Follicular unit harvesting tool
The invention provides a device and a method for improving hair harvesting and extraction. The device includes a mechanism for assisting in separation of the hair graft from the surrounding connective tissue. The apparatus and methods of the current invention are such that the viability of the follicular unit contained within the extracted plug is substantially preserved.
1. A method for harvesting a follicular unit for transplantation, comprising:
positioning a harvesting tool having a distal end and a lumen in a proximity to a follicular unit to be harvested from a donor area;
advancing the harvesting tool such that the distal end of the harvesting tool penetrates the body surface surrounding the follicular unit to substantially encapsulate the follicular unit;
activating a first energy delivery device associated with the harvesting tool to deliver energy at the distal end of the harvesting tool and/or at the or below a distal end of the follicular unit to create a lesion using laser energy, an optical fiber(s), electrode(s), or ultrasound energy, and assist in severing the follicular unit from a surrounding tissue while limiting damage or destruction of the follicular unit; and
activating a second energy delivery device associated with the harvesting tool that operates at a different parameter from the first energy delivery device to deliver energy at the distal end of the harvesting tool and/or at or below the distal end of the follicular unit to create a lesion using laser energy, an optical fiber(s), electrode(s), or ultrasound energy, and assist in harvesting the follicular unit while limiting damage or destruction of the follicular unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices each comprises at least one optical fiber incorporated into the harvesting tool that provides laser energy.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first energy delivery device includes two optical fibers disposed 180 degrees apart on the harvesting tool and the second energy delivery device includes two optical fibers also disposed 180 degrees apart but rotated 90 degrees from the optical fibers of the first energy delivery device.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices operate at a different laser parameter including at least one of power, pulse duration, duty factor, and frequency.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of energy delivery devices, including the first energy delivery device and the second energy delivery device, are disposed around a circumference of the harvesting tool.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices operate at a different wavelength, the wavelength of the first energy delivery device substantially matching an absorption peak of water and the wavelength of the second energy delivery device substantially matching an absorption peak of blood.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices each comprise a laser, the method comprising sequentially operating the energy delivery device at differing wavelengths.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices each comprise a laser, the method comprising simultaneously operating the energy delivery device at differing wavelengths.
9. The method of claim 1 , comprising avoiding delivery of energy by the first energy delivery device to a bulge and a substantial portion of an outer root sheath of the follicular unit.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second energy delivery devices are each incorporated into a sleeve coaxially disposed over the harvesting tool, and the method further includes sliding the sleeve over the harvesting tool after the distal end of the harvesting tool at least partially encapsulates the follicular unit.
11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising at least partially elevating the follicular unit from a body surface and activating at least one of the first energy delivery device or the second energy delivery device to deliver energy to a distal end of the follicular unit or a distal end of the harvesting tool.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating a focusing element at a distal tip of the harvesting tool to optimize energy deposition.