JP7484211B2 - Cell Transplantation Device - Google Patents

Description

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

Technologies for transplanting cell groups into living organisms have been developed. For example, attempts have been made to regenerate hair by culturing cell groups that contribute to the formation of hair follicles, which are organs that produce hair, and transplanting the cell groups into the skin. For successful hair regeneration, it is desirable for the transplanted cell groups to form hair follicles that have a normal tissue structure and are capable of forming good hair. Therefore, various research and development efforts have been made on methods for producing cell groups capable of forming such hair follicles (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3). Furthermore, development of a cell transplantation device, which is a device for transferring cultured cell groups from a culture container into a living organism, is also underway (see, for example, Patent Document 4). The cell transplantation device has a needle-shaped, pointed tubular part, and takes in the cell groups from the culture container into the inside of the tubular part. After the tubular part pierces the target site for transplantation, such as the skin, the cell groups are released from the tip of the tubular part, and the cell groups are placed in the living organism.

International Publication No. 2017/073625 International Publication No. 2012/108069 JP 2008-29331 A International Publication No. 2019/064653

However, when transplanting a cell group, there is a demand to supply a substance other than the cell group to the living body together with the cell group. For example, in order to satisfactorily express the function of the transplanted cell group, it is preferable to supply an auxiliary substance that assists the expression of the function of the cell group to the living body together with the cell group. The auxiliary substance is, for example, a nutrient component for the cells or a substance that assists the cell group to settle in the living body. Although the above cell transplantation device can take a protective liquid, which is a liquid that protects the cell group in the culture container, into the cylindrical part together with the cell group and release the protective liquid together with the cell group into the living body, the amount and components of the protective liquid taken in are not necessarily sufficient to enhance the activity of the cell group in the living body. In addition, it is difficult to further take a substance other than the protective liquid into the cylindrical part in the above cell transplantation device. On the other hand, supplying an auxiliary substance to the living body separately from the cell group using a device other than the cell transplantation device requires changing the device between the time of transplanting the cell group and the time of supplying the auxiliary substance, and aligning the transplantation position of the cell group and the supply position of the auxiliary substance, which makes the work of sending the cell group and the auxiliary substance into the living body complicated.

The present invention aims to provide a cell transplantation device capable of delivering cell groups and substances other than cell groups into a living body.

The cell transplantation device that solves the above problem is a cell transplantation device for placing a cell group in a target area in a living body, and is equipped with a cylindrical needle-shaped portion extending in one direction and multiple inner tube portions located inside the needle-shaped portion, and the multiple inner tube portions include a first inner tube portion for transporting the cell group and a second inner tube portion for transporting substances other than the cell group.

According to the above configuration, by arranging a cell group in the first inner cylinder and arranging a target substance, which is a substance other than the cell group, in the second inner cylinder, it is possible to take in the cell group and the target substance inside one needle-shaped part and transfer them into the living body. Then, since the cell group and the target substance can be released from one needle-shaped part, it is possible to supply the target substance near the area in the living body where the cell group is arranged. Therefore, it is possible to easily deliver the cell group and substances other than the cell group into the living body.

In the above configuration, the inner tube portion may be configured to be movable relative to the needle-shaped portion between a first state in which the tip of the inner tube portion is located inside the needle-shaped portion and a second state in which the tip of the inner tube portion protrudes from the opening of the tip of the needle-shaped portion.

According to the above configuration, the needle-shaped part can be inserted into the living body in the first state, and the cell group and the target substance can be taken in and released in the second state. Therefore, the cell group and the target substance can be smoothly delivered into the living body.

In the aforementioned configuration, the plurality of inner cylinder portions may be configured so that each inner cylinder portion is movable between the first state and the second state.
According to the above configuration, the multiple inner cylinder parts can be inserted and removed one by one from the opening of the needle-shaped part, so that the cell group and the target substance can be taken in and released while there is ample space around the inner cylinder parts. Therefore, these operations can be carried out smoothly.

In the aforementioned configuration, two or more of the inner cylinder portions may be configured to be movable simultaneously between the first state and the second state.
According to the above configuration, it is easier to control the movement of the inner cylinder portion compared to a case in which a plurality of inner cylinder portions are moved one by one.

In the above configuration, the cell group may be a collection of cells, and the first inner cylinder may be connected to a mechanism that draws in the inside of the first inner cylinder, and the cell group may be taken into the first inner cylinder from the tip of the first inner cylinder by the suction.

The above configuration makes it possible to accurately capture cell aggregates inside the inner tube, and also makes it easy to capture the desired number of cell groups inside the inner tube.

In the above configuration, at least one of the second inner cylinder portions included in the multiple inner cylinder portions is a second inner cylinder portion for transporting a liquid that is a substance other than the cell group, and the substance may be taken into the second inner cylinder portion from the side opposite to the tip end of the second inner cylinder portion.
According to the above-mentioned configuration, it is possible to efficiently take in the target substance into the inner cylindrical portion by taking advantage of the properties of the liquid.

In the above configuration, a plurality of the needle-shaped portions may be provided, and each of the needle-shaped portions may include a plurality of the inner cylinder portions including the first inner cylinder portion and the second inner cylinder portion.
According to the above configuration, it is possible to simultaneously load multiple cell groups or target substances into the cell transplantation device, or to simultaneously place multiple cell groups or target substances in a living body, thereby improving transplantation efficiency.

