GB844190A - Improvements in or relating to apparatus for removing skin particles from a donor area and applying the particles to a recipient area - Google Patents

Abstract

844,190. Skin removing. PITCO PRODUCTS, Inc. Nov. 11, 1958 [Nov. 25, 1957], No. 36216/58. Class 81(2). Apparatus for carrying out skin grafting operations comprises a rotary cutting head for removing skin particles from a donor area, a container to receive the particles and spraying means for applying the particles to the recipient area. The device is provided with a pistol grip handle 12 and a flexible drive 88, powered by an electric motor, drives a cutting head 74 having a radial serrated blade 92 which is held against the inner face of a conical head 66 by a spring 112, so that when the head is pressed against the patient's body, skin protruding through a slot 70 is cut off in small particles by the cutting blade. During the cutting operation suction is applied through a tube 134, which is raised off its seating 138 by a trigger lever 14, and is consequently communicated through a chamber 192, a port 200 in a turn cock 40, duct 188 and tube 190 to a container 20. Severed particles are thereby drawn into the container through a tube 126, which is connected through ducts, not shown, to a circular channel 118 and a port in the head 74 leading from the'cutting edge. At one point in each rotation of the cutting head a further port, adjacent the cutting blade, is aligned and in communication with a duct leading from a vessel supplying flushing solution, so that this solution is sucked into the head and over the cutting blade to wash off skin particles, which are then drawn up into the container 20. When the desired quantity of skin particles has been collected, the cock 40 is turned through 90 degrees, in which position port 198 connects chamber 192 with duct 186 and port 196 completes a straight-through passage 174 from the container 20 to the centre of the spraying head 18. At the same time air under pressure is supplied through the tube 134, under control of the trigger operated valve 138, and this issues from the annular chamber 182 around the nozzle 170, so creating a suction which draws the skin particles from the container 20 and projects them on to the recipient area. At the same time a suction is created in an intermediate annular chamber 176, communicating with a duct 180, through which coagulating fluid may, if desired, be drawn from a container 28. The power unit for use with the appliance preferably comprises an electric motor, the shaft of which drives the flexible drive cable 88 and also carries an eccentric vane pump. The motor is reversible and the pump, which is connected to the tube 134, is thus able to produce pressure or vacuum according to its direction of rotation.