Cutting table for forming skin grafts

Abstract

A method for forming skin grafts by cutting skin present on a carrier, using cutting means, whereby the carrier is present in a holder. The present invention furthermore relates to a holder, a carrier, a cutting table, a contra carrier, an ejector and a clamping means, and to a method for applying skin grafts to a burn.

1 . A method for forming skin grafts by cutting skin present on a carrier, using cutting means, whereby the carrier is present in a holder, characterized in that the skin is placed on a porous carrier, whereby a sub-atmospheric pressure is generated in the holder, on to the side of the carrier remote from the skin, after which the skin is cut into skin grafts by cutting means.  
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1   , characterized in that said carrier is provided with apertures.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 2   , characterized in that said apertures are conical, whereby the smallest dimension of the cone is located on the side carrying the skin.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to claims  2 - 3 , characterized in that the dimensions of the apertures being in contact with the skin are smaller than those of the skin grafts to be cut.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said carrier is made of plastic material.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a contra carrier is placed on the side remote from the skin, after which the assembly consisting of the skin, the carrier and the contra carrier is placed into the holder, a sub-atmospheric pressure is generated and the skin is cut.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to claims  1 - 6 , characterized in that a cutting frame is used for cutting, which cutting frame is placed on the skin and which is provided with several parallel slots, through which slots one or more knives are moved.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to claims  1 - 7 , characterized in that a cutting table is used as the cutting means, which cutting table is moved over the skin adhering to the carrier, on which skin a cutting frame may be present, and which is provided with several regularly spaced-apart cutting knives, which cutting knives are in contact with the skin to be cut.  
     
     
         9 . A holder to be used in forming skin grafts in accordance with the method according to claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that said holder is provided with at least one recess, in which the carrier can be placed, possibly in combination with the contra carrier, said holder being provided on the side opposite said recess with a pipe for generating said sub-atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         10 . A holder to be used in forming skin grafts in accordance with the method according to claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that said holder is provided with two recesses, whereby the carrier can be placed into a first recess, possibly in combination with the contra carrier, and whereby the cutting frame can be placed into a second recess, said holder being provided on the side opposite said recess with a pipe for generating said sub-atmospheric pressure.  
     
     
         11 . A carrier to be used with any one of the methods according to claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that said carrier is provided with apertures.  
     
     
         12 . A carrier according to    claim 11   , characterized in that said apertures are conically shaped.  
     
     
         13 . A carrier according to claims  11 - 12 , characterized in that said carrier is made of plastic material.  
     
     
         14 . A contra carrier to be used with a method according to according to any one of the claims,  1 - 8 , characterized in that said contra carrier comprises protrusions, which protrusions are capable of engaging in apertures present in said carrier.  
     
     
         15 . A cutting table to be used with a method according to any one of the claims  1 - 8 , characterized in that said cutting table comprises a support, into which the holder according to claims  9 - 10  can be placed, a guide rod provided with regularly spaced-apart cutting knives, and a guide rail in which said guide rod is capable of movement.  
     
     
         16 . A cutting table according to    claim 15   , characterized in that said guide rod is connected, via an intermediate part, to a handle for guiding said guide rod, using force thereby, through said guide rail in order to cut the skin present in the holder.  
     
     
         17 . A cutting table according to any one of the claims  15 - 16 , characterized in that said cutting knives are wheel knives.  
     
     
         18 . A cutting table according to any one of the claims  15 - 17 , characterized in that the holder is mounted in said support in such a manner that it is vertically adjustable with respect to said cutting knives.  
     
     
         19 . A clamping means to be used for transporting the carrier according to claims  11 - 13 , characterized in that said clamping means consists of an assembly of sides, in which said carrier can be placed.  
     
     
         20 . An ejector to be used for detaching skin grafts present in the carrier according to claims  11 - 13 , characterized in that it consists of a central portion provided with pins having a diameter which is smaller than that of the apertures of said carrier in which the pins are capable of movement.  
     
     
         21 . An ejector according to    claim 20   , characterized in that said pins are arranged such that a spread distribution of the ejected skin grafts can be achieved.  
     
     
         22 . A method for applying skin grafts to a burn, characterized in that a skin-like material is placed on skin grafts obtained in accordance with any one of the methods according to claims  1 - 8 , after which the skin grafts adhering to said material are applied to the burn.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to    claim 22   , characterized in that a gauze of plastic material is used as said skin-like material.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to    claim 22   , characterized in that donor skin is used as said skin-like material.