WO2012136904A1

WO2012136904A1 - Device for sampling hair grafts

Info

Publication number: WO2012136904A1
Application number: PCT/FR2012/000123
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Boudjema
Original assignee: Pascal Boudjema
Priority date: 2011-04-06
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2012-10-11
Also published as: FR2973683A1; FR2973683B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for sampling hair grafts (10), including a tool for cutting grafts such as a hollow punch (100) suitable for making incisions in the scalp, said tool including a cutting end (102). The invention is characterised in that said device (10) includes, in addition, a holding rod (400) housed inside the punch (100), said rod (400) being mobile along the punch (100) between at least one retracted position inside the punch, at a distance from the cutting end of the punch (100), and a working position wherein said rod is capable of engaging with a hair graft to be sampled, the rod (400) being shaped such as to hold the hair graft to be sampled, said rod (400) in working position and the punch (100) together forming a clamp for holding the hair graft, suitable for gripping and guiding the hair graft away from the scalp.

Description

CAPILLARY GRAFT DELIVERY DEVICE

The present invention relates to a device for collecting hair grafts and a method of removing hair grafts implemented by such a device.

It finds a particularly important application although not exclusive in the field of surgical treatment of baldness by micro hair transplant.

A known micro-hair transplant technique consists in taking very small diameter cylindrical cutaneous fragments called micro-grafts, generally comprising 1 to 3 hair roots or follicular units at the back of the scalp and relocating them at the level of the zones. bald.

For this, graft sampling devices are known, each comprising a cutaneous cutting device consisting of a micro punch or punch hollow needle-type mounted on a handle and actuated by an operator.

This micro punch, whose circular free end is sharp is aligned with the follicular unit to be taken and pressed by an alternating rotation movement of the handle, held between the fingers of the hand of the practitioner, in the scalp, centered on a group of 1 to 3 hairs a few millimeters deep following the axis of emergence of the hair.

After having removed the micro punch from the scalp, the precut grafts are then extracted from the scalp one by one by traction using very fine forceps, then placed in a preservation solution and then reimplanted at the level of bare areas.

A disadvantage of such a graft removal device is the lack of precision of the acts of the practitioner in controlling the depth of penetration of the micro punch and the axis of penetration of the latter, which generates a risk of section of the grafts.

Indeed, the axis of penetration of the micro punch is often deviated from its initial trajectory resulting in a very high quality graft removal of grafts with a high rate of deep section of the roots of the hair during the cutting grafts.

In addition, a second major disadvantage lies in the implementation of such a graft sampling device.

By alternating use of the device and micro-clamps, the implementation of such a graft removal device is tedious, offering a particularly long, delicate and tiring operating time for the practitioner. It is very often found during the implementation of such graft removal devices a risk of sinking grafts during the penetration of the micro punch in the scalp. Their collection then becomes difficult or impossible.

There is also a high rate of rupture of the grafts at their middle part when they are extracted from the scalp by the forceps insofar as they grip the graft at its free end slightly protruding from the scalp, on their superficial cutaneous part.

A deeper insertion of the micros clamps is not conceivable due to the narrowness of the incisions with the additional risk of burying the graft in the depth of the incision.

Graft sampling devices are known which aim at solving in part the disadvantages mentioned.

Such a device is known from US 2005/0267506 in which there is provided a double punch double incision improving the incision of practitioners.

However, such a device provides the use of micro clamps whose aforementioned drawbacks are not solved.

Other types of graft removal devices are known which aim to overcome the use of micro-tongs by proposing to be provided with graft suction means comprising a vacuum source cooperating with the micro-punch.

The grafts are then detached from the scalp by the traction exerted by the vacuum on their cutaneous superficial part.

However, such suction means frequently cause the rupture of the grafts in depth at their mean part. Aspired grafts are then incomplete and amputated of a part remained in the scalp. They can not be reimplanted later.

Also known are devices for forming incisions in the scalp, such as those described in US 5,693,064.

