COMBINED SONIC AND ULTRASONIC SKIN CARE DEVICE

• US 20150174387A1
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Published: 06/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: McInnes, James Christopher, Pilcher, Ken, Miller, Zane
• Application Number:
  US14/139,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20150174387A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0227 with magnetostrictive elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1692 Enhanced rubbing effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• 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 2205/058 with ultrasound therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/106 reciprocating
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2210/04 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis

Abstract

Dermal infusion devices and methods are provided. The device is configured to direct two different frequencies of oscillating motion (e.g., sonic and ultrasonic) towards the skin of a subject. The combination of the two different frequencies results in improved dermal infusion capabilities and can be used, for example, to effect transdermal delivery of a topical formulation.

Claims

1. A dermal infusion device, comprising:

a first source of oscillatory motion, having an oscillation rate of less than 20 kHz; and

a second source of oscillatory motion, having an oscillation rate of 20 kHz or greater.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source has an oscillation rate of less than 1 kHz.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source is selected from the group consisting of a motor, a pneumatic device, and a piezoelectric device.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the second source has an oscillation rate greater than 100 kHz.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second source is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric device and a magnetostrictive device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the second source creates bursts of oscillatory motion with a duty cycle between 5% and 50%.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second source has a spatial peak, temporal average intensity (I_SPTA) of 1 W/cm² or less.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source has an amplitude of 0.1 inch or less.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first source and the second source are configured to simultaneously direct oscillatory motion to a location.

10. A method of simultaneously delivering a sonic motion and an ultrasonic motion to a location, comprising the steps of:

(a) directing the sonic motion at the location from a first source of oscillatory motion, having an oscillation rate of less than 20 kHz; and

(b) directing the ultrasonic motion at the location from a second source of oscillatory motion, having an oscillation rate of 20 kHz or greater.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the location is a subject'"'"'s skin.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the sonic motion is produced by an oscillating contact member that oscillates between an extended position, closest to the location, and a retracted position, furthest from the location.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic motion impinges upon the location and is delivered such that the ultrasonic motion is centered about the instance when the contact member is in the extended position.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic motion impinges upon the location and is delivered when the contact member is moving from the retracted position to the extended position.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the ultrasonic motion impinges upon the location and is delivered when the contact member is moving from the extended position to the retracted position.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a formulation to the location prior to the steps of directing the sonic motion and directing the ultrasonic motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the formulation improves action between the location and the first source of oscillatory motion.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the formulation improves action between the location and the second source of oscillatory motion.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the formulation is a cosmetic composition.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the formulation is a dermatological composition.