US5360447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Laser assisted hair transplant method
Assignee: ESC MEDICAL SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1993-02-03
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2013-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A hair transplant procedure is described which includes preparing a plurality of hair plugs from a donor site on the scalp. A corresponding number of incisions are drilled into the hairless recipient site using a pulsed laser beam. Preferably, the beam is generated from a high power, RF excited, carbon dioxide, slab waveguide laser. The pulse characteristics of the laser are chosen to ablate the tissue to the desired depth while minimizing bleeding. The plugs are inserted into the incision and hair growth in the recipient region is promoted.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale E. Koop
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B18/201; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/10; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00137; A61B2017/00154; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00747; A61B2017/00969
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: incising a region of scalp tissue using a laser beam; and inserting the hair graft into the incised region.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
36 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: incising a region of scalp tissue using a laser beam; and inserting the hair graft into the incised region.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: drilling a hole in the scalp tissue with a pulsed, carbon dioxide laser beam, with the energy density being selected to ablate tissue and reduce bleeding; and inserting the hair graft into the hole.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
51 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: drilling a hole in the scalp tissue with a pulsed, carbon dioxide laser beam, with the energy density being selected to ablate tissue and reduce bleeding; and inserting the hair graft into the hole.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser beam; delivering the beam to a spot on the scalp of the patient, with the spot size, pulse length and power of the beam being selected to incise the tissue and coagulate blood vessels; and inserting the hair graft into the incision.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
63 words
A method of implanting a hair graft into the scalp of a patient comprising the steps of: generating a pulsed laser beam; delivering the beam to a spot on the scalp of the patient, with the spot size, pulse length and power of the beam being selected to incise the tissue and coagulate blood vessels; and inserting the hair graft into the incision.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said incision is a circular hole.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said incision is a slit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 5 wherein said slit is 1 to 2 mm wide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the incision is formed at an angle which is offset from a perpendicular with respect to the scalp surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the pulses in said laser beam have an energy of at least 100 millijoules and a length of between 0.1 and 1.0 milliseconds.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of transplanting hair from a donor area on the scalp of a patient to a hairless recipient area on the scalp of the patient comprising the steps of: removing a strip of skin having hair from the donor area; dividing the strip into a plurality of plugs each containing one or more hairs; drilling a plurality of holes in the recipient area, said holes being drilled using a pulsed, carbon dioxide laser having pulse characteristics selected to ablate tissue while minimizing bleeding; and inserting a plug into each hole.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of transplanting hair from a donor area on the scalp of a patient to a hairless recipient area on the scalp of the patient comprising the steps of: removing a strip of skin having hair from the donor area; dividing the strip into a plurality of plugs each containing one or more hairs; drilling a plurality of holes in the recipient area, said holes being drilled using a pulsed, carbon dioxide laser having pulse characteristics selected to ablate tissue while minimizing bleeding; and inserting a plug into each hole.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said holes is circular.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein each of said holes is in the form of a slit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said slit is 1 to 2 mm wide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein each hole is formed at an angle which is offset from a perpendicular with respect to the scalp surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein each of the laser pulses have an energy of at least 100 millijoules and a length of between 0.1 and 1.0 milliseconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |