Method, system, and apparatus for dermatological treatment

• US 9,320,536 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Serendia LLC
• Original Assignee: Jongju Na
• Inventors: Na, Jongju
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumberledge, Jerry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Comstock, David C
• Application Number:
  US13/825,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20140128685A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,525 Days
• Field of Search: 600/249, 601/2, 604/20, 604/21, 604/46, 604/117, 606/9, 607/102, 607/189, 424/1.11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0655 Control therefor
• 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 2037/0046 Solid microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2037/0061 Methods for using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/30 Apparatus for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body, or cataphoresis

Abstract

Embodiments of dermalogical cell treatment are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method of treating dermatological tissue, comprising:

placing a user holdable device releasably couplable deployable needle assembly end surface on or near dermatological tissue to be treated, the holdable device including a proximal end and the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly, the deployable needle assembly mechanically separatably from the proximal end and including a plurality of needles extendable from the deployable needle assembly end surface, one of the proximal end and the deployable needle assembly including at least one electrical conductor and the other including at least one restorably deflectable electrical contact couplable to the one of the proximal end and the deployable needle assembly at least one electrical conductor;

communicating electrical signals from the proximal end to the plurality of the extendable needles;

energizing a motor coupled to a plurality of extendable needles to cause a plurality of the extendable needles to extend a desired distance from the needle assembly end surface; and

energizing the plurality of extended needles via a signal generator electrically coupled to the plurality of extended needles.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a dermatological chemical one of on at least a portion of the dermatological tissue, at least a portion of the end surface, and the plurality of the extendable needles.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal end includes the needle deploying motor, the motor including a draft shaft releasably couplable to the deployable needle assembly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the proximal end further includes at least one embedded LED therein and further including energizing the LED when the signal generator is energized, the at least one embedded LED illuminating the deployable needle assembly when energized.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly includes a translucent section to communicate illumination from the least one embedded LED to the plurality of extendable needles.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one restorably deflectable electrical contact includes a depressible pin.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a first deflectable electrical contact is coupled to a first plurality of the plurality of extendable needles and a second deflectable electrical contact is coupled to a second, different plurality of the plurality of extendable needles.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing the signal generator to energize the plurality of extended needles with energy to one of cut, blend, or coagulate dermatological tissue.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying the plurality of extendable needles to a predetermined depth and employing the signal generator to energize the plurality of extended needles to a predetermined intensity for a predetermined duty cycle.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising employing the signal generator to energize a first plurality of the extended needles to cause vibration of a second plurality of extended needles, the first plurality being greater than or equal to the second plurality.

11. An apparatus for treating dermatological tissue, comprising:

a user holdable device including a proximal end and a releasably couplable deployable needle assembly, the deployable needle assembly mechanically separatably from the proximal end and including a plurality of extendable needles, a plurality of the extendable needles extendable from a deployable needle assembly end surface, one of the proximal end and the deployable needle assembly including at least one electrical conductor and the other including at least one restorably deflectable electrical contact couplable to the one of the proximal end and the deployable needle assembly at least one electrical conductor;

a motor coupled to a plurality of extendable needles that causes the plurality of extendable needles to extend a desired distance from the needle assembly end surface when the motor is energized with a particular signal; and

a signal generator electrically coupled to the plurality of extended needles to energize the plurality of extended needles.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the device proximal end includes an electrical connector couplable to the signal generator.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the proximal end includes the needle deploying motor, the motor including a draft shaft releasably couplable to the deployable needle assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the proximal end further includes at least one embedded LED therein and the apparatus further including a photonic signal generator electrically coupled to the least one embedded LED, the at least one embedded LED illuminating the deployable needle assembly when energized.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly includes a translucent section that communicates illumination from the least one embedded LED to the plurality of extendable needles.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, the wherein at least one restorably deflectable electrical contact includes a depressible pin.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first deflectable electrical contact is coupled to a first plurality of the plurality of extendable needles and a second deflectable electrical contact is coupled to a second, different plurality of the plurality of extendable needles.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the signal generator energizes the plurality of extended needles with energy to one of cut, blend, or coagulate dermatological tissue.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the motor deploying the plurality of extendable needles to a predetermined depth and the signal generator energizing the plurality of extended needles to a predetermined intensity for a predetermined duty cycle.

20. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the signal generator energizing a first plurality of extended needles to cause vibration of a second plurality of extended needles, the first plurality being greater than or equal to the second plurality.