Devices For Generating And Transferring Micrografts And Methods Of Use Thereof

• US 20140046344A1
• Filed: 09/05/2013
• Published: 02/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solventum Intellectual Properties Company (Solventum Corp.)
• Original Assignee: MoMelan Technologies, Inc. (3M Company)
• Inventors: Sabir, Sameer, Newkirk, Brian, Ziegler, Andrew, Labombard, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 9,414,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/132
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/322 Skin grafting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction

Abstract

The invention generally relates to devices for generating and transferring micrografts and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, devices of the invention include a housing having an open configuration and a closed configuration, a micrograft generating station, and a micrograft transferring station.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A method for generating and transferring micrografts, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising a housing having an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a micrograft generating station; and

a micrograft transferring station;

inserting a skin graft into the device,

engaging the micrograft generating station, thereby generating a plurality of micrografts; and

engaging the micrograft transferring station, thereby transferring the plurality of micrografts to a substrate.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein inserting comprises:

obtaining a cartridge comprising;

a frame comprising a hollow inner portion;

a removable first plate comprising a mesh grid;

a removable second plate comprising a mesh grid;

wherein in an assembled configuration, the grid of the first plate and the grid of the second plate are aligned with the hollow portion of the frame, and the grid of the first plate is aligned with the grid of the second plate; and

inserting the skin graft between the first and second plates such that the graft is aligned with the grids in the first and second plates.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein engaging the micrograft generating station comprises:

inserting the cartridge into the micrograft generating station of the device while the housing is in the open configuration; and

transforming the housing from the open configuration to the closed configuration, thereby generating a plurality of micrograft.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein engaging the micrograft transferring station comprises:

inserting the cartridge into the micrograft transferring station of the device while the housing is in the open configuration;

inserting a substrate below the cartridge; and

transforming the housing from the open configuration to the closed configuration, thereby transferring the plurality of micrografts to the substrate.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the substrate is a medical dressing.

21. The method according to claim 16, wherein the graft is an autograft.

22. The method according to claim 16, further comprising prior to the providing step:

harvesting the skin graft.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein harvesting comprises:

raising a blister; and

cutting the blister to obtain the skin graft.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein raising comprises:

contacting a device having a hole to skin; and

applying heat and/or vacuum pressure, thereby raising the blister.

26. The method according to claim 16, further comprising:

expanding the micrografts; and

applying the expanded grafts to a patient recipient site.

27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the recipient site is an area of depigmented skin that has been prepared to receive a skin graft.

25. (canceled)

28-42. -42. (canceled)

43. A method for generating and transferring micrografts, the method comprising:

providing a device comprising a base member;

a micrograft generating station integrated with the base member; and

a micrograft transferring station integrated with the base member;

inserting a skin graft into the device,

engaging the micrograft generating station, thereby generating a plurality of micrografts; and

engaging the micrograft transferring station, thereby transferring the plurality of micrografts to a substrate.

44. The method according to claim 43, wherein inserting comprises:

obtaining a cartridge comprising;

a frame comprising a hollow inner portion;

a removable first plate comprising a mesh grid;

a removable second plate comprising a mesh grid;

wherein in an assembled configuration, the grid of the first plate and the grid of the second plate are aligned with the hollow portion of the frame, and the grid of the first plate is aligned with the grid of the second plate; and

inserting the skin graft between the first and second plates such that the graft is aligned with the grids in the first and second plates.

45. The method according to claim 44, wherein engaging the micrograft generating station comprises:

inserting the cartridge into the micrograft generating station while a frame of the station is in an open configuration; and

transforming the frame from the open configuration to a closed configuration, thereby generating a plurality of micrograft.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein engaging the micrograft transferring station comprises:

inserting the cartridge into the micrograft transferring station while a frame is in an open configuration;

inserting a substrate below the cartridge; and

transforming the frame from the open configuration to a closed configuration, thereby transferring the plurality of micrografts to the substrate.

49. The method according to claim 43, further comprising prior to the providing step:

harvesting the skin graft.

50. The method according to claim 49, wherein harvesting comprises:

raising a blister; and

cutting the blister to obtain the skin graft.

51. The method according to claim 50, wherein raising comprises:

contacting a device having a hole to skin; and

applying heat and/or vacuum pressure, thereby raising the blister.

53. The method according to claim 43, further comprising:

expanding the micrografts; and

applying the expanded grafts to a patient recipient site.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the recipient site is an area of depigmented skin that has been prepared to receive a skin graft.

47. (canceled)

48. (canceled)

52. (canceled)

55. (canceled)

56. A method for generating micrografts comprising:

contacting a donor skin site with a graft harvesting device to obtain a skin graft;

associating the graft with a cartridge;

inserting the cartridge and graft into a micrograft generating device; and

activating the micrograft generating device to cut the micrograft into smaller micrografts.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the step of activating the micrograft generating device further comprises contacting the skin graft with a mesh grid and applying compressive force such that the mesh grid cuts partially or completely through the graft.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the mesh grid has holes sized to form micrografts having lateral dimensions ranging from about 100 microns to about 1000 microns.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the mesh grid has holes sized to form micrografts having lateral dimensions ranging from about 300 microns to about 500 microns.