DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROMOTING HAIR GROWTH

• US 20170036002A1
• Filed: 07/07/2016
• Published: 02/09/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 11,241,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

1-87. -87. (canceled)

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

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.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the vacuum or suction is applied continuously or intermittently.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the vacuum or suction is applied intermittently using a pulsing device.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein providing at least one treatment material to the subject'"'"'s skin is accomplished (i) manually via hand application or dabbing or (ii) via a handpiece assembly.

92. The method of claim 90, wherein the pulsing device 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.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein the first pressure is a positive pressure.

94. The method of claim 92, wherein the first pressure is a vacuum or suction.

95. The method of claim 88, wherein a distal end of the handpiece assembly is configured to contact the subject'"'"'s skin surface.

96. The method of claim 95, wherein the distal end of the handpiece assembly comprises a tip.

97. The method of claim 96, wherein the tip is removable from a proximal portion of the handpiece assembly.

98. The method of claim 96, wherein the tip comprises at least one suction port or opening through which vacuum or suction is selectively applied.

99. The method of claim 88, wherein the at least one treatment material comprises one or more of the following:

growth factors, amino acids (e.g., leucine, isoleucine, valine, etc.), 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, other cleansing or pre-cleansing solutions (e.g., salicylic acid, GlySal™

(glycolic acid and salicylic acid mix), other acids, etc.), and other natural and synthetic materials.

100. An engagement member configured to be positioned along a distal end of a handpiece assembly, the engagement member comprising:

a proximal end configured to attach to a proximal component of a handpiece assembly;

a distal end configured to contact and engage with a skin surface being treated;

a body extending between the proximal end and the distal end that is configured to accommodate for irregularities and other contours along the skin surface being treated;

wherein the engagement member is flexible; and

wherein the engagement member is configured to facilitate capture of liquids present along the skin surface being treated during use.

101. The engagement member of claim 100, wherein the engagement member comprises a rubber or other elastomeric material.

102. The engagement member of claim 101, wherein the rubber comprises silicone rubber.

103. The engagement member of claim 100, wherein the engagement member comprises at least one bellow or other collapsible member to facilitate the maneuverability of the engagement member relative to the skin surface being treated.

104. The engagement member of claim 100, wherein the engagement member is configured to couple to a tip of the handpiece assembly, wherein the proximal end of the engagement member is configured to fixedly or removably coupled to the tip.

105. The engagement member of claim 100, wherein the engagement member is configured to couple to a main body portion of the handpiece assembly, wherein the proximal end of the engagement member is configured to fixedly or removably coupled to the main body portion of the handpiece assembly.

106. A tip configured to be positioned along a distal end of a handpiece assembly for a skin treatment or hair growth procedure, wherein the tip comprises an engagement member according to claim 100.

107. A handpiece assembly for a skin treatment or hair growth procedure, wherein the handpiece assembly comprises an engagement member according to claim 100.