Microdermabrasion fluid application system and method

• US 20030167032A1
• Filed: 12/10/2002
• Published: 09/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems Corporation (Edge Systems LLC)
• Inventors: Ignon, Roger G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,942,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/545 using a stream or spray of abrasive particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00893 pharmaceutically effective

Abstract

A growth factor delivery system for use in connection with microdermabrasion includes a source of growth factors. The growth material may be dry and thus mixed in with the abrasion media. The dry growth material would therefore be applied to the target skin area simultaneously with the abrasion media by a single handpiece. The growth material may comprise a fluid to be delivered by a separate handpiece. The fluid source may be within the handpiece or external thereto. The fluid source may be contained in a removable cartridge adapted to fit within the handpiece. Thus, a method and system is provided for using disposable cartridges of growth fluids.

Claims

1. A microdermabrasion apparatus, comprising:

a supply of abrasion media;

a supply of growth material;

at least one handpiece to apply the abrasion media and the growth material to a target area; and

a mechanism for removing the abrasion media from the target area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the growth material is dry.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the growth material is mixed with the abrasion media.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a source of oxygen in communication with the handpiece.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a valve to control a flow of the oxygen to the handpiece.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanism comprises a vacuum source.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the vacuum source is disposed downstream from the handpiece, the apparatus further comprising a positive pressure source disposed upstream from the handpiece.

8. A microdermabrasion system, comprising:

a first supply of microdermabrasion media;

a first handpiece in communication with the first supply of microdermabrasion media;

a second supply of growth material;

a second handpiece in communication with the second supply of growth material;

a mechanism to alternatively cause a first flow of the microdermabrasion media through the first handpiece and a second flow of the growth material through the second handpiece; and

a control unit coupled to the first handpiece and the second handpiece, the control unit including a switch to alternate operation of the mechanism between the first handpiece and the second handpiece.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the mechanism comprises a vacuum source coupled to both the first handpiece and the second handpiece.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the control unit houses the vacuum source.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the first supply of microdermabrasion media is disposed in the control unit.

17. The system of claim 8, wherein the second supply of growth material is disposed in the control unit.

18. The system of claim 8, wherein the second supply of growth material is carried by the second handpiece.

9. The system of claim B1, wherein the second supply of growth material comprises a liquid including at least one growth factor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the liquid further comprises vitamins.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the liquid further comprises moisturizers.

12. The system of claim 9, further comprising a source of oxygen coupled to the liquid.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a valve coupled to the source of oxygen, the valve adapted to control a flow of oxygen to the liquid.

19. A fluid delivery apparatus for applying a fluid to a target skin area, comprising:

a handpiece;

a cartridge disposed substantially within the handpiece, the cartridge holding a supply of fluid and including an applicator adapted to apply the fluid to a target skin area; and

a vacuum source coupled to the handpiece and adapted to draw the fluid out of the cartridge and through the applicator.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the applicator comprises a sponge.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the applicator comprises a roller.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the applicator comprises a membrane.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handpiece comprises a housing adapted to slidingly receive the cartridge.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handpiece comprises a beveled distal portion adapted to contact the target skin area.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handpiece comprises a distal portion with vacuum ports.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handpiece comprises a housing with a removable cap to facilitate assembly and removal of the container.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the supply fluid contains at least one growth factor.

28. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the handpiece comprises a housing;

a space is defined within the housing and exterior to the container; and

the space is in communication with the vacuum source.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the housing comprises a distal portion adapted to form a seal with the target skin area.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the space is sealed off from any area exterior to the handpiece when the housing forms the seal with the target skin area.

31. A method for microdermabrading skin, comprising the steps of:

abrading a target skin area with microdermabrasion media;

applying growth material to the target skin area;

retrieving the microdermabrasion media from the target skin area; and

retrieving at least a portion of the growth material from the target skin area.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the growth material is dry, the method further comprising the step of:

mixing the dry growth material with the microdermabrasion media prior to the applying step.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein:

the step of abrading a target skin area with microdermabrasion media comprises the step of applying the microdermabrasion media to the target skin area with a first handpiece; and

the step of applying growth material to the target skin area comprises the step of applying the growth material to the target skin area with a second handpiece.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of disposing the growth material in an aqueous solution.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of disposing the aqueous solution with the growth material upstream from the second handpiece.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of carrying the aqueous solution with the second handpiece.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of disposing the aqueous solution with the growth material within the second handpiece comprises the step of retaining the aqueous solution with a cartridge carried by the handpiece.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of:

disposing an applicator on a distal end of the cartridge, and

wherein the step of applying the growth material to the target skin area with the second handpiece comprises contacting the target skin with the applicator.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of disposing the applicator on the distal end of the cartridge comprises disposing a sponge applicator.

40. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of disposing the applicator on the distal end of the cartridge comprises disposing a roller applicator.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein the step of disposing the applicator on the distal end of the cartridge comprises disposing a membrane applicator.