System for treatment of skin conditions using at least one narrow band light source in a skin brush having an oscillating brushhead

• US 8,641,702 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2008
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Pilcher, Kenneth A., Akridge, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): LIPITZ, JEFFREY BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US11/969,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20090177125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 606/9, 607 88- 90
• US Class Current: 606/9
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 13/02 power-driven carriers
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0002 Arrangements for enhancing monitoring or controlling the brushing process
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 15/0034 with a source of radiation, e.g. UV, IR, LASER, X-ray for irradiating the teeth and associated surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A46B 2200/102 Brush specifically designed for massaging the skin or scalp A46B2200/1026 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00898 Alarms or notifications created in response to an abnormal condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/065 for measuring contact or contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0153 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• 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 2201/1215 Rotary drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1678 Means for angularly oscillating massage elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/022 Face
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/005 hand-held
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0626 Monitoring, verifying, controlling systems and methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/063 comprising light transmitting means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0653 Organic light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0663 : Coloured light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0666 : for redirecting light to the treatment area
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0616 : Skin treatment other than tanning

Abstract

An apparatus and corresponding method for treatment of skin conditions which includes a brushhead member which comprises a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating in operation through a selected angle at a selected frequency and a second portion which also includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts concentric with the first portion, the second portion remaining stationary in operation. At least one monochromatic light source is included, providing light directed from the brushhead in a direction substantially the same as the bristle tufts, such that the light impinges on the area of skin of the user acted on by the oscillating brushhead.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treatment of skin conditions, comprising:

a housing member for the apparatus;

a brushhead member adapted to fit to the housing member comprising a first portion which includes a plurality of rings of bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating back and forth about a rest/neutral position through a selected angle in the range of 5-20°

, at a frequency in the range of 60-200 Hz, wherein the resulting oscillating action of the bristle tufts creates localized shear skin stress on the skin for effective cleaning of the skin without damage or harm to the skin;

a driving assembly for oscillating the brushhead member back and forth; and

a plurality of light sources located within the brushhead, spaced approximately equally around a circumference thereof or concentric with the circumference, having a wave length suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition, wherein said light is directed from the brushhead member to the skin in an area where the skin is simultaneously being flexed by the localized shear stress created thereon by action of the brushhead member, wherein the shear stress on the skin flexes the skin in rapid fashion, which permits light to come into contact with the treatment area of the skin from different angles within a specific period of time, to provide treatment action, wherein the brushhead and said plurality of light sources move together and are removable together from the housing member.

2. An apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is monochromatic.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources have all the same wavelength.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources have more than one wavelength.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is continuous.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light is pulsed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, including a circuit for sensing contact between the brushhead and the skin and a control circuit responsive to an indication from the sensing circuit that contact has been made with the skin to turn the light source on, resulting in light being directed from the brushhead.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the circuit turns the light source off when contact between the brushhead and the skin is broken.

9. An apparatus for treatment of skin conditions, comprising:

a housing member for the apparatus;

a brushhead member adapted to fit to the housing member comprising a first portion which includes a plurality of rings and bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating back and forth about a rest/neutral position through a selected angle in the range of 5-20°

, at a frequency in the range of 60-200 Hz, wherein the resulting oscillating action of the bristle tufts creates localized shear skin stress on the skin for effective cleansing of the skin without damage or harm to the skin;

a driving assembly for oscillating the brushhead member back and forth; and

a plurality of spaced light pipes positioned in an outer portion of the brushhead outside of the bristles and a plurality of light emitters located within the housing member, apart from the brushhead, wherein the light from the light emitters is transmitted to the light pipes directly or through an intermediate light pipe positioned in the housing member, wherein the light emitters have a wave length suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition, wherein said light is directed from the brushhead member to the skin in an area where the skin is simultaneously being flexed by the localized shear stress created thereon by action of the brushhead member, wherein the shear stress on the skin flexes the skin in rapid fashion, which permits light to come into contact with a treatment area of the skin from different angles within a specified period time, to provide treatment action, wherein the brushhead and said light pipes move together and are removable together from the housing member.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light is monochromatic.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light sources have all the same wavelength.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light sources have more than one wavelength.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light is continuous.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the light is pulsed.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, including a circuit for sensing contact between the brushhead and the skin and a control circuit responsive to an indication from the sensing circuit that contact has been made with the skin to turn the light source on, resulting in light being directed from the brushhead.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuit turns the light source off when contact between the brushhead and the skin is broken.

17. An apparatus for treatment of skin conditions, comprising:

a housing member for the apparatus;

a brushhead member adapted to fit to the housing member comprising a first portion which includes a plurality of rings and bristle tufts, the first portion oscillating back and forth about a rest/neutral position through a selected angle in the range of 5-20°

, at a frequency in the range of 60-200 Hz, wherein the resulting oscillating action of the bristle tufts creates localized shear skin stress on the skin for effective cleansing of the skin without damage or harm to the skin;

a driving assembly for oscillating the brushhead member back and forth; and

a plurality of light emitters positioned around a periphery of the brushhead, outside of the brushhead, the light emitters having a wave length suitable for treatment of a selected skin condition, wherein said light is directed from the brushhead member to the skin in an area where the skin is simultaneously being flexed by the localized shear stress created thereon by action of the brushhead member, wherein the shear stress on the skin flexes the skin in rapid fashion, which permits light to come into contact with the treatment area of the skin from different angles within a specific period of time, to provide treatment action, wherein the light emitters remain stationary within the housing member when the brushhead member oscillates in action.

18. An apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light is monochromatic.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light sources have all the same wavelength.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light sources have more than one wavelength.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light is continuous.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the light. is pulsed.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, including a circuit for sensing contact between the brushhead and the skin and a control circuit responsive to an indication from the sensing circuit that contact has been made with the skin to turn the light source on, resulting in light being directed from the brushhead.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the circuit turns the light source off when contact between the brushhead and the skin is broken.