FOLLICULAR UNIT HARVESTING TOOL

• US 20110060321A1
• Filed: 09/04/2009
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Venus Concept, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Restoration Robotics, Inc. (Venus Concept, Inc.)
• Inventors: Canales, Miguel G., Chandler, Paul E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,889 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/9
• 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 18/1477 Needle-like probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/22 the beam being directed along or through a flexible conduit, e.g. an optical fibre; Couplings or hand-pieces therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00752 Hair removal or transplantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320069 for ablating tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/32007 with suction or vacuum means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00476 Hair follicles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00595 Cauterization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/1425 Needle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2211 Plurality of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/02 Localised ultrasound hyperthermia hyperthermia in general A61F7/00

Abstract

The invention provides a device and a method for improving hair harvesting and extraction. The device includes a mechanism for assisting in separation of the hair graft from the surrounding connective tissue. The apparatus and methods of the current invention are such that the viability of the follicular unit contained within the extracted plug is substantially preserved.

Claims

1. A harvesting tool for harvesting a follicular unit for transplantation, comprising:

an elongated body having a lumen configured to receive a follicular unit and a distal end configured to penetrate a body surface and to encapsulate the follicular unit; and

an energy delivery device operatively connected to the elongated body and configured to deliver energy at the distal end of the elongated body to assists in severing the follicular unit from a surrounding tissue without damaging or destroying the follicular unit.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongated body comprises inner and outer elongated bodies, and the energy delivery device is disposed between the inner and outer elongated bodies.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is coaxially disposed over the elongated body and movable relative to the elongated body along an axis of the elongated body.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is embedded in a wall of the elongated body.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery device projects from the wall and into the lumen of the elongated body by not more than 50% of the lumen diameter.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the energy delivery device is disposed around a circumference/perimeter of the elongated body.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device comprises a laser or at least one optical fiber.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device comprises a plurality of energy delivery devices.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality of energy devices operates at a different parameter to another of the plurality of energy delivery devices.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the plurality of energy delivery devices are circumferentially distributed about the distal end of the elongated body.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the plurality is capable of cauterizing tissue, and at least another of the plurality is capable of assisting in severing the connective tissue.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising a focusing element disposed at an end of the energy delivery device.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the harvesting tool is configured to be operatively connected to a robotic arm.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the energy delivery device is incorporated with the elongated body without substantially impeding the lumen of the elongated body.

15. A harvesting tool for harvesting a follicular unit for transplantation, comprising:

an elongated body having a lumen configured to receive a follicular unit and a distal end configured to penetrate a body surface and to encapsulate the follicular unit; and

an energy delivery device at least partially incorporated into a wall of the elongated body without substantially impeding the lumen of the elongated body and configured to deliver energy at the distal end of the elongated body to assists in severing the follicular unit from a surrounding tissue such that the follicular unit is useful for hair implantation.

16. A method for harvesting a follicular unit for transplantation, comprising:

positioning a harvesting tool having a distal end and a lumen in a proximity to a follicular unit to be harvested from a donor area;

advancing the harvesting tool such that the distal end of the harvesting tool penetrates the body surface surrounding the follicular unit to substantially encapsulate the follicular unit; and

activating an energy delivery device such that the energy delivery device assists in severing the follicular unit from a surrounding tissue without damaging or destroying the follicular unit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising rotating the energy delivery device to create lesions that are circumferentially distributed about the distal end of the follicular unit being harvested.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy device is pulsed during activation.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the energy device is further activated to cauterize tissue.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising removing the harvesting tool from the donor area, and wherein the removal step activates the energy delivery device.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising at least partially elevating the follicular unit before activating the energy delivery device.

22. The method of claim 16, comprising applying an energy from the energy delivery device to one or more of a distal end of the harvesting tool, a distal end of the follicular unit, or slightly below the distal end of the follicular unit.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the method comprises a robotically assisted hair harvesting method.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein any one or more of the steps of positioning, advancing, or activating is accomplished using a computer.