Such devices for forming incisions in the scalp include sharp cutting pieces adapted to extract cutaneous fragments without follicular unit of the bald scalp to the right of orifices for the reimplantation of hair grafts. However, these devices are not suitable for the removal of follicular units of the scalp.

Indeed, in such devices, the projecting presence of the inner wall of the punch in the inner lumen of the latter of a tongue intended to retain the cutaneous fragments does not allow to be adapted to the removal of hair grafts , in particular due to the weakness of the traction generated by this tongue on a capillary graft.

In addition, if such a device was used to collect capillary grafts, the tongue protruding into the lumen of the punch would lead to grafting the grafts into the scalp instead of extracting them, making any removal of grafts impossible.

An object of the present invention is to overcome the problems defined above.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for removing hair grafts for cutting and removing quickly and simply and efficiently capillary grafts.

It is also desirable to provide a device for collecting hair grafts for cutting and removing grafts of excellent quality, limiting the deterioration of the removed grafts and improving the number of hair grafts that can be reimplanted.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a device for collecting capillary grafts comprising a tool for cutting grafts of the hollow hollow-body type adapted to make incisions in the scalp, said tool comprising a cutting end,

remarkable in that the device for collecting hair grafts further comprises:

a retaining rod housed inside the punch, said rod being movable along the punch between at least one retracted position inside the punch away from the cutting end of the piece and a working position in which it is adapted to engage a capillary graft to be taken,

the rod being shaped so as to retain the capillary graft to be removed, said rod in the working position and the punch together form a capillary graft retaining clip adapted to grip and guide the capillary graft out of the scalp. According to particular embodiments, the device may comprise one or more of the following features, taken individually or in any technically possible combination:

the retaining rod comprises, at one free end, means for attaching grafts to be removed, said hooking means being a hook.

- the hook forms a harpoon.

- The retaining rod comprises a recess in the extension of the hook.

- The device further comprises rod actuating means adapted to move the rod in translation along a longitudinal axis of the graft removal device.

- The actuating means are associated with means for limiting the travel in translation of the retaining rod by at least one limit stop.

- The actuating means of the rod comprises anti-rotation means of the latter.

the punch is provided with means for evacuating the grafts out of the punch, these means of evacuation comprising an orifice through which the removed grafts are released, said orifice being arranged opposite the recess of the rod restraint.

the orifice for discharging the grafts may comprise an upstream edge and / or a downstream edge forming a ramp directed towards the center of the orifice.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for collecting hair grafts using a graft removal device as mentioned above in which:

- we make an incision in the scalp,

the retaining rod is moved along the punch towards the scalp from its retracted position inside the punch away from the cutting end of the punch to its working position in the which it is capable of coming into engagement with a capillary graft to be removed,

- The capillary graft is grasped and guided out of the incision and the scalp by forming a capillary graft holding clamp with said rod in working position and the punch, the rod being shaped so as to retain the capillary graft to collect. According to particular embodiments, the method may comprise the following characteristic:

the step in which the retaining rod is moved from its rest position to its working position comprises a sub-stage in which the retaining rod is inserted into the incision formed by the punch.

Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 shows a partial perspective view of a graft removal device according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 represents a front view of the free end of the graft removal device of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views of the graft-removal device of FIG. 1 along the line III-III of FIG. 2, a holding rod 400 of said device being, respectively, in working or resting position; ;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a complete graft removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 5 and 6 are respectively side and top views of an embodiment of a punch of a graft remover of the present invention;

- Figures 7 and 8 are partial perspective views of a graft sampling device according to a second and third embodiments of the invention, provided with means facilitating the removal of capillary grafts;

- Figures 9 and 10 are respectively side and top views of one end of the rod 400 retaining Figures 3a and 3b;

- Figures 11a and 11b are respectively side and top views of a second embodiment of a rod 400 for retaining a device for collecting hair grafts according to the present invention; - Figures 12a to 12h are sectional views illustrating the various successive steps of a removal of a capillary graft with a sampling device of Figure 1;

FIGS. 13a to 13g and 14a to 14g are respectively cross-sectional views illustrating the different successive steps of sampling a capillary graft with a graft removal device according to two other embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a complete graft removal device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the graft removal device of FIG. 15.

