US 12,433,739 B2
Hair transplantation surgery with graft-on-demand processing of follicular units
William R Rassman, Los Angeles, CA (US); and Pascal Boudjema, Paris (FR)
Assigned to EnGraft Technologies, Inc., Marina del Rey, CA (US)
Filed by EnGraft Technologies, Inc., Corona Del Mar, CA (US)
Filed on May 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/659,969.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/516,264, filed on Jul. 28, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2025/0041045 A1, Feb. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. A61B 34/30 (2016.01); A61B 17/00 (2006.01); A61B 17/3205 (2006.01); A61B 34/10 (2016.01); A61B 34/20 (2016.01); A61B 90/14 (2016.01); A61F 2/10 (2006.01); A61B 90/00 (2016.01)
CPC A61F 2/10 (2013.01) [A61B 17/32053 (2013.01); A61B 34/10 (2016.02); A61B 34/30 (2016.02); A61B 90/14 (2016.02); A61B 2017/00119 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00203 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00752 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00862 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00973 (2013.01); A61B 2017/00991 (2013.01); A61B 2034/2057 (2016.02); A61B 2090/3991 (2016.02); A61B 2217/005 (2013.01); A61B 2217/007 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for harvesting hair grafts from a donor region, the apparatus comprising:
a robotic arm having a punch harvesting instrument mounted thereto, wherein the punch harvesting instrument is configured to harvest a follicular unit from the donor region by hand-held or robot-controlled movement of the robotic arm responsive to a command to harvest a follicular unit; an implantation handpiece;
tubing to deliver the harvested follicular unit via suction to the implantation handpiece; and
a source of saline or similar biological fluid introduced to the tubing in the vicinity of the punch harvesting instrument to enhance the effect of suction and/or to facilitate delivery of the harvested follicular unit to the implantation handpiece.