JP2022042728A - Cell transplantation device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a cell transplantation device capable of smoothly transplanting a transplant including a cell group and a guide part.SOLUTION: A cell transplantation device 20 includes: a needle-like part 30 extending in a cylindrical manner, which is configured so as to take in a cell group 11 inside from an opening 31 at the tip of the needle-like part 30; and a holding part 40 positioned inside the needle-like part 30 and extending along a direction that the needle-like part 30 extends, which has a tip part for holding a transplant 10. The needle-like part 30 includes a slit part 32 extending from the edge of the opening 31 toward the base end part of the needle-like part 30. In a direction that the needle-like part 30 extends, the slit part 32 extends from the edge of the opening 31 to a position beyond the position of the tip of the holding part 40 when the holding part 40 is holding the transplant 10 inside the needle-like part 30.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

The present invention relates to a cell transplantation apparatus used for cell transplantation.

The use of technology for transplanting cell groups into living organisms is advancing. For example, attempts have been made to regenerate hair by culturing a group of cells that contribute to the formation of hair follicles, which are organs that produce hair, and transplanting the group of cells into the skin. Hair follicles are formed by the interaction of mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. For good hair regeneration, it is desirable that the transplanted cell population yields hair follicles with normal tissue structure and good hair forming ability. Therefore, various researches and developments have been carried out on a method for producing a cell group capable of forming such hair follicles (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

Further, a cell transplantation device, which is a device for transferring a cultured cell group from a culture vessel into a living body, is being developed (see, for example, Patent Document 4). The cell transplantation device is provided with a needle-shaped portion which is a tubular structure having a needle-like point, and takes in a group of cells from a culture vessel into the inside of the needle-shaped portion. After the needle-shaped portion pierces the target site such as skin, the cell group is released from the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, so that the cell group is arranged in the living body.

International Publication No. 2017/073625 International Publication No. 2012/108069 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-29331 International Publication No. 2019/064653

When transplanting a cell group, it has been studied to arrange a guide portion, which is a member for inducing tissue formation from the cell group, in the living body together with the cell group. For example, in Patent Document 2, it is proposed that a guide portion extending in a filamentous manner is inserted into a hair follicle primordium, which is a cell group, and a transplant consisting of the hair follicle primordium and the guide portion is transplanted intradermally. There is. This guide defines the orientation of the hair follicle primordium in the skin and proliferates the epithelial cells derived from the hair follicle primordium to have continuity with the epithelial cells in the transplanted area. Define the direction of tissue formation so that tissue formation progresses.

When transplanting a transplant using the above-mentioned cell transplant device, since the transplant including the cell group and the guide portion has a shape different from the substantially spherical shape, when only the cell group is taken into the needle-shaped portion. In comparison with, the efficiency of transplant uptake tends to decrease. In addition, in order to promote good tissue formation, it is necessary to arrange the transplant in the living body so that the guide portion faces a predetermined direction. Therefore, in the cell transplant device, the orientation of the taken-in transplant is suitable. It is desirable to be able to control.
As described above, there is still room for improvement in the cell transplantation apparatus for smooth transplantation of the transplantation including the cell group and the guide portion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cell transplantation apparatus capable of smooth transplantation of a transplantation including a cell group and a guide portion.

The cell transplantation device for solving the above-mentioned problems is a cell transplantation device for transferring a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion having a portion extending from the cell group and arranging the cell group in a living body. It is a needle-shaped portion extending in a tubular shape, and is located inside the needle-shaped portion and the needle-shaped portion configured to take in the cell group from the opening of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion. The needle-shaped portion extends along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion and has a holding portion having a tip portion capable of holding the implant, and the needle-shaped portion is provided from the edge of the opening to the proximal end of the needle-shaped portion. The slit portion has a slit portion extending toward the portion, and in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the slit portion holds the implant inside the needle-shaped portion from the edge of the opening. It extends to a position beyond the position of the tip of the holding portion.

According to the above configuration, when the cell group is taken into the needle-shaped portion, the end portion of the guide portion comes out of the needle-shaped portion from the slit portion. Then, in the needle-shaped portion, the transplant is arranged in the direction in which the guide portion extends from the slit portion toward the opening. Therefore, since the orientation of the implant in the needle-shaped portion can be controlled to a specific orientation, it is easy to place the implant in the living body in a specific orientation. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplant is possible.

In the above configuration, the end of the slit portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion may be located on the way from the edge of the opening to the base end of the needle-shaped portion.
According to the above configuration, when the inside of the needle-shaped portion is sucked for the purpose of taking up the liquid substance together with the cell group into the needle-shaped portion, it is possible to suppress the loss of suction.

In the above configuration, the slit portion may extend toward the proximal end portion from a position closest to the proximal end portion in the edge of the opening in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion.
According to the above configuration, the slit portion is located at a position different from the vicinity of the tip, which is the portion of the needle-shaped portion that first pierces the living body. Therefore, the sharpness in the vicinity of the tip of the needle-shaped portion is maintained, and it is possible to prevent the formation of the slit portion from reducing the easiness of the needle-shaped portion to pierce the living body.

In the above configuration, the holding portion is a position where the tip portion of the holding portion is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion and a position where the tip portion of the holding portion protrudes from the opening of the needle-shaped portion. It may be configured to be relatively movable with respect to the needle-shaped portion along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion.

According to the above configuration, with the tip of the holding portion protruding from the opening of the needle-shaped portion, the holding portion holds the implant and the tip of the holding portion is placed inside the needle-shaped portion. By moving the holding portion with respect to the needle-shaped portion, the cell group can be taken into the needle-shaped portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the guide portion from being caught in the vicinity of the opening and making it difficult for the cell group to enter the needle-shaped portion. As a result, the uptake of the transplanted product proceeds smoothly, so that the transplanted material can be smoothly transplanted.

In the above configuration, the guide portion may extend like a thread, and the tip portion of the holding portion may hold the guide portion.
According to the above configuration, when the cell group is taken into the needle-shaped portion, the guide portion is held by the holding portion and carried to the inside of the needle-shaped portion, so that the guide portion is accurately suppressed from being caught in the vicinity of the opening.

In the above configuration, the holding portion may be provided with a holding portion having two holding pieces at the tip portion, and the guide portion may be held by sandwiching the guide portion between the two holding pieces.
According to the above configuration, the guide portion can be accurately held at the tip portion of the holding portion.

In the above configuration, the holding portion may have a hole that can be opened and closed at the tip portion, and the guide portion may be held by closing the hole through the guide portion.
According to the above configuration, the guide portion can be accurately held at the tip portion of the holding portion.

In the above configuration, the holding portion has a tubular shape extending along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and the cell group may be held at the tip portion by suctioning the inside of the holding portion.

According to the above configuration, when the cell group is taken up into the needle-shaped portion, the cell group is held by the holding portion and carried to the inside of the needle-shaped portion, so that the guide portion is caught near the opening and the cell group becomes the needle-shaped portion. It is accurately suppressed that it becomes difficult to get inside.

In the above configuration, the cell group may contain a hair follicle primordium.
If the implant contains a hair follicle primordium, the implant is required to be placed so that the guide extends from the cell population toward the skin surface and the end of the guide exits the skin. In the case of the above-mentioned cell transplanting device, since the transplant is arranged in the direction in which the guide portion extends from the slit portion toward the opening in the needle-shaped portion, the transplant can be arranged with respect to the living body as described above. It's easy.

