METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TISSUE HARVESTING

摘要

Exemplary methods and devices can be provided for harvesting a plurality of small tissue pieces, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using one or more hollow needles. A fluid can be flowed through a conduit past the proximal ends of the needles to facilitate removal of the tissue pieces from the needle lumens, and can maintain the tissue pieces in a controlled and protective liquid environment. A filter can be used to extract and collect the tissue pieces from the liquid, or the tissue pieces can be deposited directly onto a porous dressing. Such tissue pieces can be used as microscopic grafts, which can be applied directly to a wound site or provided on a substrate or dressing, or stored for later use. Such microscopic grafts can promote tissue regrowth and wound healing, or can be applied to a scaffold to grow new tissue.

主权项

1. An apparatus for obtaining at least one portion of a biological tissue, comprising:
at least one hollow tube; a conduit configured to facilitate flow of a fluid therethrough, wherein a proximal end of the at least one hollow tube is in communication with the conduit; and a filter arrangement provided at least partially in a path of the fluid, wherein an inner diameter of the at least one tube is less than about 1 mm, wherein a distal portion of the at least hollow tube is structured to be inserted, into the at least one biological tissue to remove the at least one portion therefrom when the at least one tube is withdrawn from the biological tissue, and wherein, in operation, the fluid flows through the conduit so as to remove the at least one portion from the at least one hollow tube, and transport the at least one portion to the filter arrangement.