Method and apparatus for discontinuous dermabrasion

• US 10,687,842 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2016
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Austen, William G., Manstein, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Holwerda, Kathleen S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labranche, Brooke
• Application Number:
  US15/393,001
• Publication Number:
  US 20170105749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,273 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00561 creating a vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm. For example, such small holes can be produced using a mechanical apparatus that includes one or more abrading elements provided at the end of one or more rotating shafts, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes thus formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and may exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The method and apparatus can produce cosmetic improvements in the skin appearance by eliciting a healing response.

Claims

1. An apparatus for cosmetic resurfacing of a skin tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft having a longitudinal axis, an abrading element coupled to a distal end of the shaft, a substrate, a conduit coupled to the substrate, and a drive arrangement configured to rotate the at least one shaft around the longitudinal axis;

wherein the at least one shaft is rotatably coupled to the substrate;

wherein a width of the abrading element is less than about 1 mm;

wherein the abrading element is configured to contact a surface of the skin tissue to remove at least one portion of the skin tissue;

wherein the conduit is configured to facilitate contact between the surface of the skin tissue and the abrading element when the conduit is placed in communication with a low-pressure source; and

wherein the drive arrangement is further configured to translate the at least one shaft in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of the abrading element is less than about 0.8 mm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of the abrading element is less than about 0.5 mm.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the width of the abrading element is between about 0.3 mm and about 0.5 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one shaft comprises a plurality of shafts.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a reciprocating arrangement configured to repeatedly translate the abrading element in a forward translational direction and a backward translation direction substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one shaft.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reciprocating arrangement comprises an actuator and a control arrangement.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reciprocating arrangement comprises a trigger mechanism and a spring arrangement.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the reciprocating arrangement is configured to bring the abrading element in contact with the surface of the skin tissue at least one of to a particular depth, or using a particular force.

10. An apparatus for cosmetic resurfacing of a skin tissue, comprising:

at least one shaft having a longitudinal axis, an abrading element coupled to a distal end of the shaft, a substrate, a conduit coupled to the substrate, and a reciprocating arrangement configured to repeatedly translate the abrading element in a forward translational direction and a backward translation direction substantially along the longitudinal axis of the at least one shaft;

wherein the at least one shaft is rotatably coupled to the substrate;

wherein a width of the abrading element is less than about 1 mm;

wherein the abrading element is configured to contact a surface of the skin tissue to remove at least one portion of the skin tissue; and

wherein the conduit is configured to facilitate contact between the surface of the skin tissue and the abrading element when the conduit is placed in communication with a low-pressure source.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the width of the abrading element is less than about 0.8 mm.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the width of the abrading element is less than about 0.5 mm.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the width of the abrading element is between about 0.3 mm and about 0.5 mm.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one shaft comprises a plurality of shafts.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a drive arrangement configured to rotate the at least one shaft around the longitudinal axis.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the drive arrangement is further configured to translate the at least one shaft in a direction substantially along the longitudinal axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reciprocating arrangement comprises an actuator and a control arrangement.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reciprocating arrangement comprises a trigger mechanism and a spring arrangement.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the reciprocating arrangement is configured to bring the abrading element in contact with the surface of the skin tissue at least one of to a particular depth, or using a particular force.