Systems and methods for harvesting, storing, and implanting hair grafts
First Claim
1. A storage device for holding a plurality of biological units, comprising:
- a body having a first face and a second face and defining a plurality of receptacles therein for holding biological units, the receptacles each passing through the body from the first face to the second face and including a first opening at the first face of the body and a second opening at the second face of the body; and
a permissive medium extending over a majority of an area of the second face and covering multiple second openings of the plurality of receptacles, wherein each portion of the permissive medium that covers the multiple second openings of the receptacles is resealable once punctured such that the storage device may be reused more than once.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for harvesting, storing, and implanting biological units, in particular hair follicular units (FUs). The system is particularly useful to facilitate hair transplant procedures. FUs are harvested from a body surface, either attached to a patient or in a strip of removed tissue, and shuttled into a cartridge having a plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are open in a distal direction toward a removal tool, but a cover over the proximal ends of the receptacles prevents the FUs from continuing out of the cartridge. The cover is made of a permissible medium, which may be fluid permeable and/or puncturable. One way to shuttle the FUs is to provide a pressure differential, such as by applying suction to the proximal end of a receptacle. The shuttle subsystem may be incorporated within an overall automated or robotic system, or the shuttle subsystem may form part of a semi-automated or even manual apparatus.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A storage device for holding a plurality of biological units, comprising:
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a body having a first face and a second face and defining a plurality of receptacles therein for holding biological units, the receptacles each passing through the body from the first face to the second face and including a first opening at the first face of the body and a second opening at the second face of the body; and a permissive medium extending over a majority of an area of the second face and covering multiple second openings of the plurality of receptacles, wherein each portion of the permissive medium that covers the multiple second openings of the receptacles is resealable once punctured such that the storage device may be reused more than once. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A storage device for holding a plurality of biological units, comprising:
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a body having a first face and a second face and defining a plurality of receptacles each having a lumen therein for holding biological units, the receptacles each passing through the body from the first face to the second face and including a first opening at the first face of the body and at least one second opening at the second face of the body, wherein at least one of the plurality of receptacles comprises a pressure relief channel formed in the lumen that extends radially outward from the lumen of the at least one of the plurality of receptacles and limits the maximum suction created within the receptacle from a source of suction; and a permissive medium covering the at least one second opening at the second face of the body. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification