Patent ID: 8317804

Claim:
A method for extracting a follicular unit of hair from a hair bearing skin, comprising: providing a first hollow punch having a distal end with an interior diameter larger than the diameter of the bulb of a follicular unit, and a channel in a wall of said first hollow punch exiting at said distal end for providing an exit for a jet fluid stream at said distal end; providing a second hollow punch coaxial with said first hollow punch, said second hollow punch having a sharp distal end; aligning said first and second hollow punches with a selected follicular unit; and controllably advancing said second hollow punch prior to advancing said first punch in a manner to pierce the skin around the selected follicular unit and then withdrawing said second hollow punch; advancing while rotating said first hollow punch responsive to the withdrawal of said second hollow punch into skin surrounding the selected follicular unit; providing a jet fluid stream through said channel to operate as a fluid scalpel annularly cutting the anatomical structure surrounding the selected follicular unit as said first hollow punch rotates and advances; removing the selected follicular unit.