In the description, downstream is defined the end of the device for collecting hair grafts intended to be in contact with the scalp and upstream the opposite end.

As illustrated in particular in FIG. 4, the device for collecting capillary grafts 10 extending along a longitudinal axis X comprises a graft cutting tool 100 mounted on a tool-holding body 210, the assembly being actuated by adapted actuating means.

The graft cutting tool 100 is a hollow hollow punch adapted to make incisions in the scalp.

It comprises, more specifically as described below, a free cutting edge end 102.

According to the invention, the device for collecting capillary grafts 10 further comprises a retaining rod 400 housed within the punch 100, said rod 400 being movable along the punch 100 between at least one position retracted inside the punch 100 away from the cutting end 102 of the punch 100 and a working position in which it is adapted to engage a capillary graft to be taken.

The retention rod 400 is shaped so as to retain the capillary graft to be removed and, in the working position, to form with the punch 100 maintenance of the capillary graft, capable of grasping and guiding the capillary graft out of the scalp.

More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b, concerning the graft cutting tool 100, it has, in a known manner, a hollow drilling needle 101 or micro-punch adapted for cutting skin tissue fragments. .

Without limitation, this needle 101, which extends along the axis X, is cylindrical.

It is fixed at its upstream end, projecting from a hollow shaft of the tool holder body 210 (shown in Figure 4) in which it houses, by suitable fastening means.

Its free end downstream 102, opposite the tool holder body 210 is configured so as to make incisions in the scalp and thus be sharp.

A downstream part 102b in the general shape of a truncated cone in the figures makes it possible, thanks to the bevel 103 formed, to facilitate the penetration of the needle 101 into the scalp during graft removal.

This needle 101 has a shape and external dimensions adapted to collect grafts comprising one or more hair roots.

Thus, in a non-limiting example of the present invention, it has a free length projecting from the hollow shaft of the tool body 210 of the order of 12 to 15 mm and outer and inner diameters respectively of the order of 1 mm and 0.8 mm.

In known manner, the needle 101 can perform the incisions of the scalp by punching, namely by a translational movement of the needle 101 to the scalp by the application of pressure on the needle 101 adapted or by rotation of the needle 101 around the X axis.

Means for actuating the needle 101 will be described later in connection with FIG. 4.

Furthermore, with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b, the punch 100 may comprise, in a first embodiment, a longitudinal orifice 104 for discharging the removed grafts.

This orifice 104 has a shape and dimensions adapted, with a sufficiently wide periphery in particular, to allow the removed grafts to evacuate through the opening formed by the through hole 104. This orifice 104 with straight edges has a longitudinal section of rectangular shape, as shown more particularly in Figure 3a or 3b, the needle 101 then having the length of this hole 104 a cross section in a circular arc.

Such an orifice 104 thus allows a lateral release of the grafts taken after they are seized and guided out of the scalp by the clamp formed by the retaining rod 400 and the needle 101.

In a nonlimiting manner, this orifice 104 has a length of the order of 8 mm.

Moreover, such an orifice 104 is provided at a distance from the downstream end of the needle 01, which answers in particular to the following criterion:

a length e illustrated in FIG. 3a, between the downstream end 102 and the downstream edge 104a of the orifice 104 must be provided, this length being adapted so that the retaining rod 400 in the working position and the inner wall of the needle 101 can cooperate to form the graft holding clip.

Thus, such a length e may be of the order of 1, 5 mm to 2 mm.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the downstream edge 104a of the orifice 104 for discharging the grafts may be oblique, formed in a transverse plane and not perpendicular to the axis X of the needle 101 directed towards the center of the orifice 104.

