Apparatus and method for treating the skin

• US 8,343,116 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems Corporation (Edge Systems LLC)
• Inventors: Ignon, Roger, Nicolas, Ed F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Jackie
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRAIG, PAULA L
• Application Number:
  US12/346,582
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,463 Days
• Field of Search: 604289-290, 604/313, 606/9, 606/131
• US Class Current: 604/289
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00761 Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320004 abrasive
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/774 Handpieces specially adapted for providing suction as well as irrigation, either simultaneously or independently
• 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: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a system for treating skin includes a handpiece assembly comprising a tip and a main body portion, the main body portion comprising an interior cavity and at least one canister configured to store at least one of a treatment material and a waste material. The treatment material and/or the waste material is in fluid communication with the tip.

Claims

1. A system for treating skin, the system comprising:

a handpiece assembly comprising a tip and a main body portion, said tip situated along a distal end of the main body portion, the main body portion comprising an interior cavity; and

wherein the tip comprises at least one abrasive element configured to selectively abrade skin when the handpiece assembly is moved relative a skin surface;

a first canister configured to store at least one treatment material, wherein the first canister is configured to removably secure to a portion of the main body portion of the handpiece assembly;

a second canister configured to store waste material;

wherein an interior of the first canister and an interior of the second canister are each in fluid communication with the tip, so that the at least one treatment material can be selectively delivered from the first canister to the tip, and so that debris that results from a skin treatment procedure can be selectively delivered from the tip to the second canister;

wherein the second canister is configured to removably and directly secure to the main body portion of the handpiece assembly when the system is in use, such that the main body portion, the first canister and the second canister form a generally unitary structure when the first and second canisters are secured to the main body portion;

wherein at least a portion of the main body portion of the handpiece assembly is configured to be re-used in a subsequent treatment procedure;

wherein the first and second canisters are configured to be readily removed from and reattached to the main body portion of the handpiece assembly;

wherein the tip comprises an outer lip defining an interior region, wherein the at least one abrasive element is positioned within the interior region defined by the outer lip;

wherein the tip comprises at least one delivery port in fluid communication with the first canister when the first canister is secured to the main body portion;

wherein the tip comprises at least one suction port in fluid communication with the second canister when the second canister is secured to the main body portion; and

wherein the at least one delivery port and the at least one suction port are configured to extend to a working surface of the tip, immediately adjacent to the at least one abrasive element.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a fluid transfer device for transferring the treatment material to the tip and the waste material to the second canister.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one conduit configured to place at least one of the first and second canisters in fluid communication with the tip.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one conduit is situated, at least in part, within the interior cavity of the main body portion.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one conduit comprises at least two passages, each passage being configured to transfer a different treatment material to the tip.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip is removable from the main body portion of the handpiece assembly.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first canister comprises at least one compartment, the at least one compartment configured to contain a treatment fluid.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid comprises a serum.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the serum comprises an anti-oxidant.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the serum comprises hyaluronic acid.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid is configured to assist in skin exfoliation.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid is configured to help hydrate skin.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid is configured to help reduce sun damage to skin.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the treatment fluid is configured to help reduce oily skin.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the tip comprises at least one treatment material impregnated or embedded on at least a portion of the tip, said at least one impregnated or embedded material being configured to at least partially dissolve when exposed to water.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the first canister is configured to removably secure to the main body portion using at least one locking ear of the first canister and a corresponding recess of the main body portion.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one abrasive element comprises at least one of:

a protruding element, an abrasive material, a roughened surface, a contoured surface, a surface with at least one opening, a brush, a blade and a surface impregnated with diamonds.

18. A system for treating skin, the system comprising:

a handpiece assembly comprising a tip and a main body portion, said tip situated along a distal end of the main body portion, the main body portion comprising an outer housing defining an interior space; and

wherein the tip comprises at least one abrasive element configured to selectively abrade skin when the handpiece assembly is moved relative a skin surface

wherein the at least one abrasive element comprises at least one protruding member, said at least one protruding member comprising a sharp edge;

a first canister configured to store at least one treatment material;

a second canister configured to store exfoliated skin and waste material;

wherein the first canister and the second canister are configured to removably secure to the main body portion of the handpiece assembly, wherein the first and second canisters directly secure to the main body portion to selectively form a generally unitary structure with the main body portion;

wherein an interior of the first canister and an interior of the second canister are each in fluid communication with the tip, so that the at least one treatment material can be selectively delivered from the first canister to the tip, and so that exfoliated skin and waste material can be transferred from the tip to the second canister;

wherein the tip comprises an outer lip defining an interior region, wherein the at least one abrasive element is positioned within the interior region defined by the outer lip;

wherein at least a portion of the main body portion of the handpiece assembly is configured to be re-used in a subsequent skin treatment procedure; and

wherein the first and second canisters are configured to be readily removed from and reattached to the main body portion of the handpiece assembly.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a vacuum is configured to be generated within the second canister using at least one suction device, wherein the at least one suction device is battery-powered and forms a generally unitary structure with the main body portion and the first and second canisters when the first and second canisters are secured to the main body portion.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the tip comprises at least one treatment material impregnated or embedded on at least a portion of the tip, said at least one impregnated or embedded material being configured to at least partially dissolve in the presence of at least one fluid delivered to or located at a skin surface being treated.