Follicular Unit Harvesting via Subsurface Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current hair follicle harvesting techniques, such as FUE, face challenges in maintaining the natural direction of hair growth under the skin, leading to follicle transection and damage due to the inability to visualize subsurface structures effectively, especially low-contrast tissue features like hair shafts and follicle bulbs below the skin surface.
Innovation Solution
The method involves imaging follicular units using light of different wavelengths to form resultant images, subtracting or combining them to obtain subsurface information about the orientation and location of hair follicles, allowing for precise alignment and dissection of hair follicles using tools like optical coherence tomography or ultrasound, ensuring minimal damage and intact harvesting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If FUE harvesting is performed based on visible portion of hair follicle above skin, then the procedure is simpler and more accessible, but the follicle orientation accuracy deteriorates leading to transection and damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary imaging system (ultrasound or optical coherence tomography) that acts as a mediator between the visible surface follicle and the actual subsurface follicle structure. This intermediary provides real-time subsurface imaging to guide the harvesting needle, enabling accurate follicle extraction while maintaining procedural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface visualization to three-dimensional subsurface imaging. By adding the depth dimension through cross-sectional imaging, the system reveals the actual orientation and curvature of follicles beneath the skin surface, allowing for precise needle alignment that follows the natural follicle path.
2Reliability
If subsurface imaging is implemented to improve follicle visualization, then the follicle integrity improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial subsurface imaging, capturing only the critical depth range where follicles are located (typically 1-4 mm below surface). Rather than imaging the entire tissue depth, the system focuses imaging resources on the specific region of interest, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining follicle visualization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The harvesting device integrates multiple functions: surface visualization, subsurface imaging, and guided extraction in a single system. The imaging system can be configured for different depths and modes, allowing the same device to handle various follicle types and locations, thereby justifying the added complexity through enhanced versatility and reliability.
3Device complexity
If traditional harvesting methods are used without subsurface imaging, then the device complexity remains low, but the productivity decreases due to higher transection rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates real-time feedback through subsurface imaging that continuously monitors needle position relative to follicle orientation. The imaging system provides immediate feedback to the operator, allowing for dynamic adjustment of needle angle and depth to follow follicle curvature, thereby increasing usable follicle yield without requiring overly complex pre-programmed systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances the yield of usable hair follicles by providing clear subsurface imaging, allowing for accurate dissection and transplantation, reducing transection risks and improving the chances of successful hair growth post-transplantation.
Implementation Method 1
optical coherence tomography or ultrasound to minimize damage and maintain follicle integrity
Implementation Method 2
optical coherence tomography or ultrasound to minimize damage and maintain follicle integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Tools and methods are provided for dissecting and/or removing biological units, such as hair follicles, from the body surface based on the images both above and below a body surface to reduce potential damage to the removed biological unit. The invention may be used in fully automated systems and also in a hand-held devices and systems. A system may produce a series of three-dimensional images of the body surface indicating follicular unit size, shape, position, and orientation both above and below the skin surface. The images may be utilized by an automated follicular unit harvesting tool, or maybe stored for later use. Imaging techniques include devices that sense light in the visible or infrared spectrums, optical coherence tomography, and ultrahigh frequency ultrasound.