Sperry Bio
Donor-free Skin Replacement Done Right!

Split-thickness skin graft is the current standard for treating traumatic skin loss. Compared to the traditional full-thickness skin graft, split-thickness skin graft donor sites are more available and can be re-harvested once it is fully healed. Nonetheless, this approach has its own drawbacks that include donor-skin availability, especially in extensive injuries involving a large surface area. Additionally, the donor-site wound can cause pain and scarring, as well as wound healing problems, particularly for older patients.

Vermont-based Sperry Bio has developed a skin replacement system that may solve these problems with its Sperry Micro-coring system. “Sperry Bio was founded to bridge the gap between improved patient experience and simple skin replacement with its novel technology to replace the skin with much less donor-site requirement. It makes the wound almost imperceptible after a few months because we are harvesting and replacing the skin orthogonally,” states Karl Wassman, the President, CEO, & Co-founder of Sperry Bio. “We have developed an entry-level method of manually transferring full-thickness cores to wound sites and alleviate the hurdles of tangential skin harvest using conventional dermatomes and other sophisticated devices, used for the same purpose,” mentions Charles R Sperry, the Co-founder at Sperry Bio. The system’s research and development align well with the current regenerative medicine research objectives of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command Clinical and Rehabilitative Medicine Research Program (USAMRDC CRMRP).

Unlike the traditional ways of skin grafting that replace the skin with the epidermis and a part of the dermis, Sperry Bio’s novel technology facilitates the implantation of full-thickness skin micro-columns, including reticular dermal fibroblasts, skin adnexa, adipose tissue, sweat glands, and hair follicles. These skin micro-column harvests result in less donor-site morbidity and help achieve durable single-stage skin replacement. With this technology, Sperry Bio aims at benefitting patients, healthcare providers, and third-party payers. Patients experience faster wound healing while the surgeons are equipped with an effective tool to deliver better patient outcomes. Finally, being one of the most cost-effective solutions in the wound care space benefits third-party payers and lowers the overall cost.

We have developed an entry-level method of manually transferring full-thickness cores to wound sites and alleviate the hurdles of tangential skin harvest using conventional dermatomes and other sophisticated devices, used for the same purpose

“We strive to deliver a cost-effective product for the surgeon’s arsenal to heal patients’ wounds,” mentions Dr. Anders Carlsson, a Metis Foundation Principal Research Scientist who also works at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.

The company’s Sperry Micro-coring system is a 510(k) surgical device that integrates 3D digital technology for transferring only a small percentage of the skin in the form of multiple round cores of full-thickness tissue. Once the subcutaneous tissue is obtained using a suction-assisted device, these cores are placed within a small carrier and transported to the wound site. The cores are then placed on the wound, which orients and vascularize very fast. This procedure leaves the donor-site with small diameter, evenly spaced holes that heal much quicker and less perceptible than full or partial surface removal and can be re-harvested months later. According to Sperry Bio’s preliminary studies, biopsies after the skin replacement using full-thickness skin tissue columns showed enhanced reepithelialization and the growth of adnexal structures, such as hair follicles and sweat glands. “Even though the technology is still in an early phase of development, the Sperry Micro-coring system will surely revolutionize skin repair and replacement and easily adopted by surgeons,” mentions Dr. Rodney Chan, a Metis Foundation scientist and also the Chief Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research.

The Sperry Micro-coring system is currently in the early phases of development with continuing validation studies in animals and discarded human skin. Sperry Bio will move into early phase human trials. For this purpose, the company has worked out a month-to-month roadmap for 16 months, wherein the first phase of clinical trials will be completed in the first eight months, followed by introducing the beta unit of the micro-coring system.

The company will conduct its second phase of clinical trials within the following months, with document submission to the FDA early next year. Simultaneously, it will acquire and retain contract manufacturers, producers, design control files, ISO, and FDA compliances. “We are looking to follow a fairly well-established plan for roll-out of medical devices in the coming 24 months,” concludes Karl Wassman, the President, CEO, and Co-founder at Sperry Bio.