Apparatus containing a receiving element for treatment of skin

• US 20050148908A1
• Filed: 12/24/2003
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Narsana, Tushar, Hull, Raymond J., Skover, Gregory, Cronin, John, Burrows, Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/746,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20050148908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/17
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/207 Vibration, e.g. ultrasound
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• 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 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/02 adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/004 power-driven, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/07 Retinol compounds, e.g. vitamin A retinoic acids A61K31/203
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/41 Amines
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/671 Vitamin A; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ester of vitamin A acid, ester of retinol, retinol, retinal
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/02 for chemically bleaching or whitening the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/08 Anti-ageing preparations

Abstract

The invention features an apparatus for delivering mechanical energy to skin, wherein the apparatus includes: (a) a user output assembly, the user output assembly including: (i) a skin-contactable element having a skin contactable surface; (ii) a motor; and (iii) a transfer member for transferring energy from the motor to the skin-contactable element a transfer member for transferring energy from the motor to the skin-contactable element; (b) a receiving element adapted to receive user-attribute data that is provided to the apparatus by a user; and (c) a controller coupled to the receiving element and the user output assembly, wherein the controller provides action instructions to the user output assembly based upon the user-attribute data received by the receiving element.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering mechanical energy to skin, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a user output assembly, the user output assembly comprising;

(i) a skin-contactable element having a skin contactable surface;

(ii) a motor; and

(iii) a transfer member for transferring energy from said motor to said skin-contactable element a transfer member for transferring energy from said motor to said skin-contactable element;

(b) a receiving element adapted to receive user-attribute data that is provided to the apparatus by a user; and

(c) a controller coupled to the receiving element and said user output assembly, wherein the controller provides action instructions to the user output assembly based upon said user-attribute data received by said receiving element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user-attribute data is selected from the group consisting of age, weight, height, sex, body mass index, skin type, skin condition, global location, seasonal time of year, skin sensitivity, and combinations thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user-attribute data is skin property data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the skin property data is optical property data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the optical property data is selected from the group consisting of reflectivity data, transmissivity data, absorbtivity data, fluorescence data, light scattering data, and combinations thereof.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface, for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin, and combinations thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user output assembly further comprises an indicator coupled to the controller.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the indicator is capable of emitting energy selected from the group consisting of light, sound, heat, vibration, and combinations thereof, in order to communicate with a user proximate the system.

11. A method for delivering mechanical energy to skin, the method comprising:

(a) providing user-attribute data to said receiving element of the apparatus of claim 1;

and

(b) contacting an expanse of skin with a skin-contactable surface of said apparatus.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the user-attribute data is selected from the group consisting of age, weight, height, sex, body mass index, skin type, skin condition, global location, seasonal time of year, skin sensitivity, and combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the user-attribute data is skin property data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the skin property data is optical property data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the optical property data is selected from the group consisting of reflectivity data, transmissivity data, absorbtivity data, fluorescence data, light scattering data, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface, for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin, and combinations thereof.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a time-dependent motion of a skin-contactable surface.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the action instructions are for effecting a delivery rate of a composition from the apparatus to the skin.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the user output assembly further comprises an indicator coupled to the controller.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the indicator is capable of emitting energy selected from the group consisting of light, sound, heat, vibration, and combinations thereof, in order to communicate with a user proximate the system.