Skin graft preparation apparatus

• US 5,306,279 A
• Filed: 01/29/1992
• Issued: 04/26/1994
• 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:
  US07/826,664
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 606/132, 83/678, 83/658, 428/167, 428/168, 428/163
• 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 428/24537 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2457 Parallel ribs and/or grooves
• 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 carrier device for carrying skin which is to be rendered expandable by advancing said skin on said carrier device between a guide roller and a cutting roller of a graft preparation device, said guide roller including laterally adjacent cylindrical regions alternating between a small diameter and a larger diameter, said carrier device comprising:

(a) a thin body having a first face and a second face;

(b) said first face having a sharply stepped surface;

(c) said second face being continuous and substantially flat, whereby said carrier means has laterally adjacent elongated regions of differing thickness defined by said first and second faces, said regions alternating between first regions having a relatively thicker first thickness and second regions having a relatively thinner second thickness; and

(d) said carrier device being advanceable between said rollers with said first face thereof facing said guide roller and with a piece of skin one said second face, thicker said regions of said first face being engageable with smaller diameter regions of said guide roller to guide said carrier device between said rollers in a direction of motion, said regions of said carrier device being elongated in said direction of motion, each of said regions being tin and having a width at least several times as wide as a thickness thereof, two of said second regions being separated by a said first region having a width at least as wide as the width of at least one of said second regions, said cutting roller cutting a desired pattern of cuts on said skin.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein said carrier device is generally rectangular and made in an extrusion process.

3. The invention of claim 2, wherein said carrier device is made of one of polypropylene or vinyl.

4. A carrier device comprising:

(a) a thin generally rectangular plastic body having at least one substantially straight side, a first guiding face and a second skin receiving face, said body having an axis parallel to said side;

(b) said first face having a sharply stepped surface; and

(c) said second face being continuous and substantially flat, whereby said carrier device has laterally adjacent elongated regions alternating between first regions having a first relatively thicker thickness and second regions having a second relatively thinner thickness, each of said regions being elongated substantially parallel to said axis, each of said regions being thin and having a width at least several times as wide as a thickness thereof, two of said second regions being separated by a said first region having a width at least as wide as the width of at least one of said second regions, said second face adapted to receive a piece of skin which is to be rendered expandable by advancing said skin on said carrier device between a guide roller having an outer surface complementary to said first face and a cutting roller of a skin graft preparation device.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein said plastic comprises polypropylene.

6. The invention of claim 4, wherein said plastic comprises vinyl, said device being made in an extrusion process.