The cell transplantation device for solving the above-mentioned problems is a cell transplantation device for transferring a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion having a portion extending from the cell group and arranging the cell group in a living body. A transplant unit is composed of a plurality of the transplants, and the transplant unit includes a plurality of the cell groups and a filamentous body extending by connecting these cell groups in a row. A structure in which a portion functioning as the guide portion extends continuously, and is a needle-shaped portion extending in a tubular shape, and is configured to take in the cell group from the opening of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion. The needle-shaped portion, a holding portion located inside the needle-shaped portion, extending along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and having a tip portion capable of holding the implant, and the holding portion are described as described above. While holding one of the transplants in the transplant unit, the cell group contained in the transplant and the other cell groups adjacent to each other in the cell group and the transplant unit are described as described above. It is provided with a cutting portion for cutting the filamentous body.

By generating a transplant unit, a plurality of transplants can be generated together, so that the efficiency of transplant generation is improved. On the other hand, when transplanting a transplant, the work of separating the transplant from the transplant unit increases. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, the uptake of the cell group into the needle-shaped portion and the separation of the transplanted product by cutting the filamentous body can be performed by one cell transplanting device, so that the separation work becomes complicated. Is suppressed. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted material becomes possible.

According to the present invention, a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion can be smoothly transplanted.

The figure which shows the composition of the transplantation object to be transplanted. The figure which shows the structure of the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of the needle-like part provided with the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the needle-like part and the holding part of the 1st state in the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the needle-like part and the holding part of the 2nd state in the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment, and the state which the holding part of a holding part is open. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the arrangement process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the needle-like part and the holding part of the 2nd state in the cell transplantation apparatus of the modification of 1st Embodiment, and the state which the holding part of a holding part is open. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of the modification of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of the modification of 1st Embodiment. The figure which shows the needle-like part and the holding part of the 2nd state in the cell transplantation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment, and the state which the through hole of a holding part is open. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the needle-like part and the holding part of the 2nd state in the cell transplantation apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the uptake process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The figure which shows the structure of a transplant unit. The figure which shows the structure of the cell transplantation apparatus of 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the separation process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the separation process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of 4th Embodiment. The figure which shows the separation process of the transplantation in the transplantation method of the transplantation using the cell transplantation apparatus of the modification of 4th Embodiment.

(First Embodiment)
The first embodiment of the cell transplantation apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. The cell transplantation apparatus of this embodiment is used for transplanting a transplant containing a cell group into a living body. The target area for transplantation is at least one of intracutaneous and subcutaneous, or in a tissue such as an organ. In the present embodiment, the "living body" includes not only the body or tissue of an organism but also an artificial biological model that imitates the body or tissue. That is, the cell transplantation apparatus of the present embodiment can not only transplant the transplantation into an organism, but also transplant the transplantation into a biological model. In addition, "cell transplantation device for transferring a transplant and arranging a cell group in a living body" should be read as "a cell transplanting device having a function of transferring a transplant and arranging a cell group in the living body". May be good.

[Transplant]
As shown in FIG. 1, the transplant 10 includes a cell group 11 and a guide portion 12.
Cell group 11 contains a plurality of cells. The cell group 11 may be an aggregate of a plurality of aggregated cells, or may be an aggregate of a plurality of cells bound by cell-cell binding. In the transplant 10, the cell group 11 which is an aggregate of cells may be covered with a gel-like support. Alternatively, the cell group 11 may be composed of a plurality of dispersed cells, and in the transplantation 10, a plurality of cells constituting the cell group 11 may be dispersed in a gel-like support. The support consists of an extracellular matrix such as collagen, for example.

The cells constituting the cell group 11 may be undifferentiated cells or cells that have completed differentiation, and the cell group 11 includes undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells. May be good. The cell group 11 is, for example, a cell mass (spheroid), a primordium, a tissue, an organ, an organoid, a mini-sized organ, or the like.

The cell group 11 has the ability to act on the tissue formation of the living body by being placed in the target area of transplantation in the living body. An example of a cell group 11 having such an ability is a cell aggregate containing cells having stem cell properties.

The cell group 11 contributes to hair growth or hair growth by being arranged, for example, intradermally or subcutaneously. These cell groups 11 have the ability to function as hair follicle organs, differentiate into hair follicle organs, induce or promote the formation of hair follicle organs, or induce or promote the formation of hair in hair follicles. Have. Further, the cell group 11 may include cells that contribute to the control of coat color, such as pigment cells or stem cells that differentiate into pigment cells. In addition, the cell group 11 may contain vasculature cells.

A specific example of the cell group 11 of the present embodiment is a hair follicle primordium, which is a primitive hair follicle organ. Hair follicle primordium contains mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. In the hair follicle organ, hair follicle head cells, which are mesenchymal cells, induce the differentiation of hair follicle epithelial stem cells, and hair matrix cells repeat division in the hair bulb formed thereby to form hair. To. Hair follicle primordium is a group of cells that differentiate into these hair follicle organs.

The hair follicle primordium is a mixture of, for example, mesenchymal cells derived from mesenchymal tissue such as the hair papilla and epithelial cells derived from epithelial tissue located in the bulge region or the base of the hair bulb under predetermined conditions. Formed by culturing. However, the method for producing a hair follicle primordium is not limited to the above example. Further, the origin of the mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells used for producing the hair follicle primordia is not limited, and these cells may be cells derived from the hair follicle organ, and the hair follicle organ is a cell. It may be a cell derived from a different organ or a cell derived from a pluripotent stem cell.

The guide portion 12 extends like a thread. The length of the guide portion 12 is longer than the outer diameter of the cell group 11. The guide portion 12 may pass through the inside of the cell group 11 and extend through the cell group 11 or may extend in contact with the surface of the cell group 11. In short, the guide portion 12 may have a portion extending from the cell group 11. The guide portion 12 is made of a biocompatible material. The guide portion 12 is, for example, a fiber made of a polymer such as nylon or polylactic acid, or a natural fiber such as silk. Alternatively, the guide portion 12 may be formed of a biodegradable material. When the guide portion 12 is formed of a biodegradable material, there is an advantage that the removal of the guide portion 12 is not necessary after the transplantation of the implant 10.

When the cell group 11 is a hair follicle primordium, the cell group 11 has a structure in which the aggregated portion of mesenchymal cells and the aggregated portion of epithelial cells are adjacent to each other. Then, the guide portion 12 extends along the direction in which the aggregated portion of the mesenchymal cells and the aggregated portion of the epithelial cells in the cell group 11 are aligned. For example, the guide portion 12 extends substantially perpendicular to the contact surface between the aggregated portion of the mesenchymal cells and the aggregated portion of the epithelial cells, and penetrates each aggregated portion.

[Cell transplant device]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cell transplantation apparatus 20 has a tubular needle-shaped portion 30 extending along one direction, a holding portion 40 for holding the transplantation 10, and a support for supporting the needle-shaped portion 30. It is provided with a part 70.

The other shape of the needle-shaped portion 30 is not particularly limited as long as the tip portion thereof has a shape capable of piercing a site to be transplanted in a living body. For example, the needle-shaped portion 30 extends in a cylindrical shape, and the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 has a shape in which the cylinder is cut diagonally with respect to the extending direction and is sharp. The needle-shaped portion 30 is formed of, for example, a metal or a resin.

The support portion 70 may be formed integrally with the needle-shaped portion 30, or may be a member formed separately from the needle-shaped portion 30. The outer shape of the support portion 70 is not particularly limited. When the support portion 70 is integrally formed with the needle-shaped portion 30, the needle-shaped portion 30 protrudes from the support portion 70.

When the support portion 70 is a member formed separately from the needle-shaped portion 30, the support portion 70 surrounds the outside of a portion other than the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 and its vicinity, and supports the needle-shaped portion 30. is doing. For example, the needle-shaped portion 30 is assembled to the support portion 70 by passing the needle-shaped portion 30 through the hole of the support portion 70. The tip of the needle-shaped portion 30 and its vicinity protrude from the support portion 70 along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30.

