The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 23, 2015
Filed:
May. 06, 2011
Richard A. Anderson, Boston, MA (US);
William A. Farinelli, Danvers, MA (US);
Walfre Franco, Worcester, MA (US);
Joshua Tam, Charlestown, MA (US);
Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Boston, MA (US);
Apostolos G. Doukas, Belmont, MA (US);
Martin Purschke, Dorchester, MA (US);
Min Yao, Boston, MA (US);
Richard A. Anderson, Boston, MA (US);
William A. Farinelli, Danvers, MA (US);
Walfre Franco, Worcester, MA (US);
Joshua Tam, Charlestown, MA (US);
Fernanda H. Sakamoto, Boston, MA (US);
Apostolos G. Doukas, Belmont, MA (US);
Martin Purschke, Dorchester, MA (US);
Min Yao, Boston, MA (US);
The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US);
Abstract
Exemplary embodiments of apparatus and method for obtaining one or more portions of biological tissue ('micrografts') to form grafts are provided. For example, a hollow tube can be inserted into tissue at a donor site, and a pin provided within the tube can facilitate controlled removal of the micrograft from the tube. Micrografts can be harvested and directly implanted into an overlying biocompatible matrix through coordinated motion of the tube and pin. A needle can be provided around the tube to facilitate a direct implantation of a micrograft into a remote recipient site or matrix. The exemplary apparatus can include a plurality of such tubes and pins for simultaneous harvesting and/or implanting of a plurality of micrografts. The harvested micrografts can have a small dimension, e.g., less than about 1 mm, which can promote healing of the donor site and/or viability of the harvested tissue.