Method and apparatus for skin absorption enhancement

• US 6,535,761 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mattioli Engineering Corporation
• Inventors: Bernabei, Gian Franco
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/922,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20020147465A1
• Time in Patent Office: 588 Days
• Field of Search: 604/500-501, 604/20-22, 601/15-17, 601/21, 601/46, 607/3, 607/149
• US Class Current: 607/3
• 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 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/008 Suction kneading
• 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 37/0092 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic vibrations, e.g. phonophoresis
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• 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 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

Application of electrical pulses and mechanical vibrations to the skin is provided in a controlled manner, in order to increase the absorption of substances applied previously on the skin. Electrical pulses are provided to the skin by way of an array of electrodes disposed on a vibrating head, and the mechanical vibrations are provided to the skin by way of the vibrating head being made to vibrate. Preferably, the electrical and mechanical vibrations are at the same frequency and phase with respect to each other, in order to increase the absorption effect.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enhancing absorption of the skin, comprising:

a vibrating head;

an array of electrodes disposed on the vibrating head; and

an electrical pulse generator that is electrically coupled to the array of electrodes,

wherein electrical pulses are applied to the skin by way of the array of electrodes, at a same time mechanical vibrations are provided to the skin by way of the vibrating head, in order to enhance the absorption of a substance applied to the skin, and

wherein bursts of the electrical pulses are provided to the skin at a same frequency as the mechanical vibrations, to provide for a synchronous application of the mechanical vibrations and the bursts of the electrical pulses to the skin, in order to further enhance the absorption of the substance applied to the skin.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical pulses are exponentially-shaped pulses of substantially equal current strength and of substantially equal duration.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a roller disposed in the vibrating head,

wherein the substance is liquid or gel, and

wherein the substance is applied to the skin by way of the roller.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising:

an iontophoresis generator electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein an iontophoresis effect is provided to the patient as a result.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the substance is collagen.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electrical pulses are provided to the skin at a same phase as the mechanical vibrations, in order to still further enhance the absorption of the substance applied to the skin.

7. A treatment method for enhancing absorption of substances provided on a skin surface of a patient, comprising:

a) applying a substance, that is intended to be absorbed on the skin;

b) applying a vibration to the skin of between 10 to 200 Hz, the vibration being provided by way of a vibrating plate that is placed on the skin, the vibrating plate being disposed on a hand-held probe; and

c) applying a sequence of bursts of electrical pulses at a frequency between 50 to 15,000 Hz and peak voltage between 20 and 200 V to an array of electrodes that are placed on the skin, the array of electrodes being disposed on the vibrating plate,

wherein the sequence of bursts of electrical pulses and the vibration are provided to the skin at a same time in order to enhance absorption of the substance applied to the skin.

8. The treatment method according to claim 7, wherein the electrodes are parallel metallic stripes that are alternately connected to each other and that are provided on an outer surface of the vibrating plate.

9. The treatment method according to claim 7, wherein the electrodes are round electrodes alternately electrically connected to each other and that are provided on an outer surface of the vibrating plate.

10. The treatment method according to claim 7, wherein a D.C. current is applied between the electrodes and a ground plate connected to the patient.

11. The treatment method according to claim 7, wherein the applying step a) is accomplished by dispensing of liquid or gel or cream or lotion by way of a roller integrated in the probe.

12. The treatment method according to claim 11, wherein a D.C. current is applied between the electrodes and a plate connected to the patient.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the substance applied in step a) is collagen.