Pixel Array Dermatome Scalpet for Fractional Skin Resection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing age-related skin laxity and burns often result in visible scarring, prolonged healing times, and limitations in skin graft harvesting, particularly due to the need for extensive surgical incisions and donor site deformities.

Innovation Solution

The development of a Pixel Array Dermatome (PAD) system that enables fractional resection and skin grafting with minimal scarring by using a scalpet array to create small skin plugs, which are then harvested and applied to a semi-porous adherent membrane for reapplication, allowing for repeated harvesting and reduced donor site deformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If traditional surgical incisions are used for skin laxity management, then skin tightening is achieved, but visible scarring occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin tightnessVSAvoidvisible scarring

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the continuous skin incision into discrete pixel-sized segments (0.5-2mm diameter). The scalpet array creates multiple small circular incisions arranged in a grid pattern, allowing skin tightening through fractional resection while minimizing visible scarring by distributing the surgical impact across many tiny points rather than one large incision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different treatment intensities to different areas of the skin. By controlling the depth, diameter, and density of individual skin plugs removed at each pixel location, the system allows localized adjustment of treatment aggressiveness, achieving skin tightening in some areas while preserving cosmetic appearance in others.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If extensive skin graft harvesting is performed, then skin defects are covered, but donor site deformity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin graft coverageVSAvoiddonor site deformity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent harvests skin in pixel-sized segments rather than large continuous sheets. The scalpet array removes small circular plugs of skin (0.5-2mm diameter) arranged in grids, allowing the harvested skin to be applied as a fractional graft that covers defects while the donor site heals with minimal visible deformity due to the distributed, fine-point nature of the harvest pattern.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables harvesting of sufficient skin graft material through multiple passes over the donor site, removing only partial thickness or full thickness skin in small pixel units. This partial action approach accumulates adequate graft coverage while each individual pixel removal causes minimal deformity, and the cumulative effect remains cosmetically acceptable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If repeated skin graft harvesting is attempted, then graft supply increases, but donor site damage accumulates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegraft harvesting frequencyVSAvoiddonor site damage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By harvesting skin in discrete pixel units rather than large sheets, the system allows multiple harvesting passes over the same donor site. The segmented approach distributes the cumulative damage across many tiny points that heal individually, enabling repeated harvesting sessions to supply multiple graft applications while the donor site maintains acceptable cosmetic appearance through staged recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables periodic harvesting sessions where skin plugs are removed in controlled intervals. Between harvesting sessions, the donor site undergoes partial healing, allowing the skin to recover between procedures. This periodic action pattern permits multiple graft harvests from the same donor site over time while managing cumulative damage and maintaining donor site aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If fractional resection with small skin plugs is used, then scarring is minimized, but procedure complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovescarringVSAvoidprocedure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated scalpet array device. The array integrates the cutting scalpets, the mounting substrate, and the array geometry into one component that can be attached to a standard dermatome handle. This merging reduces procedural complexity by eliminating the need for separate positioning and alignment tools, allowing the complex fractional resection pattern to be achieved through a single standardized device attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11759231B2Pixel array medical systems, devices and methods

Publication Date: 2023.09.19 SRGI HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Embodiments include a system comprising a cannula assembly configured for rotational fractional resection (RFR). The cannula assembly includes at least one cannula configured for rotational operation and enclosed in a depth guide configured to control an insertion depth of the at least one cannula. The depth guide includes a vacuum chamber configured to maintain vacuum to evacuate resected tissue generated by the RFR.