Custom Products

Huot Instruments LLC was created as a specialist company offering cutting devices for use in dermatology. It began in 2005, when Dr. Samuel Huot, a family physician, discussed his ideas for a new and innovative tool for making elliptical excisions with two engineers, George Dunham and Richard Ward. He described the problems with doing an elliptical excision, noting that it was difficult and time consuming to make a completely symmetrical incision especially when keeping the sides 90 degrees to the surface.

While other manufacturers had attempted to manufacture elliptical punches in the past, these endeavors failed to utilize horizontal blade movement. Dr. Huot's idea was to introduce a thin flexible blade which would rotate within a plastic housing. This movement would facilitate more effective cutting action, while still maintaining an elliptical shape. The tool would be as quick and easy to use as a standard circular punch, and the resulting scar much less noticeable.

The concept took over a year to perfect. In 2006, Huot Instruments, LLC was formed to bring this innovative punch, now known as the ElliptiPunch™, to market.

Meanwhile, during the ElliptiPunch's development period, an associate of Dr. Huot, Dr. Greg Wittenberg, approached the company with an idea that he had been developing. This idea was to add "viewing windows" to the standard round biopsy punch thereby enabling the clinician to determine, with precision, that the blade is centered over the lesion. The VisiPunch™, as it would be known, would also have the additional benefit of allowing the doctor to easily remove any specimen that may become trapped in the barrel of the punch. Dr. Wittenberg joined the company in 2006, bringing with him the basic technology for the VisiPunch.

Thus, Huot Instruments established its state of the art manufacturing facility in late 2006, and began producing and marketing innovative biopsy punches. With on-site graphic design capabilities, a certified clean room, a selection of cutting edge production equipment, gamma sterilization capabilities and most important of all inventive, experienced but lateral-thinking engineers, Huot is uniquely qualified to tailor make specialty products for their clients. Thus, if you have any requests or suggestions, please do not hesitate to make them known to us. Our goal is to better serve you the physician, and your patients.

Custom Punch Alterations:

1. 13mm Biopsy Punch: One physician requested a punch that was capable of removing the lens in a human eye. This necessitated an instrument with an extra-wide circular blade of 13mm diameter. The resulting product, now available upon special order, is believed to be the largest diameter circular punch available anywhere.

2. Follicle Transplant Blade: This was a product that we had not considered before but we had the infrastructure to manufacture. The customer needed a 1.5mm, dulled punch, to perform a specialized follicle transplant. We responded to the request with by designing a specialized instrument which precisely matched the needs of the customer.

3. Dental Punch: We were approached by an oral surgeon. He had used our punches in the past but had found them cumbersome for some procedures. He asked if it were possible to manufacture a punch that dental professionals could manipulate in very restricted spaces. Our engineers soon developed a product with a foreshortened handle, ideal for oral surgery.

4. Nasal Planer: This instrument, used in cosmetic surgery, is designed to “shave” layers of cartilage from the nose. The new Huot Instruments “Nasal Planer” is a prime example of how we work with our customers to achieve dynamic solutions.

Further information

For further information on any of the above custom products please use our Enquiry Form.