Apparatus and Method for Transdermal Fluid Delivery

• US 20150088050A1
• Filed: 04/21/2014
• Published: 03/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin J. Chang
• Original Assignee: Franklin J. Chang
• Inventors: Chang, Franklin J., Chang, Henry Ping
• Granted Patent: US 9,044,582 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/545 using a stream or spray of abrasive particles
• 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: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2218/001 having means for irrigation and/or aspiration of substances to and/or from the surgical site A61B2018/00029 and A61B2018/1472 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0007 having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0023 Drug applicators using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/327 for enhancing the absorption properties of tissue, e.g. by electroporation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/328 for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment

Abstract

An apparatus for transdermal fluid delivery includes a handle and a tip, having a skin applying surface, being driven to move by a driving unit. A fluid delivery structure has an aperture formed at the skin applying surface and a vacuum entry port. An abrading structure, an electrode structure, and a micro-needling structure are selectively provided at the skin applying surface with the fluid delivery structure to provide multiple functions of the tip. A flow of fluid is delivered onto the skin applying surface through the fluid delivery structure to interact with the abrading elements and the electrodes before the fluid is returned and collected, so that three different skin treatments of abrasive peeling, electrical stimulation, and liquid infusion are achieved in one single structure for improving a skin structure.

Claims

1. An apparatus for transdermal fluid delivery, comprising a multi-functional tip having a skin-applying surface, a support member within a handle structure, comprising a fluid delivery structure, and a tip driver,

wherein said support member comprises a driving unit and a driving shaft operatively extended from said driving unit to said multi-functional tip, wherein said driving shaft has at least a hollow portion extended to said multi-functional tip, wherein said driving unit is operated to generate a movement by a motor at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip;

wherein said support member comprises a fluid delivery channel defined at said hollow portion of said driving shaft and at least an aperture formed at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip to communicate with said fluid channel, so that said driving shaft drives said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip to move and also guides a flow of fluid through said fluid channel to said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip at said aperture at the same time,

Wherein said support member provides a driving unit within a driving shaft to perform a dual function to allow a fluid to flow through said driving unit while said driving unit is simultaneously moved by a motor.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said fluid delivery structure further has a fluid inlet transversely formed at said driving shaft to guide said fluid entering into said fluid channel from said fluid inlet and to guide said fluid exiting at said aperture.

3. The apparatus in claim 2 further comprising a support member which has a through center slot, wherein said driving shaft is supported by and extended through said center slot of said support member, wherein said driving shaft is movable and said support member is stationary.

4. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein said support member further has an interior fluid cavity for delivering said fluid from a fluid source to said interior fluid cavity, wherein said driving shaft is movable and extended through said center slot of said support member to locate said fluid inlet within said interior fluid cavity of said support member, so that when said driving shaft is moved with respect to said support member, said fluid is able to enter into said fluid inlet from said interior fluid cavity.

5. The apparatus in claim 4 wherein said support member further comprises two sealing elements embedded at an inner wall of said center slot to fluidly seal said fluid inlet within said interior fluid cavity and between said two sealing elements.

6. The apparatus in claim 4 wherein said support member further has a fluid guiding passage extended from a rear side of said support member to said Interior fluid cavity, wherein said fluid is guided to flow from said fluid guiding passage to said interior fluid cavity before is guided to flow to said fluid channel from said fluid inlet.

7. The apparatus in claim 5 wherein said support member further has a fluid guiding passage extended from a rear side of said support member to said interior fluid cavity, wherein said fluid is guided to flow from said fluid guiding passage to said interior fluid cavity before is guided to flow to said fluid channel from said fluid inlet.

8. The apparatus in claim 3 wherein said support member further has a vacuum passage extended through said support member and formed a vacuum port at a front side of said support member for vacuuming said fluid after said fluid is delivered to said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

9. The apparatus in claim 7 wherein said support member further has a vacuum passage extended through said support member and formed a vacuum port at a front side of said support member for vacuuming said fluid after said fluid is delivered to said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

10. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein said center slot, said fluid guiding passage, and said vacuum passage are parallel with each other at said support member.

11. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said multi-functional tip is detachably coupled with a front end of said driving shaft to communicate said aperture with said fluid channel.

12. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein said multi-functional tip is detachably coupled with a front end of said driving shaft to communicate said aperture with said fluid channel.

13. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, and a plurality of abrading elements provided at said skin applying surface, wherein said aperture is formed at a center of said skin applying surface and define a plurality of fluid distributing channels radially and outwardly extended from said aperture to said electrodes, wherein each of said fluid distributing channels is formed at a gap between two adjacent abrading elements.

14. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, and a plurality of abrading elements provided at said skin applying surface, wherein said aperture is formed at a center of said skin applying surface and define a plurality of fluid distributing channels radially and outwardly extended from said aperture to said electrodes, wherein each of said fluid distributing channels is formed at a gap between two adjacent abrading elements.

15. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, and a micro-needle assembly having a plurality of micro-needles provided at said skin applying surface, wherein two or more of said apertures are provided at said skin applying surface to deliver said fluid to said micro-needle assembly.

16. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, and a micro-needle assembly having a plurality of micro-needles provided at said skin applying surface, wherein two or more of said apertures are provided at said skin applying surface to deliver said fluid to said micro-needle assembly.

17. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, wherein two or more of said apertures are provided at said skin applying surface and are serves as jet propulsion outlet to deliver said fluid in high speed.

18. The apparatus in claim 9 wherein said multi-functional tip further comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said skin applying surface, wherein two or more of said apertures are provided at said skin applying surface and are serves as jet propulsion outlet to deliver said fluid in high speed.

19. The apparatus in claim 1 further comprising an angled handle which comprises a casing and a hand grip inclined and extended from said casing, wherein said tip driver is supported in said casing and said multi-functional tip is located at a working end of said casing, wherein said working end of said casing is formed in a crown shape.

20. The apparatus in claim 9 further comprising an angled handle which comprises a casing and a hand grip inclined and extended from said casing, wherein said tip driver is supported in said casing and said multi-functional tip is located at a working end of said casing, wherein said working end of said casing is formed in a crown shape.

21. An apparatus for transdermal fluid delivery, comprising a handle, a multi-functional tip, a support member and a fluid delivery structure,

wherein said handle has a working end;

wherein said multi-functional tip, having a skin applying surface located at said working end of said handle, comprises a plurality of abrading elements attached to a support member within said handle provided at said skin applying surface with an electrode module which comprises a plurality of electrodes encircled around said abrading elements of said skin applying surface;

wherein said fluid delivery structure has at least an aperture located within a plurality of abrading elements at said skin applying surface and a vacuum inlet formed at a perimeter of said electrode module, wherein a fluid traveling path is defined between said aperture and said, vacuum inlet for ensuring a flow of fluid to deliver contact onto said skin applying surface through said aperture and to interact with said abrading elements and said electrodes all before said fluid is pulled back through said vacuum inlet, so that three different functions of skin treatments such as abrasive peeling, electrical stimulation, and liquid infusion are achieved in one single structure to increase transdermal fluid delivery for improving the results of a treatment area.

22. The apparatus in claim 21 wherein said vacuum inlet is formed between said electrode module and said skin applying surface.

23. The apparatus in claim 21 further comprising a tip driver, wherein said tip driver comprises a driving unit and a driving shaft operatively extended from said driving unit to said multi-functional tip for generating a movement at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

24. The apparatus in claim 22 further comprising a tip driver, wherein said tip driver comprises a driving unit and a driving shaft operatively extended from said driving unit to said multi-functional tip for generating a movement at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

25. The apparatus in claim 24 wherein said driving shaft has at least a hollow portion extended to said multi-functional tip and defines a fluid channel at said hollow portion for guiding said fluid to said aperture.

32. The apparatus as in claim 21 wherein the apparatus has a single electrode ring having a sonic brush tip.

26. A method for transdermal fluid delivery, comprising the steps of:

(a) holding a handle stationary to locate a working end of said handle on a skin surface;

(b) delivering a flow of fluid onto a skin applying surface through an inner structure of a multi-functional tip through a support member at an aperture which is formed on said skin applying surface, wherein said skin applying surface is located at said working end of said handle;

(c) evenly distributing said fluid through a plurality of rotatable and or vibration abrading elements of an inner structure of the multi functional tip attached to the driving shaft of a support member which is moved by a motor are provided onto said skin applying surface;

(d) driving said multi-functional tip to rotate and or vibrate an abrasive element to abrade the contact surface while said handle is stationary; and

(e) simultaneously guiding said fluid through a support member to interact with a plurality of electrodes of an electrode module of an intermediate structure of the multi functional tip encircled around an inner structure of the multi functional tip of said skin applying surface.

27. The method in claim 26 further comprising a step (f) of pulling back said fluid at a vacuum inlet formed at a perimeter of said electrode module to ensure said fluid to interact said abrading elements and said electrodes before said fluid is pulled back at said vacuum inlet.

28. The method in claim 26, in said step (d), wherein said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip is driven to move by a tip driver, wherein said tip driver comprises a driving unit and a driving shaft operatively extended from said driving unit to said multi-functional tip for generating a movement at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

29. The method in claim 27, in said step (d), wherein said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip is driven to move by a tip driver, wherein said tip driver comprises a driving unit and a driving shaft operatively extended from said driving unit to said multi-functional tip for generating a movement at said skin applying surface of said multi-functional tip.

30. The method in claim 28 wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of guiding said fluid to pass through a hollow portion of said driving shaft which serves as a fluid channel to guide said fluid to said aperture through said fluid channel.

31. The method in claim 29 wherein said step (b) further comprises a step of guiding said fluid to pass through a hollow portion of said driving shaft which serves as a fluid channel to guide said fluid to said aperture through said fluid channel.