Regardless of whether the needle-shaped portion 30 and the support portion 70 are integrally formed or are separate members, at least the portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 protruding from the support portion 70 is transplanted in a living body. The part that enters the target area is included.

The holding portion 40 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30 and extends along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30. The holding portion 40 has a structure at the tip thereof for holding the implant 10. The holding portion 40 is configured to be movable relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30.

The cell transplantation device 20 further includes a mechanism unit 80 that causes the holding unit 40 to perform an operation for holding and releasing the transplanted material 10. By the operation of the mechanism portion 80, the holding portion 40 has a position where the tip portion of the holding portion 40 is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the holding portion 40 is from the opening 31 of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30. It is moved relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 with respect to the protruding position. Further, by the operation of the mechanism portion 80, the tip portion of the holding portion 40 performs an operation for holding the transplantation 10.

The mechanism portion 80 includes a member for pushing and pulling the holding portion 40 and the needle-shaped portion 30, and a member for transmitting power to the tip portion of the holding portion 40. The operation of the mechanism unit 80 may be performed manually, or the mechanism unit 80 may include an electronic component such as a motor, and the operation of the mechanism unit 80 may be performed by electrical control. The mechanism portion 80 may be incorporated inside the support portion 70, or may be provided outside the support portion 70 and connected to the holding portion 40 or the needle-shaped portion 30 through the inside of the support portion 70.

The structure of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the needle-shaped portion 30 has a slit portion 32 which is a notch extending from the edge of the opening 31 toward the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 30. The slit portion 32 penetrates the side wall of the needle-shaped portion 30 along the radial direction of the needle-shaped portion 30. That is, the inside and the outside of the needle-shaped portion 30 communicate with each other through the slit portion 32. The width of the slit portion 32 along the circumferential direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 is larger than the width along the radial direction of the guide portion 12, and is smaller than the outer diameter of the cell group 11.

The end of the slit portion 32 in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 is located on the way from the edge of the opening 31 to the base end of the needle-shaped portion 30. Therefore, in the needle-shaped portion 30, the portion on the proximal end side of the slit portion 32 has a tubular shape forming a closed ring having no break in the circumferential direction.

The position of the slit portion 32 on the periphery of the edge of the opening 31 is not limited. The opening surface, which is a surface along the opening 31, has a shape with respect to the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30, as in the case where the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 has a shape in which the cylinder is cut diagonally with respect to the extending direction thereof. As shown in FIG. 3, the slit portion 32 extends from a position other than the portion where the puncture end Tp, which is the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30, is located in the edge of the opening 31. preferable. Since the slit portion 32 is provided at a position other than the puncture end Tp, the sharpness in the vicinity of the puncture end Tp, which is the part that first punctures the living body, is reduced as compared with the case where the slit portion 32 extends from the puncture end Tp. Be kept. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the needle-shaped portion 30 from being less likely to be pierced into the living body.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the slit portion 32 is located at a position on the edge of the opening 31 opposite to the puncture end Tp with respect to the center of the opening 31, in other words, at the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 30. It preferably extends from the closest position. Since the vicinity of the portion of the edge of the opening 31 opposite to the puncture end Tp is the portion in the vicinity of the opening 31 that is the last to puncture the living body, the slit portion 32 is provided on the opposite side of the puncture end Tp. Therefore, it is most suppressed that the formation of the slit portion 32 affects the easiness of the needle-shaped portion 30 to puncture the living body.

The structure and movement of the holding portion 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The holding portion 40 is provided with a holding portion 41 configured to be openable and closable at its tip. FIG. 4 shows a first state in which the tip end portion of the holding portion 40 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30. That is, in the first state, the sandwiching portion 41 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30. In FIG. 4, the sandwiching portion 41 is closed.

In the first state, a region in which the cell group 11 is housed is formed between the tip of the holding portion 40, that is, the tip of the holding portion 41 and the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30. The inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion 30 is larger than the outer diameter of the cell group 11. For example, when the outer diameter of the cell group 11 is 200 μm, the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion 30 may be about 220 μm. It is sufficient that there is a gap between the holding portion 40 and the needle-shaped portion 30 to the extent that the holding portion 40 can move along the needle-shaped portion 30.

In the first state, the slit portion 32 extends from the edge of the opening 31 to a position beyond the position of the tip of the holding portion 40 in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30. In other words, in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30, the end of the slit portion 32 is located on the proximal end side of the needle-shaped portion 30 with respect to the tip of the holding portion 40.

FIG. 5 shows a second state in which the tip portion of the holding portion 40 protrudes from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. That is, in the second state, the sandwiching portion 41 protrudes to the outside of the needle-shaped portion 30. Further, in FIG. 5, the sandwiching portion 41 is open.

The holding portion 41 includes a fulcrum portion 42 located at the base end portion of the holding portion 41, and two holding pieces 43 extending from the fulcrum portion 42 to the tip of the holding portion 41. The sandwiching portion 41 is opened by moving the two sandwiching pieces 43 with the fulcrum portion 42 as a fulcrum so that the tip portions of the two sandwiching pieces 43 are separated from each other. In other words, the sandwiching portion 41 opens so that the two sandwiching pieces 43 are separated into one side and the other side of the central axis of the needle-shaped portion 30. The sandwiching portion 41 moves based on the operation of the mechanism portion 80 described above. The movement of the holding portion 40 between the first state and the second state and the opening / closing movement of the holding portion 41 may or may not be linked.

The holding portion 40 is made of, for example, a metal or a resin. The facing surfaces of the two holding pieces 43 may be provided with a member for preventing slipping when holding the implant 10. Such a member is formed of, for example, rubber or the like.

[Transplant method of transplant]
A method of transplanting the transplant 10 using the cell transplant device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 11.

As shown in FIG. 6, before transplantation, the transplantation product 10 is held in a tray 100 such as a culture container together with the protective liquid Pl. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the implant 10 is placed in a recess 110 of the tray 100. Then, in the tray 100, the protective liquid Pl is put in the inside of the recess 110 and the entire region on the recess 110. The holding mode of the transplant 10 and the protective liquid Pl in the tray 100 is such that the protective liquid Pl is held in the entire area of the tray 100 including the recess 110 described above, and the transplant 10 is held in the recess 110. Not limited. For example, the protective liquid Pl may be held only in the recess 110, or the transplant 10 and the protective liquid Pl may be arranged on a flat surface of the tray 100.

The protective liquid Pl may be any liquid that does not easily inhibit the survival of cells, and is preferably a liquid that has little effect on the living body when injected into the living body. For example, the protective liquid Pl is a liquid that protects the skin such as physiological saline, petrolatum, and a lotion, or a mixture of these liquids. The protective liquid Pl may contain an additive component such as a nutritional component. Further, when the tray 100 is a culture vessel and the cell group 11 is cultured in the tray 100, the protective liquid Pl may be a medium for culturing the cells, or may be a liquid exchanged from the medium. There may be. The protective liquid Pl can be a sol-like body, a gel-like body, a low-viscosity fluid, or a high-viscosity fluid.

