Follicular transplantation device and method

• US 20060161179A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert M. Kachenmeister
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Kachenmeister
• Inventors: Kachenmeister, Robert M.
• Application Number:
  US11/316,357
• Publication Number:
  US 20060161179A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/133
• 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 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 2090/033 Abutting means, stops, e.g. abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/10 Hair or skin implants

Abstract

A hair transplantation device can include a generally tubular guide configured to locate a hair follicle bulb by sliding over a hair shaft down to an upper surface of a hair follicle. The guide can have a blunt distal end configured not to transect the hair follicle bulb. The hair transplantation device also includes an outer tubular member sized and configured to be advanced around the guide. The outer tubular member has a dilator and a harvester. The device can be used in a follicle transplantation method in which the guide locates a hair follicle bulb, and the outer tubular member is slid over the guide. Once the outer tubular member is aligned with the guide, the harvesting portion is advanced, cutting dermal tissue surrounding the hair follicle. The outer tubular member is then withdrawn with the hair follicle, relocated in a recipient area, and the hair follicle implanted.

Claims

1. A method for removing a hair follicle from an animal comprising:

sliding a first tubular member over a single hair of the animal until the first tubular member reaches an upper end of a follicle of the hair;

sliding a second tubular member over the first tubular member and into a dermis of the animal surrounding the hair follicle to a position deeper into the dermis than the upper end of the follicle; and

withdrawing the second tubular member with the hair follicle from the dermis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting an anesthetic solution into a surface of skin of the animal adjacent a hair follicle to be removed before the step of sliding a first tubular member over a single hair of the animal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of injecting comprises injecting an amount of anesthetic sufficient to palpably stiffen the dermis.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing post-operative treatment to an area adjacent the withdrawn hair follicle after the step of withdrawing the second tubular member with the hair follicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of withdrawing the second member with the hair follicle further comprises the step of creating a vacuum in the second tubular member with a suction device sealably mated with the second tubular member.

6. A method for transplanting a hair follicle from an animal comprising:

sliding a first tubular member over a single hair of the animal located at a first location on the animal until the first tubular member reaches an upper end of a follicle of the hair;

sliding a second outer tubular member over the first tubular member and into the dermis of the animal surrounding the hair follicle to a position beyond the upper end of the follicle;

withdrawing the second tubular member with the hair follicle from the dermis;

implanting the hair follicle into a second location on the animal.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of implanting the hair follicle further comprises the steps of:

creating an incision in the second location on the animal;

inserting the second tubular member into the incision at the second location;

discharging the hair follicle from the second tubular member.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of discharging the hair follicle from the second tubular member comprises the step of inserting a plunger into an inner diameter of the second tubular member.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of injecting an anesthetic solution into a surface of skin of the animal adjacent a hair follicle to be removed before the step of sliding a first inner tubular member over a single hair of the animal.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of injecting comprises injecting a sufficient quantity of anesthetic to palpably stiffen the skin.

11. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of providing post-operative treatment to the first location and the second location.

12. A medical device comprising:

A first tubular member having a blunt distal end; and

A second tubular member having a distal end configured to spread dermal tissue of an animal and cut dermal tissue around a hair follicle of the animal and wherein the second tubular member is configured to be slidably applied around the first tubular member.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the second tubular member further comprises:

a dilating portion having a distal end configured to dilate dermal tissue of an animal and wherein the dilating portion is configured to be slidably applied around an outer surface of the first tubular member; and

a harvesting portion having a distal end configured to cut dermal tissue of an animal around a hair follicle of the animal and wherein the harvesting portion is configured to be slidably engaged with the dilating portion of the second tubular member.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the first tubular member has an inner diameter configured such that the first tubular member is slidable around a single hair of an animal and the first tubular member is not slidable around a follicle of the single hair.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the first tubular member has an outer diameter configured such that the first tubular member removes substantially no dermal tissue of the animal when the first tubular member is slid over the shaft of the single hair.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the first tubular member has an inner diameter of less than approximately 0.5 mm in diameter.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the first tubular member comprises a 27 gauge flexible tube.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the dilating portion of the second tubular member comprises a 22 gauge tube.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the distal end of the second tubular member has a diameter of approximately 1 mm.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the harvesting portion of the second tubular member comprises an 18 gauge tubular member.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein the second tubular member comprises a collar at a proximal end of the second tubular member.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the collar comprises a sealing surface configured to sealably mate with a suction device.

23. The device of claim 22, further comprising a removable suction device configured to mate with the mating surface of the collar.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the removable suction device comprises a housing;

a sealing edge disposed on the housing and configured to sealably mate with the sealing surface of the collar; and

a deformable wall mounted on the housing.

25. The device of claim 24, further comprising a mounting plate having a sealing surface configured to sealingly couple with the sealing edge of the suction device and an aperture disposed in the sealing surface and configured to sealingly couple to the collar.

26. The device of claim 12 further comprising a plunger configured to fit within an inner diameter of the second tubular member and configured to discharge a hair follicle from the distal end of the second tubular member.

27. A medical device comprising:

a guide configured to locate a hair follicle bulb in dermal tissue of an animal; and

a first tubular member configured to be slidably engaged around the guide;

wherein the first tubular member comprises a dilator and a harvester, and wherein the harvester is slidably advanceable with respect to the guide such that the harvester can cut the dermal tissue surrounding the hair follicle bulb.

28. The medical device of claim 27, wherein the guide has an inner diameter sized and configured to allow the guide to be slidably advanced over a hair shaft but not a hair follicle.

29. The medical device of claim 27, wherein the dilator has a distal end configured to spread dermal tissue surrounding a hair shaft, and wherein the harvester has a distal end configured to cut dermal tissue surrounding a hair follicle bulb.