Such an upstream edge 104a forming a slope will facilitate the clearance of the needle 101 out of the scalp.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible to propose a profile 120 mounted coaxially with the needle 101, such a section 120 comprising a tongue 121 having an inclined planar face directed towards the center of the needle 101, this tongue 121 being fixed on the upstream end 104b of the orifice 104 for removing the grafts.

Thus, the inclined face of the tongue 121 forms a ramp facilitating the evacuation of the capillary grafts housed in the hollow needle 101 during the withdrawal of the retaining rod 400 in the needle 01.

It should be noted that the embodiments described are not exclusive of each other. With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b, concerning the retaining rod 400, it comprises a solid needle mounted in the bore of the punch 100.

More specifically, this retaining rod 400 is mounted to be movable in translation in the bore of the punch 100 between at least two positions, namely its retracted position remote from the free end 102 downstream of the punch 100 as illustrated in Figure 3b and its working position in which it is adapted to engage with a capillary graft to be taken.

In this working position, illustrated in FIG. 3a, the free downstream end 401 of the rod 400 is facing the inner wall of the punch 100, located between the free downstream end 102 of the punch 100 and the downstream edge 104a of the orifice 104 for removing the grafts.

The rod 400 has a shape, an outer diameter and a length such that it can slide freely along the length of the bore of the needle 101 forming guiding light of the rod 400 and that a sufficient space between the rod 400 in the working position and the needle 101 is left to accommodate a graft to be removed.

Thus, in a non-limiting example, it is cylindrical in shape and has an outer diameter of about 0.7 mm.

It moves along the punch 100, on a predetermined stroke, between two end stops, after making the incision of the scalp containing a capillary graft to be removed, as will be described later in connection with the description of the actuating means of this rod 400.

Such a stroke of the holding rod 400 is adapted to the average depth of insertion of a capillary graft into the scalp. In a non-limiting example, this stroke is of the order of 7 mm.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, such a retaining rod 400 is mounted, at its upstream end, integral with an operating part which will be described later in connection with the description of the means for actuating the rod 400 and the cookie 00.

In addition, it is preferably rotatably mounted relative to the punch 100.

Furthermore, with reference to Figures 9 and 10, the retaining pin 400 is shaped to retain a graft to be taken.

More specifically, it comprises, at its free downstream end 401, a fastening element 410 adapted for on the one hand, wedge the graft to take and maintain the base of the latter firmly against the inner wall of the punch 100 when the rod 400 is in the working position and, secondly, exerting traction on the seized capillary graft, during the sliding of the retaining rod 400 to its withdrawal position.

Such a fastening element 410 is a harpoon hook, illustrated in particular in FIGS. 9 and 10.

It should be noted that the hook 410 is configured in such a way that it does not deteriorate the grasped graft.

Thus, in a first embodiment, such a hook 410 forms with the retaining rod 400 a general V shape, seen from the side as illustrated in FIG. 9 and seen from above the hook 40 as illustrated in FIG. it has a truncated elliptical section.

More specifically, the hook 410 comprises an oblique outer plane face 4 and an inner face 412, these two outer faces 41 1 and inner 412 defining the two sides of an acute angle forming a hook.

The outer face 411 is adapted to creep into the incision formed by the punch 100 between the graft and the inner wall of the punch 100 when the rod 400 moves to its working position.

This penetration of the rod into the incision formed by the punch 100 is facilitated by the ramp formed by this outer face 411. Indeed, this face 411 is inclined at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane s' extending along the X axis, illustrated in Figure 9.

In a non-limiting example, such an angle is of the order of 15 to 20 degrees. The inner face 412 is, for its part, inclined, so as to be retentive by producing an angle β closed relative to the flat surface of a recess 420 described below.

The angle β is in a non-limiting example of the order of 30 to 50 degrees.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 11a and 11b, several successive hooks 410 may be provided along the retaining rod 400, in order to allow a more efficient engagement of the grafts.

