US3596292A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hair implant structure
Assignee: Franklin Institute
•
Filing: 1969-02-20
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1989-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A hair implant suitable for placement in the human scalp to overcome the appearance of baldness. The implant may be small to provide only one or a few hairs per implant, or may be larger to cover a substantial area and to provide a larger number of hairs. The implant has a percutaneous portion with elastic properties similar to those of the living skin in which it is implanted, and has a cross section diverging outwardly from the skin so that an acute angle is formed between the lateral surfaces of the percutaneous portion of the implant and the surface of the adjacent skin in which it is implanted. This construction enhances the seal between implant and surrounding skin surface so as to minimize chances of infection. To prevent rejection of the implant, the implant is made of body-compatible materials and is provided with an anchoring portion comprising a tissue-permeable structure, such as velour loops, situated below the stratum germinativum, in the corium and/or subcutaneous tissue, and permeated by the living and growing tissue.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A Erb
- 👤 William B Tarpley Jr
- 👤 Peter Schuyler Francis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A hair implant structure for use in living skin, comprising: a percutaneous portion; at least one hairlike filAment secured to and extending in a first direction from said percutaneous portion; and a tissue-growth pervious anchor portion on the opposite side of said percutaneous portion from said filament; whereby when said anchor portion is inserted through the surface of the skin into living tissue subsequent intergrowth of said tissue through said anchor portion will form a positive lock against removal of the implant.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
82 words
A hair implant structure for use in living skin, comprising: a percutaneous portion; at least one hairlike filAment secured to and extending in a first direction from said percutaneous portion; and a tissue-growth pervious anchor portion on the opposite side of said percutaneous portion from said filament; whereby when said anchor portion is inserted through the surface of the skin into living tissue subsequent intergrowth of said tissue through said anchor portion will form a positive lock against removal of the implant.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant structure of claim 1, comprising an intermediate tissue-growth impervious portion between said anchor portion and said percutaneous portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The implant structure of claim 2, comprising a plurality of tissue-growth impervious filamentary processes secured to said intermediate portion and each short compared to said hair like filament.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The implant structure of claim 1, in which said tissue-growth pervious anchor portion extends to a distance from said percutaneous portion which is greater than the maximum thickness of the epidermis of the normal human scalp, whereby when said structure is implanted in a human scalp said tissue-growth pervious anchor portion will extend into the living tissue below the stratum germinativum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The implant structure of claim 4, in which said distance is greater than about 2 mils.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The implant structure of claim 4, in which said structure has a substantially tissue-growth impervious portion extending from a distance, measured from said percutaneous portion in the direction of said anchor portion, which is slightly greater than the maximum thickness of the epidermis of the normal human scalp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implant structure of claim 6, in which said last-named distance is slightly greater than about 2 mils.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The implant structure of claim 6, in which said tissue-growth impervious portion is provided with tissue-growth impervious filamentary processes for stabilizing said structure in its implanted position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant of claim 1, comprising a tissue-growth pervious skirt secured to and surrounding a pair of said anchor portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The implant structure of claim 1 in which said percutaneous portion has a cross section diverging in the direction extending away from said anchoring portion toward said filament, thereby to provide an acute angle between the lateral surface of said percutaneous portion and the adjacent surface of the skin in which it is to be implanted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The implant structure of claim 1 in which said anchoring portion comprises closed microvelour loops.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The implant structure of claim 1 in which said anchoring portion comprises a microporous polymer pervious to growing tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The implant structure of claim 1 in which said anchoring portion comprises a reticulated foam polymer pervious to growing tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The implant structure of claim 1 in which said anchoring portion comprises a hydrogel pervious to tissue growth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
97 words
A hair implant for use in living human skin, comprising a generally hairlike member having at one end a tissue-growth pervious anchoring portion having a resilient percutaneous portion and having another portion disposed on the opposite side of said percutaneous portion from said anchoring position and having the appearance of human hair; said percutaneous portion having a cross section diverging in the direction extending away from said anchoring portion toward said other portion thereby to provide an acute angle between the lateral surface of said percutaneous portion and the surface of the skin when it is implanted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
97 words
A hair implant for use in living human skin, comprising a generally hairlike member having at one end a tissue-growth pervious anchoring portion having a resilient percutaneous portion and having another portion disposed on the opposite side of said percutaneous portion from said anchoring position and having the appearance of human hair; said percutaneous portion having a cross section diverging in the direction extending away from said anchoring portion toward said other portion thereby to provide an acute angle between the lateral surface of said percutaneous portion and the surface of the skin when it is implanted.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The implant of claim 15 in which said percutaneous portion is in the general form of a cone having its altitude disposed generally along the length of said hairlike member.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The implant of claim 15, in which said member comprises a tapered resilient transition from said percutaneous portion to said other portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The implant of claim 15, in which said percutaneous portion is of a material having elastic properties similar to the skin of the human scalp.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The implant of claiM 18, in which said material is silicone rubber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
58 words
The implant of claim 15, in which at least a part of said anchoring position is spaced from said percutaneous portion by a distance greater than the approximate distance between the external surface of the human skin and the outer side of the subcutaneous tissue, whereby said anchoring portion may be positioned at least partly in subcutaneous tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a hair implant having a percutaneous portion, having an anchoring portion on one side of said percutaneous portion and having at least one hairlike filament extending from the side of said percutaneous portion opposite from said anchoring portion, the improvement wherein said percutaneous portion has a cross section which increases in the direction extending away from said anchoring portion toward said filament, thereby to provide an acute angle between said percutaneous portion and the external surface of the skin in which it is to be implanted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
87 words
In a hair implant having a percutaneous portion, having an anchoring portion on one side of said percutaneous portion and having at least one hairlike filament extending from the side of said percutaneous portion opposite from said anchoring portion, the improvement wherein said percutaneous portion has a cross section which increases in the direction extending away from said anchoring portion toward said filament, thereby to provide an acute angle between said percutaneous portion and the external surface of the skin in which it is to be implanted.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure of claim 21 in which said percutaneous portion is of a resilient material having elastic properties similar to those of human skin.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |