Skin treatment apparatus and methods

• US 20040015139A1
• Filed: 07/17/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kerrie L. La Bianco, Richard A. La Bianco
• Original Assignee: Kerrie L. La Bianco, Richard A. La Bianco
• Inventors: La Bianco, Kerrie L., La Bianco, Richard A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,044,938 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/289
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/003 Portable hand-held applicators having means for dispensing or spreading integral media hand-held massage devices with liquid delivery A61H7/003

Abstract

Apparatus for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate includes an appliance and an applicator. The appliance may include a motor for actuating the applicator, for example, by rotation or oscillation. The applicator may include an application surface for impressing and urging particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the motor is activated. The application surface may be made from a substantially unresilient material or a substantially inabsorbent material. To treat skin, abrasion lotion may be applied either on the surface of the applicator or directly on the skin. The surface may then be placed against skin, and the motor may be activated. When in motion, the application surface impresses particulate of the lotion upon the skin and urges the impressed particulate across the skin, thereby abrading and exfoliating the skin. The applicator may be moved over an area of the skin for complete treatment. The application surface may include a field and a plurality of bosses disposed on the field, with channels defined between adjacent bosses. When the applicator is in motion and the surface contacts skin, the bosses urge and push the abrasion lotion into and through the channels, thereby moving and redistributing the abrasion lotion during operation. Alternatively, the application surface may include a relief field for vectoring particulate upon the skin.

Claims

1. An applicator for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the applicator for use with an appliance configured to move the applicator, the applicator comprising:

a base for engaging with the appliance; and

a substantially unresilient application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the applicator is moving.

2. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the application surface includes an embossed field having a plurality of bosses.

3. An applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bosses are arcuate in section.

4. An applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the appliance rotates the applicator and wherein the applicator rotates about an axis and channels are defined between adjacent bosses;

the bosses urging abrasion lotion through the channels when the application surface is contacting skin and the applicator is rotating.

5. An applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein a plurality of the bosses are disposed about a periphery of the application surface.

6. An applicator as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least one of the bosses protrudes beyond the periphery of the application surface.

7. An applicator as claimed in claim 2 wherein the bosses include a plurality of intaglios.

8. An applicator as claimed in claim 1 wherein the application surface includes a relief field.

9. An applicator as claimed in claim 8 wherein the relief field includes troughs defined between ridges.

10. An applicator as claimed in claim 9 wherein the particulate of the abrasion lotion has a diameter and wherein the troughs have a depth less than the diameter of the particulate.

11. An applicator for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the applicator for use with an appliance configured to move the applicator, the applicator comprising:

a base for engaging with the appliance; and

a substantially inabsorbent application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the applicator is moving.

12. An applicator as claimed in claim 11 wherein the application surface includes an embossed field having a plurality of bosses.

13. An applicator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bosses are arcuate in section.

14. An applicator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the appliance rotates the applicator and wherein the applicator rotates about an axis and channels are defined between adjacent bosses;

the bosses urging abrasion lotion through the channels when the application surface is contacting skin and the applicator is rotating.

15. An applicator as claimed in claim 12 wherein a plurality of the bosses are disposed about a periphery of the application surface.

16. An applicator as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one of the bosses protrudes beyond the periphery of the application surface.

17. An applicator as claimed in claim 12 wherein the bosses include a plurality of intaglios.

18. An applicator as claimed in claim 11 wherein the application surface includes a relief field.

19. An applicator as claimed in claim 18 wherein the relief field includes troughs defined between ridges.

20. An applicator as claimed in claim 19 wherein the particulate of the abrasion lotion has a diameter and wherein the troughs have a depth less than the diameter of the particulate.

21. Apparatus for treating skin using abrasion lotion with particulate, the apparatus comprising:

an appliance including an applicator and a motor for rotating the applicator;

the applicator including a substantially unresilient and inabsorbent application surface for vectoring particulate upon skin when the surface is contacting skin and the motor is activated.

22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the motor rotates the applicator at a rate of at least about 20 revolutions per minute.

23. A method for treating skin, the method comprising:

providing abrasion lotion with particulate;

providing an appliance including an applicator and a motor for rotating the applicator, the applicator including a substantially unresilient and inabsorbent application surface including a plurality of bosses;

placing the application surface against skin with the abrasion lotion with particulate therebetween; and

activating the motor such that the bosses of the application surface vector particulate upon the skin.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 further comprising:

moving the application surface over an area of skin.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the abrasion lotion is a microdermabrasion lotion.