The Carousel is an instrument that creates recipient sites and places grafts simultaneously in an effort to reduce the handling of small grafts. It has a circular graft storage component that holds large numbers of grafts in order to increase the speed and ease of the procedure.
The Carousel is named for its circular storage system that holds grafts in a cool, moist environment while they await placement. From the cartridge they are injected directly into the recipient area as the instrument creates small, microscopic holes and places the grafts into the holes in a single, mechanical action. Since the placing of implants into pre-made sites has been the most time consuming part of the manual transplant procedure, the Carousel greatly reduces the total time needed to perform these tasks.
The circular graft storage system that gives the "Carousel" its name.
Two Carousels being used simultaneously in a session of 2000 follicular unit grafts.
The Carousel with APU (automatic power unit) attached.
The Carousel is easy to use and technicians and surgeons can learn its use in a matter of minutes.
The Carousel can also insert grafts into pre-made sites. This technique allows the grafts to be placed more closely and permits the entire transplant to be "designed" prior to graft insertion.
The number of skilled staff needed to perform the placing process (the most labor intensive and difficult part of the transplant procedure) can be reduced. This reduction in staff should cause a reduction in the cost of the procedure.
Since the grafts are held in a closed system until implantation, the problems of warming and drying of the grafts is reduced, if not eliminated. The greater speed will also reduce the time the grafts are separated from their blood supply.
Human manipulation of the grafts during the insertion process has been a significant source of injury to the implants. Since the Carousel completely bypasses this step in the procedure, this potential source of graft injury can also be greatly reduced or eliminated.
The new version of the Carousel is still in its developmental stage.
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