Enhanced follicular extraction punch and method

Abstract

Provided herein is an apparatus and method useful for surgical removal of mammalian tissue at specific depths and specific angles.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . An apparatus comprising:
 a main body comprising a first bore to be disposed between first and second ends of said main body;   a punch to be at least partially disposed within said main body to extract one or more hair follicles; and   a stabilizer to be disposed within said main body, said punch capable to extend through a second bore of said stabilizer, said stabilizer having an outer surface, said outer surface to be in direct communication with an interior surface of said first bore of said main body.   
     
     
         68 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , said punch to be capable to extract one or more hair follicles along an interior surface of said punch. 
     
     
         69 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , further comprising a nipple portion comprising a first end portion to be coupled to said first end of said main body and a tip portion, said nipple portion comprising a third bore to be disposed within said tip portion. 
     
     
         70 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , further comprising an actuator to be in direct communication with a first end of said punch to displace said punch along an axis of said third bore in response to adjustment of said actuator. 
     
     
         71 . The apparatus of  claim 69 , wherein said nipple end and said main body comprise an integral portion. 
     
     
         72 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein said nipple portion comprises a lip portion to limit a depth of penetration of said punch. 
     
     
         73 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein said nipple portion further comprises a lip portion to limit a depth of penetration of said punch into skin tissue of a patient. 
     
     
         74 . The apparatus of  claim 72 , wherein said lip portion is to limit said depth to a fixed distance from about 0.05 mm to 7 mm. 
     
     
         75 . The apparatus of  claim 67 , wherein displacement of said actuator along an axis of said main body is controllable at least in part. 
     
     
         76 . The apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein displacement of said actuator along an axis of said main body is further controllable at least in part in response to mechanical force to be applied to said actuator. 
     
     
         77 . The apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein displacement of said actuator along an axis of said main body is further controllable at least in part in response to a hydraulic force to be applied to said actuator. 
     
     
         78 . The apparatus of  claim 74 , wherein displacement of said actuator along an axis of said main body is further controllable at least in part in response to an electromagnetic force to be applied to said actuator. 
     
     
         79 . An apparatus comprising:
 a punch means for extracting one or more hair follicles, said punch means to be at least partially disposed within a main body comprising a first bore to be disposed between first and second ends of said main body; and   a stabilizer means for stabilizing said punch means within a main body, said punch means being capable to extend through a second bore of said stabilizer, said stabilizer to have an outer surface, said outer surface to be in direct communication with an interior surface of said first bore of said main body.   
     
     
         80 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , said punch means to extract one or more hair follicles along an interior surface of said punch means. 
     
     
         81 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , further comprising a nipple portion comprising a first end portion to be coupled to said first end of said main body and a tip portion, said nipple portion comprising a third bore to be disposed within said tip portion. 
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 81 , further comprising an actuator means for displacing said punch, said actuator means being in direct communication with a first end of said punch means to displace said punch means along an axis of said third bore in response to adjustment of said actuator means. 
     
     
         83 . The apparatus of  claim 81 , wherein said nipple portion comprises a lip portion to limit a depth of penetration of said punch into skin tissue of a patient. 
     
     
         84 . The apparatus of  claim 83 , wherein said lip portion is to limit said depth to a fixed distance. 
     
     
         85 . The apparatus of  claim 79 , wherein a first end of said punch means comprises a cutting edge. 
     
     
         86 . An apparatus comprising:
 a main body comprising a first bore to be disposed between first and second ends of said main body;   a nipple portion comprising a first end portion to be coupled to said first end of said main body;   a punch to be at least partially disposed within said nipple portion to extract one or more hair follicles; and   a stabilizer to be disposed within said main body, said punch capable to extend through a second bore of said stabilizer, said stabilizer having an outer surface, said outer surface to be in direct communication with an interior surface of said first bore of said main body.