According to the present invention, it is possible to deliver cell groups and substances other than cell groups into a living body.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cell transplantation device according to one embodiment of the cell transplantation device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which one inner tube portion protrudes from a needle-shaped portion in the cell transplantation device of one embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell transplantation method using the cell transplantation device of one embodiment, showing a step of incorporating a cell group into the inner tube portion. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell transplantation method using the cell transplantation device of one embodiment, showing a state in which a cell group is housed in the needle-shaped portion together with the inner tube portion. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell transplantation method using the cell transplantation device of one embodiment, showing a state in which the needle-shaped portion has been inserted into the transplantation site. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell transplantation method using the cell transplantation device of one embodiment, illustrating a cell group arrangement step. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a cell transplantation method using the cell transplantation device of one embodiment, illustrating a step of supplying an auxiliary substance. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modified example of a cell transplantation device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a state in which multiple inner tube parts protrude from a needle-shaped part in the cell transplantation device of the modified example. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a modified example of a cell transplantation device.

One embodiment of a cell transplantation device will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. The cell transplantation device of this embodiment is used to transplant a cell group into a living body and to supply a substance other than the cell group. The target area for transplantation is at least one of the intradermal and subcutaneous areas, or tissue of an organ, etc.

[Cell population]
The cell group to be transplanted includes a plurality of cells. The cell group may be a collection of a plurality of aggregated cells, or a collection of a plurality of cells bound by intercellular junctions. Alternatively, the cell group may be composed of a plurality of dispersed cells. The cells constituting the cell group may be undifferentiated cells, or may be cells in which differentiation has been completed, or the cell group may include undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells. The cell group may be, for example, a cell mass (spheroid), an anlage, tissue, organ, organoid, mini-organ, etc.

When the cell group is placed in a target area, it has the function of affecting tissue formation in a living body. When the cell group to be transplanted is placed, for example, intradermally or subcutaneously, it contributes to hair growth or hair development. Such a cell group has, for example, the ability to function as a hair follicle organ, the ability to differentiate into a hair follicle organ, the ability to induce or promote the formation of a hair follicle organ, the ability to induce or promote the formation of hair in a hair follicle, etc. The cell group may also include cells that contribute to the control of hair color, such as pigment cells or stem cells that differentiate into pigment cells. The cell group may also include vascular cells.

Specifically, one example of a cell group to be transplanted in this embodiment is a hair follicle primordium, which is a primitive hair follicle organ. The hair follicle primordium contains mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. In the hair follicle organ, hair papilla cells, which are mesenchymal cells, induce the differentiation of hair follicle epithelial stem cells, and hair matrix cells repeatedly divide in the hair bulb portion formed by this, thereby forming hair. The hair follicle primordium is a cell group that differentiates into such a hair follicle organ.

The hair follicle primordium is formed, for example, by co-culturing mesenchymal cells derived from mesenchymal tissue such as the hair papilla and epithelial cells derived from epithelial tissue located in the bulge region, hair bulb base, etc. under specified conditions. However, the method for producing the hair follicle primordium is not limited to the above example. Furthermore, the origin of the mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells used to produce the hair follicle primordium is not limited either, and these cells may be cells derived from the hair follicle organ, cells derived from an organ different from the hair follicle organ, or cells induced from pluripotent stem cells.

[Auxiliary substances]
The auxiliary substance is a substance other than the cell group, and is a substance to be supplied to a living body together with the cell group. The auxiliary substance may be either a liquid or a solid.

The auxiliary substance is, for example, a substance that assists in the expression of the function of a cell group. When the cell group is a hair follicle primordium, the auxiliary substance directly or indirectly assists in the differentiation of the cell group into a hair follicle organ or the formation of hair in the hair follicle organ. The auxiliary substance may chemically or biologically assist in the expression of the function of the cell group through the components contained in the auxiliary substance, or may assist in the expression of the function of the cell group through the structure, such as the shape, that the auxiliary substance has.

Examples of auxiliary substances that aid in the expression of the functions of the cell groups include additives containing components that promote cell proliferation and differentiation, and fixatives that fix the cell groups to prevent them from falling off from the recipient tissue. The additives include, for example, cell growth factors, nutritional components, physiologically active substances such as cytokines, and extracellular matrices such as collagen. In addition, when the cell groups contribute to hair growth or hair development, it is believed that an important factor for good hair regeneration is that the formation of pores progresses favorably due to the action of the cell groups. Therefore, when the cell groups to be transplanted are cell groups that contribute to hair growth or hair development, such as hair follicle primordia, the auxiliary substance may be a member that functions as a guide for the formation of pores.

The auxiliary substance may also be a substance that assists the needle-shaped portion of the cell transplantation device in entering or withdrawing from the body. Such an auxiliary substance may be, for example, a substance that suppresses the pain caused by the needle-shaped portion being inserted into the body, or a lubricant that suppresses friction between the body and the needle-shaped portion.

[Configuration of cell transplantation device]
The configuration of the cell transplantation device will be described with reference to Figs.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cell transplantation device 100 comprises a cylindrical needle-shaped portion 20 extending in one direction, and a plurality of inner tube portions 30 located inside the needle-shaped portion 20 .

