Methods of Skin Grafting Using Ultrasound

1 - 14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of preparing tissue for skin grafting, comprising

providing a transducer which can emit low frequency ultrasonic energy;

delivering said ultrasonic energy to a skin graft donor site;

wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered from a non-contact distance between a vibrating tip of the transducer and treated patient tissue, and wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy provides a therapeutic effect.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered prior to removing a skin graft from said donor site, following removing a skin graft from said site, or both prior to and following removing a skin graft from said site.

17 . (canceled)

18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered via a liquid spray, and the method comprises delivering the low frequency ultrasonic energy and the liquid spray to said skin graft donor site and/or skin graft recipient site.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the liquid spray is generated by delivering liquid to a distal portion of the transducer.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the low frequency ultrasonic energy is delivered in the absence of a liquid spray or coupling agent.

22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises delivering ultrasonic energy to a skin graft recipient site.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises

harvesting a skin graft from said donor site; and

transplanting said skin graft to a recipient site.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the skin graft is a full-thickness skin graft or a partial thickness skin graft.

25 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the skin graft is an autograft or an allograft.

26 . (canceled)

27 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method is part of a therapeutic regimen combining one or more additional treatment modalities.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the one or more additional treatment modalities comprises applying a topical medicament to the skin graft donor site and/or skin graft recipient site prior to and/or following delivering said ultrasonic energy to said skin graft donor site.

29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the method comprises delivering said ultrasonic energy to both the skin graft donor site and a skin graft recipient site, and wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered simultaneously or at differing times.

31 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the skin graft donor site and skin graft recipient site are on the same patient.

32 . The method of claim 30 , wherein the skin graft donor site and skin graft recipient site are on different individuals.

33 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the therapeutic effect is selected from one or more of: decreasing bacteria at the donor site and/or the recipient site; promoting wound healing of a wound produced at the donor site; promoting wound healing of the recipient site; promoting epithelial cell proliferation at the donor site following graft removal; promoting epithelial cell proliferation at the recipient site following graft transplantation; promoting graft survival; decreasing inflammation at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing pain at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing or preventing scarring at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing or preventing biofilm formation; reducing pain associated with removal and/or receipt of a skin graft; and decreasing the risk of infection.

34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy penetrates treated patient tissue to provide said therapeutic effect.

35 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy provides said therapeutic effect at the surface of the donor site and/or recipient site.

36 . A method of preparing a skin graft donor site, comprising:

providing a transducer which can emit low frequency ultrasonic energy;

delivering said ultrasonic energy to a skin graft donor site at least one of prior to or following removing a skin graft from said site;

wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered from a non-contact distance between a vibrating tip of the transducer and the skin graft donor site, and wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy provides a therapeutic effect.

37 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered to said skin graft donor site and to a periwound area adjacent to said skin graft donor site.

38 . The method of claim 36 , wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered for a time proportional to one of an area of the skin graft donor site or an area of the skin graft donor site plus a periwound area.

39 . (canceled)

40 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:

harvesting a skin graft from said donor site; and

transplanting said skin graft to a recipient site.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the skin graft is a full-thickness skin graft or a partial-thickness skin graft.

42 . (canceled)

43 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the skin graft is an autograft or an allograft.

44 - 46 . (canceled)

47 . The method of claim 40 , wherein the method further comprises delivering ultrasonic energy to the recipient site following transplantation of said skin graft to said recipient site, wherein said ultrasonic energy is delivered from a non-contact distance between a vibrating tip of the transducer and the skin graft recipient site, and wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy provides a therapeutic effect.

48 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered via a liquid spray, and the method comprises delivering the low frequency ultrasonic energy and the liquid spray to said skin graft donor site.

49 . The method of claim 48 , wherein the liquid spray is generated by delivering liquid to a distal portion of the transducer.

50 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the low frequency ultrasonic energy is delivered in the absence of a liquid spray or coupling agent.

51 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method is part of a therapeutic regimen combining one or more additional treatment modalities.

52 . The method of claim 51 , wherein the one or more additional treatment modalities comprises applying a topical medicament to the skin graft donor site prior to and/or following delivering said ultrasonic energy to said skin graft donor site.

53 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method comprises at least one treatment multiple treatments of ultrasonic energy prior to removing the skin graft from the skin graft donor site.

54 . (canceled)

55 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the method comprises multiple treatments of ultrasonic energy following removing the skin graft from the skin graft donor site.

56 . The method of claim 55 , wherein the method comprises delivering ultrasonic energy at least twice per week for at least two weeks following removing the skin graft from the skin graft donor site.

57 . The method of claim 36 , wherein the therapeutic effect is selected from one or more of: decreasing bacteria at the donor site; promoting wound healing of a wound produced at the donor site; promoting epithelial cell proliferation at the donor site following graft removal; decreasing or preventing scarring at the donor site; decreasing inflammation at the donor site; decreasing pain at the donor site; decreasing or preventing biofilm formation; and decreasing the risk of infection.

58 . The method of claim 47 , wherein the therapeutic effect is selected from one or more of: decreasing bacteria at the donor site and/or the recipient site; promoting wound healing of a wound produced at the donor site; promoting wound healing of the recipient site; promoting epithelial cell proliferation at the donor site following graft removal; promoting epithelial cell proliferation at the recipient site following graft transplantation; promoting graft survival; decreasing inflammation at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing pain at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing or preventing scarring at the donor site and/or recipient site; decreasing or preventing biofilm formation; and decreasing the risk of infection.

59 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy penetrates treated patient tissue to provide said therapeutic effect.

60 . The method of claim 57 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy provides said therapeutic effect at the surface of the donor site and/or recipient site.

61 - 76 . (canceled)

77 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered at a frequency of approximately 20 kHz to approximately 200 kHz.

78 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered at a frequency of approximately 30 kHz to approximately 50 kHz.

79 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered at a frequency of approximately 40 kHz.

80 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy level provided to patient tissue is approximately 0.1 watts/cm 2 -1.0 watts/cm 2 .

81 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy level provided to patient tissue is approximately 0.1 watts/cm 2 -0.7 watts/cm 2 .

82 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy penetrates patient tissue to a depth of at least about 2 millimeters.

83 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy penetrates patient tissue to a depth of at least about 4 millimeters.

84 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the delivered ultrasonic energy decreases the healing time of a wound at the recipient site and/or a wound at the donor site.

85 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the liquid spray is selected from a saline solution or other substantially inert liquid.

86 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the liquid spray includes a therapeutic medicament.

87 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ultrasonic energy is delivered without direct contact with treated patient tissue.