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Sanusi Umar

Umar, Sanusi

Robert E Evans

Andrew Namminga

Robert Evans

An adapter assembly is configured to provide a fluid flow path for a rotary tool having a punch. The adapter assembly has a housing removably coupled to the rotary tool. the rotary tool has a lower end near a tip and an upper end away from the tip. A gasket is detachably arranged within the housing, around the punch and further comprising an upper seal portion and a lower seal portion. The upper seal portion has a smaller inner diameter than the lower seal portion. A fluid path is arranged through the housing, at least one hole in the gasket, and out of a lumen in the punch.

Fluid adapter assembly

This invention relates to devices that join a pair of edges. Previously, suture assemblies used holes perpendicular to a vertical plane. Embodiments of the present invention use a first pad tunnel () between a first pad lower plane opening () and a first pad upper plane opening (). A first pad tunnel major axis () passes through a first pad upper plane opening center () and a first pad lower plane opening center (). For reference a first pad orthogonal axis () passes through the first pad upper plane opening center () orthogonal to the first pad upper plane () and the first pad lower plane (). A first pad angle (θ) is measured clockwise from the first pad orthogonal axis () to the first pad tunnel major axis (). The first pad angle is at least five degrees but no more than 175 degrees.

Retention suture assembly

This invention relates to devices that join a pair of edges. Previously, suture assemblies used holes perpendicular to a vertical plane. Embodiments of the present invention use a first pad tunnel () between a first pad lower plane opening () and a first pad upper plane opening (). A first pad tunnel major axis () passes through a first pad upper plane opening center () and a first pad lower plane opening center (). For reference a first pad orthogonal axis () passes through the first pad upper plane opening center () orthogonal to the first pad upper plane () and the first pad lower plane (). A first pad angle (&#x3b8;) is measured clockwise from the first pad orthogonal axis () to the first pad tunnel major axis (). The first pad angle is at least five degrees but no more than 175 degrees.

A slit maker is configured to make a slit in skin to receive a hair follicle. The slit maker has a shaft, having a shaft central axis. A helix is mechanically coupled to the shaft. A tip is at an end of the helix. An edge is beveled onto the tip being collinear to an edge line. An edge angle is measured from the edge line to the shaft central axis. The edge angle is at least 10 degrees but no more than 60 degrees or least 130 degrees but no more than 170 degrees.

Slit maker

A punch that is particularly useful for removing curled hair follicles from a donor site comprises a generally tubular body disposed about a generally longitudinal axis between distal and proximal ends, and having a distal cutting end region terminating distally in an opposing pair of distally-extending, generally prong-like members having an anterior notch and a posterior notch therebetween. In one variation, the prong-like members each have a curved anterior cutting edge and a curved posterior edge meeting at a cutting tip. In the preferred embodiment, the posterior notch extends proximally further than the anterior notch and has a generally 'V'-shaped distal segment which carries cutting edges together with a generally 'U'-shaped proximal segment extending proximally from the distal segment.

Follicle punch for use with curled follicles

A punch that is particularly useful for removing curled hair follicles from a donor site comprises a generally tubular body disposed about a generally longitudinal axis and having a distal cutting end region terminating distally in a plurality of distally-extending circumferentially disposed, generally prong-like members carrying distally diverging cutting edges and separated by follicle-accommodating slits. In practice, the punch is oriented during the extraction process at the donor site so that the curled hair root passes into, and is spared from the advancing cutting edge by, a slit as the punch is inserted into and penetrates the tissue. The punch may then rotated slightly so that the cutting edges cut most of the tissue surrounding the follicle without making damaging contact with the follicle. It may be noted that a rotary motion may not be necessary and, if rotation is desired, it may be in one direction or be in the form of an oscillatory rotary movement, depending on characteristics of the donor site and targeted follicle.

A follicular unit extraction device comprises a handpiece for holding a follicle punch at its distal end which extends from the handpiece and terminates distally in a cutting edge. The punch is releasably coupled to a motor-driven drive shaft within the handpiece for rotation therewith. A portion of the driveshaft is tubular, and houses a piston that can move towards and away from the punch. An ejector pin is also supported within the tubular portion of the driveshaft distally of the ejector piston and is positioned to move towards the cutting edge of the punch when pushed by the piston. The handpiece and driveshaft have respective fluid inlet ports. The clearance between the piston and driveshaft interior, and the clearance between the ejector pin and punch interior, define a fluid path for conducting fluid entering the handpiece and drive shaft via inlet ports so that the fluid exits the punch at its cutting edge. The clearances limit the quantity of fluid exiting the punch to the small amount needed to protect the follicle to be extracted. Means are provided for selectively increasing the flow rate of the fluid entering the handpiece beyond the limit imposed by said clearances to thereby increase the fluid pressure within the driveshaft, moving the piston distally and, consequently, moving the pin towards the cutting edge of the punch to eject impacted graft or debris. Bias means returns the piston proximally when the flow rate is reduced below the level required to overcome the bias means.

Follicular unit extraction device

A punch for removing hair follicles from a donor site comprises a generally tubular body having a proximal end region terminating in a tissue-cutting edge, a distally-extending segment of reduced outer diameter&#x2014;preferably a generally concave segment&#x2014;terminating at its proximal end at or near the cutting edge and terminating at its distal end with a diameter substantially the same or greater than the diameter of the cutting edge. The punch further includes a follicle-receiving chamber defined by an inner wall extending distally from the proximal end of the punch. Preferably, at least a portion of the chamber lying within the external region of reduced diameter is generally converging in the distal direction.

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Redondo Beach, CA, United States of America

Sanusi Umar