The needle-shaped portion 20 has a needle tip portion 10 and a storage portion 15. The needle tip portion 10 and the storage portion 15 are aligned along the direction in which the needle-shaped portion 20 extends, and the internal space of the needle tip portion 10 and the internal space of the storage portion 15 are in communication with each other.

The needle tip 10 includes the tip of the needle-shaped portion 20. The needle tip 10 has an opening 11 at the tip. That is, the opening 11 is located at the tip of the needle-shaped portion 20. The shape of the needle tip 10 is not particularly limited as long as it is cylindrical or rectangular, and the tip has an external shape that allows it to pierce the target site of the transplant in the living body. The tip of the needle tip 10 has a shape that is, for example, a cylinder cut diagonally in the direction of its extension, and is sharp.

The storage section 15 stores multiple inner tube sections 30. The shape of the storage section 15 is not particularly limited as long as it can store multiple inner tube sections 30. For example, the storage section 15 may have a cylindrical shape or a rectangular tube shape.

The inner tube portion 30 has a tubular shape that extends along the extension direction of the needle-shaped portion 20. For example, the inner tube portion 30 may have a cylindrical shape or a rectangular tube shape. The inner tube portion 30 has the function of taking in and releasing the transfer target, which is a cell group or an auxiliary substance. Of the multiple inner tube portions 30, the transfer target of one inner tube portion 30 is a cell group, and the transfer target of the remaining inner tube portions 30 is an auxiliary substance.

The inner cylinder portion 30 includes one first inner cylinder portion 30 that is an inner cylinder portion 30 for transporting a cell group, and one or more second inner cylinder portions 30 that are inner cylinder portions 30 for transporting auxiliary substances. The number of second inner cylinder portions is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, as an example, a form in which the cell transplantation device 100 includes three inner cylinder portions 30, namely, inner cylinder portion 30a that is the first inner cylinder portion, and inner cylinder portions 30b and 30c that are the second cylinder portions, is described.

The shapes of the inner tube sections 30 may or may not be the same for multiple inner tube sections 30. In addition, the inner diameters of the inner tube sections 30 may or may not be constant for multiple inner tube sections 30. The shape and inner diameter of each inner tube section 30 may be determined according to the object to be transported for each inner tube section 30.

The inner diameter of the storage section 15 is larger than the inner diameter of the needle tip section 10. The storage section 15 has an inner diameter large enough to store all the inner tube sections 30 together. The needle tip section 10 has an inner diameter large enough to pass the multiple inner tube sections 30 one by one. In other words, the inner diameter of the needle tip section 10 is larger than the largest inner diameter of the multiple inner tube sections 30.

The cell transplantation device 100 further includes a drive unit 40 and a transfer control unit 41. The drive unit 40 moves each of the multiple inner tube parts 30 in a direction roughly along the extension direction of the needle-shaped part 20. In detail, the drive unit 40 moves the inner tube part 30 relative to the needle-shaped part 20 between a state in which the tip of the inner tube part 30 is located inside the needle-shaped part 20 and a state in which the tip of the inner tube part 30 protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip part 10. Figure 2 shows the state in which the tip of the inner tube part 30a protrudes from the opening 11.

The arrangement of the multiple inner tube parts 30 is not limited as long as the tip of each of the multiple inner tube parts 30 can be inserted and removed from the opening 11 one by one. For example, the multiple inner tube parts 30 may be arranged in a ring shape along the circumferential direction of the storage part 15, or may be arranged in a straight line along the radial direction of the storage part 15.

The drive unit 40 moves the multiple inner cylinder parts 30 independently of each other, i.e., moves each inner cylinder part 30 separately. For example, the drive unit 40 may be a mechanism that includes parts such as a spring and a pressing member that presses the spring, and moves each inner cylinder part 30 by linking these parts based on the user's operation, or it may be configured to include electronic parts such as a motor and move each inner cylinder part 30 by electronic control based on the user's instructions.

The transfer control unit 41 controls the intake and release of the transfer target in the inner cylinder 30. Specifically, it is preferable that the transfer control unit 41 controls the holding state of the transfer target in the inner cylinder 30 by using suction or pressure within the inner cylinder 30.

When the object to be transferred is something other than a liquid, that is, when the object to be transferred is a cell group, a solid additive, a guide, or other member, the transfer control unit 41 sucks inside the inner tube 30, and the object to be transferred is taken into the interior of the inner tube 30 through the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30. Then, the transfer control unit 41 pressurizes the inside of the inner tube 30, and the object to be transferred is released from the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30 and placed in the living body.

Alternatively, the transfer control unit 41 may suction the inside of the inner tube portion 30, thereby holding the transfer target outside the tip of the inner tube portion 30. In this case, the inner diameter of the tip of the inner tube portion 30 is smaller than the diameter of the transfer target, and the transfer target is held by the inner tube portion 30 in contact with the tip of the inner tube portion 30. Then, by stopping the suction inside the inner tube portion 30 by the transfer control unit 41 or by pressurizing the inside of the inner tube portion 30, the transfer target is released from the hold of the transfer target in the inner tube portion 30, and the transfer target is placed inside the living body.

