Galvanic skin treatment device

• US 8,744,567 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Fassih, Ali, Gillespie, Ronald J., Liu, Jue-Chen, Loy, Chong Jin, Saliou, Claude, Sun, Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): MENDEZ, MANUEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/941,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20110118655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 604 20- 22, 607/116
• US Class Current: 604/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0436 Material of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0448 Drug reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process

Abstract

A galvanic device for treatment of skin is provided. The device comprises a substrate comprising a plurality of discrete galvanic couples, each galvanic couple comprising a first conductive electrode that is an anode in electronic communication with a second conductive electrode that is a cathode.

Claims

1. A device for treatment of skin comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of evenly spaced discrete galvanic couples, each galvanic couple comprising a first conductive electrode that is an anode in electronic communication with a second conductive electrode that is a cathode, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes each comprise an ink.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein each galvanic couple has a size of about 0.01 cm² to about 10 cm².

3. The device of claim 1, wherein each galvanic couple has a size of about 10 cm² to about 400 cm².

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes are in electronic communication through a connecting bridge comprising at least one conductive material.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes are in electronic communication through a connecting bridge comprising an extension of said first or second conductive electrode.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein each galvanic couple has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially H-shaped, substantially U-shaped and substantially N-shaped.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said galvanic couples are nested on said substrate.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, woven materials and non-woven materials.

9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a carrier suitable for contacting skin and in ionic communication with said first and second conductive electrodes.

10. The device of claim 9 further comprising an active agent in said carrier.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the difference in standard potentials of the first and second conductive electrodes is at least about 0.2 V.

12. The device of claim 1 further comprising an active agent in said substrate.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc, magnesium, iron, aluminum, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof, and said second conductive electrode comprises copper, iron, gold, silver, platinum, carbon, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, halides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

14. A method of treating skin, comprising applying to said skin a device comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of evenly spaced discrete galvanic couples, each galvanic couple comprising a first conductive electrode that is an anode in electronic communication with a second conductive electrode that is a cathode, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes each comprise an ink.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said skin is in need of treatment for a condition selected from the group consisting of pigmentation, skin tone, skin puffiness, dark circles around the eye, skin wrinkles, skin fine lines, hair growth, skin texture, skin firmness, skin elasticity, skin vasculature, skin circulation, cellulite, sebum regulation, skin shine, acne, rosacea, impetigo, folliculitis, furunculosis, ecthyma, eczema, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, herpes, epidermolysis bullosa, icthyosis, and infected traumatic lesions.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein each galvanic couple has a size of about 0.01 cm² to about 10 cm².

17. The method of claim 14, wherein each galvanic couple has a size of about 10 cm² to about 400 cm².

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes are in electronic communication through a connecting bridge comprising at least one conductive material.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes are in electronic communication through a connecting bridge comprising an extension of said first or second conductive electrode.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein each galvanic couple has a shape selected from the group consisting of substantially H-shaped, substantially U-shaped and substantially N-shaped.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said galvanic couples are nested on said substrate.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein said substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of paper, plastic, woven materials and non-woven materials.

23. The method of claim 14 further comprising a carrier suitable for contacting skin and in ionic communication with said first and second conductive electrodes.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising an active agent in said carrier.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the difference in standard potentials of the first and second conductive electrodes is at least about 0.2 V.

26. The method of claim 14 further comprising an active agent in said substrate.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein said first conductive electrode comprises zinc, magnesium, iron, aluminum, alloys thereof, or mixtures thereof, and said second conductive electrode comprises copper, iron, gold, silver, platinum, carbon, alloys thereof, oxides thereof, halides thereof, or mixtures thereof.

28. A skin treatment product comprising a facial mask and a device comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of evenly spaced discrete galvanic couples, each galvanic couple comprising a first conductive electrode that is an anode in electronic communication with a second conductive electrode that is a cathode, wherein said first and second conductive electrodes each comprise an ink said device of a shape and size suitable for overlaying or underlying said facial mask during application of said facial mask and said device to skin.