Restoration Robotics Inc today announced that its new ARTAS™ System has received 510K clearance from the FDA for harvesting hair follicles from the scalp in men diagnosed with androgenetic alopecia with black or brown straight hair. The system was developed in close collaboration with several leading hair restoration physicians to enhance the quality of follicular unit harvesting for the benefit of physicians and their patients.

ARTAS is a physician-controlled, state-of-the-art, interactive, computer-assisted system that enables harvesting of hair follicles during hair restoration procedures. It combines several features including an image-guided robotic arm, special imaging technologies, small dermal punches, and a computer interface. It is capable of identifying and harvesting individual follicular units to implement the follicular unit extraction (FUE) technique.  

“Many patients are seeking less invasive alternatives to the current hair restoration techniques,” says Miguel Canales, MD, Medical Director, Restoration Robotics. “There is growing interest in FUE because of its many patient benefits, such as less discomfort and a quicker return to normal activities. The ARTAS System solves many of the technical challenges experienced by physicians currently attempting the FUE procedure which gives physicians and patients an exciting new choice.” 

Hair restoration is performed as an office-based procedure. Implanted hairs develop their own blood supply, begin to grow and new hairs are seen a few months after the procedure. New hair continues to grow over the course of a full year, making the change in the patient’s appearance gradually noticeable to others. 

“I believe the ARTAS system will make hair restoration more attractive to a broader group of patients,” says James Harris, MD, of the Hair Sciences Center in Denver, Colo. “In my practice, I have seen a significant increase in patients asking for FUE because of its minimally invasive approach.  They really liked the rapid healing and lack of a linear scar, which makes this procedure different from the strip method.” 

[Source: Restoration Robotics Inc]