Pixel Array Dermatome Scalpet Device for Skin Grafting
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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 limited effectiveness in areas like the neck, face, arms, thighs, knees, and buttocks, as well as limitations in repeated skin graft harvesting and donor site deformity.
Innovation Solution
The Pixel Array Dermatome (PAD) system, which uses a scalpet device with a scalpet array and guide plates to incise and harvest skin pixels or plugs, allowing for repeated skin graft harvesting without visible scarring, and applying these pixels to a flexible adherent membrane for grafting, promoting primary healing and minimizing scarring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If traditional plastic surgery procedures are used to resect redundant lax skin, then skin tightening is achieved, but visible scarring and prolonged healing occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous skin resection into discrete pixel-sized segments (0.5-4.0mm diameter). The pixel array dermatome creates multiple small circular incisions arranged in a grid pattern, removing skin in pixelated fashion rather than as a continuous strip. This segmentation allows the skin to be tightened while the small discrete removal sites heal with minimal visible scarring compared to traditional long incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different treatment intensities and patterns to different regions. The pixel array can be configured with varying pixel densities, sizes, and spacing to match the specific anatomical requirements of different body areas (face, neck, arms, thighs, etc.). This localized customization optimizes skin tightening while minimizing scarring in each specific region.
2Quantity of substance
If traditional skin graft harvesting is performed, then skin grafts are obtained, but donor site deformity and limited repeated harvesting occur
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array dermatome harvests skin in small pixel-sized plugs rather than large continuous sheets. This segmentation allows multiple sequential harvests from the same donor site because each pixel-sized removal creates minimal damage that heals quickly. The small discrete removal sites do not create the large deformities associated with traditional skin graft harvesting, enabling repeated harvesting without significant donor site deformity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional surgical incisions are made to access distant anatomical borders, then skin laxity in hard-to-reach areas is treated, but incision visibility and surgical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pixel array dermatome transitions from linear incision thinking to a two-dimensional grid pattern of pixel-sized incisions. This dimensional change allows treatment of skin laxity across broad surface areas without requiring long incisions that extend to anatomical borders. The pixelated approach distributes the treatment across many small points, making previously inaccessible areas treatable while avoiding visible long scars.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, instruments, and methods are described in which a scalpet device comprises a housing configured to include a scalpet assembly. The scalpet assembly includes a scalpet array and one or more guide plates. The scalpet array includes a set of scalpets, and in embodiments the set of scalpets include multiple scalpets. The guide plate maintains a configuration of the set of scalpets. The set of scalpets is configured to be deployed from and retracted into the housing, and is configured to generate incised skin pixels at a target site when deployed. The incised skin pixels are harvested.