This application relates to dermal spray devices that utilize disposable cartridges, the disposable cartridges containing fluid that is dispensed by the spray devices.
Skin care is very important. Many are turning to plant based and natural remedies. Certain plant-derived constituents can protect skin from deleterious effects, carcinogens, and a variety of chemical interactions. This concept has much scientific backing.
Human skin includes the epidermis, dermis and subcutis. The epidermis includes the stratum corneum and an underlying pigment layer. The stratum corneum is the outer layer of skin that protects the body. It is composed primarily of layers of dead, flattened keratinocytes surrounded by a phospholipid matrix. This acts in a similar as brick and mortar wall and functions to provide barrier to a microbial parasites as well as environmental toxins. The stratum corneum also presents a significant barrier to the delivery of transdermal drugs, vitamins, minerals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.
There are two major transdermal pathways. One is the intercellular route, which includes the movement of topically applied products around the cells of the stratum corneum via a phospholipid matrix that surrounds the cells. This is a tortuous path, so there are challenges to optimizing the speed of delivery and efficacy of skin-improving substances.
The other pathway is the transcellular pathway, which includes skin-improving substances directly passing through the cytoplasm of the dead keratinocytes of the stratum corneum, as well as the phospholipids matrix surrounding the cells. This is a more direct pathway yet there are still many challenges.
In either case, spraying a formulated fluid at a controlled pressure, spray pattern, and flow rate way can enhance penetration through the stratum corneum, so that the beneficial substances in the formulated fluid can penetrate and nourish the dermis, and in some cases enter the vasculature directly through the skin.
In the case of cosmetics and medical skincare products, the spray pattern, flow rate and other delivery aspects can be adjusted to optimize delivery to a desired region of the skin. For example, certain cosmetics can be delivered to provide a uniform coating on top of the stratum corneum, certain pigmentation products may be designed to reach the pigment layer under the stratum corneum.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,252,283 to Gouchtchina and Gallar includes a dermal spray apparatus that allows a system and method for dermal spraying includes a portable, hand-held skin care device with disposable formulation capsules that spray a formulation onto the skin. The device is set to maximize absorption and provide professional and uniform quality of application. The device receives, clamps and identifies the formulation capsules and its contents. Control circuitry regulates the formulation delivery. This assures the quantity, proportion, speed and timing of the application of the cosmetic formulation, including self-cleaning cycle operation and single button control logic. The capsule enables convenience and sterility from use of disposable capsules at home. Preferably the capsules contain a cosmetic formulation.
There remains a need to improve cartridge systems for use in dermal spray devices and system.
In one aspect, the invention involves a cartridge for dispensing a liquid comprising: a nozzle assembly, a liquid reservoir, and a cap attached to the liquid reservoir, wherein the cap is adapted to engage the nozzle assembly; the nozzle assembly comprising an inner body and an outer body, the inner body and outer body forming a first fluid passage therebetween, the first fluid passage adapted to deliver compressed air, the inner body comprising a second fluid passage in its interior, the second fluid passage adapted to deliver liquid from the liquid reservoir; wherein the nozzle assembly is moveable in a controlled direction relative to the cap; and the inner body of the nozzle assembly is adapted to pierce the liquid reservoir when the nozzle assembly is moved in the direction of the liquid reservoir to allow liquid from the liquid reservoir to flow into the second fluid passage.
The nozzle assembly of the cartridge may comprises a guide adapted to translate lateral motion into vertical motion for engaging the nozzle assembly with the liquid reservoir. The fluid reservoir of the cartridge may be a pouch and the cap seals the pouch. The cap may include recesses for capturing air bubbles in the fluid of the reservoir. The nozzle assembly may further comprise at least one guide flange adapted to guide movement of the nozzle assembly in a back and forth direction relative to the liquid reservoir. The guide flange, if used, is designed to guide movement of the nozzle assembly in a rotational direction relative to the liquid reservoir in addition to a back and forth direction relative to the liquid reservoir. The nozzle assembly may have a conical or rectangular shape, among others. In one aspect, the nozzle assembly has a rectangular shape and the first fluid path and second fluid path exit the nozzle assembly at about a 45 degree angle relative to the horizontal. In another aspect, the nozzle assembly comprises a first guide member and a second guide member, wherein the first guide member and second guide member are adapted to engage with the cap in a manner that permits the nozzle assembly to move in a controlled direction relative to the cap.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a dermal spray device for dispensing liquid from a cartridge, the dermal spray device comprising: a housing; a source of a compressed air; and a cartridge receiver, wherein the cartridge receiver is adapted to accept a cartridge including both a liquid container and a spray nozzle, wherein the dermal spray device dispenses liquid from the cartridge by supplying the compressed air to the nozzle of the cartridge, the nozzle assembly drawing liquid from the liquid container and mixing it with the compressed air. One or more of the features above related to the cartridge may be present in a cartridge that works with this dermal spray device.
The device may further comprise a sliding cover adapted to position the cartridge in the dermal spray device wherein the cartridge so positioned is capable of dispensing liquid through the spray nozzle. The sliding cover, if used, is adapted to engage with spray nozzle of the cartridge and activate the spray nozzle when the sliding cover is moved into an engaged position. The dermal spray device may include a base with an inductive charging element that allows for charging of a battery of the dermal spray device. The device may further comprise a compressor for supplying compressed air to the spray nozzle. The cartridge receiver may comprise a fluid conduit in fluid communication with the compressor, wherein the fluid conduit is adapted to engage with the cartridge.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of spraying a liquid onto a user's skin using the dermal spray device comprising inserting the cartridge including both a liquid container and a spray nozzle in the dermal spray device; and directing a spray of the liquid from the liquid container through the spray nozzle toward the user's skin. The method may also include a step of closing a cover adapted to position the cartridge in the dermal spray device wherein the cartridge so positioned is capable of dispensing liquid through the spray nozzle. In one aspect, closing the cover may engage the spray nozzle by moving it toward the liquid container of the cartridge allowing liquid to flow into the spray nozzle.
In another aspect the invention involves a dermal spray system for dispensing liquid from a cartridge, the dermal spray device comprising: a housing; a source of a compressed air; a cartridge receiver, wherein the cartridge receiver is adapted to accept a cartridge; wherein the dermal spray device dispenses liquid from the cartridge by supplying the compressed air to the nozzle of the cartridge, the nozzle drawing liquid from the liquid container and mixing it with the compressed air; and wherein the cartridge comprises: a nozzle assembly, a liquid reservoir, and a cap attached to the liquid reservoir, wherein the cap is adapted to engage the nozzle assembly; the nozzle assembly comprising an inner body and an outer body, the inner body and outer body forming a first fluid passage therebetween, the first fluid passage adapted to deliver compressed air, the inner body comprising a second fluid passage in its interior, the second fluid passage adapted to deliver liquid from the liquid reservoir; wherein the nozzle assembly is moveable in a controlled direction relative to the cap; and the inner body of the nozzle assembly is adapted to pierce the liquid reservoir when the nozzle assembly is moved in the direction of the liquid reservoir to allow liquid from the liquid reservoir to flow into the second fluid passage.
The present invention involves improvements to dermal spray systems that provide unique advantages for dermal and topical application.
The device 32 includes a battery 50, control circuitry 54, a data storage unit 76, a data transmission unit 77 that is configured to permit data transmission of device data 79 to and from a mobile device 78, such as a smartphone. The mobile device 78 can communicate with a server 81 using a secure internet connection 82, to communicate user device data between the server and mobile device. The mobile device 78 is configured (a) to combine the device data with secure user data into user device data, and (b) to display the user device data to the user. The mobile device may send anonymized user device data to the server, which can be used to build a database that can be utilized in several machine learning processes of aid in the selection of serums. The device also includes an accelerometer 80 and an encoding identification unit 86.
The capsule 60 is inserted into a compartment 46 the dermal spray device 32. The compartment 60 includes a door 44 and a capsule nest 58 for holding the capsule in place. A needle 62 penetrates the capsule 60 and allows the contents of the capsule to be drawn toward the nozzle 38. Air from a pressure chamber 64 is routed to the nozzle through a pressurized conduit 56. Further details regarding the dermal spray device and its use may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/224,824, incorporated above. The inventors have perceived a need to improve the spray device 32 in several respects.
The present inventors have perceived a need to provide a cartridge system for a dermal spray device that has one or more of the following features. In one aspect, the cartridge is capable of being stored and easily pierced at the time of use. In another aspect, the cartridge may be easily inserted into a spray device and activated after it is positioned within the spray device. In another aspect, the cartridge has a disposable nozzle that eliminates or reduces the need for cleaning of the dermal spray device. In another aspect, the cartridge is capable of being filled and dispensed without air pockets interfering with the consistent dispensing of contents.
A cartridge is provided for dispensing a liquid from a dermal spray device, wherein the cartridges includes a nozzle assembly, a fluid reservoir, and a cap attached to the fluid reservoir that is adapted to engage the nozzle assembly. The cartridge includes a disposable nozzle assembly that is attached to the cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted into the device the nozzle assembly is moved into a position that allows an inner body, e.g., a needle, to pierce a reservoir and allow liquid to enter the nozzle assembly.
A cartridge 200 according to one aspect of the invention is shown in
In one aspect, fluid reservoirs may be manufactured using a process as shown in
In one aspect, one or both of the bottom film 320 and top film 321 used to make the reservoir is a flexible plastic film that allows the reservoir to collapse as fluid is withdrawn from the reservoir. For example, the film may be a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film having a thickness of between 40-50 microns. In one aspect, the film may include two or more layers of film that are adhered together. In this case, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or other information containing device may be positioned between separate layers of a multilayer film that makes up the reservoir. The RFID tag may include information about the dermal serum or material contained within the cartridge that may be read by the dermal spray device upon insertion of the cartridge into the device. In another aspect, the cartridge may contain a barcode, NFC, QR code or other information containing mechanism that is read by the dermal spray device.
The nozzle assembly includes an inner nozzle body 420 having a tapered outer surface 421 and a guide flange 422. The inner nozzle body 420 has a first end 426 and a second end 423. The outer nozzle body 408 includes a tapered inner surface 425 and the inner nozzle body 420 has a tapered outer surface 421. These surfaces form an air passage to the nozzle through fluid passage 430. Fluid moves from the reservoir through the fluid passage 427 through the inner nozzle body 420. The fluid passage includes a bend 431. The bend 431 is shown having an angle but may also be smooth.
The cartridge including the reservoir 502 and nozzle body 508 is inserted into a slot 562 in the handle body 540 of the dermal spray device. A button 544 is provided for activating the device. A connection 590 allows pressurized gas (e.g., compressed air) to flow into a fluid passage in the bottom of the nozzle body 508 that is directed to the tapered gap between the inner nozzle body and outer nozzle body. The fluid is typically pressurized air that mixes with fluid from the fluid reservoir 502 at or near the nozzle outlet 526.
Other embodiments and uses of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. All references cited herein, including all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, are specifically and entirely hereby incorporated herein by reference. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention indicated by the following claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 17501831 | Oct 2021 | US |
Child | 17548142 | US |