Dermal micro-organs, methods and apparatuses for producing and using the same

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide Dermal Micro-organs (DMOs), methods and apparatuses for producing the same. Some embodiments of the invention provide a DMO including a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of the DMO and diffusion of cellular waste out of the cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in the DMO. Some embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for harvesting the DMO. An apparatus for harvesting the DMO may include, according to some exemplary embodiments, a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which the DMO is to be harvested, and a cutting tool able to separate the DMO from the skin-related tissue structure. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for harvesting a dermal micro-organ comprising:
 a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is to be harvested; and   a cutting tool able to separate said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure;   
       wherein said dermal micro-organ consists essentially of a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support configuration comprises a first tubular element, and wherein said cutting tool comprises a second tubular element adapted to be inserted along and substantially coaxially with said first element. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said first tubular element comprises an inner guide needle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said second tubular element comprises a coring tube able to cut through said skin-related tissue structure when advanced along a cutting axis. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said coring tube comprises a rotatable coring tube. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said support configuration comprises a vacuum chamber comprising an inner support surface able to maintain said skin-related tissue structure at a desired shape and position within said vacuum chamber, when a vacuum condition is applied to said vacuum chamber, in order to enable said cutting tool to separate said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a guiding channel configured to maintain said cutting tool, when inserted into said guiding channel, at a predetermined distance from said support surface, wherein said distance is predetermined based on a desired location within said skin-related tissue structure for harvesting said dermal micro-organ, and said cutting tool is able to cut through said skin-related tissue structure when advanced along a cutting axis. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising one or more vacuum channels to fluidically connect at least part of said surface with at least one vacuum source. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a drill stop configured to allow a cutting tool to advance a predetermined distance within said chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein said vacuum chamber further comprises an elevated protrusion able to maintain a plateau of skin generally above the trajectory of the cutting tool, such that the harvested dermal micro-organ is separated from the surrounding tissue by the advance of the cutting tool into the fat layer. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a rotation mechanism able to rotate said cutting tool, wherein said cutting tool comprises a rotatable cutting tool. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said supported skin-related tissue structure has a generally cylindrical shape and wherein said skin-related tissue structure comprises components of epidermal and dermal tissue. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein said supported skin-related tissue structure further comprises fat. 
     
     
         14 . A method of harvesting a dermal micro-organ from a subject using the apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 a. supporting a skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is harvested;   b. separating said dermal micro-organ from said supported skin-related tissue structure; and   c. recovering said dermal micro-organ,   
       wherein said apparatus comprises a support configuration to support the skin-related tissue structure from which said dermal micro-organ is to be harvested and a cutting tool able to separate said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure; and 
       wherein said harvested dermal micro-organ consists essentially of a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said supporting comprises inserting an inner guide into said skin-related tissue structure, and wherein said separating comprises inserting a cutting tool along and coaxially with said inner guide and said cutting tool is able to cut through said skin-related tissue structure when advanced along a cutting axis. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said separating comprises making only a single incision on the outer surface of said skin-related structure. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said support configuration comprises:
 a. a vacuum chamber having an inner support surface able to maintain said skin-related tissue structure at a desired shape and position to enable said cutting tool to separate said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure, and wherein said skin-related tissue structure is located inside said vacuum chamber when a vacuum condition is applied to said vacuum chamber; and   b. a guiding channel configured to maintain said cutting tool, when inserted into said guiding channel, at a predetermined distance from said support surface, wherein said distance is predetermined based on a desired location within said skin-related tissue structure for harvesting said dermal micro-organ, and said cutting tool is able to cut through said skin-related tissue structure when advanced along a cutting axis.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein
 a. said supporting comprises applying a vacuum condition to said vacuum chamber, wherein said vacuum condition causes said skin-related structure to be held at an inner support surface of said vacuum chamber; and   b. said separating comprises inserting said cutting tool through and coaxially within said guide channel, wherein said cutting tool is able to cut through said skin-related tissue structure when advanced along a cutting axis.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein said harvesting method further comprises rotating said cutting tool. 
     
     
         20 . A method of implanting a dermal therapeutic micro-organ at an implantation site comprising:
 a. inserting into said implantation site a carrier having said dermal therapeutic micro-organ aspirated therein; and   b. withdrawing said carrier while holding said dermal therapeutic micro-organ in said implantation site, wherein said implantation site is within or under the skin.