Method of exfoliation of skin using closely-packed microstructures
First Claim
1. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
- a substrate; and
a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction;
said predetermined sizes and shapes including at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements, said predetermined sizes and shapes having a characteristic such that the microelements do not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on said skin;
said plurality of microelements having an inverted wedge shape each having at least one side wall, the plurality of microelements form open areas between at least some of the side walls of adjacent microelements, the open areas being configured for accumulating skin cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. The dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In addition, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of accumulated skin cells represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus. Some of the microstructures are designed with very close-packed microelements, which in some cases have flexible substrates.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A microstructure apparatus, comprising:
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a substrate; and a plurality of microelements affixed upon a first surface of said substrate;
said plurality of microelements being of predetermined sizes and shapes for use in scraping skin cells from skin when said microstructure apparatus is placed upon said skin and moved in at least one direction;
said predetermined sizes and shapes including at least one substantially sharp edge at a distal end of the microelements, said predetermined sizes and shapes having a characteristic such that the microelements do not create substantial focal discrete points of pressure on said skin;
said plurality of microelements having an inverted wedge shape each having at least one side wall, the plurality of microelements form open areas between at least some of the side walls of adjacent microelements, the open areas being configured for accumulating skin cells. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification