Skin graft preparation apparatus

• US 5,219,352 A
• Filed: 10/30/1991
• Issued: 06/15/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Orthopaedic Surgical Products (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Atkinson, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thaler, Michael H.
• Application Number:
  US07/785,089
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: 606/132, 83/678, 83/658
• US Class Current: 606/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/322 Skin grafting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3225 with processing of harvested tissue
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9309 Anvil
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9408 Spaced cut forming tool

Abstract

A skin graft preparation apparatus is disclosed which includes the use of an extruded skin carrier having guide surfaces thereon which mesh with corresponding guide surfaces on one of the rollers of the apparatus. The device includes structure allowing easy removal, replacement and exchange of the cutter mechanism thereof so that cutters of different ratios may easily be interchanged. Springs engaging respective ends of the cutter mechanism allow slight upward movements thereof to accommodate to skin of varying thickness.

Claims

1. A skin graft preparation system allowing varying of a pattern of cuts in skin which is treated thereby, comprising:

a) a skin graft preparation apparatus having a housing;

b) support means on said housing for supporting roller means;

c) said roller means comprising a guide roller and one of a plurality of cutting rollers, each of said cutting roller comprising an elongated cylindrical body, a multiplicity of spaced annular lands having sharp peripheries and lying in parallel planes, and at least one thread-like continuous groove formed in said body and causing discontinuities in said lands;

d) said plurality of cutting rollers including at least a first cutting roller providing a first pattern of cuts and a second cutting roller providing a second pattern of cuts;

e) said support means supporting said guide roller and one of said cutting rollers;

f) openable cover means on said support means for allowing, in an open position thereof, removal of a said cutting roller and replacement with another of said cutting rollers;

g) carrier means having a continuously flat skin supporting surface for carrying a piece of skin through a gap between said guide roller and said one of a plurality of cutting rollers with said piece of skin facing said one of said plurality of cutting rollers;

h) said piece of skin being advanced through said roller means on said carrier means whereby said one of a plurality of cutting rollers engages said piece of skin to cut a desired pattern of cuts thereon.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cutting rollers further comprises a third cutting roller providing a third pattern of cuts and a fourth cutting roller providing a fourth pattern of cuts.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein cutting ratios of said cutting rollers range from a cutting ratio permitting expansion of a piece of skin to cover about one and one-half times the area covered prior to being cut, to a cutting ratio permitting expansion of a piece of skin to cover about nine times the area covered prior to being cut.

4. The invention of claim 3, wherein each cutting ratio is determined by a particular pitch of one or more thread-like grooves formed on a particular cutting roller.

5. The invention of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises two parallel grooves.

6. The invention of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises three parallel grooves.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises five parallel grooves.

8. The invention of claim 1, wherein said at least one groove comprises nine parallel grooves.

9. The invention of claim 1, wherein each of said cutting rollers includes a like portion of drive means for driving said roller means whereby said plurality of cutting rollers are interchangeable.

10. A skin graft preparation apparatus, comprising:

a) a housing;

b) support means on said housing for supporting roller means;

c) roller means supported on said support means and comprising a guide roller and a cutting roller;

d) openable cover means on said support means for allowing, in an open position thereof, removal and replacement of said cutting roller;

e) actuator means for said roller means including an actuator coupled to one of said rollers and drive means drivingly coupling said rollers together whereby rotations of one of said rollers result in rotations of another of said rollers;

f) further, wherein said cutting roller comprises one of a plurality of cutting rollers, each of which has a unique cutting pattern thereon and each of said cutting rollers comprising an elongated cylindrical body, a multiplicity of spaced annular lands having sharp peripheries and lying in parallel planes, and at least one thread-like continuous groove formed in said body and causing discontinuities in said lands.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein a particular said unique cutting pattern is determined by the particular pitch of thread-like grooves formed on said cutting roller.

12. The invention of claim 11, wherein the thread-like grooves are spiral and wherein the plurality of cutters include at least two of the following cutters:

a cutter having spiral grooves formed through operation of two machining tools simultaneously;

a cutter having spiral grooves formed by operation of three machining tools simultaneously;

a cutter having spiral grooves formed through the operation of five machining tools simultaneously; and

a cutter having spiral grooves formed by the operation of nine machining tools simultaneously.

13. The invention of claim 10, wherein said unique cutting pattern is within the range permitting expansion of a piece of cut skin to cover an area from one and one-half to nine times the area covered by said piece of cut skin prior to expansion.

14. The invention of claim 10, wherein each said cutting roller incorporates a like-portion of said drive means therewith whereby cutting rollers of differing cutting patterns are interchangeable.

15. The invention of claim 10, wherein said cover means is pivotably mounted on said support means.