Moreover, the retaining rod 400 has, furthermore, upstream of the harpoon 410, the longitudinal recess 420 (illustrated more particularly in FIGS. 3a and 3b) delimiting a space adapted to receive a part of the graft grasped and maintained between the inner wall of the punch 100 and the outer face 411 of the hook 410 when the retaining pin 400 is in the working position.

This recess 420 has a downstream edge formed by the inclined inner face 412 of the hook 410, as illustrated in Figure 3a and the flat surface of the recess 420 is directed towards the discharge port 104 of the grafts.

This recess 420 has a length greater than that of the orifice 04 for removing the grafts.

In a non-limiting example, the length of the recess 420 is of the order of

10 mm.

Furthermore, preferably, the retaining rod 400 and the punch 100 are formed of a rigid material suitable for the acts of removal of hair grafts.

This material may be a metallic material such as, for example, stainless steel or a composite material.

With reference to FIG. 4, the punch 100 and the holding rod 400 are mounted on a handpiece designated by the general reference 200.

This handpiece 200 comprises the tool body 210 for supporting the punch 100 and the means for actuating the punch and those 220 of the holding rod 400.

It should be noted that the punch 100 may be removably mounted on the handpiece 200 and may be independent of the remainder of the graft removal device 10. It may be replaced if necessary.

In addition, it can be provided a keying, this in order to return a punch 100 on the graft removal device 10 so that the punch is mounted correctly relative to the retaining rod 400.

An alternative embodiment may provide a disposable graft sampling device 10 or semi disposable.

Concerning the tool holder body 210, it consists of a cylindrical body 21 1 extended upstream by a cone 212 extending along the longitudinal axis X, the cylindrical body 21 1 having at its downstream end fixing means such as a chuck or nut (not shown) adapted to fix the punch 100 on the tool holder 210.

The cylindrical body 21 1 and the cone 212 are drilled axially at their center along the entire length of a cylindrical channel 23 suitable for receiving at its downstream end. in the bore the die 100, the punch 100 being projecting downstream of the cylindrical body 211 of the tool holder body 210.

Concerning the movements respectively of rotation and translation of the punch 100 and the retaining pin 400, they can be made by any suitable actuating means, that the latter is a manual act by an operator, a means of mechanical actuation, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic (described in connection with Figures 15 and 16 below) and / or any system adapted to control the movements of the punch 100 and the retaining pin 400 and their relative movements also.

In addition, the movements respectively of rotation and translation of the punch 100 and the retaining pin 400 can be manual, semi automatic or automatic.

Thus, the graft removal device 10 can be adapted to be used in a semi or fully robotic manner, such as, for example, mounted on a motorized shaft of a robotic element adapted to the removal of hair grafts.

Concerning the means for actuating the punch 100, they are adapted to apply a rotational movement about the X axis to the punch 100.

Such a movement can be applied to the punch 100 by a manual rotation of the practitioner or by any other suitable movement of the actuating means adapted to be transformed into rotational movement of the punch 100.

In an alternative embodiment, the actuating means may be adapted to transform an axial translation movement along the longitudinal axis X of the device 10 into an axial translation and rotation movement along the longitudinal axis X of the cookie 00.

In this embodiment, the practitioner can by a single axial translational movement of the device 0 to the cutaneous surface of the scalp to be treated, allow the insertion of the punch 100 in the cutaneous surface to be treated in order to perform a graft cut-out .

Furthermore, it should be noted that the rotational movement of the punch 100 is preferred but not mandatory. Other alternative embodiments may be proposed without departing from the scope of the present invention. Regarding the actuating means 220 of the retaining rod 400, they are, in turn, adapted to exert on the rod 400 an axial translation movement along the longitudinal axis X.

One embodiment of these actuating means is illustrated in FIG. 4.

