Apparatus, system, and method to deliver optimal elements in order to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the skin

• US 20070073217A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beauty Bioscience, LLC, Beauty Biosciences LLC
• Original Assignee: Terry James
• Inventors: James, Terry
• Granted Patent: US 8,376,984 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/205 Vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00765 Decreasing the barrier function of skin tissue by radiated energy, e.g. using ultrasound, using laser for skin perforation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a bioactive material to a subterranean layer of a skin architecture is provided that includes a head including one or more needles that are operable to penetrate a stratum corneum of a skin. A bioactive material is disposed on one or more of the needles, whereby movement of the head operates to pick up the bioactive material and to deliver a portion of the bioactive material to a selected location, the selected location being a dermis, or an epidermis, or both the dermis and the epidermis. In more particular embodiments, the bioactive material is a macromolecule substance that is part of a group of substances, the group consisting of a protein, a vitamin, a gene, a growth agent, a drug, and a peptide. The needles create an injury that triggers collagen production from one or more fibroblasts in the skin.

Claims

1. An apparatus for delivering a bioactive material to a subterranean layer of a skin architecture, comprising:

a head including one or more needles that are operable to penetrate a stratum corneum of a skin, wherein a bioactive material is disposed on one or more of the needles, whereby movement of the head operates to pick up the bioactive material and to deliver a portion of the bioactive material to a selected location, the selected location being a dermis, or an epidermis, or both the dermis and the epidermis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bioactive material is a macromolecule substance that is part of a group of substances, the group consisting of:

a) a protein;

b) a vitamin;

c) a gene;

d) a growth agent;

e) a peptide; and

f) a drug.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needles create an injury that triggers collagen production from one or more fibroblasts in the skin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needles are operable to create holes in the stratum corneum, the holes being in a range of 0.02 mm to 0.18 mm in diameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needles are positioned at an angle having a range between 12°

and 25°

when compared to the head, which is used as a reference point for angle determination.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needles are provided in an arrangement that includes between 6 and 14 needle rows.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the needles are of a length of about 0.15 mm to 2.5 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a fork element coupled to the head and operable to provide a holding mechanism for an end user of the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head has a width between 5 mm and 30 mm.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bioactive material is delivered at the stratum corneum of the skin, to the bottom of the epidermis, to the top of the dermis, or to the middle of the dermis, and wherein a depth of delivery of the bioactive material is determined by a length, an angle, and a needle separation associated with the needles, and wherein the separation of the needles is in a range of 01.5-2.0 mm.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the head is a selected one of a roller head and a flat head.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the delivery of the bioactive material comprises a physical transport of the bioactive material.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a head with one or more needles that are operable to penetrate a stratum corneum of a skin; and

manufacturing the head to allow for positioning of a bioactive material on one or more of the needles, whereby movement of the head operates to pick up the bioactive material and to deliver a portion of the bioactive material to a selected location, the selected location being a dermis, or an epidermis, or both the dermis and the epidermis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bioactive material is a macromolecule substance that is part of a group of substances, the group consisting of:

a) a protein;

b) a vitamin;

c) a gene;

d) a growth agent;

e) a peptide; and

f) a drug.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the needles create an injury that triggers collagen production from one or more fibroblasts in the skin.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the needles on the head in order to create holes in the stratum corneum, the holes being in a range of 0.02 mm to 0.18 mm in diameter.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the needles at an angle having a range between 12° and

25°

when compared to the head, which is used as a reference point for angle determination.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the needles in an arrangement that includes between 6 and 14 needle rows.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the head is designed to be used in a selected application, the application being part of a group of applications, the group consisting of:

a) percutaneous collagen induction therapy;

b) vaccine delivery;

c) gene therapy;

d) scarring applications; and

e) drug applications.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the head with a fork element coupled to the head and operable to provide a holding mechanism for an end user of the apparatus.

21. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

packaging the head along with the bioactive material such that the head and the bioactive material can cooperate and be used together.

22. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a stand that may be used to support or to stabilize the device.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the needles are of a length of about 0.15 mm to 2.5 mm and the head has a width between 5 mm and 30 mm.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein a separation of the needles is in a range of 1.5-2.0 mm.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein a depth of delivery of the bioactive material is determined by a length, an angle, and a needle separation associated with the needles.