Lashliner

• US 4,796,624 A
• Filed: 11/19/1986
• Issued: 01/10/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xomed Surgical Products, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Concept, Inc. (Bristol-Myers Squibb Company)
• Inventors: Marchand, Sam R., Trott, Arthur F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAHR, ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US06/932,638
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 81/9.22, 401/195, 215/247, 604/46, 604/86, 604/200, 604/245, 128/303 R, 126/316
• US Class Current: 606/185
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0084 Tattooing apparatus with incorporated liquid feeding device

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for introducing a liquid within a material. The apparatus comprises a body member having an internal cavity for receiving a battery. An end member is secured to the body member for supporting a needle guide extending through the end member for slidably receiving a needle. A reciprocal coupling means interconnects the motor and the needle for reciprocating the needle relative to the end member upon rotation of the motor. A reservoir is in fluid communication with the needle for retaining the liquid therein and for enabling the liquid to flow along the needle. The reciprocating needle creates a plurality of perforations in the material enabling the liquid to flow along the needle to enter the perforations. The apparatus is suitable for introducing a liquid pigment into a skin tissue such as introducing a permanent eyeliner into an eyelid.

Claims

1. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material, comprising:

a body member having an interior cavity;

motor means disposed in said interior cavity of said body member;

an end member secured to said body member;

needle means;

needle guide extending through said end member for slidably mounting said needle means;

reciprocal coupling means interconnecting said motor means and said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means;

said reciprocating needle means being capable of creating a plurality of perforations in the material;

reservoir means in fluid communication with said needle means for retaining the liquid therein and for enabling the liquid to flow along said needle means to enter the plurality of perforations in the material upon reciprocation of said needle means;

said reservoir further including an internal cavity disposed in said end member;

said end member further including a filling aperture communicating with said internal cavity for filling said internal cavity with the liquid; and

a perforatable reservoir membrane for covering said filling aperture to retain the liquid in said internal cavity and for permitting in use piercing by a liquid delivering needle to deliver the liquid to said reservoir and to self-seal upon withdrawal of said liquid delivering needle from said perforatable reservoir membrane.

2. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said body member is a cylindrical body member having a cylindrical interior cavity;

and

said cylindrical interior cavity being dimensioned for receiving battery means therein for supplying electrical power to said motor means.

3. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 2, wherein said end member is secured to an end of said cylindrical body member;

said needle guide comprising a tubular member extending through said end member for slidably receiving said needle means therein.

4. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said perforatable reservoir membrane comprises a resilient member encircling said end member wherein said resilient member is permanently affixed to said end member.

5. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal coupling means comprises a cylindrical cam secured to one of said motor means and said needle means;

and

a cam follower secured to the other of said motor means and said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means.

6. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 5, including a seal cooperating with said reciprocal coupling means for sealing said reservoir means from said interior cavity of said body member.

7. An aparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said reciprocal coupling means comprises a cylindrical cam secured to said motor means cooperating with a cam follower secured to said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means.

8. An apparatus for introducing a liquid with a material as set forth in claim 1, including a switch electrically interposed between said motor means and the battery means for controlling the rotation of said motor means.

9. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 8, including a needle cover removably secured to said body member for covering said needle means;

and

said needle cover permitting operation of said switch to enable rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is removed from said body member and inhibiting operation of said switch to prevent rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is secured to said body member.

10. An apparatus for introducing a liquid within a material as set forth in claim 1, wherein said needle means comprises a plurality of needles established in a generally cylindrical array.

11. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment into tissue, comprising:

a body member having an interior cavity;

motor means disposed in said interior cavity of said body member;

said interior cavity being dimensioned for receiving battery means therein for supplying electrical power to said motor means;

an end member secured to an end of said body member;

needle means;

a tubular member extending through said end member for slidably receiving said needle means therein;

reciprocal coupling means comprising a cam and cam follower interconnecting said motor means and said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means;

said reciprocating needle means being capable of creating a plurality of perforations in the tissue;

reservoir means comprising an internal cavity disposed in said end member and in fluid communication with said needle means for retaining the liquid pigment therein and for enabling the liquid pigment to flow along said needle means to enter the plurality of perforations in the tissue upon reciprocation of said needle means;

a filling aperture communicating with said internal cavity of said end member for filling said internal cavity with the liquid pigment; and

a perforatable reservoir membrane for covering said filling aperture to retain the liquid in said internal cavity and for permitting in use piercing by a liquid delivering needle to deliver the liquid to said reservoir and to self-seal upon withdrawal of said liquid delivering needle from said perforatable reservoir membrane; and

a switch electrically interposed between said motor means and the battery means for controlling the rotation of said motor means.

12. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment within a tissue as set forth in claim 11, wherein said perforatable reservoir membrane comprises a resilient member encircling said end member wherein said resilient member is permanently affixed to said end member.

13. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment within a tissue as set forth in claim 11, wherein said reicprocal coupling means comprises said cam being secured to said motor means;

and

said cam follower being secured to said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means.

14. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment within a tissue as set forth in claim 11, including a needle cover removably secured to said body member for covering said needle means;

and

said needle cover permitting operation of said switch to enable rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is removed from said body member and inhibiting operation of said switch to prevent rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is secured to said body member.

15. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment into tissue, comprising:

a cylindrical body member having a cylindrical interior cavity;

motor means disposed in said cylindrical interior cavity of said cylindrical body member;

said cylindrical interior cavity being dimensioned for receiving battery means therein for supplying electrical power to said motor means;

an end member secured to an end of said cylindrical body member;

a plurality of needles established in a substantially cylindrical array;

a tubular member extending through said end member for slidably receiving said plurality of needles therein;

reciprocal coupling means comprising a cam and a cam follower interconnecting said motor means and said plurality of needles for reciprocating said plurality of needles relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means;

said reciprocating plurality of needles being capable of creating a plurality of perforations in the tissue;

reservoir means comprising an internal cavity disposed in said end member and in fluid communication with said plurality of needles for retaining the liquid pigment therein;

a filling aperture communicating with said internal cavity of said end member for filling said internal cavity with the liquid pigment;

a perforatable reservoir membrane for covering said filling aperture to retain the liquid in said internal cavity and for permitting in use piercing by a liquid delivering needle to deliver the liquid to said reservoir and to self-seal upon withdrawal of said liquid delivering needle from said perforatable reservoir membrane;

said reservoir means enabling the liquid pigment to flow along said plurality of needles to enter the plurality of perforations in the tissue upon reciprocation of said plurality of needles;

a switch electrically interposed between said motor means and the battery means for controlling the rotation of said motor means;

a needle cover removably secured to said body member for covering said plurality of needles; and

said needle cover permitting operation of said switch to enable rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is removed from said body member and inhibiting operation of said switch to prevent rotation of said motor means when said needle cover is secured to said body member.

16. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment within a tissue as set forth in claim 15, wherein said perforatable reservoir membrane comprises a resilient member encircling said end member wherein said resilient member is permanently affixed to said end member.

17. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment within a tissue as set forth in claim 15, wherein said reciprocal coupling means comprises said cam being secured to said motor means;

and

said cam follower being secured to said plurality of needles for reciprocating said plurality of needles relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means.

18. An apparatus for introducing a liquid pigment into tissue, comprising:

a body member having an interior cavity;

motor means disposed in said interior cavity of said body member;

said interior cavity being dimensioned for receiving battery means therein for supplying electrical power to said motor means;

an end member secured to an end of said body member;

needle means;

a tubular member extending through said end member for slidably receiving said needle means therein;

reciprocal coupling means comprising a solid cylindrical cam having a groove formed therein;

a cam follower interconnecting said motor means and said needle means for reciprocating said needle means relative to said end member upon rotation of said motor means;

a cam follower tooth with a first end for engaging said cam groove to reciprocate said cam follower and said needle means upon rotation of said motor;

said cam follower tooth having a second end extending outwardly from said cam follower to be slidably received within a slot defined within said end member such that in use said cam follower is prevented from from rotating within said end member;

said reciprocating needle means being capable of creating a plurality of perforations in the tissue;

reservoir means comprising an internal cavity disposed in said end member and in fluid communication with said needle means for retaining the liquid pigment therein and for enabling the liquid pigment to flow along said needle means to enter the plurality of perforations in the tissue upon reciprocation of said needle means; and

a switch electrically interposed between said motor means and the battery means for controlling the rotation of said motor means.