More specifically, the actuating means 220 of the retaining rod 400 comprise a sleeve 221 having a first cylindrical body 222 extending along the axis X and extending the tool body 210 upstream of the device 10, this body being itself extended upstream by a second cylindrical body 223 hollow larger diameter.

The first body 222, pierced axially at its center along the entire length of a clean channel 224 to receive the rod 400, defines a housing in which the rod 400 slides.

It should be noted, obviously, that the retaining rod 400 also passes through the bores 213 of the tool holder body 210.

To move from its working position to its rest position and vice versa, the rod 400 cooperates at its upstream end with guide means 230 housed in the second body 223 of the sleeve 221 which it is secured.

These guide means 230 can be movable in translation without friction within the second body 223 of the sleeve 221, for example a piston 231.

The displacement of the piston 231 will cause the sliding of the rod 400 inside the first body 222 of the sleeve 221 and the tool holder body 20. This mechanism is reversible.

Indeed, within the first body 222, the sleeve 221 elastic return means 234 are supported on the downstream base of the first body 222 and are locked at their upstream end by a flat surface of the piston 231.

These elastic return means 234 comprise a compression spring adapted to compress when the piston 231 slides in the second body 223 of the sleeve 221 and the rod 400 slides simultaneously inside the first body 222 of the sleeve 221 and the tool holder body 210 to its working position and to recall it and the piston 231 upstream to the rest position. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 4, the guide means 230 may be associated with anti-rotation means 232 of the rod 400 and limiting the stroke of the rod 400 between two end stops.

Such means comprise a finger 233a integral with the outer wall of the piston 231, projecting from the latter.

This finger 233a is adapted to fit into a longitudinal groove 233b along the X axis formed on the second body 223 of the sleeve 221, the upstream and downstream ends of the groove 233b forming end stops of the piston 231 and the retaining rod 400.

The manual pressure that can be exerted by the practitioner on the piston 231 in order to move it downstream within the device 10 can be replaced by pneumatic pressure means conveying compressed air when necessary, by a simple solenoid valve control. to a pedal or other control means, adapted to push the piston 231 downstream inside the sleeve 221, as will be illustrated later in connection with Figures 15 and 16.

The operating mode of such a device for collecting hair grafts 10 is as follows.

After having shaved the hair and anesthetized the skin at the area of the scalp, the practitioner grasps the capillary graft 10 by the sleeve 221 and positions the free end downstream 102 of the needle 101 to contact of the skin centered in the axis of a follicular unit which one wishes to take.

The retaining rod 400 is then in its rest position, as illustrated in FIG. 12a. In this rest position, the hook 410 is set back within the punch 100 upstream of the discharge orifice 104 of grafts.

In the next step illustrated in FIG. 12b, the handpiece is moved towards the skin by the practitioner driving the punch 100.

The punch 100 is driven in a rotational or translational movement adapted to penetrate the inside of the scalp to a depth sufficient to surround the graft and reach its base resulting in cutting the skin of the graft.

In a non-limiting example, we speak of a cut of the order of 5 mm deep. Referring to Figure 12c, is actuated in the next step, the movement of the rod 400 retaining towards the scalp.

The advance of the stem 400 within the incision and cutaneous fragment cut beforehand results in a lateral offset of the graft through the outer face 41 1 of the hook ramp 410 type.

This offset is also facilitated by the presence of the orifice 104 for removing the grafts from the punch 100.

When the rod 400 reaches its working position illustrated in FIG. 12d, namely a position in which it has advanced relative to the punch 100 which remains stationary, downstream of the orifice 104 for evacuating the grafts, the graft is trapped against the inner wall of the punch 100 located between the end 102 of the punch 100 and the downstream edge 104a of the orifice 104 for removing grafts.

The graft is held by this inner wall and the hook 410 of the holding rod 400 which form the two branches of a graft holding clip at its base within the lumen of the punch 100, as shown in FIG. Figure 12d.

In the next step illustrated in FIGS. 12e and 12f, the punch 100 is removed from the scalp with the graft engaged in the lumen of the punch 100, held by the retaining clip.

