Hair transplantation method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A hair transplantation apparatus for implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'"'"'s scalp comprising:
- a robot, including at least one robotic arm having a first end adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient'"'"'s scalp;
a hair follicle effector associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable of being selectably placed proximate the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
the hair follicle effector being moved and operated to implant the at least one hair follicle into a portion of the patient'"'"'s scalp.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hair transplantation method and apparatus utilizes a stereotactic robot, which includes a robotic arm, having a hair follicle introducer associated with the robotic arm.
203 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A hair transplantation apparatus for implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'"'"'s scalp comprising:
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a robot, including at least one robotic arm having a first end adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient'"'"'s scalp;
a hair follicle effector associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable of being selectably placed proximate the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
the hair follicle effector being moved and operated to implant the at least one hair follicle into a portion of the patient'"'"'s scalp. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for transplanting hair by implanting at least one hair follicle into a portion of a patient'"'"'s scalp, the patient'"'"'s scalp having a plurality of existing hair follicles comprising the steps of:
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providing a robot, the robot including at least one robotic arm, the at least one robotic arm having a first end;
associating a hair follicle effector with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable of being selectably placed proximate the patient'"'"'s scalp;
loading the hair follicle effector with at least one existing hair follicle;
disposing the first end of the robotic arm adjacent to the patient'"'"'s scalp;
moving the hair follicle effector toward the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
operating the hair follicle effector to implant the at least one existing hair follicle into a portion of the patient'"'"'s scalp. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
providing a stereotactic video system;
associating the stereotactic video system with the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
scanning the patient'"'"'s scalp with the stereotactic video system to determine the locations of the existing hair follicles and the location of the patient'"'"'s scalp in three dimensions.
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15. The method of claim 14, including the steps of:
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utilizing a stereotactic video system which includes a camera and a distance measuring sensor; and
measuring the distance from the patient'"'"'s scalp to the camera while the patient'"'"'s scalp is being scanned.
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16. The method of claim 14, including the step of determining the angular disposition of the existing hair follicles with respect to the patient'"'"'s scalp.
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17. The method of claim 11, wherein the hair follicle effector is a plug cutting device and prior to implanting the at least one existing hair follicle, including the steps of:
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disposing the first end of the at least one robotic arm and the plug cutting device adjacent the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
removing a plug of the patient'"'"'s scalp, the plug containing at least one hair follicle.
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18. The method of claim 17, including the step of utilizing a single hair follicle insertion device, which includes a needle, as the plug cutting device.
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19. The method of claim 11, wherein the hair follicle effector is a plug trimming device and prior to the implantation of the at least one existing hair follicle, including the steps of:
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disposing a flap containing a plurality of existing hair follicles previously removed from the patient'"'"'s scalp, upon a support surface; and
trimming the flap into a plurality of plugs, each plug containing at least one existing hair follicle.
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20. The method of claim 19, including the step of utilizing a single hair follicle insertion device, which includes a needle, as the plug trimming device.
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21. The method of claim 11, including the step of releaseably securing an immobilization device to the patient'"'"'s head and restraining the patient'"'"'s head with respect to the robot.
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22. The method of claim 20, wherein the robot is a stereotactic robot and releaseably securing the immobilization device to the patient'"'"'s head comprises releaseably securing a stereotactic frame to the patient'"'"'s head.
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23. A hair transplantation apparatus for harvesting at least one hair follicle from a portion of a patient'"'"'s scalp comprising:
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a robot, including at least one robotic arm having a first end adapted to be disposed adjacent the patient'"'"'s scalp;
a hair follicle effector associated with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable of being selectably placed proximate the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
the hair follicle effector being moved and operated to harvest the at least one hair follicle from a portion of the patient'"'"'s scalp. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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26. A method for transplanting hair by harvesting at least one hair follicle from a portion of a patient'"'"'s scalp, the patient'"'"'s scalp having a plurality of existing hair follicles comprising the steps of:
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providing a robot, the robot including at least one robotic arm, the at least one robotic arm having a first end;
associating a hair follicle effector with the first end of the robotic arm, the robotic arm being adjustably maneuverable so that the hair follicle effector is capable of being selectably placed proximate the patient'"'"'s scalp;
disposing the first end of the robotic arm adjacent to the patient'"'"'s scalp;
moving the hair follicle effector toward the patient'"'"'s scalp; and
operating the hair follicle effector to harvest the at least one existing hair follicle from a portion of the patient'"'"'s scalp. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
moving the plug cutting device toward the flap; and
operating the plug cutting device to harvest a plug of the patient'"'"'s scalp from the flap, the plug containing at least one hair follicle.
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Specification