METHODS FOR IMPLANTING FOLLICULAR UNITS USING AN AUTOMATED SYSTEM
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for implanting follicular units in a body surface, comprising:
- acquiring images of a body surface;
processing the acquired images to identify an implantation site on the body surface;
using an automated system including a moveable arm to position an implantation tool mounted on the moveable arm to a location adjacent the implantation site; and
implanting a follicular unit in the body surface by movement of the implantation tool relative to the body surface, wherein the images are acquired from one or more cameras mounted on the moveable arm.
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Abstract
A method for implanting follicular units in a body surface includes (i) acquiring and processing images of a body surface to identify an implantation site on the body surface, (ii) using an automated system including a moveable arm to position an implantation tool mounted on the moveable arm to a location adjacent the implantation site, (ii) implanting a follicular unit in the body surface by movement of the implantation tool relative to the body surface, wherein the images are acquired from one or more cameras mounted on the moveable arm.
137 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A method for implanting follicular units in a body surface, comprising:
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acquiring images of a body surface;
processing the acquired images to identify an implantation site on the body surface;
using an automated system including a moveable arm to position an implantation tool mounted on the moveable arm to a location adjacent the implantation site; and
implanting a follicular unit in the body surface by movement of the implantation tool relative to the body surface, wherein the images are acquired from one or more cameras mounted on the moveable arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for implanting follicular units in a body surface, comprising:
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acquiring images of a body surface;
processing the acquired images to identify an implantation site on the body surface;
using an automated system including a moveable arm to position an implantation tool mounted on the moveable arm to a location adjacent the implantation site; and
implanting a follicular unit in the body surface by movement of the implantation tool relative to the body surface, wherein the images are acquired using at least one pair of cameras, and further comprising registering respective reference coordinate systems of the respective cameras with each other. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for transplanting follicular units, comprising:
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acquiring and processing images of a first area of a body surface to identify and determine a relative position and orientation of a follicular unit to be harvested;
using an automated system including a moveable arm to position a harvesting tool mounted on a moveable arm adjacent the identified follicular unit, such that a longitudinal axis of the harvesting tool is aligned with a longitudinal axis of the follicular unit;
harvesting the follicular unit by movement of the harvesting tool relative to the body surface;
acquiring and processing the images of a second area of the body surface to identify an implantation site;
using the automated system to position an implantation tool mounted on the moveable arm adjacent the implantation site, and implanting the follicular unit by movement of the implantation tool relative to the body surface, wherein the respective images are acquired from one or more cameras mounted on the moveable arm. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification