Pixel Array Dermatome Fractional Skin Resection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing skin laxity and burns often result in visible scarring, prolonged healing times, and limited effectiveness in areas like the neck, arms, thighs, and buttocks, while traditional skin grafting procedures face challenges with donor site deformity and limited skin availability.

Innovation Solution

The Pixel Array Dermatome (PAD) system allows for fractional skin resection and harvesting of skin grafts without visible scarring, using a pixelated approach that enables repeated harvesting from the same donor site, with a flexible adherent membrane promoting primary healing and minimizing scarring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional skin grafting procedures are used to manage skin laxity and burns, then skin defects can be closed, but visible scarring and donor site deformity occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin defect closure effectivenessVSAvoidvisible scarring and donor site deformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the skin grafting process into multiple small punch sites rather than a single large incision. The pixel array dermatome creates numerous small circular defects (typically 0.5-2mm diameter) that are distributed across the donor site, allowing each to heal with minimal scarring while collectively providing sufficient graft material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different treatment approaches to different regions: the recipient site receives pixelated skin grafts for optimal closure, while the donor site heals by secondary intention through the same pixelated pattern, resulting in minimal visible scarring at the donor site compared to traditional large incisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Shape

If fractional resection of excess skin is performed to tighten lax skin, then skin tightening is achieved, but the procedure must be minimally invasive to avoid scarring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin tightness and contourVSAvoidsurgical scarring

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pixel array dermatome segments the skin resection into numerous small circular defects rather than continuous incisions. This segmentation allows the skin to be res ected and tightened while each small defect heals with minimal visible scarring, achieving both cosmetic and functional goals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent removes slightly more skin than traditionally necessary for tightening, using the pixelated approach to enable removal of excess skin that would be too visible if removed via traditional incisions. The fractional nature allows aggressive tissue removal with minimal cosmetic impact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Quantity of substance

If repeated skin graft harvesting is needed from the same donor site, then sufficient graft material can be obtained, but traditional methods cause cumulative deformity and scarring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin graft material availabilityVSAvoiddonor site deformity accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables recovery of the donor site after each harvesting session. The pixelated defects heal by secondary intention, allowing the skin to regenerate and the site to be reused for subsequent graft harvesting. This contrasts with traditional methods where the donor site remains deformed and cannot be effectively reused.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Solution Approach 2:

By segmenting the donor site into numerous small punch sites rather than creating large incisions, the patent preserves the overall integrity and appearance of the donor site, enabling multiple harvesting sessions without cumulative deformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Shape

If long incisions are used for skin laxity resection to achieve aesthetic enhancement, then tighter skin is obtained, but the incisions become visible around anatomical boundaries

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveskin tightness and aesthetic enhancementVSAvoidvisible surgical incisions

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts continuous long incisions into discrete small circular defects. This segmentation breaks up the visible scar line into numerous tiny points that are individually imperceptible, achieving skin tightening while eliminating the visible scar problem of traditional approaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a one-dimensional continuous incision to a two-dimensional distributed pattern of small defects. This dimensional change allows the same amount of skin to be removed for tightening while distributing the scarring across an area rather than concentrating it in a visible line.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11490952B2Pixel array medical devices and methods

Publication Date: 2022.11.08 SRGI HOLDINGS LLC

AI summary

Systems, instruments, and methods are described in which an apparatus comprises a housing including a scalpet device. The scalpet device includes a scalpet array that includes scalpets arranged in a pattern. The scalpets are deployable from the housing to generate incised skin pixels at a target site. The housing is positioned and the scalpet array is deployed into tissue at the target site. Incised skin pixels are generated when the target site is a donor site, and skin defects are generated when the target site is a recipient site. The incised skin pixels are harvested.