos, Paulo, Cruz Funy Garces, Fatima, Almeida Gracio, Jose, Ribeiro Borges, Abilio, Madail De Sa Martins, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): Yabut, Diane D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jamialahmadi, Majid
• Application Number:
  US14/894,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20160193035A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 606133, 606187, 604 78
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/10 Hair or skin implants

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automated hair transplantation through the well-known extraction technique of capillary units or FUE, comprising the morphological analysis of hair follicles in real-time by means of artificial vision, mapping of points for extraction and implant, simulation of the final result, a system of local anaesthesia, global, simultaneous or in sequential phases, at least one articulated mechanical arm associated with a tool for differentially extracting and implanting hair follicles.

The present invention is useful to reduce the time and cost associated with the intervention, improve the quality of the operation and the final result, in terms of capillary density, contemplating the study of cell differentiation of follicles with the required estimate of time required regarding the growth. Minimizes the positional discomfort of the patient, the pain associated with the administration of anaesthesia, among other inconveniences usually experienced by the patient in this type of intervention. The present invention is useful for diagnosis, treatment and hair transplantation procedures.

Claims

1. An automated apparatus for hair transplantation of at least one hair follicle, comprising a robot with at least one articulated mechanical arm and adapted to be positioned perpendicularly and adjacently in relation to a patient'"'"'s head, comprising in association with the mechanical arm:

(i) a tool assembly for differentially extracting, selecting and implanting the at least one hair follicle with administration of local and phased anaesthesia, and

(ii) a computerized interface for analysis of hair follicles, through artificial vision,

wherein the tool assembly comprises an extraction tool and an implantation tool, wherein the extraction tool comprises at least one cylindrical internal tube for collecting the hair follicles and at least one external cylindrical concentric tube for puncturing the skin and the implantation tool comprises at least one needle and at least one cylindrical adjacent tube containing the at least one hair follicle to implant; and

wherein a channel system with suction and vacuum for selectively conducting hair follicles extends from the extraction tool to the implantation tool.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tool assembly has a dual function of simultaneous extraction and implantation from 1 to 100 hair follicles.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a first mechanical arm associated with the extraction tool and a second mechanical arm associated with the implantation tool, wherein the mechanical arms are positioned with a relative angle of 180°

between them.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the extraction and implantation tools operate simultaneously and integrate a security mechanism with a sensor for monitoring the distance to the patient'"'"'s skin and a sensor for monitoring the pressure exerted upon excision of the follicles, associated with a peristaltic valve with a vacuum system.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein pre-implantation separation and selection of hair follicles are based on real-time analysis of morphological characteristics, including thickness, length, typology and viability of the follicles.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an audible and bright alarm is triggered when a programmed limit value for the exerted pressure is exceeded, when a change occurs in a patient'"'"'s vital signs and in the event of malfunctioning of the apparatus.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is operated manually and remotely.

8. A method of hair transplantation using the apparatus according to claim 1, comprising using the apparatus for differentially extracting, selecting, and implanting at least one hair follicle with administration of local and phased anaesthesia.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the procedure comprises pre-analysis with assessment, screening, mapping of extraction and implantation points and simulation of cell growth of hair follicles with (i) computerized interface for online use and morphological analysis of hair follicles in real time, through artificial vision;

(ii) system of local, global, simultaneous and phased sequential anaesthesia; and

(iii) excision and sequential implantation of multiple follicles, preferably up to 100 follicles, wherein the follicles are selected and separated when excised and differentially implanted or eliminated.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein during transplantation, the implantation of hair follicles is carried out in a sequential or simultaneous mode with the extraction of the follicles and differentially, by type of follicle, containing 1, 2, 3 or more hairs, and according to programmed morphological parameters of acceptance on the apparatus'"'"'s computerized interface.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein an incision is made by 3 tubes or needles at the same time, being the excision of the follicle performed through cylindrical transparent and disposable capsules with 0.75, 0.80 or 1.0 mm in diameter, by suction through multiple channels and a routing of the follicles is done directly, in an automated and differential way, into the channels and tubes or needles of implantation, and can implant up to 100 follicles at each time.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein an anaesthesia is administered in low and appropriate doses according to the weight of the patient, in a time interval less than or equal to 4 minutes, using at least 4 needles simultaneously.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the administered anaesthesia is associated with acupuncture.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the implantation is performed with intervals of distance of 4 mm between each two follicles and the tubes or needles retract up to 2 mm on the same alignment, so that the implanted follicles have, in the end of the intervention, a relative preferred minimum distance of 2 mm.