Internet connected dermatological devices and systems

• US 10,045,820 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Channel Investments, LLC
• Original Assignee: Channel Investments, LLC
• Inventors: Youngquist, David, Island, Tobin C., Liu, Harvey I-Heng, Beale, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eiseman, Adam J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandes, Patrick
• Application Number:
  US14/625,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20150230863A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00642 with feedback, i.e. closed loop control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/202 Laser enclosed in a hand-piece
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20351 Scanning mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/20361 with redirecting based on sensed condition, e.g. tissue analysis or tissue movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/205547 Controller with specific architecture or programmatic algorithm for directing scan path, spot size or shape, or spot intensity, fluence or irradiance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/208 with multiple treatment beams not sharing a common path, e.g. non-axial or parallel
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0462 Apparatus with built-in sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0214 Capacitive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 10/60 : Healthcare; Welfare
• CPC Class Codes: G16Y 20/40 : relating to personal data, e.g. biometric data, records or preferences

Abstract

A dermatological treatment and analysis system includes a handheld treatment device having a handheld body, a treatment radiation source that delivers a dermatological treatment to the skin, and skin sensor(s) configured to generate signals indicative of one or more skin properties. A wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device or in a docking/charging station that receives the handheld treatment device. The wireless transmitter is configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received skin-related data for analysis of the skin-related data by a remote data analysis system, which may analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data, and communicate the skin analysis data as feedback to the user of the handheld treatment device, e.g., via a website or application hosted on an internet-connected device of the user.

Claims

1. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:

a handheld treatment device, comprising;

a handheld body;

a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;

electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;

at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and

a processor configured to;

analyze the signals from the at least one skin sensor to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;

calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin; and

generate skin-related data based at least on the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs;

a wireless transmitter integrated in the handheld treatment device, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the skin-related data for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data;

such that the handheld treatment device is configured to both (a) deliver radiation to the skin to provide the dermatological treatment and (b) wirelessly transmit skin-related data, detected by the at least one sensor of the handheld treatment device, for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data.

2. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 1, further comprising a remote data analysis system configured to:

receive the skin-related data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via a communications network;

analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data; and

communicate the skin analysis data to a user via a display device or via the communications network.

3. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2, wherein the remote data analysis system is configured to:

identify previously received skin-related data associated with the same treatment device or user as the currently received skin-related data;

analyze the currently received skin-related data and previously received skin-related data to generate skin-related trend data associated with the treatment device or user, the skin-related trend data indicating trends in one or more skin-related parameter over time; and

communicate the skin-related trend data to the user via the communications network.

4. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2, wherein the remote data analysis system is configured to:

identify previously received device usage data associated with the same treatment device or user as the currently received device usage data;

analyze the currently received device usage data and previously received device usage data to generate device usage trend data associated with the treatment device or user, the device usage trend data indicating trends in the usage of the treatment device over time; and

communicate the device usage trend data to the user via the communications network.

5. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2, wherein:

the handheld treatment device further includes electronics configured to generate device usage data related to the usage of the handheld treatment device by a user;

the wireless transmitter is further configured to wirelessly transmit the device usage data to the communications network; and

the remote data analysis system is configured to;

receive the device usage data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via the communications network;

analyze the received device usage data to generate device usage analysis data; and

communicate the device usage analysis data to the user via the communications network.

6. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2, further comprising a user device comprising a display and configured to:

receive the skin analysis data transmitted by the remote data analysis system via the communications network; and

display the skin analysis data to a user via the display.

7. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6, wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the skin analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time (a) during a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, or (b) upon the completion of a treatment session using the handheld treatment device.

8. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6, wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the skin analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time upon a connection of the handheld treatment device with a docking device.

9. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6, wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the device usage analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time (a) during a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, (b) upon the completion of a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, or (c) upon the handheld treatment device being removably connected to a docking device.

16. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 1, wherein:

the handheld treatment device is configured to provide a fractional treatment to the skin by delivering laser radiation to an array of spaced apart locations on the skin to thereby create an array of spaced-apart microthermal zones (MTZs) in the skin;

wherein the array of MTZs form a corresponding array of MENDs in the skin.

10. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:

a handheld treatment device, comprising;

a handheld body;

a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;

electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;

at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and

a wireless transmitter configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received data to a communications network for remote analysis of the skin-related data;

such that the handheld treatment device is configured to both (a) deliver radiation to the skin to provide the dermatological treatment and (b) wirelessly transmit skin-related data, detected by the at least one sensor of the handheld treatment device, for remote analysis of the skin-related data; and

a remote data analysis system including at least one processor configured to;

receive the skin-related data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via the communications network;

analyze the received skin-related data to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;

calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin;

generate skin-related data that is dependent on the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs; and

communicate the skin skin-related data to a user via a display device or via the communications network.

11. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 10, further comprising a user device comprising a display and configured to:

receive the skin analysis data transmitted by the remote data analysis system via the communications network; and

display the skin analysis data to a user via the display.

12. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 10, wherein the wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device.

13. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:

a handheld treatment device, comprising;

a handheld body;

a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;

electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;

at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and

a processor configured to;

receive the signals from the at least one skin sensor;

analyze the signals from the at least one skin sensor to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;

calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin;

using the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs to generate skin-related data; and

display via a display device or wirelessly transmit the skin-related data for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data.

14. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 13, wherein the processor is provided in the handheld treatment device.

15. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 13, wherein the processor is provided in a device distinct from the handheld treatment device.

17. A handheld treatment device, comprising:

a handheld body;

a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;

electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a fractional treatment by delivering laser radiation to an array of spaced apart locations on the skin to thereby create an array of spaced-apart microthermal zones (MTZs) in the skin;

wherein the array of MTZs form a corresponding array of microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;

at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate sensor signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and

a control system including at least one processor configured to;

analyze the sensor signals to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;

calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin; and

control the treatment radiation source as a function of calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs.