Removable tips for skin treatment systems

• US 9,474,886 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Issued: 10/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems LLC
• Inventors: Ignon, Roger, Mallett, Scott, Solano, Abraham, Cohen, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Severson, Ryan J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNAUSS, CHRISTIAN D
• Application Number:
  US13/267,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,846 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3205 Excision instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/50 Instruments, other than pincettes or toothpicks, for removing foreign bodies from the human body locating otherwise A61B5/06; locating by radiation A61B6/00; removing calculi A61B17/22; from the eyes A61F9/00709
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/545 using a stream or spray of abrasive particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• 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 50/10 Furniture specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/13 Trolleys, e.g. carts
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 1/962 having pumping means on the suction site, e.g. miniature pump on dressing or dressing capable of exerting suction
• 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 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: 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: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

An apparatus for treating skin has a console with a user input device and a handpiece assembly. The handpiece assembly is configured to treat skin. A fluid line provides fluid communication between the console and the handpiece assembly. A manifold system is coupled to the console and controlled by the user input device. The manifold system is configured to hold releasably a plurality of fluid sources and deliver fluid from at least one of the plurality of fluid sources to the handpiece assembly.

Claims

1. A tip configured to be used in a microdermabrasion system, comprising:

a proximal end configured to removably couple to a handpiece assembly;

a distal end comprising a distal surface, said distal end being configured to at least partially contact a skin surface during a skin treatment procedure;

an outer member along a periphery of the distal end, said outer member defining an inner area along the distal end;

at least one fluid delivery channel extending to at least one delivery opening located along the distal end, wherein the at least one fluid delivery channel is configured to deliver fluid to the distal end of the tip;

at least one suction channel extending to at least one suction opening located along the distal end, wherein the at least one suction channel is configured to deliver materials away from the distal end of the tip;

at least one inner member protruding from the distal surface, said at least one inner member comprising at least one sharp edge configured to abrade skin tissue when the tip is moved relative to skin, wherein the at least one inner member comprises a plurality of protruding members, wherein each of the protruding members comprises a chamber within a perimeter of a corresponding protruding member;

wherein at least a portion of the at least one inner member is positioned generally between the at least one delivery opening and the at least one suction opening.

2. The tip of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner member extends generally perpendicularly to the distal surface.

3. The tip of claim 1, wherein the plurality of protruding members comprises a plurality of posts.

4. The tip of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner member is located at or near a central area of the distal surface.

5. The tip of claim 1, wherein the at least one inner member extends radially outwardly toward the outer member.

6. The tip of claim 1, wherein a height of the outer member is greater than a height of the at least one inner member.

7. The tip of claim 1, wherein a negative pressure is configured to be generated along the distal end of the tip when the outer member engages a skin surface and a suction is created within the at least one suction channel.

8. The tip of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the distal end comprises at least one treatment material.

9. The tip of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the treatment material is hardened or in a solid form that is configured to be dissolved or diluted in the presence of a liquid.

10. The tip of claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment material comprises at least one of a growth agent, a growth factor, a hormone, a growth inhibitor, a serum, a cleaner, a vitamin, an exfoliator, a lubricant, an antibiotic, a wound healing agent, a cell proliferation agent and another bioactive substance.

11. The tip of claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment material is embedded, overlaid, coated, impregnated, co-mixed, absorbed or otherwise deposited onto at least a portion of the distal end of the tip.

12. The tip of claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment material is deposited onto at least a portion of the distal surface of the tip.

13. The tip of claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment material is located on, within or near the at least one inner member of the tip.

14. A tip configured to be used in a microdermabrasion system, comprising:

a proximal end configured to couple to a handpiece assembly;

a distal end comprising a distal surface, said distal end being configured to at least partially contact a skin surface during a skin treatment procedure;

an outer member along a periphery of the distal end, said outer member defining an inner area along the distal end;

at least one fluid delivery channel extending to at least one delivery opening located along the distal surface, wherein the at least one fluid delivery channel is configured to deliver fluid to the distal end of the tip;

at least one suction channel extending to at least one suction opening located along the distal surface, wherein the at least one suction channel is configured to deliver materials away from the distal end of the tip;

at least one protruding member positioned along the distal surface, said at least one protruding member configured to abrade skin tissue when the tip is moved relative to skin, wherein the at least one protruding member extends toward the distal end and wherein the at least one protruding member comprises a chamber located within a perimeter of said at least one of the protruding member;

wherein the at least one protruding member is located within the inner area along the distal end.

15. The tip of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the distal end comprises at least one treatment material, the treatment material being configured to be dissolved or diluted in the presence of a liquid.

16. The tip of claim 15, wherein the at least one treatment material is embedded, overlaid, coated, impregnated, co-mixed, absorbed or otherwise deposited onto at least a portion of the distal end of the tip.

17. The tip of claim 15, wherein the at least one treatment material is deposited onto at least a portion of the distal surface of the tip.

18. The tip of claim 15, wherein the at least one treatment material is deposited at least partially within the chamber of the at least one protruding member.

19. The tip of claim 14, wherein the at least one protruding member comprises a plurality of posts having a generally cylindrical shape.