Method and device for targeted delivery of medicinal, cosmetic, and related agents

• US 20040223985A1
• Filed: 06/10/2004
• Published: 11/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Dunfield, John S., Ayres, James W.
• Application Number:
  US10/865,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20040223985A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/400
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2044/007 Devices for determining the condition of hair or skin or for selecting the appropriate cosmetic or hair treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 44/00 Other cosmetic or toiletry articles, e.g. for hairdressers' rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 35/00 Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body devices for handling toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D; absorbent pads, e.g. swabs, A61F13/15
• 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: A61M 37/0076 Tattooing apparatus apparatus for marking animals A01K11/00; vaccine applicators having needles or other puncturing means A61B17/205

Abstract

A method and device for delivering at least one formulation to a targeted location on epidermal tissue in which the position on the epidermal tissue is located and a quantity of at least one formulation is ejected from at least one electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with the epidermal tissue. The formulation delivered includes at least one cosmetic material.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a formulation to epidermal tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning a region of epidermal tissue to obtain scanning data;

locating a position on the scanned region of epidermal tissue; and

ejecting a quantity of at least one formulation containing a at least one cosmetic material from an electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with cells associated with the scanned region of epidermal tissue.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning the electronically controllable fluid delivery device a spaced distance from the epidermal tissue, the distance sufficient to permit impingement and uptake of the cosmetic material by at least some cells in the epidermal tissue.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of positioning the electronically controllable fluid delivery device includes sensing the epidermal tissue.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein formulation further includes at least one treatment material, the treatment material comprising at least one pharmacologically active agent.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating at least one component of the formulation prior to ejection from the electronically controllable fluid delivery device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one component of the formulation is ejected at a velocity sufficient to position the component at a location on the epithelial tissue that penetrates a mucosal barrier defining the epidermal tissue.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the scanning data employed as a factor in determining velocity of ejected material.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one component of the formulation is ejected at a trajectory sufficient to penetrate a mucosal boundary defining the epidermal tissue.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein scanning data is employed as a factor in determining trajectory of ejected material.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of exerting a control limitation on the electronically controllable fluid delivery device wherein the cosmetic material is ejected from the fluid delivery device at a dosage defined by a control limitation.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the control limitation is derived from a factor including at least one of skin condition, dosage schedule, and type of cosmetic material.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the quantity of the cosmetic material is delivered over a targeted area, the concentration of cosmetic material delivered variable with regard to position in the targeted area.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic material is ejected from the electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with at least one structure defined in the epidermal tissue.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the structure defined in the epidermal tissue is at least one cell characterized by atypical morphology.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the atypical morphology is caused by at least one of acne, dermatitis, skin cancers, psoriasis, pimples, fungal infections, viral infections, and bacterial infections.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the locating step includes intelligent ascertainment of at least one of cell morphology, pigmentation, and thermal characteristics.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of developing a targeting solution for the electronically controllable fluid delivery device, the targeting solution controlling the ejection step.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the targeting solution is based on the intelligent ascertainment step.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the cosmetic material is ejected in a plurality of droplets, the droplets placed on the epidermal tissue at a discrete distance form one another.

20. The method of claim 19 where in the discrete distance is less than 20 microns.

21. A method for delivering a quantity of a cosmetic material to a position on epidermal tissue, the method comprising the steps of:

locating the position of the epidermal tissue; and

ejecting a quantity of a first cosmetic material from an electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with the epidermal tissue;

ejecting a quantity of a second cosmetic material from an electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with the epidermal tissue wherein the second cosmetic material differs from the first cosmetic material.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the quantity of a second cosmetic material is ejected subsequent to ejection of the first cosmetic material.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the first cosmetic material contains at least one pigment compound.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the quantity of the first cosmetic material is delivered into contact with cells associated with the scanned region of epithelial tissue and wherein the quantity of the second cosmetic material is delivered to epithelial tissue proximate to the scanned region.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the quantities of the first and second cosmetic materials are controllably variable with respect to one another.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the first and second cosmetic materials is ejected from an electronically controllable fluid delivery device into contact with at least one structure defined by the epithelial tissue, the defined structure being at least one of a follicle and region of atypical morphology.

27. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of positioning the electronically controllable fluid delivery device a spaced distance from the epithelial tissue, the spaced distance sufficient to permit impingement and uptake of the treatment material by at least some cells in the epithelial tissue.

28. A device for delivering a quantity of at least one material to a defined location on epidermal tissue, the device comprising:

an electronically controllable fluid delivery device in fluid communication with at least one material, the material including at least one cosmetic formulation;

a spacer adapted to a position the electronically controllable fluid delivery device a spaced distance from an anatomical region which includes the epidermal tissue; and

control electronics in communication with the electronically controllable fluid delivery device and the spacer, the control electronics having an information portion which includes an information component for delivering a quantity of at least one material into contact with the epidermal tissue.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the material contains at least one pharmacologically active material.

30. The device of claim 29 further comprising a targeting array, the targeting array capable of orienting the electronically controllable fluid delivery device relative to a position on the epidermal tissue and for controlling delivery of the cosmetic formulation.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein the targeting array includes at least one sensor capable of detecting at least one of cell morphology, tissue color, and surface topography.

32. The device of claim 31 further comprising an imaging system, the imaging system including at least one of optic scanners, acoustic recognition devices, and photosensor systems.

33. A device for delivering a quantity of at least one treatment material to a defined location of epithelial tissue, the device comprising:

means for scanning a region of epithelial tissue to obtain scanning data;

means for locating a position on the epithelial tissue; and

means for ejecting a quantity of at least one treatment material into contact with the epithelial tissue.

34. The device of claim 33 wherein the ejecting means is an electronically controllable fluid delivery device.

35. A cartridge for use in a device for delivering treatment material to epidermal tissue, the treatment device including at least one scanning device capable of determining at least one of tissue morphology and topography, the device comprising:

a housing removably insertable in the treatment delivery device;

at least one electronically controllable delivery device contained in the housing;

a first reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid delivery device, the reservoir containing at least one fluid treatment material to be applied to epidermal tissue;

a second reservoir in fluid communication with the fluid delivery device, the second reservoir containing at least one cosmetic compound to be applied to the epidermal tissue; and

at least one integrated circuit in interactive communication with the treatment delivery device.