When incorporating the transplant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30, first, the cell transplanting device 20 is in a second state in which the holding portion 41 protrudes from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the open holding portion 41 is brought close to the transplant 10 arranged on the tray 100. As shown in FIG. 7, the two sandwiching pieces are arranged by arranging the sandwiching portion 41 so that the guide portion 12 of the transplant 10 passes between the two sandwiching pieces 43 in the sandwiching portion 41 and closing the sandwiching portion 41. The guide portion 12 is sandwiched between 43. As a result, the guide portion 12 is sandwiched between the sandwiching portions 41, that is, the transplant 10 is held at the tip portion of the holding portion 40.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 8, the holding portion 40 is moved with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the holding portion 41 and the implant 10 are pulled into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the opening 31. As a result, the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 40 are in the first state, and the cell group 11 is housed in the needle-shaped portion 30.

According to the cell transplantation apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 in a state where the guide portion 12 is picked up by the holding portion 40. Therefore, as compared with the case where the transplant 10 is taken in only by suction in the needle-shaped portion 30 without holding the transplant 10, the guide portion 12 is caught near the opening 31 and the uptake of the transplant 10 is hindered. Is suppressed. Therefore, since the uptake of the transplant 10 proceeds smoothly, the efficiency of uptake of the transplant 10 is improved.

Since the needle-shaped portion 30 has the slit portion 32, the end portion extending from the portion where the guide portion 12 passes through the slit portion 32 and is sandwiched by the sandwiched portion 41 in the guide portion 12 is the needle-shaped portion 30. Go out of. In the present embodiment, since the transplant 10 is pulled into the needle-shaped portion 30 with the sandwiching portion 41 sandwiching the guide portion 12, the transplanted portion 10 enters the needle-shaped portion 30 from the guide portion 12. Therefore, the guide portion 12 can easily enter the slit portion 32.

In the first state, the slit portion 32 extends to a position beyond the position of the tip of the holding portion 40, and in a state where the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the cell group 11 is the holding portion 40. It is located between the tip and the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30. Therefore, one end of the guide portion 12 is arranged closer to the proximal end side of the needle-shaped portion 30 than the cell group 11 and escapes from the slit portion 32, and the other end portion of the guide portion 12 is more needle-shaped than the cell group 11. The implant 10 is arranged so as to be arranged on the distal end side of the portion 30 and extend toward the opening 31. In other words, when the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the implant 10 is arranged in a direction in which the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31.
As described above, in the cell transplantation apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, the orientation of the transplantation 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 can be controlled to a specific orientation.

In the first state, if the orientation of the holding portion 40 in the circumferential direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 is set so that the portion between the two holding pieces 43 and the slit portion 32 face each other, the holding portion 41 is set. The sandwiched guide portion 12 extends from between the two sandwiching pieces 43 toward the slit portion 32. Therefore, when the transplant 10 is taken in, the guide portion 12 is more easily inserted by the slit portion 32. However, in the drawings, in order to make it easier to understand the structure of the holding portion 41, the orientation of the holding portion 40 is shown in a direction different from the above-mentioned orientation.

When the transplant 10 is taken up, it is preferable that the protective solution Pl is also taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 together with the transplant 10, and the protective liquid Pl is present around the cell group 11 inside the needle-shaped portion 30. When taking in the implant 10, the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 may be sucked in order to take in the protective liquid Pl. In this case, the cell transplantation device 20 includes a suction portion that sucks the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30. The suction unit includes, for example, a mechanism for sucking a fluid by the movement of a pump or a piston. The end of the slit portion 32 is located on the way from the edge of the opening 31 to the proximal end of the needle-shaped portion 30, and the portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 on the proximal end side of the slit portion 32 has a cut in the circumferential direction. Therefore, the loss of suction by the suction part is suppressed. Since the slit portion 32 is minute, it is possible to prevent the taken-in protective liquid Pl from leaking from the slit portion 32.
As described above, the incorporation of the implant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30 is completed.

When the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the cell transplant device 20 is carried to the transplant site Sk, which is, for example, the skin of the head of a living body. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the transplantation site Sk is stabbed by the needle-shaped portion 30. At this time, the sandwiching portion 41 and the transplant 10 are located inside the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 is located at the tip portion of the cell transplanting device 20. Since the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30 has a shape that easily sticks into the living body, the needle-shaped portion 30 can smoothly enter the transplantation site Sk.

When the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30 enters the inside of the transplantation site Sk, the end of the guide portion 12 protrudes from the slit portion 32, so that the guide portion 12 extends from the inside of the transplantation site Sk toward the surface. The end portion is in a state of protruding from the surface of the transplantation site Sk. The length of the guide portion 12 is preset to a length that does not allow the guide portion 12 to enter the inside of the transplant site Sk up to the end when the cell group 11 is arranged in the transplant target area inside the transplant site Sk. Has been done. If the end portion of the guide portion 12 protrudes from the surface of the transplantation site Sk, the depth at which the needle-shaped portion 30 enters may be the depth at which the entire slit portion 32 enters the inside of the transplantation site Sk. The depth near the end of the slit portion 32 may be such that it does not enter the inside of the transplantation site Sk.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding portion 40 is moved relative to the needle-shaped portion 30. As a result, the cell transplantation device 20 is put into the second state, and the transplantation 10 comes out from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30 together with the sandwiching portion 41. At this time, it is preferable that the cell transplantation device 20 is in the second state by retracting the needle-shaped portion 30 in the direction of being pulled out from the transplantation site Sk without changing the positions of the sandwiching portion 41 and the transplantation portion 10. .. As a result, the cell group 11 is placed in the space where the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30 was located inside the transplantation site Sk, and therefore, when the cell group 11 exits the needle-shaped portion 30, it is pressed from the surrounding tissue. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the load on the cell group 11. Further, since the transplant 10 is prevented from advancing inside the transplant site Sk in a state where the guide portion 12 is not restricted by the slit portion 32, the orientation of the transplant 10 can be easily maintained.

After the cell transplantation device 20 is put into the second state, the holding of the transplantation 10 is released by opening the sandwiching portion 41. As a result, the cell group 11 is arranged in the target area for transplantation. When the protective solution Pl is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 together with the transplantation product 10, the protective solution Pl may also be released to the target area for transplantation. The suction portion may be configured to be capable of pressurization in addition to suction, and the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 may be pressurized for the release of the protective liquid Pl.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the cell group 11 is arranged in the target region for transplantation, the needle-shaped portion 30 is withdrawn from the transplantation site Sk. The needle-shaped portion 30 may be pulled out in the first state or in the second state. This completes the placement of the transplant 10 on the living body.

According to the cell transplantation apparatus 20 of the first embodiment, the slit portion 32 controls the orientation of the transplantation 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 to a specific orientation, so that the transplantation 10 is in vivo in a specific orientation. Easy to place in. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted product 10 is possible.

When the cell group 11 is a hair follicle primordium, the cell group 11 is arranged so that the aggregated portion of epithelial cells is arranged at a position closer to the skin surface with respect to the aggregated portion of mesenchymal cells. The sandwiching portion 41 sandwiches the portion of the guide portion 12 protruding from the aggregated portion of the epithelial cells, so that the cell group 11 can be easily arranged in the above-mentioned direction.

Further, by arranging the guide portion 12 along the cell group 11, it is possible to control the direction of tissue formation based on the transplantation of the cell group 11. When the cell group 11 is a hair follicle primordia, the guide portion 12 extends from the cell group 11 toward the skin surface, and the end portion of the guide portion 12 protrudes from the skin, so that the epithelial system derived from the hair follicle primordia is derived. The continuity between the cells and the epithelial cells in the transplanted area is ensured, and tissue formation can be induced so that the formed hairs go out of the skin. According to the cell transplantation apparatus 20 of the present embodiment, it is easy to arrange the transplantation 10 so that the guide portion 12 extends from the cell group 11 and exits from the skin.
After the tissue formation is induced, the guide portion 12 is removed. If the guide portion 12 is made of a biodegradable material, the guide portion 12 may not be removed.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the holding portion 41 opens and closes when each of the two holding pieces 43 moves. Instead of this, as shown in FIG. 12, the holding portion 41 may be opened and closed by moving only one of the holding pieces 43. In the example shown in FIG. 12, at the base end portion of the sandwiching portion 41, one sandwiching piece 43a is rotatably connected to the sandwiching piece 43b with respect to the other sandwiching piece 43b. With the connecting portion 44 between the holding piece 43a and the holding piece 43b as a fulcrum, the holding piece 43a moves so that the tip portion of the holding piece 43a is separated from the tip portion of the holding piece 43b, so that the holding portion 41 opens.

