Devices for generating and transferring micrografts and methods of use thereof

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.

1 . A device for generating and transferring micrografts, the device comprising:
 a housing comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration;   a micrograft generating station; and   a micrograft transferring station.   
     
     
         2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a bottom portion hingedly connected to a top portion. 
     
     
         3 . The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the top portion of the housing is movable in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         4 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the micrograft generating station comprises:
 an first member connected to the top portion of the housing; and   a second member connected to the bottom portion of the housing, wherein the first member is aligned with the second member.   
     
     
         5 . The device according to  claim 4 , wherein the second member comprises a spring loaded base. 
     
     
         6 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the micrograft transferring station comprises:
 a transfer pusher comprising a plurality of prongs, wherein the pusher is connected to the top portion of the housing; and   a transfer stage connected to the bottom portion of the housing, wherein the pusher and the stage are aligned with each other.   
     
     
         7 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the transfer stage comprises a compressible material. 
     
     
         8 . The device according to  claim 6 , wherein the transfer stage comprises a spring loaded base. 
     
     
         9 . The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the housing further comprises a cartridge receiving portion that is located between the top portion and the bottom portion of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cartridge receiving portion comprises a first slot and a second slot, wherein the first slot is aligned with the micrograft generating station and the second slot is aligned with the micrograft transferring station. 
     
     
         11 . The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the cartridge receiving portion comprises a single slot and components of the micrograft generating station and the micrograft transferring station are removable from the top and bottom portions of the housing, thereby providing for the micrograft generating station and the micrograft transferring station to be located at a same place in the device. 
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 10 , further comprising a cartridge that is compatible with the first slot and second slots of the cartridge receiving portion and is removable from the first and second slots of the cartridge receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the cartridge is configured to hold a skin graft. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
 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 mesh grid of the first plate and the mesh 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.   
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 14 , wherein holes of the grids of the first and second plates are larger than prongs of the transfer pusher. 
     
     
         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 22 , wherein raising comprises:
 contacting a device having a hole to skin; and   applying heat and/or vacuum pressure, thereby raising the blister.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the skin graft is selected from the group consisting of: an epidermal skin graft, a split thickness graft, and a full thickness graft. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 expanding the micro grafts; 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. 
     
     
         28 . A device for generating and transferring micrografts, the device comprising:
 a base member;   a micrograft generating station integrated with the base member; and   a micrograft transferring station integrated with the base member.   
     
     
         29 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the micrograft generating station comprises:
 a frame comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration;   a first member connected to a top portion of the frame; and   a second member connected to a bottom portion of the frame, wherein the first member is aligned with the second member.   
     
     
         30 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the second member comprises a spring loaded base. 
     
     
         31 . The device according to  claim 29 , wherein the frame further comprises a cartridge receiving portion that is located between the top portion and the bottom portion of the frame. 
     
     
         32 . The device according to  claim 31 , wherein the cartridge receiving portion comprises a slot that is aligned with the first and second members of the micrograft generating station. 
     
     
         33 . The device according to  claim 28 , wherein the micrograft transferring station comprises:
 a frame comprising an open configuration and a closed configuration;   a transfer pusher comprising a plurality of prongs, wherein the pusher is connected to a top portion of the frame; and   a transfer stage connected to a bottom portion of the frame, wherein the pusher and the stage are aligned with each other.   
     
     
         34 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein the transfer stage comprises a compressible material. 
     
     
         35 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein the transfer stage comprises a spring loaded base. 
     
     
         36 . The device according to  claim 33 , wherein the frame further comprises a cartridge receiving portion that is located between the top portion and the bottom portion of the frame. 
     
     
         37 . The device according to  claim 36 , wherein the cartridge receiving portion comprises a slot that is aligned with the pusher and the stage of the micrograft generating station. 
     
     
         38 . The device according to  claim 37 , wherein the top portion of the frame further comprises a latch that allows for the top portion of the frame to lock with the cartridge receiving portion. 
     
     
         39 . The device according to  claim 36 , wherein the frame further comprises a stripper plate that comprises a hollow inner portion such that the cartridge receiving portion, the pusher, and the stage can fit within the hollow inner portion of the stripper plate. 
     
     
         40 . The device according to  claim 28 , further comprising a cartridge that is compatible with the cartridge receiving portions of the micrograft generating station and the micrograft transferring station. 
     
     
         41 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the cartridge is configured to hold a skin graft. 
     
     
         42 . The device according to  claim 40 , wherein the cartridge comprises:
 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 mesh grid of the first plate and the mesh 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.   
     
     
         42 . The device according to  claim 42 , wherein holes of the grids of the first and second plates are larger than prongs of the transfer pusher. 
     
     
         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.   
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 46 , wherein the substrate is a medical dressing. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the graft is an autograft. 
     
     
         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.   
     
     
         52 . The method according to  claim 43 , wherein the skin graft is selected from the group consisting of: an epidermal skin graft, a split thickness graft, and a full thickness graft. 
     
     
         53 . The method according to  claim 43 , further comprising:
 expanding the micro grafts; 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. 
     
     
         55 . A device for generating and transferring micrografts, the device comprising:
 a base member;   a micrograft generating station integrated with the base member;   a micrograft transferring station integrated with the base member; and   a micrograft expansion station integrated with the base member.