Methods and systems for extraction of materials from skin

• US 9,662,482 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• 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:
  US14/698,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20150290442A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• 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 method of extracting substances from a skin surface of a subject, comprising:

securing a tip along a distal end of a handpiece, wherein the tip comprises a periphery and an inner member positioned within the periphery, the inner member comprising a curved portion, the curved portion comprising a spiral shape, wherein a radius of curvature of the inner member increases along at least a portion of the curved portion, the handpiece comprising a vacuum passage, wherein the vacuum passage is in fluid communication with a vacuum source and the tip when the tip is secured to the handpiece;

activating the vacuum source to create suction within the vacuum passage to contact the periphery of the tip with the skin surface and to draw the skin surface toward the tip;

positioning the tip along the skin of the subject, wherein the suction along the tip helps draw a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin toward the tip; and

applying a lifting treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the lifting treatment material facilitates extraction of substances from the skin; and

at least partially twisting the handpiece while the vacuum source is activated and while the subject'"'"'s skin is drawn toward the tip using the suction created by the vacuum source and the tip is positioned against the subject'"'"'s skin;

wherein at least partially twisting the handpiece helps extract substances from skin, wherein the extracted substances comprise at least one of blackheads, sebum and oil.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting treatment material comprises an acid.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting treatment material comprises salicylic acid.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the lifting treatment material is delivered to the tip via a fluid passage of the handpiece.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising pressing the tip against the skin surface of the subject to facilitate the extraction of substances from skin.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least partially abrading the skin surface.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying at least one follow-up treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the follow-up treatment material comprises at least one of the following:

an antioxidant, a bacteria-targeting material and a growth factor.

9. A method of extracting substances from a skin surface of a subject, comprising:

positioning a tip of a handpiece along the skin of the subject, wherein the handpiece comprises a suction passage, wherein the suction passage is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a suction source, wherein the tip comprises at least one inner member comprising a a spiral shape, wherein a radius of curvature of the at least one inner member increases along at least a portion of the spiral shape;

activating the suction source to create suction within the suction passage and to help draw the subject'"'"'s skin surface toward the tip; and

at least partially twisting the handpiece while the tip is positioned against the subject'"'"'s skin and while the suction source is activated, wherein at least partially twisting the handpiece helps extract undesirable substances from the skin, wherein the extracted substances comprise at least one of blackheads, sebum and oil.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying a lifting treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the lifting treatment material facilitates extraction of undesirable substances from skin.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the lifting treatment material comprises salicylic acid or another acid.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising at least partially abrading and/or massaging the skin surface.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising applying at least one follow-up treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin.

14. A method of extracting substances from a skin surface of a subject, comprising:

applying a lifting treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the lifting treatment material facilitates extraction of substances from skin;

positioning a tip of a handpiece along the skin of the subject, wherein the handpiece comprises a suction passage, wherein the suction passage is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a suction source, the tip comprising an inner member, wherein at least a portion of the inner member comprises a spiral shape with a varying radius of curvature;

activating the suction source to create suction within the suction passage and to help draw the subject'"'"'s skin surface toward the tip; and

at least partially twisting the handpiece while the tip is positioned against the subject'"'"'s skin and while the suction source is activated, wherein at least partially twisting the handpiece helps extract substances from skin;

wherein the substances extracted from skin comprise at least one of blackheads, sebum and oil.