Patented Needles

It is an unprofessional and inexperienced person who claims that emphasis cannot be put on the size of a hair follicular unit replication needle and it’s configuration and to treat this so lightly.  This is the purpose of a patent; to research and develop a “useful invention” and to improve on present inventions.  In this case, the USPTO found that present tattoo needles available are unsatisfactory for scalp pigmentation and replicating a hair follicle.

USPTO Research

The United States Patent and Trademark Office researched and scrutinized Weston’s patent application and issued the formal patent for his hair follicle replication needle invention on July 7, 2015 after six years.

The USPTO researched and examined in-depth other tattoo needles available, and they finalized that Weston’s hair follicle replication needle was in fact small enough to replicate a hair follicle and “will achieve a more desired size of the tattoo hair follicle with much-improved quality and a more uniform pattern of simulated scalp hair follicles.”  They further termed it a “useful invention.” This is an exact quote of the USPTO’s final findings on Weston’s needle patent:

“It is an object of the present invention to provide a smaller needle set and application method specifically for tattooing the skin of the scalp to replicate hair follicles. By utilizing the present invention, it will achieve a more desired size of the tattoo hair follicle with much improved quality and a more uniform pattern of simulated scalp hair follicles.

Tattoos to replicate lost hair follicles (particularly on the scalp) are not well known, but are becoming more popular.  But a problem exists when available tattoo needles are used to try and replicate a hair follicle.

A typical tattoo needle may include a set of three separate pins bundled together to form the needle.  The pins used in available tattoo needles have diameters that are far too large to effectively recreate the look of a hair follicle.  As a result, the “follicles” created by available tattoo needles are much larger than the real thing—leaving the wearer of the tattoo with a poor replication of a non-bald head.

Single pin tattoo needles are available.  However, a single pin needle would not function well, if at all, since (unlike a three pin needle) it may not draw in or retain ink, or the ink may be rubbed off the needle as the needle pierces the skin.  Moreover, any ink that may be retained by a single pin needle would eventually fade away completely requiring re-application thereby being also difficult to create a realistic pattern of simulated hair follicles.  Thus, prior art needles are unsatisfactory.”

With the USPTO’s findings regarding single pin needles not retaining pigment, Weston’s three-pin needles will in fact produce a one time permanent application. Weston’s scalp micropigmentation patented needles cannot be used for conventional tattooing.  They are too fine and flexible for use on any other parts of the body except the scalp.  These needles are now proprietary to his personally and individually balanced and modified machines.  While these needles can be utilized in a conventional tattoo machine, such machines would drive these needles too hard and too deep into the scalp and in addition, severely damaging the delicate needle.  A damaged needle will not replicate a hair follicle.  Every patented needle is single-use only and disposed of properly and abiding by Department of Health Bio-Medical Disposal laws.

As an individual seeking the best equipment for scalp pigmentation, one must also consider needle size when deciding on a company and their equipment. Weston now has a specialty medical needle manufacturer making these needles to the specifications of the issued patent.  Weston’s patented needles are available nowhere else, and only clients whom attend his courses will be permitted to purchase these needles.

METHOD FOR USING SAME:  The specific system application methodology meticulously replicates frontal hairlines (forelock), the mid-scalp, the vertex and crown.   A soft frontal hairline is enabled by graduation of replicated density and inconsistency.  Proper hand and arm position, muscle control, angle of insertion on different areas of the scalp, proper needle depth, proximity of replicated follicular unit points and determining the natural hairline are all the method for using these needles.