Enhanced follicular extraction punch and method

• US 20060178678A1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John P. Cole
• Original Assignee: John P. Cole
• Inventors: Cole, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,753,354 B2
• 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 17/322 Skin grafting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3403 Needle locating or guiding means guides for suture needles A61B17/0482; guiding or tracking by nuclear magnetic resonance G01R33/285
• 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 17/3496 Protecting sleeves or inner probes; Retractable tips for protecting body piercing guide needles A61M25/0612
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00902 transparent or translucent
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00969 used for transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3492 against the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/036 abutting on tissue or skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/062 penetration depth

Abstract

Provided herein is an apparatus and method useful for surgical removal of mammalian tissue at specific depths and specific angles.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a main body comprising a first bore disposed between first and second ends of said main body;

a nipple portion comprising a first end portion coupled to said first end of said main body and a tip portion, the nipple comprising a second bore disposed within said tip portion;

a punch for extracting one or more hair follicles, said punch comprising a first end and a second end and having a substantially cylindrical shape adapted to be slidably disposed within said second bore; and

an actuator coupled to said punch for displacing said punch within along an axis of said second bore at a controlled distance along said axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of said actuator along said axis is controlled by rotation of said actuator about said axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said displacement of said actuator along said axis changes substantially proportionally with respect to said rotation.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, and further comprising a stabilizer disposed within said first bore and in contact with said punch.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stabilizer includes a third bore to enable at least one of said punch or actuator to pass therethrough.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said stabilizer is slidably disposed within said first bore, and, said punch is slidably disposed within said second bore.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stabilizer is substantially stationary within said first bore, and wherein said punch is slidably disposed within said second bore and said third bore.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of said punch comprises a flat end or an angled end.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator comprises a first and second end and wherein said actuator further comprises a fourth bore extending between said first end and said second end of said actuator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said punch is fixedly coupled to said actuator.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said first end of said punch is positioned within a portion of said fourth bore.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said punch is translated along said axis in response to rotation of said actuator.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nipple portion further comprises an inner surface and wherein said second end of said punch is in communication with at least a portion of said inner surface of said nipple portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein displacement of said punch along said axis is adjustable in a range between 0 and 8 mm in response to rotation of said actuator.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a head portion having at least one first depth indicator.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said first end of said main body further comprises at least one second depth indicator capable of alignment with said first depth indicator.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first diameter of said first end of said punch is greater than a second diameter said second end of said punch.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second bore of said nipple portion comprises a diameter capable of fitting punches having a range of outer diameters from 0.5 mm to 7 mm.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said main body further comprises a visible graduated scale.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said actuator further comprises an indicator capable of aligning with said graduated scale.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of said punch is covered with a protective cap.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a drive system capable of mechanizing rotation of said actuator.

23. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said first end of said punch is adapted to be disposed within said third bore through said stabilizer enabling said stabilizer to be slidably disposed within said first bore and enabling said punch to be slidably disposed within said second bore.

24. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first bore extends from said first end portion to said second end portion of said main body portion.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second bore extends from said first end portion to said tip portion of said nipple end portion.

26. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said punch is smaller than an inner diameter of said second bore.

27. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nipple end and said main body comprise an integral part.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second end of said punch further comprises a beveled edge.

29. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said stabilizer comprises a polymeric material selected from the group consisting of:

polyolefin homopolymers, polyolefin copolymers, and elastomers.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said punch is metallic.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said punch further includes an inner diameter which is substantially uniform along a length of said punch.

32. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said punch further includes an inner diameter which is non-uniform along a length of said punch.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of said punch is in a range of about 0.5 millimeters to about 5.5 millimeters.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said nipple end further comprises a lip portion which is adapted to contact skin of a patient.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein said lip portion is further adapted to limit the depth of penetration of said punch into the skin of a patient.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the second end of the punch extends beyond the lip portion a predetermined length.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of said punch is in a range of about 0.1 to about 0.4 millimeters greater than an inner diameter of said punch.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length dimension of said nipple end is in a range of about 2 millimeters to about 25 millimeters.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second bore is about 0.05 millimeters smaller in diameter than an outer diameter of said punch.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of said actuator along said axis is controllable in response to a mechanical force acting on said actuator.

41. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of said actuator along said axis is controllable in response to a hydraulic force acting on said actuator.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of said actuator along said axis is controllable in response to a pneumatic force acting on said actuator.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein displacement of said actuator along said axis is controllable in response to an electromagnetic force acting on said actuator.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a ring disposed over said actuator.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locknut coupled to on the actuator.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising threads on an outside surface of the actuator and further comprising threads on an inside portion of the locknut.

47. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a blind bore within said actuator and wherein said first end of said punch is fixedly disposed within said blind bore.

48. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first end of the actuator has a smaller diameter than an inside diameter of the first end of the punch, and wherein the first end of the actuator is fixedly positioned within the first end of the punch.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the first end of the actuator is secured to the first end of said punch by at least one of an adhesive, a force fit, at least one set screw, and/or a weld.

50. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising threads on an inner surface of the first bore, and further comprising threads on an outer surface of the actuator.

51. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a compression spring disposed longitudinally within said second bore of said nipple portion to couple the punch with the actuator.

52. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a tip portion comprising a bifurcation, wherein said tip portion is disposed within the first end of the punch.

53. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said actuator further comprises a first cylinder and a second cylinder said second cylinder slidably disposed within a portion of said first cylinder.

54. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second end of said punch further comprises an inside diameter of about 0.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

55. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles;

an actuator coupled to said punch; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said punch is adjustable relative to said surface to alter said predetermined depth and wherein said punch is adjustable in response to said actuator.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said predetermined depth is about 1 mm to 7 mm.

58. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said predetermined depth is about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

59. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said predetermined depth is about 3.8 mm.

60. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said predetermined depth is about 0.2 mm.

61. An apparatus according to claim 55, wherein said punch further comprises a first end and a second end and wherein said second end further comprises an inside diameter of about 0.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

62. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth and wherein said punch is adjustable relative to said surface to alter said predetermined depth and wherein said predetermined depth is adjustable in response to an actuator.

63. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth of about 1 mm to 7 mm.

64. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth of about 0.05 mm to 0.5 mm.

65. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth of about 0.2 mm.

66. An apparatus comprising:

a punch adapted to be inserted into skin for extraction of one or more hair follicles; and

a surface fixedly coupled to said punch adapted to abut said skin and limit insertion of said punch into said skin to a predetermined depth of about 3.8 mm.