The holding forceps with translational movement out of the scalp and the fact that the graft is hooked by the hook 410 of the retaining rod allows to exert traction at the base of the graft to release it from its attachment deep within the scalp while preserving its integrity within the cookie cutter.

This forceps guides the graft out of the scalp when removing the punch 100 out of the scalp.

In a further step illustrated in FIGS. 12g and 12h, the retaining rod 400 is actuated so that it is displaced and slides towards its rest position upstream of the evacuation orifice 104 of the carrier. room 100.

This movement of the rod 400 relative to the punch 100 releases and discharges the graft into the outlet port 104 of the punch, in order to be reimplanted later.

With the holding rod 400 having returned to its rest position, the sampling device 10 is ready to continue the cutting and the removal of the next graft and so on. Thanks to a graft removal device 10 according to the present invention and the associated implementation method, it eliminates any delicate manipulation using an external micro-gripper to manually remove the cut scalp grafts, after removal of the graft. take 100 pieces off the scalp.

The sampling time of a graft is thus reduced.

Moreover, the levies are easy.

Moreover, the presence of a hook 410 and the holding clip reduces the number of removed and / or incomplete graft samples insofar as the graft is grasped at its base in the heart of the incision and guided in the light of the 100 punch to separate it from its deep tie in the scalp.

Such a device offers the advantage of improving the rate of removal of implantable grafts and their quality.

Moreover, it eliminates any risk of grafts wedged deep tissue without being taken, the cooperation of the die 100 and associated stem 400 not pushing the grafts to be taken within the skin tissue under the dermal layer.

According to an alternative embodiment, it is also possible to provide suction means 300 for grafts removed.

Thus, in FIGS. 13a to 13g, there is illustrated a sampling method similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 12a to 12h with the following differences.

At the upstream end 104b of the evacuation orifice 104 of the punch 100, a side suction channel 310 communicating with the light of the punch 100, intended to suck air to direct the graft that has been previously removed by the forceps in the lumen of the channel 310.

Thus, after removal of the punch 100 out of the scalp, the sliding of the rod 400 upstream of the punch 100 is accompanied by aspiration of the removed graft. The graft is thus not released into the outlet orifice 104 of the punch 100 but in the suction channel 310 upstream towards a reservoir of capillary grafts.

According to another variant embodiment described in FIGS. 14a to 14g, the sampling method is similar to that described with reference to FIGS. 13a to 13g with the following differences. The punch 100 does not include a graft outlet, the latter being discharged into the suction side channel 310 towards a reservoir of removed grafts, as illustrated in particular in Figure 14g.

In these two embodiments, it should be noted that the vacuum produced exerts a holding force on the surface of the graft limiting its penetration into the scalp during the sliding of the retaining rod 400 within the fragment cut by incision towards its working position.

In one embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, there are possible variants of tool carrier body 500, means for actuating retaining rod 400 and punch holder 100.

Thus, as illustrated in these figures, provision can be made to use a tool holder body 500 for the punch-type piece punch 100 used in the dental art to animate the punch 100 with a rotational movement. around the axis

X-Such a part at a contra angle 500 comprises a head 500a provided with a hollow bore 501 adapted to receive the punch 100, the head 500a being mounted on a handle 500b forming an elbow with the latter, in order to allow the practitioner better visibility on the scalp area to be treated.

Referring more particularly to Figure 16, the head 500a comprises a hollow tool shaft 501 adapted to attach the drill needle 101 by a clamping mandrel 502 rotated about the X axis by two perpendicular gears 503 and 504.

This hollow shaft 501 cooperates with means for actuating the retaining rod 400 in translation along the axis X, the assembly being housed in an outer cylindrical body 509 in whole or in part.

The means for actuating the rod 400 in translation comprise a tubular sleeve 506 sliding along the hollow shaft 501 coupled by a lateral orifice at its lower part to a lug 402 formed on the rod 400 and at its upper part to a piston 508 via a fastener 507 free of friction in rotation with the latter.

