SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT OF SKIN CONDITIONS USING AT LEAST ONE NARROW BAND LIGHT SOURCE IN A SKIN BRUSH HAVING AN OSCILLATING BRUSHHEAD

• US 20090177125A1
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Incorporated (L'Oreal SA)
• Inventors: Pilcher, Kenneth A., Akridge, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,641,702 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/18
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1678 Means for angularly oscillating massage elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0653 Organic light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0666 : for redirecting light to the treatment area
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

An apparatus and corresponding method for treatment of skin conditions which includes a brushhead member which comprises a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating in operation through a selected angle at a selected frequency and a second portion which also includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts concentric with the first portion, the second portion remaining stationary in operation. At least one monochromatic light source is included, providing light directed from the brushhead in a direction substantially the same as the bristle tufts, such that the light impinges on the area of skin of the user acted on by the oscillating brushhead.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treatment of skin conditions, comprising:

a housing member for the apparatus;

a brushhead member adapted to fit to the housing member comprising a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating in operation through a selected angle;

a driving assembly for the brushhead member; and

at least one source of light having a wavelength suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition, wherein said light is directed from the brushhead member.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is monochromatic.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the skin condition being treated is acne.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the skin condition is one or more of the following:

skin rejuvenation, collagen treatment, skin infections, skin pigmentation, scar tissue reduction, psoriasis, seborrhea, eczema, wound healing, anti-aging of skin, hail loss, hair removal and skin cancer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, including multiple light sources producing light suitable for treatment of the skin condition.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light sources have all the same wavelength.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the light sources have more than one wavelength.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light sources are monochromatic.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is continuous.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is pulsed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a light emitter in the housing, apart from the brushhead.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein light of one or more than one wavelength is directed from the first portion of the brushhead through transparent bristles.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein light of one or more than one wavelength is directed from the first portion of the brushhead through light pipes positioned in openings in the first portion.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein light of one or more than one wavelength is directed through transparent bristles in a second portion of the brushhead, which second portion concentrically surrounds the first portion and includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the second portion remaining stationary in operation.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein light of one or more than one wavelength is transmitted through light pipes positioned in openings in a second portion of the brushhead, the second portion being stationary concentrically around the first portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein light is directed from one or more light pipes located in approximately the center of the brushhead.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light source includes a light emitter positioned in the brushhead.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitter is in the first portion of the brushhead.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitter is in a second portion of the brushhead, the second portion being stationary concentrically around the first portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light emitter is in approximately the center of the brushhead.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, including a circuit for sensing contact between the brushhead and the skin and a control circuit responsive to an indication from the sensing circuit that contact has been made with the skin to turn the light source on, resulting in light being directed from the brushhead.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the circuit turns the light source off when contact between the brushhead and the skin is broken.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, including an assembly for applying a skin treatment formulation to the skin in the area affected by the brushhead member.

24. A method for treatment of skin conditions, comprising the steps of:

applying a back and forth stress action to the skin by a skin brush appliance which rotates through a selected angle at a selected frequency to stretch the skin in opposing directions without damaging the skin; and

applying light to the area acted on by the skin brush from a brushhead portion of the skin brush, the light having at least one wavelength which is suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the selected frequency is within the range of 60-700 Hz.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the skin condition is acne.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the skin condition is one or more of the following:

skin rejuvenation, collagen treatment, skin infections, skin pigmentation, scar tissue reduction, psoriasis, seborrhea, eczema, wound healing, anti-aging of skin, hair loss, hair removal and skin cancer.

28. The method of claim 24, including the further step of applying a skin formulation for treatment of a selected skin condition to said area of the skin, wherein the effect of the skin formulation is enhanced by the action of the light and/or the brush action.

29. The method of claim 24, including the further step of applying a skin formulation for treatment of a selected skin condition to said area of the skin, wherein the effect of the light is enhanced by the formulation.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the light is produced by a plurality of sources.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the light sources have a single wavelength.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the light sources have more than one wavelength.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of light sources are in a first rotating portion of the brushhead.

34. The method of claim 30, wherein the light sources are in a second, stationary portion of the brushhead.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the light sources include light emitters which are positioned in a handle portion of the appliance, wherein the light from the emitters is directed from the brushhead of the appliance.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the light sources include light emitters which are positioned in the brushhead of the appliance.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein the light sources are continuous.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the light sources are pulsed.

39. An apparatus for treatment of skin conditions, comprising:

a housing member for the apparatus;

a brushhead member adapted to fit to the housing member comprising a first portion which includes a plurality of bristle tufts, the first portion moving back and forth about a rest/neutral position;

a driving assembly for the brushhead member; and

at least one source of light having a wavelength suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition, wherein said light is directed from the brushhead member.