When the object to be transferred is a liquid, the transfer control unit 41 sends the object to be transferred into the inner tube 30, for example, from the side opposite the tip of the inner tube 30, whereby the object to be transferred is taken into the inner tube 30. Furthermore, the transfer control unit 41 pressurizes the inside of the inner tube 30, whereby the object to be transferred is released from the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30 and placed in the living body. Pressurization inside the inner tube 30 may be performed by a pressing member such as a piston, or may be performed by further injecting the same liquid as the object to be transferred.

Alternatively, the transfer control unit 41 may suck inside the inner tube portion 30, so that the transfer target is taken into the interior of the inner tube portion 30 through the opening at the tip of the inner tube portion 30. Then, the transfer control unit 41 pressurizes inside the inner tube portion 30, so that the transfer target is released from the opening at the tip of the inner tube portion 30 and placed inside the living body.

The transfer control unit 41 may be, for example, a mechanism that includes components such as a piston and applies pressure or suction to the inside of the inner tube 30 by the movement of the components in response to user operation, or may be configured to include electronic components such as a motor and apply pressure or suction to the inside of the inner tube 30 by electronic control based on user instructions.

The materials of the needle-shaped portion 20 and the inner tube portion 30 are not particularly limited. The needle-shaped portion 20 is formed from, for example, metal materials such as silicon, stainless steel, titanium, cobalt chromium alloy, magnesium, etc., or polymer materials such as general-purpose plastics, medical plastics, and cosmetic plastics. Examples of polymer materials include polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyamide, polycarbonate, cyclic polyolefins, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactone, acrylic, urethane resins, aromatic polyether ketones, epoxy resins, and copolymer materials of these resins. The needle-shaped portion 20 may also be formed from an ionizing radiation curing material such as polyacrylic, or a thermosetting material such as urethane or epoxy. The needle tip portion 10 and the storage portion 15 may be molded from the same material, or may be formed from different materials.

The inner tube portion 30 is formed, for example, from the material exemplified above as the material of the needle-shaped portion 20. The needle-shaped portion 20 and the inner tube portion 30 may be molded from the same material, or may be formed from different materials. In addition, it is not necessary for all of the multiple inner tube portions 30 to be formed from the same material. In addition, each of the needle-shaped portion 20 and the inner tube portion 30 may be formed from a combination of two or more types of materials.

[Transplantation method]
A description will be given of a method for transplanting a cell group using the cell transplantation device 100. In the following, as an example, a case will be described in which a cell group and two types of liquid auxiliary substances are delivered into a living body.

As shown in FIG. 3, before transplantation, the cell group Cg is held together with protective liquid Pl in a tray 50 such as a culture vessel. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the cell group Cg and protective liquid Pl are placed in a recess 51 of the tray 50. The manner in which the cell group Cg and protective liquid Pl are held in the tray 50 is not limited to the form in which the cell group Cg and protective liquid Pl are held in the recess 51, and for example, the cell group Cg and protective liquid Pl may be placed on a flat surface of the tray 50. Furthermore, the tray 50 may be a vessel different from the culture vessel, and the cell group Cg may be transferred from the culture vessel to the tray 50.

The protective liquid Pl may be any liquid that does not inhibit cell survival, 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, Vaseline, or lotion, or a mixture of these liquids. The protective liquid Pl may contain additives such as nutrients. Furthermore, when the tray 50 is a culture vessel and the cell group Cg is cultured on the tray 50, the protective liquid Pl may be a culture medium for culturing the cells, or a liquid that has been replaced from the culture medium. The liquid containing the cell group Cg and the protective liquid Pl may be a low-viscosity fluid or a high-viscosity fluid.

First, the drive unit 40 moves the inner tube 30a, which is the target of the transfer of the cell group Cg, so that the tip of the inner tube 30a protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip 10. Then, the tip of the needle tip 10 and the tip of the inner tube 30a are brought close to the cell group Cg in the protective liquid Pl, and the transfer control unit 41 aspirates the inside of the inner tube 30a. As a result, the cell group Cg is attracted to the tip of the inner tube 30a, and the cell group Cg is taken into the interior of the inner tube 30a together with the protective liquid Pl from the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner tube portion 30a is moved, so that the tip of the inner tube portion 30a is drawn into the needle-shaped portion 20, and the cell group Cg is also accommodated inside the needle-shaped portion 20. To protect the cell group Cg, it is preferable that the cell group Cg be surrounded by protective liquid Pl inside the needle tip portion 10.

The inner tube portion 30a may be moved to a position where the tip of the inner tube portion 30a is located inside the needle-shaped portion 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the tip of the inner tube portion 30a may be located inside the needle tip portion 10, or the inner tube portion 30a may be retracted into the storage portion 15, and the tip of the inner tube portion 30a may be located inside the storage portion 15.

The cell transplantation device 100 containing the cell group Cg is carried to the transplantation site, which is, for example, the skin Sk of a living body, and the needle tip 10 is inserted into the transplantation site as shown in FIG. 5. At this time, the tip of the inner tube portion 30a is located inside the needle-shaped portion 20, so the tip of the needle tip 10 is located at the tip of the cell transplantation device 100. Since the tip of the needle tip 10 has a shape that makes it easy to insert into a living body, the cell transplantation device 100 can smoothly enter the transplantation site. The needle tip 10 may enter the transplantation site in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the transplantation site, or in a direction inclined to the surface of the transplantation site.

