Skin abrader

• US 9,173,670 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: iRhythm Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: iRhythm Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Sepulveda, Genaro Sebastian, Bahney, Timothy Jon, Park, Shena Hae
• Primary Examiner(s): WEISBERG, AMY REGINA
• Application Number:
  US14/247,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 606131-133, 132/75.6, 132/76.4, 600/372, 600/382, 600/386, 600/391, 600/392, 607/149, 607152-153
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32 Surgical cutting instruments A61B18/042 takes precedence; suture cutters A61B17/0467; instruments for ligaturing or cutting A61B17/128; instruments for rupturing the amniotic membrane A61B17/4208; specially adapted knives for eye surgery A61F9/0133
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/54 Chiropodists' instruments , e.g. pedicure chiropractic devices A61H1/008
• 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 2050/314 Flexible bags or pouches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/259 using conductive adhesive means, e.g. gels
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/325 Preparing electrode sites, e.g. by abrasion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/30 Containers specially adapted for packaging, protecting, dispensing, collecting or disposing of surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments for wound clamps A61B17/10; for ligaturing clips A61B17/122; packages or dispensers for surgical gloves or finger-stalls A61B42/40

Abstract

The present invention relates to devices, methods, and systems for abrading the skin in preparation for attachment of an electrode. In some embodiments, the invention may provide for a simple, low-cost device 120 with a flat, abrading surface that removes the topmost layer of the skin without causing undue injury.

Claims

1. A dermal preparation system for preparation of a stratum corneum of a mammal for adhesion of an electrode to the mammal, comprising:

an electrode configured for adhesive attachment to a mammal'"'"'s skin; and

a dermal preparation device separate from the electrode, the dermal preparation device comprising;

a support layer having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a major axis extending through a geometrical center of the support layer and along the longest dimension of the support layer;

an abrasive coating the lower surface, the abrasive coating comprising a polymeric grit with diameters ranging from about 36-66 μ

m, the abrasive coating configured to mechanically remove a portion of the stratum corneum of the mammal; and

a handle secured to the upper surface, the handle formed by bonding a first portion of a handle layer to the support layer, and folding a second portion of the handle layer to form the handle.

2. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1,

wherein the support layer is approximately circular, and the major axis is a diameter of a circle.

3. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the major axis is no more than about 2.5 inches long.

4. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the major axis is no more than about 2.0 inches long.

5. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the support layer is sufficiently flexible that when pressed against a dermal surface using the handle, the lower surface will deform into a convex surface against the dermal surface.

6. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer along a bond which extends at least about 50% of a maximum dimension of the support layer, along an axis of the bond.

7. A dermal preparation system as in claim 6, wherein the axis of the bond is substantially parallel to the major axis.

8. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer along a bond which extends at least about 85% of a maximum dimension of the support layer, along an axis of the bond.

9. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer by a bond which covers at least about 15% of a total area of the upper surface of the support layer.

10. A dermal preparation system as in claim 1, wherein the handle is bonded to the support layer by a bond which covers at least about 35% of a total area of the upper surface of the support layer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the abrasive coating uniformly coats the entirety of the lower surface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the dermal preparation device further comprises an outer peripheral edge, the outer peripheral edge curving along the entirety of a circle and having no corners.

13. A dermal preparation kit for preparation of a stratum corneum of a mammal for adhesion of an electrode to the mammal, comprising:

an electrode configured for adhesive attachment to a mammal'"'"'s skin; and

a dermal preparation device separate from the electrode, the dermal preparation device comprising;

a support layer having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a major axis extending through a geometrical center of the support layer and along the longest dimension of the support layer;

an abrasive coating the lower surface, the abrasive coating comprising a polymeric grit with diameters ranging from about 36-66 μ

m, the abrasive coating configured to mechanically remove a portion of the stratum corneum of the mammal; and

a handle secured to the upper surface, the handle formed by bonding a first portion of a handle layer to the support layer, and folding a second portion of the handle layer to form a handle.