Follicular extraction punch and method
First Claim
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1. A process comprising:
- providing a tubular punch comprising a hollow cylinder having an axis, a first open end, a second open end, an interior space, and an outer diameter not exceeding about 5.0 millimeters, wherein said first end of said tubular punch comprises a cylindrical cutting end which is capable of piercing skin tissue;
applying surgical lubricant to said cylindrical cutting end of said tubular punch;
contacting said cylindrical cutting end to the skin tissue of a mammalian subject, such that a hair on said skin tissue of said mammalian subject is disposed within said interior space, and such that said axis of said cylinder is disposed at a first angle with respect to the surface of said skin tissue of said subject, wherein said first angle is between about 85 degrees and about 95 degrees;
penetrating said skin tissue of said subject with said cylindrical cutting end to an initial penetration depth of at least about 0.05 millimeters but no greater than about 0.3 millimeters;
tilting said tubular punch, at least partially in response to said cylindrical cutting end penetrating said skin tissue to said initial penetration depth, so that said tubular punch is disposed at a second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue of said subject, which second angle is selected from the group consisting of;
any angle between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees or about an angle of hair growth;
further penetrating said skin tissue of said subject with said cylindrical cutting end to a selectable depth of at least about 2 millimeters but no greater than about 7 millimeters while substantially maintaining said tubular punch at said second angle with respect to the surface of said skin tissue of said subject and while maintaining said hair within said interior space to cause follicle(s) within which said hair grows to be disposed within said interior space;
removing said follicle(s) from said subject; and
treating an incision site with an antibiotic ointment or a topical steroid.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus disclosed herein may incise into a patient'"'"'s skin to a precise depth and at a specific angle with respect to a surface of the patient'"'"'s to extract individual follicular groups or individual follicular units. An apparatus as disclosed herein may precisely limit a depth of an incision, and perform a circular incision around a hair, follicular unit, or follicular cluster without damaging any hair shafts.
93 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A process comprising:
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providing a tubular punch comprising a hollow cylinder having an axis, a first open end, a second open end, an interior space, and an outer diameter not exceeding about 5.0 millimeters, wherein said first end of said tubular punch comprises a cylindrical cutting end which is capable of piercing skin tissue; applying surgical lubricant to said cylindrical cutting end of said tubular punch; contacting said cylindrical cutting end to the skin tissue of a mammalian subject, such that a hair on said skin tissue of said mammalian subject is disposed within said interior space, and such that said axis of said cylinder is disposed at a first angle with respect to the surface of said skin tissue of said subject, wherein said first angle is between about 85 degrees and about 95 degrees; penetrating said skin tissue of said subject with said cylindrical cutting end to an initial penetration depth of at least about 0.05 millimeters but no greater than about 0.3 millimeters; tilting said tubular punch, at least partially in response to said cylindrical cutting end penetrating said skin tissue to said initial penetration depth, so that said tubular punch is disposed at a second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue of said subject, which second angle is selected from the group consisting of;
any angle between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees or about an angle of hair growth;further penetrating said skin tissue of said subject with said cylindrical cutting end to a selectable depth of at least about 2 millimeters but no greater than about 7 millimeters while substantially maintaining said tubular punch at said second angle with respect to the surface of said skin tissue of said subject and while maintaining said hair within said interior space to cause follicle(s) within which said hair grows to be disposed within said interior space; removing said follicle(s) from said subject; and treating an incision site with an antibiotic ointment or a topical steroid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method comprising:
applying surgical lubricant to a cylindrical cutting end of a tubular punch; contacting a surface of skin tissue at a first angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue using said tubular punch; making an incision about a hair follicle into said surface of skin tissue using said tubular punch; penetrating said skin tissue with said tubular punch to an initial penetration depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and about 0.3 millimeters; angling said tubular punch to a second angle with respect to said surface of the skin tissue at least partially in response to said penetrating said skin tissue to said initial penetration depth, wherein said second angle is substantially equal to about an angle of hair growth; and penetrating said skin tissue to a selectable depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and about 7.0 millimeters while substantially maintaining said tubular punch at said second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue and while maintaining said hair follicle within an interior space of said tubular punch; removing said hair follicle from said skin tissue; and treating an incision site with an antibiotic ointment or a topical steroid. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of follicular extraction to reduce scarring comprising:
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applying surgical lubricant to a cylindrical cutting end of a tubular punch; contacting a surface of skin tissue at a first angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue using said tubular punch; making a first incision about a hair follicle into said surface of skin tissue using said tubular punch; penetrating said skin tissue with said tubular punch to an initial penetration depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and about 0.3 millimeters; angling said tubular punch to a second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue at least partially in response to said penetrating said skin tissue to said initial penetration depth, wherein said second angle is substantially equal to about an angle of hair growth; and penetrating said skin tissue to a selectable depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and about 7.0 millimeters while substantially maintaining said tubular punch at said second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue and while maintaining said hair follicle within an interior space of said tubular punch; removing said hair follicle from said skin tissue; and treating an incision site with a topical steroid at least 2 days after incision. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of follicular extraction to reduce scarring comprising:
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treating an incision site with a surgical lubricant; contacting a surface of skin tissue at a first angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue using a tubular punch having a cylindrical cutting end; making a first incision about a hair follicle into said surface of skin tissue using said tubular punch; penetrating said skin tissue with the tubular punch to an initial penetration depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and about 0.3 millimeters; angling said tubular punch to a second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue at least partially in response to said penetrating said skin tissue to said initial penetration depth, wherein said second angle is substantially equal to about an angle of hair growth; and penetrating said skin tissue to a selectable depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and about 7.0 millimeters while substantially maintaining said tubular punch at said second angle with respect to said surface of said skin tissue and while maintaining said hair follicle within an interior space of said tubular punch; and removing said hair follicle from said skin tissue; and treating an incision site with an antibiotic ointment or a topical steroid. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification