Patent Description:
Techniques for transplanting cell groups into living organisms have been developed. For example, regeneration of hair has been performed by culturing cell groups that contribute to formation of hair follicles, which are organs that produce hair, and transplanting the cell groups into intradermal sites. For good hair regeneration, it is desired that the cell groups transplanted generate hair follicles having a normal tissue structure and good hair formation ability. Therefore, various research and development projects have been performed for methods of producing cell groups that can produce hair follicles (for example, see <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>).

Further, development of a cell transplantation device, which is a device for transferring the cultured cell group from a culture container to a living organism, is also underway (for example, see <CIT>). The cell transplantation device comprises a needle, which is a cylindrical structure with a needle-like point, and incorporates a cell group from a culture container into the inside of the needle. After the needle punctures a target site of transplantation, such as skin, the cell group is released from the tip of the needle, so that the cell group is placed in the living organism. A cell transplantation device comprising a plurality of needles can collectively transplant a plurality of cell groups, and thus can increase the transplantation efficiency.

<CIT> discloses a device for generating microbubbles in a gas and liquid mixture and injection device, the device comprising: a housing defining a mixing chamber; means for mixing solution contained in the mixing chamber to generate microbubbles in the solution; a needle array removably attached to the housing and in fluid connection with the mixing chamber, the needle array including at least one needle; and at least one pressure sensor for measuring tissue apposition pressure, the pressure sensor being mounted on one of the housing and the needle array.

<CIT> discloses a method, device and kit for preforming multiple hair transplant grafts. The device includes a plurality of cutters adapted to make a pattern of incisions in the tissue to receive the grafts. A dilator device preferably comprises interengaging plates. A first plate includes a number of downwardly extending spikes for extension through a number of downwardly extending hollow catheters of a second plate. The first and second plates are pressed together with the interengaging spikes and catheters to define dilators of a pattern corresponding to the pattern of incisions. The dilators are inserted into the incisions and the first plate is removed, leaving the hollow catheters of the second plate in the tissue. A third plate filled with hair grafts is sleeved into or aligned with the catheters of the first plate. The hair grafts are pressed downward through the third plate, through the first plate catheters, into the tissue. The kit includes the incision device and dilator device.

<CIT> discloses a transfer device for a living organism having the features of the preamble of claim <NUM>.

In order to exert the effects of transplantation of cell groups, such as tissue regeneration, it is desired that the survival rate of the cell groups is high, and that the activity of the cell groups is preferably maintained in the living organism. The placement depth of the cell groups in the living organism during transplantation is one of the factors that affect the survival rate and activity of the cell groups. For this reason, it is preferable that the gap between the planned placement depth of the cell groups and the actual placement depth of the cell groups is small.

However, as the number of needles provided in the cell transplantation device is larger, the target site of transplantation receives greater pressing force and tensile force from the cell transplantation device during insertion and withdrawal of the needles. Further, as the number of needles inserted and withdrawn at close range is larger, the part punctured by each needle receives pressing force and tensile force generated by insertion and withdrawal of the surrounding other needles. Since the skin and organs of a living organism have flexibility and elasticity, the above pressing force and tensile force cause expansion and contraction of the target site. As a result, due to the deviation of the puncture depth of the needles from the planned depth, the deviation of the actual placement depth of the cell groups from the planned depth becomes large.

These problems are common not only in cell transplantation devices, but also in devices for supplying objects, such as solid drugs, from the tissue surface of a living organism into the tissue.

An object of the invention is to further develop a transfer device for a living organism according to the preamble of claim <NUM> such that it can suppress deviation of the placement depth of an object, while operation of the transfer device is suppressed from becoming complicated.

This object is achieved by a transfer device for a living organism having the features of claim <NUM>. Advantageous further developments are defined in the dependent claims.

An embodiment of a transfer device for a living organism will be described with reference to <FIG>. The transfer device for a living organism of the present embodiment is embodied into a cell transplantation device that is used for cell transplantation. Associated methods are also described herein to aid understanding of the invention, but these do not form part of the claimed invention.

The cell transplantation device of the present embodiment is used to transplant a transplant into a living organism. The target region of transplantation is at least one of the intradermal and subcutaneous layers, or inside tissues such as organs. The transplant includes a cell group. The cell group to be transplanted will be described.