When the tip of the needle tip 10 advances to the target area for transplantation, the inner tube 30a is moved so that the tip of the inner tube 30a protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, pressure is applied inside the inner tube 30a, causing the cell group Cg and protective liquid Pl to be released from the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30a and placed in the target area for transplantation.

When the tip of the inner tube portion 30a is brought into a state of protruding from the opening 11, the needle-shaped portion 20 may be slightly retracted in the direction in which the needle tip portion 10 is pulled out from the transplantation site, and the tip of the inner tube portion 30a may be placed in the space inside the transplantation site where the tip of the needle tip portion 10 was located. Then, the cell group Cg may be released into the space where the tip of the needle tip portion 10 was located. This prevents the cell group Cg from being pressed by the surrounding tissue and being subjected to a load when the cell group Cg comes out of the inner tube portion 30a.
When the cell group Cg is placed in the target area for transplantation, the inner cylinder portion 30 a is moved and drawn into the interior of the storage portion 15 .

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the drive unit 40 operates to move the inner tube 30b, which is the target of the transfer of the auxiliary substance, so that the tip of the inner tube 30b protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip 10. Then, the transfer control unit 41 pours the auxiliary substance, additive liquid Sl, into the inner tube 30b from the opposite side to the tip of the inner tube 30b. The additive liquid Sl passes through the inside of the inner tube 30b and exits from the opening at the tip of the inner tube 30b. As a result, the additive liquid Sl is supplied around the cell group Cg arranged in the target area for transplantation. When a predetermined amount of additive liquid Sl is supplied near the cell group Cg, the supply of additive liquid Sl to the inner tube 30b is stopped, and the inner tube 30b is moved and drawn into the inside of the storage unit 15.

Note that, although FIG. 7 illustrates an example in which the inner tube portion 30b extends linearly and protrudes from the opening 11, the inner tube portion 30b may be flexible and may be inserted or removed from the opening 11 while deforming, for example, so as to bend during the movement. The same applies to the inner tube portions 30a and 30c.

Then, the same operation as that of the inner tube 30b described above is repeated for the inner tube 30c, which is the target for transferring the auxiliary substance. That is, the inner tube 30c is moved to a position where the tip of the inner tube 30c protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip 10, and the transfer control unit 41 pours the liquid auxiliary substance into the inside of the inner tube 30b from the side opposite the tip of the inner tube 30c. The auxiliary substance supplied to the inner tube 30c is a different substance from the auxiliary substance supplied to the inner tube 30b.

As a result, the auxiliary substance passes through the inside of the inner cylinder 30c and is released from the opening at the tip of the inner cylinder 30c, and is supplied around the cell group Cg. When a predetermined amount of auxiliary substance is supplied near the cell group Cg, the supply of auxiliary substance to the inner cylinder 30c is stopped, and the inner cylinder 30b is moved and drawn into the inside of the storage section 15.

The needle tip 10 is then pulled out from the transplant site. Note that the needle tip 10 may be pulled out from the transplant site without the inner tube 30c being housed inside the housing 15, with the tip of the inner tube 30c protruding from the opening 11 of the needle tip 10.

Thus, the transplantation of the cell group Cg into the target area and the supply of the auxiliary substance are completed. According to this embodiment, the cell transplantation device 100 includes an inner tube portion 30 for transferring the cell group Cg and an inner tube portion 30 for transferring the auxiliary substance, so that the auxiliary substance can be taken into the cell transplantation device 100 in addition to the cell group Cg. Then, when the needle tip portion 10 is stuck into the target area for transplantation, each inner tube portion 30 protrudes from the opening portion 11 of one needle tip portion 10 in order to release the transfer target into the living body, so that the auxiliary substance can be placed in the vicinity of the area where the cell group Cg is placed in the living body. Therefore, the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance can be easily delivered into the living body.
In particular, the cell transplantation device 100 is preferably used in cases where the auxiliary substance is a substance that is desired to be delivered into the living body in accordance with the timing at which the cell group Cg is placed in the living body.

When the auxiliary substance is a substance that assists in the expression of the function of the cell group Cg, the function of the cell group Cg is more easily expressed by delivering the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance into the body using the cell transplantation device 100. For example, when the cell group Cg is a cell group that contributes to hair growth or hair development, such as a hair follicle primordium, hair formation proceeds favorably. Therefore, the cell transplantation device 100 is preferably used, for example, for transplanting the cell group Cg into a location where hair is desired to be generated reliably.

In addition, when the auxiliary substance is a substance that assists the needle-shaped portion 20 in entering or being removed from the body, the cell transplantation device 100 can be used to deliver the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance into the body, thereby allowing the needle-shaped portion 20 to be smoothly inserted into the body.

In the above description of the transplantation method, the cell group Cg is transplanted into the living body first, and then the auxiliary substance is supplied. However, the order of delivery of the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance is not particularly limited. The cell group Cg may be transplanted after the auxiliary substance is supplied, or the cell group Cg may be transplanted between the supply of multiple auxiliary substances.

