Devices for generating skin grafts

• US 9,848,908 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2015
• Issued: 12/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: KCI Licensing Incorporated (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sabir, Sameer Ahmed, Cerier, Jeffrey, Ziegler, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Afzali, Sarang
• Assistant Examiner(s): FORD, DARRELL CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US14/657,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20150238212A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 606131, 606132, 606159, 606166, 606167-174, 29428, 29453, 29458, 29525, 2952501, 2952513, 2952514, 295271, 29557, 29558, 156 60
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/322 Skin grafting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00526 Methods of manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/037 with a frangible part, e.g. by reduced diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/0814 Preventing re-use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: F04C 2270/041 Controlled or regulated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/10 Methods of surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49885 with coating before or during assembling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49945 by driven force fit
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49947 by applying separate fastener
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49966 with supplemental joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49968 Metal fusion joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

The invention generally relates to methods for manufacturing components for use in a device for generating substantially planar micrografts. The methods of the invention provide for the manufacture of substantially uniform components for a cutter contained within the device, the cutter configured to cut a blister in order to produce a substantially planar graft.

Claims

1. A device for generating a skin graft, the device comprising:

a hollow body, wherein a bottom surface of said hollow body comprises a plurality of openings and is configured for placement on a skin,

a cutter plate positioned within said hollow body and having a plurality of openings, said cutter plate being assembled within said hollow body such that said plurality of openings of the cutter plate are aligned relative to the plurality of openings of said bottom surface,

a mechanism for simultaneously raising a plurality of blisters through said plurality of openings of said bottom surface and said plurality of openings of said cutter plate such that the plurality of blisters protrude at least partially into said hollow body, and

a strap for coupling the device to a skin surface so as to securely place said bottom surface in contact with the skin before the raising of said blisters.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the strap is adjustable in size.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said strap comprises a belt/loop fastener.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said strap comprises any of a metal cuff and a plastic cuff.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said mechanism for raising a plurality of blisters comprises any of a vacuum source, a heat source, and a combination thereof.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said cutter plate is movable relative to said bottom surface and wherein said openings of said cutter plate comprise cutting edges configured to cut said one or more blisters protruding into the hollow body upon movement of the cutter plate relative to said bottom surface.

7. A device for generating a skin graft, the device comprising:

a hollow body, wherein a bottom surface of said hollow body comprises a plurality of openings and is configured for placement on a skin;

a vacuum mechanism for raising a plurality of blisters through said openings such that the plurality of blisters protrude at least partially into said hollow body;

a cutter disposed in said hollow body configured to cut said plurality of blisters protruding into the hollow body, said cutter having a plurality of openings and being assembled within said hollow body such that said plurality of openings of the cutter are aligned relative to the plurality of openings of the bottom surface, each of said plurality of openings of cutter having a cutting edge configured to cut a blister of the plurality of blisters that at least partially protrudes therethrough; and

a strap for coupling the device to a skin surface so as to securely place said bottom surface in contact with the skin.