Follicular extraction punch and method

Abstract

Provided herein is an instrument and method useful to incise in to the skin to a precise depth and at a specific angle with respect to the surface of the skin of a patient, for the extraction of individual follicular groups or individual follicular units. An instrument according to the invention precisely limits the depth of incision, and creates a circular incision around a hair, follicular unit, or follicular cluster in a manner such that no damage occurs to any of the hair shafts.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A process comprising:
 providing a tubular punch means exists substantially in the form of a hollow cylinder having an axis, a first open end, a second open end, an interior space, and an outer diameter not exceeding about 5.0 millimeters, wherein said first end of said tubular punch means is a cutting end which is capable of piercing the skin;   contacting said cutting end to the skin of a mammalian subject, such that a hair on the skin of said mammalian subject is disposed within said interior space, and such that the axis of said cylinder is disposed at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin of said subject, wherein said first angle is between about 85 degrees and 95 degrees;   causing said cutting end to penetrate the skin of said subject to a depth of at least 0.05 millimeters but no greater than about 0.3 millimeters;   tilting said tubular punch means so that it is disposed at a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin of said subject, which second angle is selected from the group consisting of: any angle between about 20 degrees and about 70 degrees and the angle of hair growth;   causing said cutting end to further penetrate the skin of said subject to a depth of at least 2 millimeters but no greater than about 7 millimeters while maintaining said tubular punch means at said second angle with respect to the surface of the skin of said subject and while maintaining said hair within said interior space so as to cause to follicle(s) within which said hair grows to be disposed within said interior space; and   removing said follicle from said subject.   
     
     
         34 . A process according to  claim 33  wherein said first angle is about 90 degrees and wherein said second angle is about 56 degrees. 
     
     
         35 . A process according to  claim 33  wherein said removing the follicle from the subject comprises applying a vacuum to said second end of said tubular punch means. 
     
     
         36 . A process according to  claim 33  wherein said removing the follicle from the subject comprises cutting said follicle from said subject. 
     
     
         37 . A process according to  claim 33  wherein said second angle coincides with the angle of growth of said hair with respect to the surface of the skin of said subject. 
     
     
         38 . A method comprising:
 contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters;   angling the tubular punch to a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the angle of hair growth; and   penetrating the skin to a second depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and 7.0 millimeters while maintaining the tubular punch at the second angle with respect to the surface of the skin and while maintaining the hair follicle within an interior space of the tubular punch; and   removing the hair follicle from the skin.   
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38  wherein said first angle is about 90 degrees and wherein said second angle is about 56 degrees. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 38  further comprising applying a vacuum source to an end of said tubular punch. 
     
     
         41 . A method according to  claim 38  further comprising;
 moving the tubular punch in one or more of the following ways; rotating, oscillating or reciprocating or some combination thereof as the tubular punch is being inserted to the first depth. 
 
     
     
         42 . A method according to  claim 38  further comprising;
 moving the tubular punch in one or more of the following ways; rotating, oscillating or reciprocating or some combination thereof as the tubular punch is being inserted to the second depth. 
 
     
     
         43 . A method according to  claim 38  further comprising;
 treating an incision site with antibiotic ointment and a topical steroid. 
 
     
     
         44 . A method according to  claim 38  further comprising;
 treating an incision site with antibiotic ointment post-surgically. 
 
     
     
         45 . A method of hair follicle extraction comprising aligning an angled cutting end of a tubular punch with the skin. 
     
     
         46 . A method of hair follicle extraction comprising:
 contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters;   angling the tubular punch to a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the angle of hair growth; and   penetrating the skin to a second depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and 7.0 millimeters while maintaining the tubular punch at the second angle with respect to the surface of the skin and while maintaining the hair follicle within an interior space of the tubular punch; and   removing the hair follicle from the skin.   
     
     
         47 . A method of hair follicle extraction according to  claim 46  wherein said first angle is about 90 degrees and wherein said second angle is about 56 degrees. 
     
     
         48 . A method of hair follicle extraction according to  claim 46  further comprising applying a vacuum to an end of said tubular punch. 
     
     
         49 . A method of hair follicle extraction according to  claim 46  further comprising;
 moving the tubular punch in one or more of the following ways; rotating, oscillating or reciprocating or some combination thereof as the tubular punch is being inserted to the first depth. 
 
     
     
         50 . A method of hair follicle extraction according to  claim 46  further comprising;
 moving the tubular punch in one or more of the following ways; rotating, oscillating or reciprocating or some combination thereof as the tubular punch is being inserted to the second depth. 
 
     
     
         51 . A method of follicular extraction to minimizing scarring comprising;
 contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters;   angling the tubular punch two a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the angle of hair growth; and   penetrating the skin to a second depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and 7.0 millimeters while maintaining the tubular punch at the second angle with respect to the surface of the skin and while maintaining the hair follicle within an interior space of the tubular punch;   removing the hair follicle from the skin; and   treating at incision site with antibiotic ointment.   
     
     
         52 . A method of follicular extraction to minimizing scarring comprising:
 contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters;   angling the tubular punch two a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the angle of hair growth; and   penetrating the skin to a second depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and 7.0 millimeters while maintaining the tubular punch at the second angle with respect to the surface of the skin and while maintaining the hair follicle within an interior space of the tubular punch;   removing the hair follicle from the skin; and   treating an incision site with a topical steroid.   
     
     
         53 . A method of follicular extraction to minimizing scarring comprising:
 contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.3 millimeters;   angling the tubular punch two a second angle with respect to the surface of the skin, wherein the second angle is substantially equal to the angle of hair growth; and   penetrating the skin to a second depth of between about 2.0 millimeters and 7.0 millimeters while maintaining the tubular punch at the second angle with respect to the surface of the skin and while maintaining the hair follicle within an interior space of the tubular punch;   removing the hair follicle from the skin; and   treating an incision site with a topical steroid at least 2 days after incision.   
     
     
         54 . A method of follicular extraction to minimizing scarring comprising:
 treating an incision site with a surgical lubricant;   contacting a surface of skin at a first angle with respect to the surface of the skin using a tubular punch;   making a first incision about a hair follicle into the surface of skin using the tubular punch;   penetrating the skin with the tubular punch to a first depth of between about 0.05 millimeters and 0.03 millimeters;