US5693064A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dermal punch for hair transplantation and methods
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1995-01-18
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Granted: 1997-12-02
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Expires: 2015-01-18
Abstract
Abstract In one aspect, the invention provides a method for transplanting hair. According to the method, an instrument is provided having a concentric cylindrical shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis extending therebetween A blade is on the distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft, and an escape port is provided in the wall of the shaft near the distal end. The instrument is inserted into the skin to a preselected depth where the skin is below the escape port to form a cylindrical incision. The instrument is then removed from the skin. The step of inserting the instrument into the skin is repeated, with any accumulated skin in the shaft being forced through the escape port. In this way, the shaft does not become clogged with tissue after repeated use. A graft of skin having at least one hair is then placed into at least one of the cylindrical incisions.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Arnold
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/10; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/34; A61B17/3468; A61B17/32; A61B17/322; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00752; A61B2017/00969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: inserting an instrument having a cylindrical shaft and a blade on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft into the skin to a preselected depth to form a cylindrical incision, wherein the shaft has an outer diameter in the range from about 0.75 mm to about 3 mm and the thickness of the wall of the shaft is in the range from about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, wherein the instrument is inserted into the skin without substantial rotation of the shaft; removing the instrument from the skin; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into the cylindrical incision.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: inserting an instrument having a cylindrical shaft and a blade on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft into the skin to a preselected depth to form a cylindrical incision, wherein the shaft has an outer diameter in the range from about 0.75 mm to about 3 mm and the thickness of the wall of the shaft is in the range from about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, wherein the instrument is inserted into the skin without substantial rotation of the shaft; removing the instrument from the skin; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into the cylindrical incision.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument further includes a luer lock disposed at a proximal end of the shaft, and wherein a handle having a male fitting is inserted into the luer lock prior to inserting the instrument into the skin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising forming a plurality of incisions in the skin and placing a graft of skin having hair into at least one of the incisions.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising removing tissue from the cylindrical incision formed by the instrument.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the instrument is inserted into the skin with the shaft being substantially perpendicular to the skin at the point of incision.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising providing suction through the concentric shaft while inserting the instrument into the skin.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: providing an instrument having a cylindrical shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis extending therebetween, wherein a blade is on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft, and wherein an escape port is in the wall of the shaft near the distal end, wherein the escape port is sized sufficient to allow tissue cut by the blade to pass therethrough; wherein the escape port is elliptical in geometry, wherein a first axis of the ellipse has a length equal to about ninety percent of the inner diameter of the shaft, and wherein a second axis of the ellipse has a length about five times the length of the first axis or greater; inserting the instrument into the skin to a preselected depth where the skin is below the escape port to form a cylindrical incision; removing the instrument from the skin; repeating the step of inserting the instrument into the skin while allowing accumulated skin in the shaft to be forced through the escape port; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into at least one of the cylindrical incisions.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
200 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: providing an instrument having a cylindrical shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and an axis extending therebetween, wherein a blade is on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft, and wherein an escape port is in the wall of the shaft near the distal end, wherein the escape port is sized sufficient to allow tissue cut by the blade to pass therethrough; wherein the escape port is elliptical in geometry, wherein a first axis of the ellipse has a length equal to about ninety percent of the inner diameter of the shaft, and wherein a second axis of the ellipse has a length about five times the length of the first axis or greater; inserting the instrument into the skin to a preselected depth where the skin is below the escape port to form a cylindrical incision; removing the instrument from the skin; repeating the step of inserting the instrument into the skin while allowing accumulated skin in the shaft to be forced through the escape port; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into at least one of the cylindrical incisions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7, wherein the escape port is within about 5 mm to 10 mm of the distal end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising grasping the instrument between the thumb and at least two fingers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising an inwardly extending protrusion on the shaft, wherein the protrusion channels accumulated tissue within the shaft through the escape port.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: inserting an instrument having a cylindrical shaft and a blade on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft into the skin to a preselected depth to form a cylindrical incision, wherein the shaft has an outer diameter in the range from about 1 mm to about 2 mm and the thickness of the wall of the shaft is in the range from about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm; removing the instrument from the skin; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into the cylindrical incision.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
101 words
A method for transplanting hair, comprising: inserting an instrument having a cylindrical shaft and a blade on a distal end of the shaft normal to the axis of the shaft into the skin to a preselected depth to form a cylindrical incision, wherein the shaft has an outer diameter in the range from about 1 mm to about 2 mm and the thickness of the wall of the shaft is in the range from about 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm; removing the instrument from the skin; and placing a graft of skin having at least one hair into the cylindrical incision.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the shaft includes an escape port in the wall of the shaft near the distal end, wherein the escape port is sized sufficient to allow tissue cut by the blade to pass therethrough; and further comprising repeating the step of inserting the instrument into the skin while allowing accumulated skin in the shaft to be forced through the escape port.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-01 | 2001-06-02 | 2001-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-01 | 2005-06-02 | 2005-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-01 | 2009-06-02 | 2009-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |