Systems and methods for regulation of one or more epidermal proteins

• US 9,925,111 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Caberlotto, Elisa, Miller, Zane Bowman Allen, Ruiz, Laetitia, Poole, Aaron David, Brewer, Gerald Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Justine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lyddane, Kathrynn
• Application Number:
  US14/588,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20160184175A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/0085 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2023/0209 powered with frequencies not related to mains frequency
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable modular devices, A61H2201/0107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/169 Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1692 Enhanced rubbing effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5058 Sensors or detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0254 with rotary motor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments provide skin stimulating devices and methods that address the aging effects of skin at a protein level. Particularly, cyclical mechanical strain is used to regulate specific proteins within the skin, so as to produce specific effects. As a non-limiting example, the disclosed embodiments can be used to increase the production of certain proteins (e.g., hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3); fibronectin; tropoelastin; procoll1; integrin, etc.) in the skin, which results in anti-aging effects by increasing epidermal cohesion.

Claims

1. A method for modulating one or more cutaneous proteins, the method comprising the steps of:

applying a mechanical strain to a portion of skin for a duration sufficient to affect upregulation of one or more epidermis-associated proteins without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermoepidermal-junction-associated proteins or dermis-associated proteins in the portion of skin;

wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes applying a cyclical mechanical strain having a peak cyclic or oscillation frequency ranging from about 30 hertz to about 50 hertz for a duration sufficient to affect upregulation of one or more epidermis-associated proteins without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermoepidermal-junction-associated proteins or dermis-associated proteins in the portion of skin; and

wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes using an appliance, wherein the appliance includes;

a controller for selecting the peak cyclic or oscillation frequency;

a motor;

and

a workpiece operably coupled to the motor, the workpiece including a plurality of contact points at which the workpiece is configured to contact the portion of skin;

wherein the plurality of contact points are located at a distance from each other that is based on an inverse of the selected peak cyclic or oscillation frequency;

wherein the motor is configured to move the workpiece, and wherein the appliance is configured such that, when the motor is moving the workpiece, the appliance has a resonant frequency based on the selected peak cyclic or oscillation frequency;

wherein, when the motor is operating and a force is applied to the appliance to bias the workpiece against the portion of skin, the workpiece produces a cyclical stimulus within the portion of skin at the selected peak cyclic or oscillation frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more epidermis-associated proteins are selected from the group consisting of filaggrin;

transglutaminase 1 (TGK1);

glycoprotein (CD44);

keratin 10 (K10);

keratin 14 (K14);

tenacin C;

globular actin (ActinG);

fibrillar actin (ActinF); and

syndecan 1;

without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermoepidermal junction proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen 4 (Coll

     4);

collagen 7 (Coll

     7);

laminin V; and

perlecan; and

without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermis-associated proteins selected from the group consisting of hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3);

fibronectin;

tropoelastin;

procoll1;

integrin; and

decorin.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin is sufficient to affect upregulation of one or more epidermis-associated proteins selected from the group consisting of filaggrin;

glycoprotein (CD44);

keratin 10 (K10);

keratin 14 (K14);

globular actin (ActinG); and

fibrillar actin (ActinF);

without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermoepidermal-junction-associated proteins selected from the group consisting of collagen 7 (Coll

     7);

laminin V; and

perlecan; and

without substantially affecting upregulation of one or more dermis-associated proteins selected from the group consisting of fibronectin;

tropoelastin;

procoll1; and

decorin.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes the workpiece being selected from the group consisting of a brush and an applicator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes moving the workpiece in a motion selected from the group consisting of oscillation, vibration, reciprocation, rotation, cyclical, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes moving the workpiece in an angular oscillatory motion.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes the portion of skin being substantially equal in size to a contact area of the workpiece configured to contact the portion of skin.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes the duration being about 1 minute to about 5 minutes, wherein the step of applying the mechanical strain to a portion of skin includes applying the mechanical strain to the portion of skin without substantial interruption during a treatment time period.