Dermal micro-organs, methods and apparatuses for producing and using the same

摘要

Embodiments of the present invention provide Dermal Micro-organs (DMOs), methods and apparatuses for producing the same. Some embodiments of the invention provide a DMO including a plurality of dermal components, which substantially retain the micro-architecture and three dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are derived, having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of the DMO and diffusion of cellular waste out of the cells. Some embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses for harvesting the DMO. An apparatus for harvesting the DMO may include, according to some exemplary embodiments, a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure from which the DMO is to be harvested, and a cutting tool able to separate the DMO from the skin-related tissue structure.

主权项

1. An apparatus for directly harvesting a dermal micro-organ from a subject comprising:
(a) a support configuration to support a skin-related tissue structure of a subject from which said dermal micro-organ is to be harvested; and (b) a cutting tool able to directly cut said dermal micro-organ from said skin-related tissue structure; wherein said support configuration comprises a vacuum chamber comprising an inner support surface able to maintain said skin-related tissue structure in a desired shape and position within said vacuum chamber when a vacuum condition is applied to said vacuum chamber, in order to enable the cutting tool to cut said dermal micro-organ directly from said skin-related tissue structure; wherein the support configuration comprises a guiding channel through which the cutting tool may be inserted, and which forms a trajectory for the cutting tool that enables the cutting tool to directly harvest said dermal micro-organ; and wherein said harvested dermal micro-organ is an explant of living tissue consisting essentially of a plurality of dermal components located below the epidermis and lacking a complete epidermal layer.