Apparatus and methods for treating the skin

• US 8,048,089 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydrafacial LLC
• Original Assignee: Edge Systems Corporation (Edge Systems LLC)
• Inventors: Solano, Abraham, Cohen, William, Mallett, Scott, Ignon, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao; Sam
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRANDALL, LYNSEY P
• Application Number:
  US11/392,348
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 606/131
• 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 tip configured for use in a skin treatment system, comprising:

a skirt portion configured to removably couple to a handpiece of the skin treatment system;

wherein the tip comprises a proximal end a distal end, the skirt portion being positioned along the proximal end of the tip;

a central body portion extending from the skirt portion and terminating at a distal face along the distal end of the tip, a portion of the distal end being configured to contact a skin surface during a treatment procedure;

at least one first passage extending through an interior of the central body portion and configured to receive a fluid from the handpiece and to deliver said fluid to the distal end of the tip;

at least one second passage extending through an interior of the central body portion and configured to convey the fluids and debris from the distal end of the tip to the handpiece; and

an outer member extending around a periphery of the distal face, said outer member defining an inner area

a protruding member extending in a generally spiral fashion across at least a portion of the inner area of the distal face, the protruding member defining a channel between the at least one first passage and the at least one second passage;

wherein the protruding member comprises at least one sharp edge configured to abrade skin tissue.

2. The tip of claim 1, wherein the skirt portion includes a gripping surface for attaching the tip to the handpiece and removing the tip from the handpiece.

3. The tip of claim 1, wherein the protruding member extends along the distal face of the central body portion about one and a half times.

4. The tip of claim 1, wherein the protruding member extends from about a center portion of the distal face of the central body portion at one end.

5. The tip of claim 1, wherein the protruding member extends from about a center portion of the distal face of the central body portion at one end to near a lateral edge of the distal face at another end.

6. The tip of claim 1, wherein the outer member extends around a lateral edge of the central body portion.

7. The tip of claim 1, wherein the protruding member is configured to abrade the skin.

8. The tip of claim 1, wherein the protruding member is configured to ablate the skin.

9. The tip of claim 1, wherein the at least one second passage is configured to transmit debris from the distal end of the tip into the handpiece.

10. The tip of claim 1, wherein the tip is configured to apply negative pressure when the tip is in operative engagement with a target skin surface.

11. The tip of claim 1, wherein the central body portion further includes imbedded treatment material.