When taking in the transplant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30, in the second state, the open holding portion 41 is brought close to the transplant 10, and the guide portion 12 passes between the holding piece 43a and the holding piece 43b. After the pinching portion 41 is arranged, the pinching piece 43a moves to close the pinching portion 41. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13, the guide portion 12 is sandwiched between the sandwiching piece 43a and the sandwiching piece 43b, and the transplant 10 is held at the tip of the holding portion 40.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the holding portion 40 is moved with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the holding portion 41 and the implant 10 are pulled into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the opening 31. As a result, the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 40 are in the first state, the cell group 11 is housed in the needle-shaped portion 30, and the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the slit portion 32.

As described above, according to the cell transplantation apparatus of the first embodiment, the effects listed below can be obtained.
(1) The position of the tip of the holding portion 40 when the holding portion 40 holds the transplant 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 from the edge of the opening 31 in the direction in which the slit portion 32 extends in the needle-shaped portion 30. It extends to a position beyond. Therefore, when the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the slit portion 32. Then, in the needle-shaped portion 30, the transplant 10 is arranged in the direction in which the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31. Therefore, since the orientation of the implant 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 can be controlled to a specific orientation, it is easy to arrange the implant 10 in the living body in a specific orientation. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted product 10 is possible.

(2) With the tip of the holding portion 40 protruding from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30, the holding portion 40 holds the transplant 10 and the tip of the holding portion 40 is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion 30. By moving the holding portion 40 with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30 to the position where it is to be formed, the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the guide portion 12 from being caught in the vicinity of the opening 31 and making it difficult for the cell group 11 to enter the needle-shaped portion 30. As a result, the uptake of the transplant 10 proceeds smoothly, so that the transplant 10 can be smoothly transplanted.

(3) The end of the slit portion 32 in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 is located on the way from the edge of the opening 31 to the base end of the needle-shaped portion 30. As a result, when the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 is sucked for the purpose of taking up the liquid substance together with the cell group 11 into the needle-shaped portion 30, it is possible to suppress the loss of suction.

(4) The slit portion 32 extends from the position closest to the proximal end portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 in the edge of the opening 31 toward the proximal end portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30. According to such a configuration, since the slit portion 32 is located at a position different from the vicinity of the tip, which is the part of the needle-shaped portion 30 that first pierces the living body, the sharpness near the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30 is maintained. The formation of the slit portion 32 suppresses the decrease in the easiness of the needle-shaped portion 30 to pierce the living body.

(5) The holding portion 40 holds the guide portion 12. As a result, when the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the guide portion 12 is held by the holding portion 40 and carried to the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30, so that the guide portion 12 is accurately caught near the opening 31. It is suppressed to.

(6) The holding portion 40 has a holding portion 41 having two holding pieces 43 at the tip portion, and holds the guide portion 12 by sandwiching the guide portion 12 between the two holding pieces 43. According to such a configuration, the guide portion 12 can be accurately held at the tip portion of the holding portion 40.

(7) When the transplant 10 contains a hair follicle primordium as the cell group 11, the transplant 10 extends so that the guide portion 12 extends from the cell group 11 toward the skin surface and the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out of the skin. Is required to be placed. In the case of the cell transplant device 20, since the transplant 10 is arranged in the needle-shaped portion 30 in the direction in which the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31, the transplant 10 is described above for the living body. It is easy to arrange like.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the cell transplantation apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 18. The cell transplantation apparatus of the second embodiment is also used for transplantation of the same transplant as the first embodiment. The second embodiment has a different structure of the holding portion as compared with the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences between the second embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 15, the holding portion 50 of the second embodiment extends inside the needle-shaped portion 30 along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30, like the holding portion 40 of the first embodiment, and the holding portion 50 Relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 between the position where the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion 30 and the position where the tip portion of the holding portion 50 protrudes from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. Moved to. The first state is a state in which the tip portion of the holding portion 50 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30, and the second state is a state in which the tip portion of the holding portion 50 protrudes from the opening 31. FIG. 15 shows the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 50 in the second state.

The holding portion 50 has a through hole 51 at its tip portion that penetrates the holding portion 50 in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the holding portion 50. Further, the holding portion 50 includes a sliding portion 52 configured to be slidable along the extending direction of the holding portion 50. The sliding portion 52 moves between a position where the tip portion covers the through hole 51 and a position where the tip portion is located on the proximal end side of the through hole 51 and the through hole 51 is exposed. The through hole 51 is closed when the sliding portion 52 covers the through hole 51, and the through hole 51 is opened when the sliding portion 52 exposes the through hole 51. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the through hole 51 is opened. The through hole 51 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30 in the first state, and protrudes outside the needle-shaped portion 30 in the second state.

The movement of the holding portion 50 with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30 and the movement of the sliding portion 52 are performed based on the operation of the mechanism portion 80 described in the first embodiment. The movement of the holding portion 50 and the movement of the sliding portion 52 may or may not be linked.

As shown in FIG. 16, when the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, in the second state, the open through hole 51 is brought close to the implant 10, and the guide portion 12 is passed through the through hole 51. .. For example, when the transplant 10 is formed, the guide portion 12 is arranged so as to pierce the cell group 11 in the tray so that the end portion of the guide portion 12 protrudes upward from the cell group 11 to penetrate. It is easy to pass the guide portion 12 through the hole 51.

As shown in FIG. 17, the sliding portion 52 moves to close the through hole 51. As a result, the guide portion 12 is sandwiched between the edge of the through hole 51 and the tip portion of the sliding portion 52, and the transplant 10 is held by the tip portion of the holding portion 50.

Then, as shown in FIG. 18, the holding portion 50 is moved with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the through hole 51 and the implant 10 are pulled into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the opening 31. As a result, the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 50 are in the first state, and the cell group 11 is housed in the needle-shaped portion 30. In the first state, the slit portion 32 extends toward the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 to a position beyond the position of the tip end of the holding portion 50. In a state where the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the slit portion 32.

Also in the second embodiment, the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 while the guide portion 12 is held by the holding portion 50. Therefore, as compared with the case where the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 without being held, the uptake of the transplant 10 proceeds smoothly, so that the efficiency of the uptake of the transplant 10 is improved.

Since the needle-shaped portion 30 has the slit portion 32, one end of the guide portion 12 is from the slit portion 32 to the needle-shaped portion 30 in a state where the transplanted portion 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30. The implant 10 is arranged so as to go out and the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31. Therefore, the orientation of the implant 10 within the needle-shaped portion 30 can be controlled to a specific orientation.

In the second embodiment, since the transplant 10 is pulled into the needle-shaped portion 30 with the guide portion 12 passed through the through hole 51, the transplanted portion 10 enters the needle-shaped portion 30 from the guide portion 12. Therefore, the guide portion 12 can easily enter the slit portion 32. When the orientation of the holding portion 50 in the circumferential direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 is set so that the through hole 51 and the slit portion 32 face each other in the first state, the guide portion 12 passing through the through hole 51 becomes the slit portion 32. Since the guide portion 12 extends toward the slit portion 32, the guide portion 12 can be easily inserted. However, in the drawings, in order to make it easier to understand the structure of the holding portion 50, the orientation of the holding portion 50 is shown in a direction different from the above-mentioned orientation.

