Microstructures and method for treating and conditioning skin which cause less irritation during exfoliation
First Claim
1. A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:
- (a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements are of at least one predetermined shape that includes at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements;
(b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells on said substrate in areas between said plurality of microelements, wherein said at least one predetermined shape of said majority of microelements does not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on skin; and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. The dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In addition, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of accumulated skin cells represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus. Some of the microelement shapes are purposefully designed with distal ends that exhibit sharp edges rather than sharp tips to reduce skin irritation.
179 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements are of at least one predetermined shape that includes at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements;
(b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells on said substrate in areas between said plurality of microelements, wherein said at least one predetermined shape of said majority of microelements does not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on skin; and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of inverted microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements extends from a first surface of said substrate and which exhibit a substantially empty space within said microelements, and wherein said majority of microelements exhibits at least one substantially sharp edge along a second surface of said substrate, said second surface being opposite the first surface of said substrate;
(b) placing the second surface of said microstructure on skin and then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells within said substantially empty space within said majority of microelements; and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated within said substantially empty space within said majority of microelements. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:
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(a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements, wherein a majority of said microelements are of at least one predetermined size and shape, and each exhibit at least one side wall that extends above said first surface of the substrate, and wherein said majority of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement such that any spacing between portions of said side walls of adjacent microelements is substantially minimized;
(b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells in areas between said majority of microelements; and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said microstructure. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction, said predetermined sizes and shapes including at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements, and said predetermined sizes and shapes having a characteristic such that the microelements do not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on said skin. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
- a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
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18. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction;
said plurality of microelements each having at least one side wall that extends above said first surface of the substrate; and
wherein said plurality of microelements are oriented in a closely-packed arrangement such that any spacing between portions of said side walls of adjacent microelements is substantially minimized.
- a substrate and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
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20. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate and a plurality of inverted microelements that extend from a first surface of said substrate, said microelements exhibiting a substantially empty space therewithin, and wherein said microelements exhibit at least one substantially sharp edge along a second surface of said substrate, said second surface being opposite the first surface of said substrate; and
said at least one substantially sharp edge being of a predetermined size and shape for use in scraping skin cells from skin when the second surface of said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction.
- a substrate and a plurality of inverted microelements that extend from a first surface of said substrate, said microelements exhibiting a substantially empty space therewithin, and wherein said microelements exhibit at least one substantially sharp edge along a second surface of said substrate, said second surface being opposite the first surface of said substrate; and
Specification