Integrated Micrograft Generating and Transferring Device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current skin grafting techniques require separate devices for generating and transferring micrografts, which slows the process and increases the risk of graft failure due to the need for multiple devices and larger donor site wounds, leading to complications like infection and prolonged healing times.
Innovation Solution
A single device that integrates micrograft generating and transferring stations, allowing for the generation of micrografts and their transfer to a substrate within a unified system, using a housing with a micrograft generating station and a micrograft transferring station, including a transfer pusher and stage, to facilitate efficient skin graft expansion and application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for generating and transferring micrografts, then the functions are specialized, but the process speed decreases and the risk of graft failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the micrograft generating device and transferring device into a single integrated system. The generating station includes a first member with cutting edges that cuts skin grafts into micrografts, while the transferring station includes a second member with protrusions that transfer the micrografts to a substrate. This integration eliminates the need to switch between separate devices, thereby increasing process speed and reducing the risk of graft failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device enables continuous operation where micrografts are generated and transferred without interruption. The housing allows the generating and transferring stations to operate in sequence within a single device, maintaining continuous useful action rather than requiring device changes that would interrupt the process.
2Area of stationary object
If a large section of skin is removed from the donor site to match the recipient site size, then the recipient site can be adequately covered, but the donor site trauma increases and healing time prolongs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single skin graft into multiple smaller micrografts using the generating station with cutting edges. This allows a smaller donor site to produce enough graft material to cover a larger recipient site. The micrografts are then transferred to a substrate and expanded to achieve the required coverage area, thereby reducing donor site trauma while maintaining adequate recipient site coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the dimensional expansion of micrografts on a substrate to increase coverage area. By transferring micrografts to a flexible substrate and allowing them to expand in area, the system achieves coverage of larger recipient sites from smaller donor sites, effectively adding an area expansion dimension to the grafting process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple devices are used for micrograft generation and transfer, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the complexity of the overall system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal device that performs both micrograft generation and transfer functions. The housing integrates a generating station with cutting edges for creating micrografts and a transferring station with protrusions for transferring them to a substrate. This multi-functional design maintains functional specialization while reducing the total number of devices required.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention generally relates to devices for generating and transferring micrografts and methods of use thereof. In certain embodiments, devices of the invention include a housing having an open configuration and a closed configuration, a micrograft generating station, and a micrograft transferring station.