Follicular extraction punch and method

Abstract

Provided herein is an instrument and method useful to incise in to the skin to a precise depth and at a specific angle with respect to the surface of the skin of a patient, for the extraction of individual follicular groups or individual follicular units. An instrument according to the invention precisely limits the depth of incision, and creates a circular incision around a hair, follicular unit, or follicular cluster in a manner such that no damage occurs to any of the hair shafts.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . An apparatus to extract one or more hair follicles from skin tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 a nipple end portion, the nipple end portion having a length dimension and further including a bore disposed therethrough having an axis approximately parallel to the length dimension;   a dissection punch to extract the one or more of the hair follicles from the skin tissue via the bore, the dissection punch being disposed within the bore and comprising a cutting edge to pierce the skin tissue.   
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the cutting edge is approximately circular. 
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the cutting edge has an inner diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the nipple portion is to limit a depth of insertion of the dissection punch into the skin tissue. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the nipple portion is to limit a depth of insertion of the dissection punch into the skin tissue to about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising a handle to rotate the dissection punch. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , where the nipple portion is to separate a bottom portion of the one or more hair follicles from a fatty layer of the skin tissue. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the dissection punch is tapered. 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus to extract a follicular unit from an area of skin, comprising:
 a main body comprising a handle to be gripped by an operator, the main body having first and second ends; and   at least one punch to score an area of skin and to extract the follicular unit from the area of skin, the at least one punch to be disposed at the first end of the main body.   
     
     
         47 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one punch comprises a cutting edge. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the cutting edge has an inner diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , further comprising a nipple portion to limit a depth of insertion of the at least one punch into the area of skin. 
     
     
         50 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , wherein the nipple portion is to limit a depth of insertion of the dissection punch into the skin tissue to about 0.5 mm. 
     
     
         51 . The apparatus of  claim 49 , where the nipple portion is to separate a bottom portion of the one or more hair follicles from a fatty layer of the area of skin. 
     
     
         52 . The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein the at least one punch is tapered. 
     
     
         53 . An apparatus to extract one or more hair follicles from skin tissue, the apparatus comprising:
 means for gripping the apparatus by an operator;   means for scoring the skin tissue; and   means for extracting the one or more of the hair follicles from the skin tissue.   
     
     
         54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , means for stabilizing the means for extracting. 
     
     
         55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein the means for extracting comprises a tapered shape. 
     
     
         56 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the means for extracting comprises a means for cutting having an inner diameter of from about 0.5 mm to about 4.5 mm. 
     
     
         57 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , further comprising a means for limiting a depth of insertion of the means for extracting into the skin tissue.