In the second embodiment, the implant 10 is placed in the living body in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, after the transplantation site is stabbed by the needle-shaped portion 30 that has taken in the implant 10, the holding portion 50 is moved relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 to be in the second state. As a result, the through hole 51 and the implant 10 come out from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. After that, the sliding portion 52 is moved to open the through hole 51, so that the transplant 10 is released from being held. As a result, the cell group 11 is arranged in the target area for transplantation, and the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out from the surface of the transplantation site. Then, the needle-shaped portion 30 is pulled out from the transplantation site, so that the placement of the transplantation 10 on the living body is completed.

Also in the second embodiment, since the orientation of the transplant 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 is controlled by the slit portion 32, it is easy to arrange the transplant 10 in the living body in a specific orientation. Is. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted product 10 is possible.

As described above, according to the cell transplantation apparatus of the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of (1) to (5) and (7) of the first embodiment.
(8) The holding portion 50 has a through hole 51 that can be opened and closed at its tip, and holds the guide portion 12 by closing the through hole 51 through the guide portion 12 through the through hole 51. As a result, the guide portion 12 can be accurately held at the tip portion of the holding portion 50.

(Third Embodiment)
A third embodiment of the cell transplantation apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 19 to 21. The cell transplantation apparatus of the third embodiment is also used for transplantation of the same transplant as the first embodiment. The third embodiment has a different structure of the holding portion as compared with the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the differences between the third embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 19, the holding portion 60 of the third embodiment has a cylindrical shape extending in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30 inside the needle-shaped portion 30. The holding portion 60 may have a cylindrical shape, and its cross-sectional shape is not particularly limited. For example, when the needle-shaped portion 30 extends in a cylindrical shape, the holding portion 60 may also extend in a cylindrical shape. The end surface of the tip end portion of the holding portion 60 is preferably a plane orthogonal to the extending direction of the holding portion 60. The inner diameter of the holding portion 60 is so small that the cell group 11 does not enter the inside of the holding portion 60.

Similar to the first embodiment, in the holding portion 60, the tip portion of the holding portion 60 is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the holding portion 60 protrudes from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. It is moved relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 with respect to the position. The first state is a state in which the tip portion of the holding portion 60 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 30, and the second state is a state in which the tip portion of the holding portion 60 protrudes from the opening 31. FIG. 19 shows the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 60 in the second state.

The movement of the holding portion 60 with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30 is performed based on the operation of the mechanism portion 80 described in the first embodiment. Further, in the third embodiment, the mechanism unit 80 includes a mechanism such as a pump or a piston that sucks the inside of the holding unit 60. The movement of the holding portion 60 and the suction in the holding portion 60 may be performed in conjunction with each other or may be controlled separately.

When the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, in the second state, the tip portion of the holding portion 60 is brought close to the implant 10 and the inside of the holding portion 60 is sucked. As a result, the transplant 10 is attracted to the tip of the holding portion 60, and as shown in FIG. 20, the cell group 11 is held by the holding portion 60 so as to abut on the tip of the holding portion 60. As a result, the transplant 10 is held at the tip of the holding portion 60. Thus, in the third embodiment, the holding unit 60 holds the transplant 10 by holding the cell group 11.

Then, as shown in FIG. 21, the holding portion 60 is moved with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the holding portion 60 and the implant 10 are pulled into the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the opening 31. As a result, the needle-shaped portion 30 and the holding portion 60 are in the first state, and the cell group 11 is housed in the needle-shaped portion 30. In the first state, the slit portion 32 extends toward the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 to a position beyond the position of the tip end of the holding portion 60. In a state where the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the slit portion 32.

In the third embodiment, the transplant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 with the cell group 11 held in the holding portion 60. According to this, since the holding portion 60 directly holds the cell group 11 and carries it into the needle-shaped portion 30, the transplant 10 is not held and is taken up only by suction in the needle-shaped portion 30, for example. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the guide portion 12 from being caught in the vicinity of the opening 31 and preventing the cell group 11 from entering the needle-shaped portion 30. Therefore, since the uptake of the transplant 10 proceeds smoothly, the efficiency of uptake of the transplant 10 is improved.

Further, also in the third embodiment, since the needle-shaped portion 30 has the slit portion 32, one end of the guide portion 12 is a slit portion in a state where the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30. The implant 10 is arranged so as to protrude from the needle-shaped portion 30 from 32 and extend the guide portion 12 from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31. Therefore, the orientation of the implant 10 within the needle-shaped portion 30 can be controlled to a specific orientation.

In the third embodiment, the implant 10 is placed in the living body in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, after the transplantation site is stabbed by the needle-shaped portion 30 that has taken in the implant 10, the holding portion 60 is moved relative to the needle-shaped portion 30 to be in the second state. As a result, the tip of the holding portion 60 and the implant 10 come out from the opening 31 of the needle-shaped portion 30. After that, the holding of the transplant 10 is released by stopping the suction in the holding portion 60. As a result, the cell group 11 is arranged in the target area for transplantation, and the end portion of the guide portion 12 comes out from the surface of the transplantation site. Then, the needle-shaped portion 30 is pulled out from the transplantation site, so that the placement of the transplantation 10 on the living body is completed.

Also in the third embodiment, since the orientation of the transplant 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 is controlled by the slit portion 32, it is easy to arrange the transplant 10 in the living body in a specific orientation. Is. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted product 10 is possible.

As described above, according to the cell transplantation apparatus of the third embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of (1) to (4) and (7) of the first embodiment.
(9) The holding portion 60 has a tubular shape, and the inside of the holding portion 60 is sucked so that the holding portion 60 holds the cell group 11 at the tip thereof. According to such a configuration, when the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the cell group 11 is held by the holding portion 60 and carried to the inside of the needle-shaped portion 30, so that the guide portion 12 is caught in the vicinity of the opening 31. Therefore, it is possible to accurately prevent the cell group 11 from easily entering the needle-shaped portion 30.

(Fourth Embodiment)
A fourth embodiment of the cell transplantation apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 26. Hereinafter, the differences between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described, and the same components as those of the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

In a fourth embodiment, the implant 10 is part of a implant unit 15 composed of a plurality of implants 10 before being incorporated into the needle-shaped portion 30.
As shown in FIG. 22, the transplant unit 15 includes a plurality of cell groups 11 and a filamentous body 16 extending by connecting these cell groups 11 in a row. The thread-like body 16 is a structure in which a portion functioning as a guide portion 12 continuously extends. That is, the transplant unit 15 has a structure in which a plurality of transplants 10 are connected. By cutting the filament 16 between the adjacent cell groups 11, the guide portion 12 is formed and the transplants 10 are separated one by one.

By generating the transplant unit 15, a plurality of transplants 10 can be collectively generated. That is, by arranging one filament 16 for a plurality of cell groups 11 to collectively generate a plurality of transplants 10, one guide portion 12 is arranged for each of the plurality of cell groups 11. The efficiency of the production of the transplant 10 can be increased as compared with the production of the transplant 10 one by one.