In addition, in the above description of the transplantation method, the auxiliary substance is supplied into the inner tube portion 30 after the needle tip portion 10 is inserted into the living body, but the auxiliary substance may be filled into the inner tube portion 30 before the needle tip portion 10 is inserted into the living body. In this case, when the auxiliary substance is supplied into the living body, the tip of the inner tube portion 30 filled with the auxiliary substance is pushed out from the opening portion 11 of the needle tip portion 10 inserted into the living body, and then the inside of the inner tube portion 30 is pressurized. As a result, the auxiliary substance inside the inner tube portion 30 is released into the living body from the tip of the inner tube portion 30.

In addition, when the auxiliary substance is a liquid, as described above, the auxiliary substance may be taken into the inside of the inner tube portion 30 from the opening at the tip of the inner tube portion 30. For example, when the auxiliary substance is taken into the inner tube portion 30b from its tip, before or after the cell group Cg is taken into the inner tube portion 30a from the tray 50, the tip of the inner tube portion 30b is placed in a state where it protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip portion 10, and the tip of the inner tube portion 30b is inserted into a container containing the auxiliary substance, and the inside of the inner tube portion 30b is aspirated. As a result, the auxiliary substance is taken into the inner tube portion 30b from the tip of the inner tube portion 30b. When the auxiliary substance is supplied to the living body, the inside of the inner tube portion 30b is pressurized with the tip of the inner tube portion 30b protruding from the opening 11 of the needle tip portion 10 inserted into the living body. As a result, the auxiliary substance in the inner tube portion 30b is released into the living body from the tip of the inner tube portion 30b.

In addition, when the auxiliary substance is other than a liquid, the auxiliary substance is taken in in the same manner as the cell group Cg is taken in. For example, when the inner tube portion 30b holds an auxiliary substance other than a liquid, before or after the cell group Cg is taken in from the tray 50 to the inner tube portion 30a, the tip of the inner tube portion 30b is placed in a state where it protrudes from the opening 11 of the needle tip portion 10, and the tip of the inner tube portion 30b is brought close to the auxiliary substance and the inside of the inner tube portion 30b is sucked. As a result, the auxiliary substance is taken into the inside of the inner tube portion 30b from the opening of the tip of the inner tube portion 30b. When the auxiliary substance is supplied to the living body, the inside of the inner tube portion 30 is pressurized with the tip of the inner tube portion 30b protruding from the opening 11 of the needle tip portion 10 inserted into the living body. As a result, the auxiliary substance in the inner tube portion 30 is released from the tip of the inner tube portion 30 and placed in the living body.

Furthermore, when the auxiliary substance is other than a liquid, the auxiliary substance may be held on the outside of the tip of the inner tube portion 30 by suction within the inner tube portion 30, as described above. However, in order to prevent contact between the auxiliary substances or between the auxiliary substances and the cell group Cg within the needle-shaped portion 20 when the cell transplantation device 100 is moved to the transplantation site, it is preferable that the auxiliary substance be taken into the inside of the inner tube portion 30 even when the auxiliary substance is other than a liquid, and it is also preferable that the cell group Cg be taken into the inside of the inner tube portion 30.

[Modification]
The tip of the needle-shaped portion 20 may have an inner diameter that allows two or more inner tube portions 30 to pass through simultaneously, and the opening 11 may be large enough to allow the tips of two or more inner tube portions 30 to protrude simultaneously.

For example, in the cell transplantation device 110 shown in FIG. 8, the needle-shaped portion 20 extends with a constant inner diameter and has a shape corresponding to the shape in which the needle tip portion 10 and the storage portion 15 are continuous with each other and have the same inner diameter. The needle-shaped portion 20 has an inner diameter large enough to store all of the inner tube portions 30 together.

Then, the driving unit 40 simultaneously moves all the inner tube parts 30 along the extending direction of the needle-shaped part 20. That is, the driving unit 40 moves these inner tube parts 30 relative to the needle-shaped part 20 between a state in which the tip parts of all the inner tube parts 30 are located inside the needle-shaped part 20 and a state in which the tip parts of all the inner tube parts 30 protrude from the opening 11. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the tip parts of all the inner tube parts 30a protrude from the opening 11. In FIG. 9, the tip parts of all the inner tube parts 30a are aligned in the extending direction of the needle-shaped part 20, but multiple inner tube parts 30 may be moved simultaneously with the tip parts not aligned. For example, the tip part of the inner tube part 30 for transferring the cell group Cg may protrude downward from the other inner tube parts 30.

When transplanting a cell group using the cell transplantation device 110, the cell group Cg is held in the inner tube portion 30 for transporting the cell group Cg, and then the tip of the needle-shaped portion 20 is inserted into the transplant site with the tip of all the inner tube portions 30 positioned inside the needle-shaped portion 20. Then, all the inner tube portions 30 are moved simultaneously, and the tip of all the inner tube portions 30 is brought into a state where it protrudes from the opening 11. As in the above embodiment, the auxiliary substance is taken up into the inner tube portion 30 before or after the needle-shaped portion 20 is inserted into the transplant site. Then, the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance are released from the tip of the corresponding inner tube portion 30, and the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance are delivered into the living body.

The release of the cell group Cg and the release of the auxiliary substance may be performed in a predetermined order. Alternatively, the release of the cell group Cg and the release of one or more auxiliary substances may be performed simultaneously, or multiple auxiliary substances may be released simultaneously.