The piston 508 is mobilized along the outer cylinder 509 when a source of compressed air is applied by a nozzle 510.

An elastic return means of the piston 508 such as a compression spring 511 is disposed inside the outer cylinder 509. This spring 508 is able to compress when the piston 508 slides in the cylinder 509 and the retaining rod 400 slides simultaneously to its working position and to return the latter and the piston 508 to the rest position.

Moreover, the actuating means of the rod 400 comprise anti-rotation means of the retaining rod 400.

More particularly, the retaining rod 400 has at its upper part a bend at right angles so as to form the lug 402 capable of sliding in an open longitudinal groove 505 disposed in the wall of the hollow shaft 501.

The length of the groove 505 is adapted to allow the axial translational movement of the rod 400 between its two predefined positions of working and rest when the rotation of the instrument is stopped.

The width of the groove 505 is adapted to secure and prevent through the lug 402 any rotation of the rod 400 relative to the hollow shaft 501 and thus allow to maintain its relative positioning relative to the drill needle 101 in a sagittal plane when the rod 400 pinches the graft.

The device connected on the one hand to an electrical source and on the other hand to a source of compressed air, is grasped by the user and the rotation of the needle 101 is actuated opposite the scalp and then pushed to a depth a few millimeters centered on a follicular unit.

In the next step, the rotation of the needle 101 is stopped.

The arrival of compressed air by the nozzle 510 (by opening a solenoid valve actuated by a pedal for example) will cause the displacement of the piston 508 in the cylinder 509 and the retaining rod 400 inside the cylinder. needle 101, this so as to pinch the graft in cooperation with the needle 101.

The graft being seized, the needle 101 containing the graft is then removed from the scalp.

The compressed air inlet is then cut off, causing the piston 508 and the retaining rod 400 to return to its rest position, releasing the graft from the needle 101.

With the holding rod 400 having returned to its rest position, the sampling device 10 is ready to continue the cutting and the removal of the next graft and so on. In another embodiment, it is conceivable to replace the source of compressed air and the piston 508 with a linear action electromagnet.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments of the device for collecting hair grafts described above as examples, but it encompasses all the possible variants.

Claims

A device for collecting hair grafts (1 0) comprising a hollow-type graft-type grapple cutting tool (100) adapted to make incisions in the scalp, said tool comprising a cutting end (102), characterized in that said device (10) further comprises:

- a retaining rod (400) housed inside the punch (100), said rod (400) being movable along the punch (100) between at least one retracted position inside the the punch away from the cutting end of the punch (100) and a working position in which it is adapted to engage a capillary graft to be taken,

the rod (400) being shaped so as to retain the capillary graft to be sampled, said rod (400) in the working position and the punch (100) together form a capillary graft holding clamp capable of grasping and guiding the capillary graft out of the scalp.

2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the retaining rod (400) comprises at a free end a hooking means (410) of grafts to take, said hooking means being a hook.

3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the hook (410) forms a harpoon.

4. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the retaining rod (400) comprises a recess (420) in the extension of the hook.

5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4 characterized in that the device (10) further comprises actuating means (220) of the retaining rod (400) adapted to move the rod (400). in translation along a longitudinal axis of the graft removal device.

6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the actuating means are associated with means for limiting (230) the translational travel of the retaining rod (400) by at least one limit stop.

7. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the punch (100) is provided with means for discharging (104) the grafts out of the punch, these means of evacuation comprising an orifice through which are released the grafts removed, said orifice being arranged opposite the recess (420) of the retaining rod (400).

8. Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the orifice (104) for removing the grafts may comprise a downstream edge (104a) and / or an upstream edge (104b) forming a ramp directed towards the center of the orifice .

9. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that the actuating means of the rod (400) comprise anti-rotation means of the latter.

10. Retaining rod for capillary graft removal device according to one of claims 1 to 9.