As shown in FIG. 23, the cell transplantation device 25 of the fourth embodiment includes a cutting portion 90 for cutting the filamentous body 16 in addition to the same configuration as the cell transplantation device 20 of the first embodiment. .. The cutting portion 90 is provided with a cutting blade 91 at its tip. As long as the filament 16 can be cut, the structure and shape of the cutting blade 91 are not limited. For example, the cutting blade 91 has a scissors shape that sandwiches and cuts the thread-like body 16. In the fourth embodiment, the mechanism unit 80 causes the holding unit 40 to perform an operation for holding and releasing the implant 10, and also causes the cutting blade 91 to perform an operation for cutting the filamentous body 16. Let me do it. The mechanism unit 80 includes a member for transmitting power to the cutting blade 91.
The cutting blade 91 is arranged outside the needle-shaped portion 30 in the vicinity of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30. For example, the cutting blade 91 is located below the opening 31 and near the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30.

As shown in FIG. 24, the incorporation of the implant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30 is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment. The target of incorporation into the needle-shaped portion 30 is the implant 10 at the end of the implant unit 15. Specifically, in the second state, after the holding portion 40 holds the filament 16 at the end of the transplant unit 15, the holding portion 40 is moved with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30 to be in the first state. As a result, the implant 10 at the end of the implant unit 15 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30. In other words, the holding portion 40 holds the guide portion 12 of the implant 10 located at the end of the implant unit 15. The guide portion 12 has an end portion that is not connected to the other implant 10, and the vicinity of this end portion is held by the holding portion 40.

In a state where the implant 10 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30, the end portion of the guide portion 12, that is, the end portion of the filamentous body 16, comes out of the needle-shaped portion 30 from the slit portion 32. Then, the filament 16 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31, and the other implant 10 is connected to the implant 10 taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 through the opening 31.

Here, the cutting blade 91 is moved, and the cutting blade 91 cuts a portion of the thread-like body 16 extending from the opening 31. That is, the cutting blade 91 cuts the filamentous body 16 between the cell group 11a incorporated in the needle-shaped portion 30 and the cell group 11b adjacent to the cell group 11a. If the cutting blade 91 is located below the opening 31 and near the tip of the needle-shaped portion 30, the uptake of the implant 10 is suppressed by the cutting blade 91, and the filament 16 extending from the opening 31 is suppressed. The cutting blade 91 is easy to cut.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 25, the implant 10 incorporated in the needle-shaped portion 30 is separated from the other implants 10. One end of the guide portion 12 protrudes from the slit portion 32 to the outside of the needle-shaped portion 30, and the implant 10 is arranged in a direction in which the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31. After that, the transplant 10 is arranged in the living body as in the first embodiment.

The cutting portion 90 is configured to be movable or detachable with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and when the needle-shaped portion 30 takes in the implant 10 or pierces the transplanted portion, the cutting blade 91 is a needle. It may be separated from the shape portion 30.

When the transplant unit 15 is used, the efficiency of generation of the transplant 10 is improved as described above, but the work of separating the transplant 10 from the transplant unit 15 at the time of transplanting the transplant 10 increases. On the other hand, in the fourth embodiment, the uptake of the transplant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30 and the separation of the transplant 10 by cutting the filament 16 are continuously performed by the cell transplant device 25, so that the separation is performed. It is possible to prevent the work from becoming complicated. Therefore, smooth transplantation of the transplanted product 10 is possible.

[Modification example]
In the above embodiment, an example in which the holding portion 40 holds the filamentous body 16 at the end portion of the transplant unit 15 has been described. Not limited to this, as shown in FIG. 26, the holding portion 40 may hold the filament 16 between adjacent cell groups 11.

Specifically, the holding portion 40 is a filament in the vicinity of the cell group 11a between the cell group 11a included in the transplant 10 at the end of the transplant unit 15 and the cell group 11b adjacent to the cell group 11a. Holds 16. By moving the holding portion 40 from the second state to the first state, the implant 10 at the end of the implant unit 15 is taken into the needle-shaped portion 30.

In the guide portion 12 of the implant 10 incorporated into the needle-shaped portion 30, the end not connected to the other implant 10, that is, the end of the filament 16 extends toward the opening 31. Then, in the filamentous body 16, the portion between the cell group 11a and the cell group 11b adjacent to the cell group 11a extends to the outside of the needle-shaped portion 30 through the slit portion 32. In other words, the filamentous body 16 extends from the opening 31 toward the slit portion 32, and the other implant 10 is connected to the implant 10 taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 through the slit portion 32.

In the modification, the cutting blade 91 is arranged in the vicinity of the slit portion 32 in the vicinity of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion 30 outside the needle-shaped portion 30. The cutting blade 91 is moved, and the cutting blade 91 cuts a portion of the thread-like body 16 extending from the slit portion 32. That is, the cutting blade 91 cuts the filamentous body 16 between the cell group 11a incorporated in the needle-shaped portion 30 and the cell group 11b adjacent to the cell group 11a. If the cutting blade 91 is located near the slit portion 32, it is easy to cut the thread-like body 16 extending from the slit portion 32.

As a result, the transplant 10 taken into the needle-shaped portion 30 is separated from the other transplants 10.
In the above embodiment, the timing of cutting the filament 16 by the cutting portion 90 does not have to be immediately after the uptake of the implant 10 of the needle-shaped portion 30. The cutting portion 90 may cut the filamentous body 16 between the time when the holding portion 40 holds the transplant 10 and the time when the placement of the transplant 10 with respect to the living body is completed.

In the above embodiment, the example in which the cell transplantation device 25 includes the holding portion 40 of the first embodiment has been described, but the cell transplantation device 25 is a modification of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment. Any holding portion may be provided.

As described above, according to the cell transplantation apparatus of the fourth embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the third embodiment.
(10) By generating the transplant unit 15, a plurality of transplants 10 can be collectively generated, so that the efficiency of producing the transplant 10 can be improved. On the other hand, when the transplant 10 is transplanted, the work of separating the transplant 10 from the transplant unit 15 increases. On the other hand, since the cell transplantation device 25 has a cutting portion 90, the uptake of the transplantation 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30 and the separation of the transplantation 10 by cutting the filamentous body 16 can be performed by one cell transplantation device 25. Can be carried out. Therefore, the work of separating the transplant 10 is suppressed from becoming complicated, and the transplant 10 can be smoothly transplanted.

(Example)
The above-mentioned cell transplantation apparatus will be described with reference to specific examples.
A 12G injection needle having a slit portion was used as the needle-shaped portion, and a micro forceps having a tip openable and closable was used as the holding portion. That is, the holding portion has a holding portion at its tip. The holding portion was assembled to the needle-shaped portion so that the holding portion could slide inside the needle-shaped portion, and the cell transplantation device of the example was produced. Regarding the needle-shaped portion, the inner diameter is 2.4 mm, the outer diameter is 2.7 mm, the width of the slit portion is 1.0 mm, and the length of the slit portion from the opening of the needle-shaped portion is 5.0 mm. The outer diameter of the holding portion when the sandwiching portion is closed is 2.0 mm. The holding portion is arranged at a position where the holding portion protrudes 20 mm from the base end of the needle-shaped opening and at a position where the tip of the holding portion is 4.5 mm away from the base end of the needle-shaped opening inside the needle-shaped portion. It is slidable to and from the position where it is. A rubber member was placed between the needle-shaped portion and the holding portion in order to fix the position of the sliding holding portion.

A transplant was prepared in which a thread-like guide portion made of nylon was inserted into the hair follicle primordium, which is a cell group. The outer diameter of the hair follicle primordium is about 400 μm. The cell transplanting device of the example was brought close to the transplant in the second state, the holding portion was opened and closed to sandwich the guide portion, and then the transplant was taken into the needle-shaped portion in the first state of the cell transplanting device. When the needle-shaped part after taking in the transplant was observed, it was confirmed that the end part of the guide part protruded from the slit part.

Then, the needle-shaped part was pierced into the excised skin of the nude mouse, the holding part was opened with the cell transplantation device in the second state, and the holding of the guide part was released. After removing the needle-shaped part, the surface of the removed skin was observed. As a result, it was confirmed that the end of the guide portion was exposed on the surface.

As a result, using the cell transplantation apparatus of the example, the transplant containing the cell group and the guide portion is taken into the needle-shaped portion, and transplanted to the living body so that the end portion of the guide portion comes out from the surface of the living body. It was confirmed that it was possible to place objects.

(Modification example)
Each of the above embodiments may be modified as follows.
-In the first to third embodiments, the holding portion does not move with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the holding portion may always be located inside the needle-shaped portion 30. That is, the cell transplantation device may always be in the first state. In this case, the holding portion holds the transplant 10 incorporated in the needle-shaped portion 30. If the slit portion 32 extends beyond the position of the tip of the holding portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion 30, the direction in which the guide portion 12 extends from the slit portion 32 toward the opening 31 in the needle-shaped portion 30. The implant 10 is placed in. Therefore, since the orientation of the implant 10 in the needle-shaped portion 30 can be controlled to a specific orientation, it is easy to arrange the implant 10 in the living body in a specific orientation. Therefore, from the viewpoint of the arrangement of the transplant 10 with respect to the living body, the transplantation of the transplant 10 can proceed smoothly.

-In the first to third embodiments, the needle-shaped portion 30 does not have to have the slit portion 32. The cell transplantation device is provided with a holding portion capable of holding the transplant 10 at the tip portion, and the holding portion holds the transplant 10 and moves from the second state to the first state, thereby transplanting into the needle-shaped portion 30. In the configuration of taking in the object 10, the guide portion 12 is caught near the opening 31 and the transplant 10 is taken in as compared with the case where the transplant 10 is not held and is taken in only by suction in the needle-shaped portion 30, for example. It is suppressed from being hindered. Therefore, the uptake of the transplant 10 proceeds smoothly. Therefore, from the viewpoint of uptake of the transplantation 10, the transplantation of the transplantation 10 can proceed smoothly. In particular, if the holding portion holds the guide portion 12, it is possible to accurately prevent the guide portion 12 from being caught in the vicinity of the opening 31.

-In the fourth embodiment, the holding portion does not move with respect to the needle-shaped portion 30, and the tip portion of the holding portion may always be located inside the needle-shaped portion 30. Further, regardless of the configuration of the holding portion, the needle-shaped portion 30 may not have the slit portion 32. In short, the cutting portion 90 may cut the filament 16 while the holding portion holds one transplant 10 in the transplant unit 15. As a result, the uptake of the transplant 10 into the needle-shaped portion 30 and the separation of the transplant 10 by cutting the filament 16 can be performed by one cell transplant device 25, so that the transplant using the transplant unit 15 can be performed. From the viewpoint of separation of the transplanted product 10, the transplantation of the transplanted product 10 can proceed smoothly.

The slit portion 32 may extend to the base end of the needle-shaped portion 30.
-The holding portion may hold the transplant 10 by holding both the cell group 11 and the guide portion 12.
-The cell transplantation device may include a plurality of needle-shaped portions 30, and a holding portion provided for each needle-shaped portion 30. If the cell transplantation device includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 30, a plurality of transplants 10 can be transplanted together.

(Additional note)
The means for solving the above-mentioned problems include the following additional notes as technical ideas derived from the above-described embodiment and the above-mentioned modification.

A cell transplant device for transferring a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion having a portion extending from the cell group and arranging the cell group in a living body.
A needle-shaped portion extending in a cylindrical shape, the needle-shaped portion configured to take in the implant from the opening of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, and the needle-shaped portion.
It comprises the holding portion, which is located inside the needle-shaped portion, extends along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and has a tip portion capable of holding the guide portion.
The holding portion is between a position where the tip portion of the holding portion is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion and a position where the tip portion of the holding portion protrudes from the opening of the needle-shaped portion. , A cell transplantation device configured to be movable relative to the needle-shaped portion along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion.

According to the above configuration, with the tip of the holding portion protruding from the opening of the needle-shaped portion, the holding portion holds the implant and the tip of the holding portion is placed inside the needle-shaped portion. By moving the holding portion with respect to the needle-shaped portion, the cell group can be taken into the needle-shaped portion. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the guide portion from being caught in the vicinity of the opening and making it difficult for the cell group to enter the needle-shaped portion. As a result, the uptake of the transplanted product proceeds smoothly, so that the transplanted material can be smoothly transplanted.

10 ... Transplant 11, 11a, 11b ... Cell group 12 ... Guide part 15 ... Transplant unit 16 ... Filamentous body 20, 25 ... Cell transplant device 30 ... Needle-shaped part 31 ... Opening 32 ... Slit part 40, 50, 60 ... Holding part 41 ... Holding part 43, 43a, 43b ... Holding piece 51 ... Through hole 52 ... Sliding part 70 ... Support part 80 ... Mechanical part 90 ... Cutting part 91 ... Cutting blade 100 ... Tray

Claims (10)

A cell transplant device for transferring a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion having a portion extending from the cell group and arranging the cell group in a living body.
A needle-shaped portion extending in a cylindrical shape, the needle-shaped portion configured to take in the cell group from the opening of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, and the needle-shaped portion.
It comprises a holding portion located inside the needle-shaped portion, extending along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and having a tip portion capable of holding the implant.
The needle-shaped portion has a slit portion extending from the edge of the opening toward the base end portion of the needle-shaped portion, and in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, the slit portion is described from the edge of the opening. A cell transplantation device in which a holding portion extends to a position beyond the position of the tip of the holding portion when the implant is held inside the needle-shaped portion. The cell transplantation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of the slit portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion is located on the way from the edge of the opening to the base end of the needle-shaped portion. The cell transplantation apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slit portion extends from a position closest to the proximal end portion in the edge of the opening toward the proximal end portion in the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The holding portion is between a position where the tip portion of the holding portion is arranged inside the needle-shaped portion and a position where the tip portion of the holding portion protrudes from the opening of the needle-shaped portion. The cell transplantation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to be movable relative to the needle-shaped portion along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion. The guide portion extends like a thread and
The cell transplantation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the tip portion of the holding portion holds the guide portion. The cell transplanting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding portion is provided with a holding portion having two holding pieces at the tip portion, and the guide portion is held by sandwiching the guide portion between the two holding pieces. .. The cell transplantation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the holding portion has a hole that can be opened and closed at the tip portion, and holds the guide portion by passing the guide portion through the hole and closing the hole. The cell transplantation apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the holding portion has a tubular shape extending along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and the inside of the holding portion is sucked to hold the cell group at the tip portion. .. The cell transplantation apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the cell group contains a hair follicle primordium. A cell transplant device for transferring a transplant containing a cell group and a guide portion having a portion extending from the cell group and arranging the cell group in a living body.
A transplant unit is composed of a plurality of the transplants, wherein the transplant unit includes a plurality of the cell groups and a filamentous body extending by connecting these cell groups in a row, and the filamentous body is the guide. It is a structure in which the part that functions as a part extends continuously.
A needle-shaped portion extending in a cylindrical shape, the needle-shaped portion configured to take in the cell group from the opening of the tip portion of the needle-shaped portion, and the needle-shaped portion.
A holding portion located inside the needle-shaped portion, extending along the extending direction of the needle-shaped portion, and having a tip portion capable of holding the implant.
In a state where the holding portion holds one of the transplants in the transplant unit, the cell group contained in the transplant and the other cell groups adjacent to each other in the cell group and the transplant unit. A cutting portion that cuts the filamentous body and
A cell transplant device equipped with.

Images