EPIDERMAL HARVESTER WITH INTEGRATED MECHANICAL STRETCHING MECHANISM
A device for generating skin grafts is disclosed, which includes a harvester having a distal end for placement on or in proximity of a portion of a subject's skin, where the harvester includes an orifice plate coupled to the distal end and having one or more openings. The device further includes a lid that is configured for attachment to the harvester to form a chamber and is configured for coupling to a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure in said chamber, thereby raising at least one blister through said at least one opening of the orifice plate. A skin-stretching mechanism is coupled to the harvester for stretching said skin portion so as to facilitate formation of said at least one blister. The harvester further includes a cutter integrated therein for cutting the blister. In some embodiments, the skin-stretching mechanism is coupled to the distal end of the harvester.
1 . A device for generating a skin graft, comprising:
a harvester having a distal end adapted to be disposed adjacent to a portion of a subject's skin, said harvester having an orifice plate coupled said distal end and having at least one opening;
a head configured for attachment to said harvester to form a chamber and configured for coupling to a vacuum source for generating a negative pressure in said chamber, thereby raising at least one blister through said at least one opening of the plate; and
a skin-stretching mechanism coupled to the harvester for stretching said skin portion;
wherein the harvester comprises a cutter integrated therein for cutting said blister.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said skin-stretching mechanism is coupled to said distal end of the harvester.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said stretching mechanism comprises a pair of slide rollers disposed on opposed sides of said orifice plate such that rotation of said rollers in opposite directions stretches said skin portion.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein each of said rollers comprises a tacky surface configured for placement on the subject's skin.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein said tacky surface comprises a biocompatible material.
6 . The device of claim 3 , wherein each of said rollers includes a finger-grip protrusion to allow manual rotation thereof.
7 . The device of claim 3 , wherein each of said rollers has a cylindrical shape extending between two ends.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein at least one end of each of said slide rollers comprises a finger-grip protrusion.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said skin-stretching mechanism comprises a pair of adhesive strips disposed on opposed sides of said orifice plate.
10 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising a strap for coupling the device to a skin surface so as to place firmly said distal end of the harvester on or in proximity of said skin portion.
11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said cutter comprises a plate having at least one opening in alignment with said at least one opening of the orifice plate when said cutter is assembled within said harvester.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said at least one opening of the orifice plate has a maximum dimension in a range of about 1 mm to about 12 mm.
13 . A method of generating a skin graft, comprising:
stretching a portion of a subject's skin;
placing a distal end of a device configured to generate one or more blisters adjacent to said skin portion, wherein said device comprises a negative pressure chamber and an orifice plate fitted to a distal end of said chamber and having one or more openings through which skin blisters can be raised into an interior of the chamber, and a cutter integrated for cutting the blisters;
applying a negative pressure to said chamber of the device to raise one or more blisters through one or more openings of said orifice plate while maintaining said skin portion in a stretched state; and
activating said cutter to cut the raised blisters.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said step of stretching the skin portion results in an increase in a surface area of the skin portion by at least one of: a factor of at least about 1%, a factor of at least about 2%, a factor of at least about 5%, a factor of at least about 10%, a factor of at least about 15%, or a factor of at least about 20%.
15 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising utilizing a dressing to collect said cut blisters.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said dressing comprises a silicone dressing.
17 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising utilizing a strap to secure said device to a skin surface prior to application of said negative pressure.
18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the stretching of said skin portion facilitates formation of blisters therein.