Follicular Unit Extraction Device
First Claim
1. A handpiece for follicular unit extraction comprising:
- a handpiece body extending along a generally central axis for holding a follicle punch having a cutting edge;
a motor-driven driveshaft mounted within the handpiece body for rotation about the axis for rotating the follicular punch when said punch is held by the handpiece;
a fluid path carried by the handpiece for conducting a liquid from a source external to the handpiece into the lumen of the follicle punch held by the handpiece for delivery of the fluid to the cutting edge of the follicle punch;
an ejector pin positioned within the fluid path of the handpiece for axial movement from a retracted position to a deployed position within the follicle punch when the punch is held by the handpiece so as to eject an impacted graft or debris from the punch'"'"'s interior; and
operator-controlled means for moving the pin axially between the retracted and deployed positions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A follicular unit extraction device comprises a handpiece for holding a follicle punch at its distal end which extends from the handpiece and terminates distally in a cutting edge. The punch is releasably coupled to a motor-driven drive shaft within the handpiece for rotation therewith. A portion of the driveshaft is tubular, and houses a piston that can move towards and away from the punch. An ejector pin is also supported within the tubular portion of the driveshaft distally of the ejector piston and is positioned to move towards the cutting edge of the punch when pushed by the piston. The handpiece and driveshaft have respective fluid inlet ports. The clearance between the piston and driveshaft interior, and the clearance between the ejector pin and punch interior, define a fluid path for conducting fluid entering the handpiece and drive shaft via inlet ports so that the fluid exits the punch at its cutting edge. The clearances limit the quantity of fluid exiting the punch to the small amount needed to protect the follicle to be extracted. Means are provided for selectively increasing the flow rate of the fluid entering the handpiece beyond the limit imposed by said clearances to thereby increase the fluid pressure within the driveshaft, moving the piston distally and, consequently, moving the pin towards the cutting edge of the punch to eject impacted graft or debris. Bias means returns the piston proximally when the flow rate is reduced below the level required to overcome the bias means.
11 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A handpiece for follicular unit extraction comprising:
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a handpiece body extending along a generally central axis for holding a follicle punch having a cutting edge; a motor-driven driveshaft mounted within the handpiece body for rotation about the axis for rotating the follicular punch when said punch is held by the handpiece; a fluid path carried by the handpiece for conducting a liquid from a source external to the handpiece into the lumen of the follicle punch held by the handpiece for delivery of the fluid to the cutting edge of the follicle punch; an ejector pin positioned within the fluid path of the handpiece for axial movement from a retracted position to a deployed position within the follicle punch when the punch is held by the handpiece so as to eject an impacted graft or debris from the punch'"'"'s interior; and operator-controlled means for moving the pin axially between the retracted and deployed positions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. (canceled)
- 12. A generally tubular follicle punch having proximal and distal ends, a cutting edge at its distal end, and a coupling block region proximal to its distal end, the coupling block region having a larger outside dimension in at least one direction than the outside dimension of the punch at its distal end and in that same direction.
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16. A follicular unit extraction tool comprising:
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a generally tubular handpiece body extending between proximal and distal ends for holding in its distal end region a follicle punch having a cutting edge, said handpiece body having a first inlet port for coupling the interior of the handpiece to a source of fluid; a generally tubular follicle punch removably secured within the distal end region of the handpiece and extending distally therefrom along an axis, said punch terminating in a cutting edge at its distal end; a motor-driven driveshaft mounted within the handpiece body for rotation about the axis for rotating the follicular punch, the driveshaft having a generally tubular distal portion and a second inlet port extending between the exterior and interior of said tubular portion for conducting fluid entering the handpiece into the interior of the driveshaft; an ejector piston positioned within the tubular portion of the drive shaft distally of the second inlet port, and axially movable between a relatively proximal retracted position and a relatively distal deployed position; an ejector pin supported within the tubular portion of the driveshaft distally of the ejector piston and positioned to move axially within the punch distally towards and proximally away from a distal deployed position; the clearance between the ejector piston and driveshaft interior, and the clearance between the ejector pin and punch interior, defining a fluid path for conducting fluid entering the handpiece and drive shaft via the first and second inlet ports so that the fluid exits the punch at its cutting edge, the clearance between the ejector piston and driveshaft interior, and the clearance between the ejector pin and punch interior, limiting the quantity of fluid exiting the punch; bias means for retaining the piston at its proximal position unless the pressure of the fluid entering the driveshaft exceeds a threshold value, the piston thereby responding to fluid pressure in excess of the threshold value by moving distally to contact the pin and urge the pin axially to its deployed position within the punch to clear the punch interior of impacted matter, the piston thereby returning to its proximal position when the fluid pressure within the driveshaft falls below the threshold value, and means for selectively increasing the fluid pressure within the driveshaft by increasing the entry rate of fluid entering the first inlet port beyond the limit imposed by said clearances.
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17. A follicular unit extraction system comprising:
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a handpiece body extending along a generally central axis for holding a generally tubular follicle punch having a cutting edge; a motor-driven driveshaft mounted within the handpiece body for rotation about the axis for rotating the follicular punch when said punch is held by the handpiece; a fluid path carried by the handpiece for conducting a liquid from a source external to the handpiece into the lumen of a generally tubular follicle punch held by the handpiece for delivery of the fluid to the cutting edge of the follicle punch; and a flow-rate controller for conducting the liquid from the external source to the handpiece in such a way as to maintain a drip of the liquid adjacent the cutting edge sufficient to create and substantially sustain a lubricating liquid film around the follicle during cutting and follicle extraction, and for selectively increasing the liquid pressure sufficiently to discharge tissue within the lumen from the punch. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification