Devices, systems and methods for treating the skin

• US 9,566,088 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems LLC
• Inventors: Ignon, Roger, Nicolas, Ed F., Mallett, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tanner, Jocelin
• Application Number:
  US14/211,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20140343574A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/545 using a stream or spray of abrasive particles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/12 by passing a current through the tissue to be heated, e.g. high-frequency current
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00747 Dermatology
• 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 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/0047 Upper parts of the skin, e.g. skin peeling or treatment of wrinkles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/005 with suction drainage system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2217/007 with irrigation system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/22 Racks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0075 using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• 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: A61N 2007/0034 Skin treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/022 Apparatus adapted for a specific treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 Skin treatment other than tanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method of treating a skin surface of a subject comprises heating a skin surface, abrading native skin tissue of a subject using a microdermabrasion device, wherein using the microdermabrasion device comprises moving the microdermabrasion device relative to the skin surface while simultaneously delivering at least one treatment fluid to the skin surface being treated and cooling the abraded skin surface.

Claims

1. A method of treating a skin surface of a subject, the method comprising:

positioning a distal end of a handpiece assembly along a skin surface of a subject, wherein the distal end comprises a peripheral lip and an interior lip, wherein an annular region is defined between the peripheral lip and the interior lip, wherein the interior lip defines an interior region, the interior region separated from the annular region by the interior lip;

wherein positioning the distal end of the handpiece assembly along a skin surface comprises contacting the peripheral lip and the interior lip with the skin surface;

activating a vacuum source when the peripheral lip and the interior lip contact the skin surface to create suction within the annular region, wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with at least one vacuum port located along the annular region;

at least partially abrading skin tissue using at least one abrasive structure positioned within or along the annular region, wherein at least partially abrading skin tissue occurs by moving the handpiece assembly relative to the skin surface when the distal end of the handpiece assembly is positioned along the skin surface and then the vacuum source is activated;

delivering a fluid to the annular region via at least one fluid delivery passage, wherein delivering the fluid to the annular region results from the suction within the annular region by activation of the vacuum source; and

delivering air to the interior region via an air delivery passage, wherein delivering air to the interior region is configured to occur simultaneously with creating suction within the annular region and delivering a fluid to the annular region;

wherein air is delivered in a pulsed manner to the interior region, and wherein air delivery to the interior region facilitates transfer of fluid at least partially into the skin.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one abrasive structure in the annular region comprises at least one of a protruding member and an abrasive surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least protruding member comprises at least one of a spiral ridge and a plurality of posts.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one abrasive structure comprises at least one of an abrasive disc, a foam pad with an abrasive surface and an abrasive surface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one product or material is impregnated, embedded, saturated with or otherwise positioned along the distal end of the handpiece assembly, wherein the at least one product or material is configured to be at least partially dissolved or otherwise released when contacted by a solute.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of an intensity, a pressure, a pulsing rate, a frequency and a duration of pulsed air delivery is configured to be varied.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein delivering air in a pulsed manner comprises square wave pulsing.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein square wave pulsing comprises air delivery phases followed by no air delivery phases.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is conveyed to the annular region via at least one fluid delivery passage is in fluid communication with a vial or cartridge positioned within the handpiece assembly.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid is conveyed to the annular region via at least one fluid delivery passage is in fluid communication with a separate tower or manifold system.

11. A method of treating a skin surface of a subject, the method comprising:

positioning a distal end of a handpiece assembly along a skin surface of a subject, wherein the distal end comprises a peripheral lip and an interior lip, wherein an annular region is defined between the peripheral lip and the interior lip, and wherein the interior lip defines an interior region, the interior region separated from the annular region by the interior lip;

wherein positioning the distal end of the handpiece assembly along a skin surface comprises contacting the peripheral lip and the interior lip with the skin surface;

activating a vacuum source to create suction within the annular region, wherein the vacuum source is in fluid communication with at least one vacuum port located along the annular region;

delivering a treatment fluid to the annular region via at least one fluid delivery passage, wherein delivering the treatment fluid to the annular region results from the suction created within the annular region by activation of the vacuum source; and

delivering air to the interior region via an air delivery passage;

wherein delivering air to the interior region facilitates the transfer of fluid at least partially into the skin.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein air is delivered in a pulsed manner via the air delivery passage to the interior region.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising at least partially abrading skin tissue using at least one abrasive structure positioned within or along the annular region, wherein at least partially abrading skin tissue occurs by moving the handpiece assembly relative to the skin surface when the distal end of the handpiece assembly is positioned along the skin surface and then the vacuum source is activated.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one abrasive structure comprises at least one of a protruding member and an abrasive surface.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one product or material is impregnated, embedded, saturated with or otherwise positioned along the distal end of the handpiece assembly, wherein the at least one product or material is configured to be at least partially dissolved or otherwise released when contacted by a solute.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one product or material is located along a tip, the tip being removably positioned along the distal end of the handpiece assembly.