As described above, if a plurality of inner cylindrical portions 30 are moved simultaneously, the configuration for moving the inner cylindrical portions 30 and the control of the movements of the plurality of inner cylindrical portions 30 become easy.
Even if the tip of the needle-shaped portion 20 has an inner diameter that allows multiple inner cylinder portions 30 to pass through at the same time, similar to the above embodiment, the multiple inner cylinder portions 30 may be moved one by one and inserted and removed from the opening 11. Also, multiple inner cylinder portions 30 that are a part of all the inner cylinder portions 30 may be inserted and removed from the opening 11 at the same time. For example, two of the three inner cylinder portions 30 may be inserted and removed from the opening 11 at the same time.

It may also be possible to move multiple inner cylinder parts 30 simultaneously or to move multiple inner cylinder parts 30 one by one. In this case, for example, multiple inner cylinder parts 30 may be moved simultaneously for one of the intake of cell group Cg and auxiliary substances and the release of cell group Cg and auxiliary substances, and multiple inner cylinder parts 30 may be moved one by one for the other.

Also, as in the cell transplantation device 120 shown in FIG. 10, multiple needle-shaped parts 20 may be provided. The cell transplantation device 120 includes multiple needle-shaped parts 20 and multiple inner tube parts 30 for each needle-shaped part 20. In each needle-shaped part 20, the multiple inner tube parts 30 include an inner tube part 30 for transferring a cell group and an inner tube part 30 for transferring an auxiliary substance. In FIG. 10, the opening 11 at the tip of the needle-shaped part 20 is shown to have a size that allows multiple inner tube parts 30 to pass through one by one, but as described above using FIG. 8, the opening 11 may have a size that allows multiple inner tube parts 30 to pass through simultaneously. In each needle-shaped part 20, the multiple inner tube parts 30 are moved one by one or simultaneously, as in the above-mentioned form, and are inserted and removed from the opening 11 at the tip of the needle-shaped part 20.

The arrangement of the multiple needle-shaped portions 20 is not particularly limited, and the multiple needle-shaped portions 20 may be arranged regularly or irregularly. By providing the cell transplantation device 120 with multiple needle-shaped portions 20, it is possible to accommodate multiple cell groups Cg together in the cell transplantation device 120, or to place multiple cell groups Cg together in the target area for transplantation. This increases the efficiency of transplantation of the cell groups Cg.

According to the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the following effects can be obtained.
(1) Since the cell transplantation device 100 includes an inner cylinder portion 30 for transferring the cell group Cg and an inner cylinder portion 30 for transferring an auxiliary substance, the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance can be taken into the inside of one needle-shaped portion 20 and transferred into a living body. In addition, since the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance can be released from one needle-shaped portion 20, the auxiliary substance can be supplied to the vicinity of the area where the cell group Cg is placed in the living body. Therefore, the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance can be easily delivered into the living body.

(2) The inner tube portion 30 is capable of moving relative to the needle-shaped portion 20 between a first state in which the tip of the inner tube portion 30 is located inside the needle-shaped portion 20, and a second state in which the tip of the inner tube portion 30 protrudes from the opening 11 at the tip of the needle-shaped portion 20. Therefore, in the first state, the needle-shaped portion 20 can be inserted into a living body, and in the second state, the cell group Cg and auxiliary substances can be taken up and released. This allows the cell group Cg and auxiliary substances to be delivered smoothly into the living body.

(3) If the multiple inner tube parts 30 are configured to be moved between the first state and the second state for each inner tube part 30, the multiple inner tube parts 30 can be inserted and removed one by one from the opening 11 of the needle-shaped part 20, so that the cell group Cg and auxiliary substances can be taken in and released with ample space around the inner tube parts 30. Therefore, these operations can be carried out smoothly.

(4) If two or more inner cylinder sections 30 are simultaneously moved between the first state and the second state, it is easier to control the movement of the inner cylinder sections 30 compared to moving multiple inner cylinder sections 30 one by one.

(5) The inner tube portion 30 for transporting the cell group Cg is connected to a mechanism for suctioning the inside of the inner tube portion 30, and the cell group Cg is taken into the inner tube portion 30 from the tip of the inner tube portion 30 by this suction. With this, when the cell group Cg is a collection of cells, it is possible to accurately take the cell group Cg into the inside of the inner tube portion 30, and it is also easy to take in the desired number of cell groups Cg into the inner tube portion 30.

(6) The inner tube 30 for transporting the auxiliary substance takes in the auxiliary substance, which is a liquid, into the inner tube 30 from the side opposite the tip of the inner tube 30. This makes it possible to efficiently take in the auxiliary substance into the inner tube 30 by taking advantage of the properties of the liquid. In addition, by changing whether the object to be transported is taken in from the tip side or base side of the inner tube 30 for the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance, it is possible to accurately take in the object to be transported according to its properties.

(7) The cell transplantation device 120 includes a plurality of needle-shaped portions 20, each of which includes a plurality of inner tube portions 30 for transporting the cell group Cg and a plurality of inner tube portions 30 for transporting an auxiliary substance. This makes it possible to collectively take in a plurality of cell groups Cg and auxiliary substances into the cell transplantation device 120, or to collectively place a plurality of cell groups Cg and auxiliary substances in a living body, thereby improving the efficiency of transplantation.

[Other Modifications]
The above embodiment and modified examples can be implemented with the following modifications.
In at least one of the intake of the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance and the release of the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance, the multiple inner cylinder parts 30 do not need to be moved from a state in which the tips of the multiple inner cylinder parts 30 are located inside the needle-shaped part 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, in a form in which the opening 11 has a size that allows multiple inner cylinder parts 30 to pass through simultaneously, the intake and release of the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance may be performed in a state in which the tips of the multiple inner cylinder parts 30 are located near the opening 11 inside the needle-shaped part 20. If the multiple inner cylinder parts 30 are not moved in both the intake and release of the cell group Cg and the auxiliary substance, the cell transplantation device does not need to be equipped with a drive unit 40.

- The inner cylinder portion 30 can be used as either a first inner cylinder portion for transporting the cell group Cg or a second inner cylinder portion for transporting an auxiliary substance, and whether it is used as the first inner cylinder portion or the second inner cylinder portion may be determined at the time of use.

- The inner tube portion 30 can be attached and detached to the inside of the needle-shaped portion 20, and the number of inner tube portions 30 attached to the cell transplantation device can be increased, decreased, or replaced depending on the type and number of auxiliary substances desired to be supplied.

The substance to be transported by the second inner tube portion is not limited to a substance that assists in the expression of the function of the cell group or a substance that assists the needle-shaped portion 20 in entering or being removed from the body, but may be any substance that exerts a specified function when supplied to the body together with the cell group.

The cell group to be transplanted does not have to be a cell group that contributes to hair growth or hair development, but may be a cell group that exerts a desired effect when placed in a living body. For example, the cell group to be transplanted may be a cell group that exerts an effect for cosmetic purposes, such as eliminating wrinkles in the skin or improving the moisturizing state.

[Example]
The above-mentioned cell transplantation device will be described using a specific example.
As an example, a cell transplantation device corresponding to FIG. 8 was produced. The cell transplantation device of the example has two inner cylinders, one first inner cylinder and one second inner cylinder. A 17G injection needle was used as the needle-shaped part. The inner diameter of the needle-shaped part was 1.10 mm, and the outer diameter of the needle-shaped part was 1.46 mm. Precision pipes with an inner diameter of 0.17 mm and an outer diameter of 0.36 mm were used as the first inner cylinder and the second inner cylinder. Two inner cylinders were arranged inside the needle-shaped part, and a syringe was connected to the base end of each inner cylinder via a tube.

Plastic beads with an average particle size of 210 μm were prepared as a model of a cell group, and pure water was prepared as a model of an auxiliary substance. By sucking the inside of the inner cylinder with a syringe, one plastic bead was taken into the first inner cylinder from its tip, and pure water was taken into the second inner cylinder from its tip.

Five tests were conducted in which plastic beads and pure water taken into the cell transplantation device were administered to a silicone test specimen, which is a substitute for a living body. After each test, it was checked whether the plastic beads and pure water were placed inside the test specimen. In all five tests, it was confirmed that the plastic beads and pure water were placed inside the test specimen without remaining inside the needle-shaped part. Therefore, it was confirmed that it is possible to deliver cell groups and auxiliary substances to a subject using the cell transplantation device of the embodiment.

Cg...cell group, Pl...protective liquid, Sl...auxiliary substance, 10...needle tip, 11...opening, 15...container, 20...needle-shaped part, 30...inner tube, 40...driver, 41...transfer control part, 100, 110, 120...cell transplantation device.

Claims (6)

A cell transplantation device for placing a cell group, which is a collection of cells , in a target region in a living body, comprising:
A cylindrical needle-shaped portion extending in one direction;
a plurality of inner cylinder portions located inside the needle-shaped portion,
the plurality of inner cylinder parts include a first inner cylinder part for transferring the cell group and a second inner cylinder part for transferring a substance other than the cell group;
The tip of the first inner cylinder has an inner diameter smaller than the diameter of the cell group, and the first inner cylinder is connected to a mechanism that suctions the inside of the first inner cylinder, and is configured to hold the cell group in a state in which the cell group is in contact with the tip of the first inner cylinder by the suction.
Cell transplantation device. The cell transplantation device of claim 1, wherein the inner tube portion is configured to be movable relative to the needle-shaped portion between a first state in which the tip of the inner tube portion is located inside the needle-shaped portion and a second state in which the tip of the inner tube portion protrudes from an opening at the tip of the needle-shaped portion. The cell transplantation device according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of inner cylinder parts is configured to be movable between the first state and the second state. The cell transplantation device according to claim 2 , wherein two or more of the inner cylinder parts are configured to be simultaneously movable between the first state and the second state. The cell transplantation device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least one of the second inner tube portions included in the plurality of inner tube portions is a second inner tube portion for transporting a liquid that is a substance other than the cell group, and the substance is taken into the second inner tube portion from the side opposite to the tip end of the second inner tube portion. A plurality of the needle-shaped portions are provided,
The cell transplantation device according to claim 1 , wherein each needle-shaped portion is provided with a plurality of inner cylinder portions including the first inner cylinder portion and the second inner cylinder portion.