The cell group to be transplanted includes a plurality of cells. The cell group may be an aggregate of a plurality of cells that are aggregated, or may be an aggregate of a plurality of cells that are joined by intercellular junctions. Alternatively, the cell group may be composed of a plurality of dispersed cells. Further, cells included in the cell group may be undifferentiated cells, or may be cells that have been differentiated. The cell group may also include both undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells. The cell group includes, for example, masses of cells (spheroids), germs, tissues, and organs.

The cell group has an ability to control tissue formation in a living organism when placed in a target region. An example of such a cell group is a cell aggregate containing skin-derived stem cells. The cell group to be transplanted contributes to hair growth and hair restoration, for example, when placed in the intradermal or subcutaneous layer. Such a cell group has an ability to function as a hair follicle organ, an ability to differentiate into a hair follicle organ, an ability to induce or promote formation of a hair follicle organ, or an ability to induce or promote formation of hair in a hair follicle. Further, the cell group may include cells that contribute to control of hair color, such as pigment cells or stem cells that differentiate into pigment cells.

Specifically, an example of the cell group to be transplanted in the present embodiment is a hair follicle germ, which is a primitive hair follicle organ. The hair follicle germ includes mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells. In the hair follicle organ, dermal papilla cells, which are mesenchymal cells, induce differentiation of hair follicle epithelial stem cells to form a hair bulb, and hair matrix cells in the hair bulb repeat division to form a hair. The hair follicle germ is a cell group that differentiates into such hair follicle organs.

The hair follicle germ is formed, for example, by culturing a mixture of mesenchymal cells derived from mesenchymal tissues such as dermal papilla and epithelial cells derived from epithelial tissues located in a bulge region or a hair bulb base under predetermined conditions. It should be noted that the process of forming hair follicle germs is not limited to the above example. In addition, the mesenchymal cells and epithelial cells used for formation of hair follicle germs may also be derived from any tissue. These cells may be derived from a hair follicle organ, may be derived from an organ different from the hair follicle organ, or may be derived from a pluripotent stem cell.

The transplant may include, together with a cell group, a member that assists the transplantation of the cell group.

As shown in <FIG>, a cell transplantation device <NUM> comprises a plurality of movable units <NUM> and an outer peripheral part <NUM> surrounding the plurality of movable units <NUM>.

Each movable unit <NUM> comprises one or more needles <NUM> and a support part <NUM> that supports the needles <NUM>. The needle <NUM> has a cylindrical shape extending along one direction; in other words, it has a hollow needle-like shape. The outer shape of the needle <NUM> is not particularly limited, as long as its tip part has a shape capable of puncturing a target site of transplantation, such as skin, in a living organism. The tip part of the needle <NUM> has, for example, a cylindrical shape truncated obliquely relative to the extending direction thereof, and is pointed.

The support part <NUM> surrounds a portion except for the vicinity of the tip part of the needle <NUM>, and supports the needle <NUM>. In other words, the vicinity of the tip part of the needle <NUM> protrudes from the tip surface of the support part <NUM> along the extending direction of the needle <NUM>. For example, the needle <NUM> is allowed to pass through a hole in the support part <NUM>, thereby assembling the needle <NUM> in the support part <NUM>. When the movable unit <NUM> comprises a plurality of needles <NUM>, the support part <NUM> collectively supports the plurality of needles <NUM>. The plurality of needles <NUM> are supported by one support part <NUM>, so that the plurality of needles <NUM> and the support part <NUM> integrally form the movable unit <NUM>.

The movable unit <NUM> is configured to be movable along the extending direction of the needle <NUM>. The materials of the needle <NUM> and support part <NUM> are not particularly limited, and these may be made of, for example, resin or metal.

The number of movable units <NUM> provided in the cell transplantation device <NUM> is not particularly limited, as long as it is <NUM> or more. The outer peripheral part <NUM> surrounds the outer side of an assembly of the movable units <NUM>. The arrangement of the plurality of movable units <NUM> is not particularly limited, and the plurality of movable units <NUM> may be regularly arranged, for example, in a two-dimensional lattice shape such as square or hexagonal lattices, or concentrically or linearly, or may be irregularly arranged. Moreover, in the adjacent movable units <NUM>, the tip surfaces of the support part <NUM> may be in contact or separated.

In the plurality of movable units <NUM>, the number and arrangement of needles <NUM> provided in each movable unit <NUM> may be the same or different. Further, in a state in which a plurality of movable units <NUM> are arranged, in other words, in an assembly comprising a plurality of movable units <NUM>, a plurality of needles <NUM> provided in the cell transplantation device <NUM> may be arranged regularly or irregularly. <FIG> shows an embodiment in which the cell transplantation device <NUM> comprises six movable units <NUM>, and each movable unit <NUM> comprises two needles <NUM>. The six movable units <NUM> are arranged, from the left side of the figure, in the order from a movable unit 10a, a movable unit 10b, a movable unit 10c, a movable unit 10d, a movable unit 10e, and a movable unit 10f. In the assembly comprising six movable units <NUM>, the needles <NUM> are arranged at predetermined intervals.

In order to increase the transplantation efficiency, the sum of the needles <NUM> provided in the plurality of movable units <NUM>, i.e., the sum of the needles <NUM> provided in the cell transplantation device <NUM>, is preferably <NUM> or more. In the cell transplantation device <NUM>, the needles <NUM> are preferably arranged at a density of <NUM> or more per cm<NUM>. The number of needles <NUM> provided in one movable unit <NUM> is preferably <NUM> or less.

The cell transplantation device <NUM> further comprises a driving part <NUM>, a suction pressure part <NUM>, and a control part <NUM>. The driving part <NUM> moves the plurality of movable units <NUM> by each movable unit <NUM> along the extending direction of the needles <NUM>. Specifically, the driving part <NUM> moves the movable unit <NUM> with respect to the outer peripheral part <NUM> between a state in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit <NUM> are located in a space surrounded by the outer peripheral part <NUM>, and a state in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit <NUM> protrude from the space. That is, the driving part <NUM> moves the movable unit <NUM> between a position in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> do not protrude more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>, and a position in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> protrude more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>.

The driving part <NUM> includes an electrical component such as a motor, and moves the plurality of movable units <NUM> independently, namely moves each movable unit <NUM> separately, depending on the control signal from the control part <NUM>.

The suction pressure part <NUM> assists incorporation and release of the transplant into and from the needle <NUM>. The suction pressure part <NUM> applies suction to the inside of the needle <NUM> to incorporate the transplant into the needle <NUM>, and pressurizes the inside of the needle <NUM> to release the transplant from the needle <NUM>.

The suction pressure part <NUM> suctions and pressurizes the needles <NUM> of each movable unit <NUM> in response to the control signal from the control part <NUM>. The suction pressure part <NUM> may perform suction and pressurization of the needles <NUM> separately for each movable unit <NUM>, or may perform suction and pressurization of the needles <NUM> provided in the plurality of movable units <NUM> collectively for the plurality of movable units <NUM>. The suction pressure part <NUM> includes a mechanism such as syringe or pump that allows suction and pressurization, and is connected to each movable unit <NUM> so as to enable suction and pressurization within the needles <NUM>.

The control part <NUM> controls the operation of the movable units <NUM>. Specifically, the control part <NUM> controls the timing of the movement of each movable unit <NUM> by the driving part <NUM>. Moreover, the control part <NUM> controls the timing of suction and pressurization of the needles <NUM> in each movable unit <NUM> by the suction pressure part <NUM>, that is, the timing of incorporation and release of the transplant into and from the needles <NUM>. The control part <NUM> includes a control circuit generating control signals for controlling, and a memory. Specifically, the control part <NUM> may comprise an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that is dedicated hardware executing at least part of the various types of processing. The control part <NUM> may be configured as a circuit including one or more dedicated hardware circuits such as an ASIC, microcomputers that are one or more processors that operate according to software that is a computer program, or a combination thereof.

An example of the detailed structure of the needle <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>. The needle <NUM> comprises a first tube <NUM> including the tip part of the needle <NUM>, and a second tube <NUM> having a larger flow passage cross-sectional area than the first tube <NUM>. The first tube <NUM> and the second tube <NUM> each have a cylindrical shape with a certain inner diameter, and extend along the extending direction of the needle <NUM>. The tip part of the first tube <NUM> forms the tip part of the needle <NUM> and has an opening <NUM>. The second tube <NUM> is connected to the base end part of the first tube <NUM>. The internal space of the first tube <NUM> and the internal space of the second tube <NUM> communicate with each other and form one flow passage.

