Devices, systems and methods for promoting hair growth

• US 11,241,357 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Issued: 02/08/2022
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems LLC
• Inventors: Ignon, Roger, Nicolas, Ed F., Cohen, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Klein, Benjamin J
• Application Number:
  US15/204,939
• Publication Number:
  US 20170036002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0052 for treatment of skin or hair
• 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: A61H 15/0085 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 15/02 adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2015/0064 with freely rotating spheres
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2033/0016 using cleansing products
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0107 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/013 Suction cups
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0214 cooled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0228 heated by an electric resistance element
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0285 with Peltier elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/105 with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1207 with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1238 with hydraulic or pneumatic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1685 interchangeable modular devices, A61H2201/0107
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/00 : Devices for specific parts of the body A61H1/02, A61H13/00, A61H19/00, A61H21/00, A61H35/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/021 : Scalp
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 : Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0245 : with ultrasonic transducers, e.g. piezoelectric
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 : without substantial movement between the skin and the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 : hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0007 : Pulsating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0028 : Hand-held devices for spraying and removing liquid while moved on the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0057 : Suction suction kneading A61H7/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/0071 : by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/805 : Corresponding aspects not provided for by any of codes A61K2800/81 - A61K2800/95
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/365 : Hydroxycarboxylic acids; Ketocarboxylic acids
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/44 : Aminocarboxylic acids or derivatives thereof, e.g. aminocarboxylic acids containing sulfur; Salts; Esters or N-acylated derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/49 : containing heterocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/4953 : containing pyrimidine ring derivatives, e.g. minoxidil
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/498 : having 6-membered rings or their condensed derivatives, e.g. coumarin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/63 : Steroids; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/64 : Proteins; Peptides; Derivatives or degradation products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/70 : containing perfluoro groups, e.g. perfluoroethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/322 : Electromedical brushes, combs, massage devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 : for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 : Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 : infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 : Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• 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 5/0617 : Hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/062 : Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0625 : Warming the body, e.g. hyperthermia treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/06 : Antipsoriatics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/08 : Antiseborrheics
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/14 : for baldness or alopecia
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 7/00 : Preparations for affecting hair growth

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a method of promoting hair growth or hair stimulation in a subject comprises applying vacuum or suction using a handpiece assembly along a targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface where hair growth or hair stimulation is desired and providing at least one treatment material to said targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the application of vacuum or suction helps promote hair growth or stimulate hair.

Claims

1. A method of promoting hair growth or hair stimulation in a subject, the method comprising:

abrading skin tissue of the subject by moving a handpiece assembly along a targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface where hair growth or hair stimulation is desired;

wherein abrading skin tissue comprises moving the handpiece assembly relative to the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, the handpiece assembly comprising at least one abrading structure or feature along a distal end of the handpiece assembly, wherein the at least one abrading structure or feature is positioned within an area defined by a peripheral lip and is stationary relative to the peripheral lip, the peripheral lip being configured to contact the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the peripheral lip is separate and distinct from the at least one abrading structure or feature;

wherein the at least one abrading structure or feature has a height that is less than a height of the peripheral lip, such that the an end of the peripheral lip is more distal than an end of the at least one abrading structure or feature;

applying vacuum or suction using the handpiece assembly along the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface; and

providing at least one treatment material to said targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the at least one treatment material is drawn to the distal end of the handpiece assembly using the vacuum or suction that is applied along the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface;

wherein abrading skin tissue is configured to facilitate a delivery of at least a portion of the at least one treatment material into the subject'"'"'s skin tissue; and

wherein the application of vacuum or suction helps promote hair growth or stimulate hair.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the vacuum or suction is applied continuously or intermittently.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the vacuum or suction is applied intermittently.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an intermittent application of vacuum or suction is configured to create alternating first and second pressure along the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is a vacuum or suction.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first pressure is a vacuum or suction.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a volume of the at least one treatment material is provided to the subject'"'"'s skin (i) manually via hand application or dabbing or (ii) via the handpiece assembly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the distal end of the handpiece assembly comprises a tip.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the tip is removable from a proximal portion of the handpiece assembly.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the tip comprises at least one suction port or opening through which vacuum or suction is selectively applied.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one treatment material comprises one or more of the following:

growth factors, leucine, isoleucine, valine, other amino acids, antioxidants, minoxidil, other antihypertensive vasodilators, finasteride, dutasteride, ketoconazole, spironolactone, flutamide, catechin, epicatechin, other phytochemicals, carnitine, rejuvaplex, copper peptides, other hair growth-stimulating agents, other pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals, plant-derived products, cleansing or pre- cleansing shampoos, salicylic acid, a glycolic acid and salicylic acid mix, other acids, other cleansing or pre-cleansing solutions, and other natural and synthetic materials.

11. A method of promoting hair growth or hair stimulation in a subject, the method comprising:

abrading skin tissue of the subject by moving a handpiece assembly along a targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface where hair growth or hair stimulation is desired;

wherein abrading skin tissue comprises moving the handpiece assembly relative to the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, the handpiece assembly comprising at least one abrading structure or feature along a distal end of the handpiece assembly, wherein the at least one abrading structure or feature is positioned within an area defined by a peripheral lip, the peripheral lip being configured to contact the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the peripheral lip is separate and distinct from the at least one abrading structure or feature;

wherein the at least one abrading structure or feature is stationary relative to the peripheral lip;

applying vacuum along a targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface where hair growth or hair stimulation is desired; and

providing at least one treatment material to said targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the at least one treatment material is drawn to the distal end of the handpiece assembly using the vacuum that is applied along the targeted portion of the subject'"'"'s skin surface;

wherein abrading skin tissue is configured to facilitate a delivery of at least a portion of the at least one treatment material into the subject'"'"'s skin tissue; and

wherein the application of vacuum helps promote hair growth or stimulate hair.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum is applied continuously.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the vacuum is applied intermittently.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein an intermittent application of vacuum is configured to create alternating first and second pressure along the subject'"'"'s skin surface, wherein the first pressure is greater than the second pressure, and wherein the second pressure is a vacuum or suction.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a volume of the at least one treatment material is provided to the subject'"'"'s skin (i) manually via hand application or dabbing or (ii) via a handpiece assembly.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one treatment material comprises one or more of the following:

growth factors, leucine, isoleucine, valine, other amino acids, antioxidants, minoxidil, other antihypertensive vasodilators, finasteride, dutasteride, ketoconazole, spironolactone, flutamide, catechin, epicatechin, other phytochemicals, carnitine, rejuvaplex, copper peptides, other hair growth-stimulating agents, other pharmaceuticals and non-pharmaceuticals, plant-derived products, cleansing or pre-cleansing shampoos, salicylic acid, a glycolic acid and salicylic acid mix, other acids, other cleansing or pre-cleansing solutions, and other natural and synthetic materials.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the distal end of the handpiece assembly comprises a tip.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tip is removable from a distal portion of the handpiece assembly.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the tip comprises at least one suction port or opening through which vacuum or suction is selectively applied.