Method for producing customized cosmetic and pharmaceutical formulations on demand

• US 6,782,307 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lab21 Inc. (Diagnostics Holdings PLC)
• Original Assignee: Lab21 Inc. (Diagnostics Holdings PLC)
• Inventors: Wilmott, James M., Aust, Duncan T., Crawford, Timothy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Khoi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/972,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 700/216, 700/231, 700/232, 700/233, 700/234, 700/239, 700/236, 700/240, 222/52, 222/144, 424/401
• US Class Current: 700/233
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/044 Suspensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/068 Microemulsions
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/585 Organosilicon compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/70 containing perfluoro groups, e.g. perfluoroethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/73 Polysaccharides
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/731 Cellulose; Quaternized cellulose derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/732 Starch; Amylose; Amylopectin; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/735 Mucopolysaccharides, e.g. hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/737 Galactomannans, e.g. guar; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9761 Cupressaceae [Cypress family], e.g. juniper or cypress
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9789 Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9794 Liliopsida [monocotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/7015 Drug-containing film-forming compositions, e.g. spray-on
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/00 Barrier preparations; Preparations brought into direct contact with the skin for affording protection against external influences, e.g. sunlight, X-rays or other harmful rays, corrosive materials, bacteria or insect stings
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 17/04 Topical preparations for affording protection against sunlight or other radiation; Topical sun tanning preparations
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/00 Preparations for care of the skin
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/84 Mixing plants with mixing receptacles receiving material dispensed from several component receptacles, e.g. paint tins
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/844 with means for customizing the mixture on the point of sale, e.g. by sensing, receiving or analysing information about the characteristics of the mixture to be made
• CPC Class Codes: B01F 33/8442 using a computer for controlling information and converting it in a formula and a set of operation instructions, e.g. on the point of sale
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 : Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system for selecting and producing a customized cosmetic or pharmaceutical formulation is disclosed below. The system can be implemented in an Internet based system or a stand-alone version, such as a Kiosk. An improved method of custom formulation is presented which utilizes the user'"'"'s preferences and profile, as well as external factors. The customized formulation can be directed to a manufacturing facility for on-demand production. Alternatively, a printout of the formulation can be provided for subsequent use at point-of-sale locations, such as a cosmetics store or a pharmacy. The custom formulation software can also be provided in conjunction with a cosmetics manufacturing kit for use in home or business application.

Claims

1. A method for producing a customized cosmetic or pharmaceutical product comprising the steps of:

formulating a set of structured questions;

querying a user based on said questions to obtain the user'"'"'s age, sex, race, skin type, skin color, allergies, season, geographical location, and anatomical location of application of the customized cosmetic or pharmaceutical product to produce a user profile;

requesting, by a user, at least one of a specific product and a product compound;

generating a basic formulation based on the user'"'"'s request;

altering the basic formulation based on the user'"'"'s profile to create a customized formulation; and

outputting the customized formulation for subsequent manufacture of the customized product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of further modifying the initial formulation in accordance with external factors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises sending the customized formulation to a manufacturing facility.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises printing the customized formulation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the formulation is printed as a prescription.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises electronically sending the customized formulation to a manufacturing facility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting step comprises outputting the customized formulation for subsequent manufacture of the customized product to a manufacturing facility located remotely from the user.