Restoration Robotics, Inc.

Becton Dickinson and Company Limited

Clifford A Oostman, Jr

Miguel G Canales

Steven E Jakubowski

Mohan Bodduluri

Barry J Blasenheim

Timothy J Kirkley

Tomás Meléndez

Zander H Oostman

Robert L Weglinski

George D Hermann

Gabriele Zingaretti

John A Tenney

Brian E Tippett

Kyle R Breton

Brian DuBois

James A Harris

Instruments, systems and methods are provided for efficient loading, indexing and replacement of cartridges for storing, for example, hair grafts. In addition, an improved urging mechanism for expelling hair grafts from a receptacle of a storage cartridge is provided, as well as a method of its operation. Furthermore, cartridges with a plurality of receptacles comprising slots for loading hair grafts are disclosed.

Instruments, systems and methods for improving hair transplantation

A system and method for harvesting, storing, and implanting biological units, in particular hair follicular units (FUs). The system is particularly useful to facilitate hair transplant procedures. The system may comprise an implanting tool, a cartridge with a plurality of receptacles for biological units and one or more control mechanisms. The device and cartridge for storing biological units may be incorporated within an overall automated or robotic system, or may form part of a semi-automated or even manual apparatus.

Systems and methods for harvesting, storing and implanting hair grafts

A non-coring hair implantation needle is provided which provides for a smaller opening than a conventional hypodermic needle, and includes a bevel of shorter length. The needles are configured to provide a non-cutting feature, and aid in placement and retention of an implanted hair graft when the needle is withdrawn from the body surface. Furthermore, methods of fabricating needles includes bevels of shorter length and non-cutting features are disclosed.

Implantation needle

Devices and methods are described for performing a procedure on multiple adjacent segments of a body surface. The methods generally involve positioning a locator device on a body surface to delineate a first body surface segment. A first portion of the locator device may be moved while leaving a second portion of the locator device in place as a reference. The second portion of the locator may then be moved to reform the locator device and delineate a second segment of the body surface. Locator devices comprising two detachable portions are also described.

Locator device for medical procedures on the body surface and method of its use

Systems and methods for harvesting, storing, and implanting hair grafts

Devices and methods for applying tension to an area of skin are provided, for example, for follicular unit removal and implant in a hair transplantation procedure. The devices may include a frame with at least two skin contact members that hold to the skin. Also disclosed are various ways to apply a force displacing the skin contact members apart, thus creating tension in the skin. The devices and methods may incorporate suction, and/or barbs or microbarbs. The frame may surround the skin area with tensile forces applied outward in multiple directions or substantially uni-directionally. Adjusting members and indicators may be provided to control and display the tensile force applied to skin. The tensioning devices and methods may be incorporated into a robotic hair transplantation system.

Skin tensioner for hair transplantation

Devices and methods for applying tension to an area of skin during various cosmetic or dermatological procedures, in particular for follicular unit removal and/or implantation in a hair transplantation procedure, are provided. The systems and methods utilize a segmented structure configured to conform to the body surface of various sizes, shapes and/or textures, thus allowing for customization in order to fit a variety of persons. In some embodiments, the tensioning device may be temporary secured, for example, to a patient chair.

Skin tensioning devices and methods of their use

A method of detecting a change in tension of a body surface during a medical procedure is provided. In some embodiments the method may be carried out without additional invasive devices or procedures being required. In one example the methodology is applied when using any type of body surface tensioning device. The tensioning device comprises fiducials that are visible to an image acquisition device. In another example of an embodiment of the current application, the methodology may be applied by attaching fiducials directly to the body surface. The relative motion of the fiducials relative to one another may be utilized to determine a change in body surface tension.

Method and apparatus for determining a change in tension of a body surface

A system and method for implanting follicular units (FUs) into a body surface while suppressing expulsion of previously-implanted FUs. The system is particularly useful to facilitate hair transplant procedures. FUs are implanted in a body surface from an implant tool or needle that may be incorporated within an automated or robotic system, or may form part of a semi-automated or even manual apparatus. An anti-popping member prevents expulsion of the FUs adjacent to the location at which an FU is being implanted. The anti-popping member may be carried on the implant device, or may be a flexible membrane applied to the body surface. If on the device, the anti-popping member may be arranged near the distal tip thereof and may be shaped and mounted so as to conform to uneven body surfaces.

Anti-popping devices and methods for hair implantation

Tools and methods are provided for removing biological units from a body surface utilizing a removal tool. The tools may incorporate retention members and mechanisms configured to impede movement of the biological unit in the direction of a distal end of the tool and to improve retention of the biological unit in the tool. Some of the retention members are stationary and some are movable within the lumen of the biological unit removal tools. The distal tips of the tools are desirably configured to reduce the chance of transection of a biological unit, such as by including both cutting segments and blunt relief segments. A number of dual concentric tube embodiments permit a division of removal functions. Distal fluid or gas delivery may be used to help separating biological units from surrounding tissue.

Biological unit removal tools and methods

Systems and methods are provided for harvesting hair grafts from a body surface utilizing a removal tool comprising first and second elongated bodies. The described systems and methods serve to eliminate and/or at least minimize unnecessary compression of adjacent tissue during the removal process, thereby minimizing damage to the follicular unit being removed, reducing the opportunities for the follicular unit to intersect the path of the harvesting tool, and/or improving the quality of the removed specimen, preferably preserving its integrity.

Systems and methods for harvesting follicular units

A system and method for harvesting, storing, and implanting biological units, in particular hair follicular units (FUs). The system is particularly useful to facilitate hair transplant procedures. FUs are harvested from a body surface, either attached to a patient or in a strip of removed tissue, and shuttled into a cartridge having a plurality of receptacles. The receptacles are open in a distal direction toward a removal tool, but a cover over the proximal ends of the receptacles prevents the FUs from continuing out of the cartridge. One way to shuttle the FUs is to provide a pressure differential, such as by applying suction to the proximal end of a receptacle. The shuttle subsystem may be incorporated within an overall automated or robotic system, or the shuttle subsystem may form part of a semi-automated or even manual apparatus.

Growing community of inventors

Hansville, WA, United States of America

Clifford A Oostman, Jr