Pixel Array Dermatome Scalpet Array for Scarless 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 a pixelated approach, allowing for the harvesting of skin grafts from a donor site without visible scarring, using a semi-porous adherent membrane to promote primary healing and minimize donor site deformity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional surgical incisions are used to resect redundant skin, then skin laxity is corrected, but visible scarring occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous surgical incision is segmented into multiple discrete pixel-sized incisions arranged in a grid pattern. Each pixel incision is treated independently, allowing the skin to heal with minimal scarring while collectively achieving the desired skin tightening effect across the treatment area.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment applies different incision densities and depths to different local regions based on the specific skin laxity characteristics of each area. The pixel array allows customization of incision parameters (size, spacing, depth) to match the local tissue properties and aesthetic requirements of different body regions.
2Quantity of substance
If extensive skin graft harvesting is performed from donor sites, then skin defects are covered, but donor site deformities occur
Solution Approach 1:
The skin graft harvesting process is segmented into multiple small pixel-sized excisions rather than a single large incision. This allows harvesting of sufficient skin graft material while distributing the trauma across many small points that heal with minimal visible scarring, eliminating traditional donor site deformities.
Solution Approach 2:
The harvesting approach transitions from a two-dimensional sheet excision to a three-dimensional array of pixel-sized excisions. This dimensional change allows the same amount of skin to be harvested through numerous small punctures that coalesce to provide adequate graft material while maintaining skin integrity and minimizing visible scarring.
3Reliability
If long incisions are made to hide scars around anatomical boundaries, then aesthetic enhancement is achieved, but healing time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The single long incision is divided into numerous small pixel incisions that heal independently and more rapidly. Each pixel incision undergoes primary healing quickly, and the collective effect achieves the desired aesthetic enhancement without the prolonged healing period associated with extensive continuous incisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pixel array creates continuous coverage of the treatment area through discrete points, maintaining aesthetic enhancement while allowing each point to heal rapidly. The overlapping healing zones of adjacent pixels create a continuous effect without requiring continuous incision healing.
Data Source
AI summary
A device comprising a scalpet assembly including a first investing plate and a scalpet array. The scalpet array includes scalpets rotatably coupled to the first investing plate. Each scalpet includes a first thread on a portion of an outside surface, and a distal end configured as a cylindrical scalpel. The device includes a second investing plate comprising apertures corresponding to the scalpet array. Each aperture includes a second thread configured to receive the first thread. The corresponding scalpet is configured to rotate relative to the second thread and move along an axis of the scalpet relative to the second investing plate.