The needle <NUM> comprises a stopper <NUM> near the place where the flow passage cross-sectional area changes. The stopper <NUM> crosses the flow passage in the needle <NUM> in the middle of the flow passage. The stopper <NUM> allows the passage of a liquid material from the tip side of the needle <NUM> to the base end side with respect to the stopper <NUM>, and prevents the passage of the transplant.

The stopper <NUM> has, for example, a plurality of fibers arranged in a mesh shape, and is covered on the base end part of the first tube <NUM>. The base end part of the first tube <NUM> covered with the stopper <NUM> is inserted into the tip part of the second tube <NUM>. The number, material, and arrangement of the fibers in the stopper <NUM> are not particularly limited, as long as the passage of the transplant can be prevented.

The needle <NUM> is not limited to the structure shown in <FIG>, and may have a cylindrical structure that allows incorporation of the transplant from the opening <NUM> of the tip part into the needle <NUM>, and accommodation of the transplant inside the needle <NUM>. However, in order to increase the transplantation efficiency, the needle <NUM> is preferably configured to retain the incorporated transplant near the tip part in the needle <NUM>, like the stopper <NUM>. The needle <NUM> and the support part <NUM> may be integrally formed.

A method (not claimed) for transplanting a transplant using the cell transplantation device <NUM> will be described.

First, the accommodating step of a transplant will be described. As shown in <FIG>, transplants Cg are retained in a tray <NUM>, such as a culture container, together with a protective liquid Pl before transplantation. For example, as shown in <FIG>, the transplants Cg and the protective liquid Pl are placed in recesses <NUM> of the tray <NUM>. The way of retaining the transplants Cg and the protective liquid Pl in the tray <NUM> is not limited to the way of retaining the transplants Cg and the protective liquid Pl in the recesses <NUM>. For example, the transplants Cg and the protective liquid Pl may be arranged on the plane of the tray <NUM>. Moreover, the tray <NUM> may be a container different from the culture container, and the transplants Cg may be transferred from the culture container to the tray <NUM>.

The protective liquid Pl may be any liquid that is unlikely to hinder the viability of cells, and is preferably a liquid that has a small influence on a living organism when injected into the living organism. For example, the protective liquid Pl is physiological saline, a skin-protecting liquid such as Vaseline or lotion, or a mixture of these liquids. The protective liquid Pl may contain additive components such as a nutrient composition. When the tray <NUM> is a culture container and the transplants Cg are cultured in the tray <NUM>, the protective liquid Pl may be a medium for culturing cells, or may be a liquid exchanged from the medium. The liquid material that contains the transplants Cg and the protective liquid Pl may be a low-viscosity fluid or a high-viscosity fluid.

When the transplants Cg are incorporated, the tip parts of the needles <NUM> are allowed to face portions of the tray <NUM> where the transplants Cg are located together with the protective liquid Pl. Then, together with the protective liquid Pl, the transplants Cg are incorporated into the inside of the needles <NUM> from the openings <NUM> of the needles <NUM>. For example, the recesses <NUM> of the tray <NUM> and the needles <NUM> are aligned, as shown in <FIG>, and then the tip parts of the needles <NUM> are put into the recesses <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. Then, by the action of the suction pressure part <NUM>, the transplants Cg, together with the protective liquid Pl, are drawn into the needles <NUM> from the openings <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>.

The transplant Cg entering the inside of the needle <NUM> from the opening <NUM> moves, together with the flow of the protective liquid Pl, along the flow passage inside the needle <NUM> toward the stopper <NUM>. To allow the passage of the protective liquid Pl by the stopper <NUM>, the protective liquid Pl flows along the flow of suction in the needle <NUM> toward the base end side. The stopper <NUM>, however, does not allow the passage of the transplant Cg; thus, the transplant Cg is retained closer to the tip side than to the stopper <NUM>. Thus, the transplant Cg is accommodated in the vicinity of the tip part of the needle <NUM>. The protective liquid Pl is located around the transplant Cg. When the transplant Cg is incorporated, suction is stopped.

The incorporation of the transplants Cg is preferably performed collectively for all of the needles <NUM> provided in the cell transplantation device <NUM>. That is, the needles <NUM> are preferably directed to the transplants Cg in the tray <NUM> at the same time, and the needles <NUM> are sucked at the same timing, thereby incorporating the transplant Cg into each needle <NUM>. This enhances the efficiency of incorporating the transplants Cg. The transplants Cg may be incorporated in a state in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> protrude more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>, or in a state in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> do not protrude more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>. When the tip parts of the needles <NUM> are aligned, it is easy to collectively incorporate the transplants Cg.

Subsequently, the penetration step of the needles <NUM> into a target site of transplantation will be described. As shown in <FIG>, the position of each movable unit <NUM> is such that the tip parts of the needles <NUM> are located in a space surrounded by the outer peripheral part <NUM>, and the cell transplantation device <NUM> is brought into contact with the target site Sk of transplantation (e.g., skin) in a living organism. That is, the cell transplantation device <NUM> is brought into contact with the target site Sk in a state in which the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM> protrudes more than the tip parts of all of the needles <NUM>. As a result, the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM> is in contact with the surface of the target site Sk, and each needle <NUM> does not puncture the target site Sk.

Next, by the action of the driving part <NUM>, one of the plurality of movable units <NUM> is moved so that the tip parts of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit <NUM> protrude more than the outer peripheral part <NUM>. That is, one movable unit <NUM> is moved toward the surface of the target site Sk, so that the needles <NUM> of the movable unit <NUM> puncture the target site Sk. <FIG> shows a state in which, among the six movable units <NUM>, the movable unit 10a located on the far left in the figure is moved, so that the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a puncture the target site Sk.

Similarly, the plurality of movable units <NUM> are moved one by one, so that the needles <NUM> puncture the target site Sk in sequence for each movable unit <NUM>. For example, the movable units <NUM> are moved one by one from left to right in the figure. That is, following the movable unit 10a, as shown in <FIG>, the movable unit 10b adjacent to the movable unit 10a is moved, so that the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10b puncture the target site Sk. Subsequently, as shown in <FIG>, <FIG> in sequence, the movable units <NUM> are moved in the order from the movable unit 10c, the movable unit 10d, the movable unit 10e, and the movable unit 10f, so that the needles <NUM> of each movable unit <NUM> puncture the target site Sk. As shown in <FIG>, when the last movable unit 10f is moved, so that the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10f puncture the target site Sk, the tip parts of the needles <NUM> of all of the movable units <NUM> protrude from the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>, and all of the needles <NUM> of the cell transplantation device <NUM> puncture the target site Sk.

Thus, the length of each needle <NUM> puncturing the target site Sk is defined as the length of a portion of each needle <NUM> protruding from the tip surface of the outer peripheral part <NUM> based on the tip surface.

When all of the needles <NUM> of the cell transplantation device <NUM> puncture the target site Sk, the placement step of the transplants Cg is performed. This placement step will be described. As shown in <FIG>, while the needles <NUM> accommodating the transplants Cg puncture the target site Sk, the inside of each needle <NUM> is pressurized by the action of the suction pressure part <NUM>. As a result, as shown in <FIG>, the transplants Cg accommodated inside the needles <NUM> are pushed out together with the protective liquid Pl, and discharged from the opening <NUM>. In this manner, the transplants Cg are placed in the target region of transplantation inside the target site Sk.

The release of the transplants Cg from the needles <NUM> is preferably performed collectively for all of the needles <NUM> provided in the cell transplantation device <NUM>. That is, it is preferable that the needles <NUM> are each pressurized at the same timing to thereby release the transplant Cg from each needle <NUM>. This can enhance the efficiency of placing the transplants Cg in the target region of transplantation.

The action of the cell transplantation device <NUM> of the present embodiment will be described by comparison between the penetration step and placement step by a conventional cell transplantation device. As shown in <FIG>, a conventional cell transplantation device <NUM> does not have movable units that are each independently moved, and all needles <NUM> puncture the target site Sk at the same time. As a result, the load applied on the target site Sk at one time from the cell transplantation device <NUM> increases. Further, since many needles <NUM> puncture the target site Sk at close range, the part punctured by each needle <NUM> receives tensile force due to the puncture of other surrounding needles <NUM> from the surrounding area. As a result, the target site Sk tends to be stretched and depressed. Accordingly, the puncture depth of the needles <NUM> tends to deviate from the planned depth.

Since the target site Sk, which is a living organism, is not stretched uniformly, the degree of depression in the target site Sk varies depending on the puncture position of the needle <NUM>. Thus, since the deviation of the puncture depth of the needle <NUM> is different for each needle <NUM>, it is difficult for the conventional cell transplantation device <NUM> to correct the puncture depth of the needle <NUM>. If the puncture depth of the needle <NUM> is deviated, the placement depth of the transplant Cg released from the tip part of the needle <NUM> is also deviated from the planned depth.

In contrast, in the cell transplantation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, a plurality of needles <NUM> are divided into a plurality of movable units <NUM>, and the needles <NUM> of the plurality of movable units <NUM> puncture the target site Sk at different timings. Therefore, compared with the conventional one, the number of needles <NUM> puncturing the target site Sk at one time is reduced. As a result, the load applied to the target site Sk at one time from the cell transplantation device <NUM> decreases, and the tensile force received by the part punctured by each the needle <NUM> from the surrounding area also decreases. Therefore, since depression of the target site Sk is suppressed, the puncture depth of the needle <NUM> is suppressed from deviating from the planned depth. That is, the placement depth of the transplant Cg is suppressed from deviating from the planned depth. Also, the deformation of the target site Sk is suppressed, which also suppresses the deviation of the placement position of the transplant Cg in the direction along the surface of the target site Sk.

Since it is possible to prevent variations in the puncture depth of the needle <NUM> among the plurality of needles <NUM>, when trying to place the transplants Cg at the same depth by using the plurality of needles <NUM>, it is also possible to prevent variations in the placement depth of the plurality of transplants Cg.

After the placement step, the withdrawal step of the needles <NUM> from the target site Sk is performed. The withdrawal step will now be described. First, by the action of the driving part <NUM>, one of the plurality of movable units <NUM> is moved in a direction away from the surface of the target site Sk. The needles <NUM> of the movable unit <NUM> are thereby withdrawn from the target site Sk. The movable unit <NUM> is moved to a position in which the tip parts of the needles <NUM> enter a space surrounded by the outer peripheral part <NUM>. <FIG> shows a state in which, among the six movable units <NUM>, the movable unit 10a located at the far left in the figure is moved to withdraw the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a from the target site Sk. The transplants Cg are placed inside the target site Sk.

Similarly, the plurality of movable units <NUM> are moved one by one to sequentially withdraw the needles <NUM> from the target site Sk for each movable unit <NUM>. For example, the movable units <NUM> are moved one by one from left to right in the figure. That is, following the movable unit 10a, as shown in <FIG>, the movable unit 10b adjacent to the movable unit 10a is moved to withdraw the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10b from the target site Sk. As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> in sequence, the movable units <NUM> are moved in the order from the movable unit 10c, the movable unit 10d, the movable unit 10e, and the movable unit 10f to withdraw the needles <NUM> of each movable unit <NUM> from the target site Sk. As shown in <FIG>, the last movable unit 10f is moved to withdraw the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10f from the target site Sk, so that all of the needles <NUM> of the cell transplantation device <NUM> are withdrawn from the target site Sk. At this time, the tip parts of the needles <NUM> of all of the movable units <NUM> do not protrude more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM>.

In this manner, as shown in <FIG>, the transplants Cg remain inside the target site Sk, and the transplantation of the transplants Cg is completed.

The action of the cell transplantation device <NUM> of the present embodiment will be described in comparison with the withdrawing step by a conventional cell transplantation device. As shown in <FIG>, a conventional cell transplantation device <NUM> does not have movable units that are each independently moved; thus, all needles <NUM> are withdrawn from the target site Sk at the same time. As a result, the tensile force applied on the target site Sk at one time from the cell transplantation device <NUM> increases. Since many needles <NUM> are withdrawn from the target site Sk at close range, the part punctured by each needle <NUM> receives tensile force due to the withdrawal of other surrounding needles <NUM> from the surrounding area. As a result, the target site Sk tends to be stretched and pulled up together with the cell transplantation device <NUM>.

When the target site Sk is pulled up after the transplants Cg are placed, the transplants Cg move inside the target site Sk, and the position of the depth of the transplants Cg is likely to deviate from the planned placement depth of the transplants Cg. Since the degree of stretching of the target site Sk varies depending on the puncture position of the needle <NUM>, it is difficult for the conventional cell transplantation device <NUM> to correct the deviation of the position of depth of the transplants Cg.

In contrast, in the cell transplantation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, the needles <NUM> of the plurality of movable units <NUM> are withdrawn from the target site Sk at different timings. Therefore, compared with the conventional device, the number of needles <NUM> withdrawn at one time from the target site Sk is reduced. As a result, the tensile force applied on the target site Sk at one time from the cell transplantation device <NUM> decreases. Further, the tensile force received by the part punctured by each needle <NUM> from the surrounding area also decreases. For this reason, since the target site Sk is suppressed from being pulled up, the placed transplants Cg are suppressed from moving and their depth from deviating from the planned depth. Furthermore, the deformation of the target site Sk is suppressed, which also suppresses the displacement of the transplants Cg in the direction along the surface of the target site Sk.

<FIG> shows an example of the timing of the movement of each movable unit <NUM> and the release of the transplant Cg. The timing is controlled by the control part <NUM>.

The solid line in <FIG> indicates the shift of the position of the tip of the needle <NUM> in each movable unit <NUM> in the depth direction of the target site Sk, min indicates a position facing the surface of the target site Sk, and max indicates the deepest puncture position in the target site Sk. When the tip of the needle <NUM> is located at the position min, the tip part of the needle <NUM> neither protrudes more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM> nor punctures the target site Sk. When the tip of the needle <NUM> is located at the position max, the tip part of the needle <NUM> protrudes more than the tip part of the outer peripheral part <NUM> and punctures the target site Sk. The amount of movement of the movable unit <NUM> and the length of the needle <NUM> are set so that the transplant Cg is placed at a desired depth when the needle <NUM> releases the transplant Cg at the position max.

As shown in <FIG>, when the cell transplantation device <NUM> is placed on the target site Sk, the movement of the movable unit 10a is started at the timing t1, and the penetration of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a into the target site Sk is started. While the movement of the movable unit 10a is stopped at the timing t2 at which the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a advance to the position max, the movement of the movable unit 10b is started, and the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10b start penetrating into the target site Sk. Similarly, at the timing at which the needles <NUM> of the moving movable unit <NUM> advance to the position max and the movement of the movable unit <NUM> is stopped, the movement of the adjacent movable unit <NUM> is started. That is, the movable unit 10c at the timing t3, the movable unit 10d at the timing t4, the movable unit 10e at the timing t5, and the movable unit 10f at the timing t6 start moving with the stop of the adjacent movable unit <NUM>.

In this manner, at the timing t7 at which the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10f advance to the position max, the penetration of the needles <NUM> of all of the movable units <NUM> into the target site Sk is completed. Subsequently, the inside of each needle <NUM> is pressurized at the timing t8 to thereby release the transplant Cg from each needle <NUM>, and place the transplants Cg inside the target site Sk.

Thereafter, the movement of the movable unit 10a is started at the timing t9, and the withdrawal of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a from the target site Sk is started. While the movement of the movable unit 10a is stopped at the timing t10 at which the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10a are pulled up to the position min, the movement of the movable unit 10b is started, and the withdrawal of the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10b is started. Similarly, at the timing at which the needles <NUM> of the moving movable unit <NUM> are pulled up to the position min and the movement of the movable unit <NUM> is stopped, the movement of the adjacent movable unit <NUM> is started. That is, the movable unit 10c at the timing t11, the movable unit 10d at the timing t12, the movable unit 10e at the timing t13, and the movable unit 10f at the timing t14 start moving with the stop of the adjacent movable unit <NUM>.

At the timing t15 at which the needles <NUM> of the movable unit 10f are pulled up to the position min, the withdrawal of the needles <NUM> from the target site Sk is completed for all of the movable units <NUM>, and the transplantation of the transplants Cg is completed.

As described above, at the timing at which the movement of one movable unit <NUM> is stopped, the movement of the next movable unit <NUM> is started; thus, the time required for the movement of all of the movable units <NUM> can be shortened, compared with the case where the movement of the next movable unit <NUM> is started at intervals after the movement of one movable unit <NUM> is stopped. Therefore, the transplantation efficiency is increased.

After the penetration step of the needles <NUM> is completed for all of the movable units <NUM>, the placement step is collectively performed for the needles <NUM> of all of the movable units <NUM>. After the completion of this step, the withdrawal step of the needles <NUM> of each movable unit <NUM> is performed. Therefore, the step executed by the cell transplantation device <NUM> is always one of the penetration step, placement step, and withdrawal step. Different steps do not occur at the same time; for example, the penetration step of one movable unit <NUM> and the placement step of another movable unit <NUM> are not performed at the same time. Accordingly, the operation of the cell transplantation device <NUM> is suppressed from becoming complicated, and the stability of the implementation of each step is improved. In addition, for example, it is also easy to provide a step of confirming whether these steps are completed properly after the penetration step and the placement step for all of the needles <NUM>.

