US 11,712,297 B2
Method and apparatus for tissue expansion
Richard Rox Anderson, Boston, MA (US); Andrea Willey, Sacramento, CA (US); and William A. Farinelli, Danvers, MA (US)
Assigned to The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
Filed by The General Hospital Corporation, Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Mar. 17, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/820,895.
Application 16/820,895 is a division of application No. 15/677,935, filed on Aug. 15, 2017, granted, now 10,624,698.
Application 15/677,935 is a continuation of application No. 12/936,161, abandoned, previously published as PCT/US2009/039125, filed on Apr. 1, 2009.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/041,591, filed on Apr. 1, 2008.
Prior Publication US 2020/0214766 A1, Jul. 9, 2020
Int. Cl. A61B 18/20 (2006.01); A61B 17/3209 (2006.01); A61B 17/322 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01); A61F 2/00 (2006.01); A61F 2/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 18/20 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32093 (2013.01); A61B 17/322 (2013.01); A61B 90/02 (2016.02); A61F 2/0059 (2013.01); A61F 2/105 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming micro-slits in a tissue, the method comprising, applying to the tissue:
a roller apparatus coupled to an axle; and
a plurality of extensions protruding from the roller apparatus so that, when the roller apparatus is rolled over the tissue, the plurality of extensions penetrate the tissue and simultaneously generate a plurality of micro-slits in the tissue;
each of the plurality of extensions having a width that is approximate a length of a micro-slit formed within the tissue by the respective extension.