The timing of the movement of the plurality of movable units <NUM> is not limited to the above example. The above example shows an embodiment in which the plurality of movable units <NUM> are moved in the order from the end; however, the order of movement of the movable units <NUM> is not particularly limited. For example, when the plurality of movable units <NUM> are arranged in two dimensions, such as concentric circles or lattices, the movable units <NUM> may be moved in the order from the central portion to the edge of the arrangement, or from the edge to the central portion. Alternatively, the order of movement of the movable units <NUM> may be random with respect to the arrangement of the movable units <NUM>. Moreover, in the penetration step and the withdrawal step of the needles <NUM>, the order of movement of the movable units <NUM> may be different.

In each of the penetration step and the withdrawal step, the movement of the next movable unit <NUM> may be started at intervals after the movement of one movable unit <NUM> is completed, or the movement of the next movable unit <NUM> may be started before the movement of one movable unit <NUM> is completed.

Moreover, all of the movable units <NUM> may not be moved at different timings. That is, the plurality of movable units <NUM> may not be moved one by one. If the timing of the movement of some of the plurality of movable units <NUM> is different from the others, the deviation of the placement depth of the transplants Cg can be suppressed in comparison with a conventional cell transplantation device comprising the same number of needles <NUM> as in the cell transplantation device <NUM> of the present embodiment, wherein all of the needles <NUM> are inserted and withdrawn from the target site Sk at the same time.

When some of the plurality of movable units <NUM> are moved at the same time, the farther the movable units <NUM> that are moved at the same time are away from each other, the smaller the tensile force received by the part punctured by each needle <NUM> from the surrounding area in the target site Sk. Therefore, the deviation of the placement depth of the transplants Cg decreases.

From such a viewpoint, the adjacent movable units <NUM> are preferably moved at different timings. Further, in the movable units <NUM> that are moved at the same timing, the distance between the closest needles <NUM> is preferably <NUM> or more. Alternatively, when the plurality of needles <NUM> are regularly arranged in the movable units <NUM>, the distance between the closest needles <NUM> in the movable units <NUM> that are moved at the same timing is preferably <NUM> times larger than the arrangement intervals of the needles <NUM> in the movable units <NUM>.

The cell transplantation device <NUM> may perform different steps among the penetration step, placement step, and withdrawal step at the same time for the different movable units <NUM>. For example, the penetration step, placement step, and withdrawal step may be continuously performed for each movable unit <NUM>, and the timing of the start of the series of steps may be different for each movable unit <NUM>. That is, the penetration step may be started in sequence for the plurality of movable units <NUM>, the placement step may be performed in the order from the movable unit <NUM> that has completed the penetration step, and the withdrawal step may be performed in the order from the movable unit <NUM> that has completed the placement step. According to an embodiment in which the penetration step, placement step, and withdrawal step are continuously performed for each movable unit <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the time required to complete the transplantation of all of the transplants Cg, compared with an embodiment in which each step is performed one by one.

As above, according to the above embodiment, the following advantages are obtained.

Claim 1:
A transfer device (<NUM>) for a living organism for placing an object (Cg) in a living organism, the transfer device (<NUM>) comprising
a plurality of movable units (<NUM>),
each movable unit (<NUM>) comprising one or more needles (<NUM>) extending in a first direction, each needle (<NUM>) having a cylindrical shape capable of storing the object (Cg) therein,
each movable unit (<NUM>) being configured to be movable in the first direction; and
a control part (<NUM>) that controls the operation of the plurality of movable units (<NUM>),
wherein the control part (<NUM>) is configured to move the movable units (<NUM>) toward the living organism to allow the needles (<NUM>) to penetrate the living organism, and
the control part (<NUM>) is configured to start movement of the movable unit (<NUM>) toward the living organism at a timing different from a start of the movement of another adjacent movable unit (<NUM>) among the plurality of movable units (<NUM>) toward the living organism,
characterized in that
the control part (<NUM>) is configured to control the movable units (<NUM>) so that after the penetration of all of the needles (<NUM>) of the plurality of movable units (<NUM>) into the living organism is completed, the object (Cg) accommodated in the needles (<NUM>) is released from the needles (<NUM>).