Patent Application
20240017046
This application relates generally to skin treatment, and more specifically, to apparatuses, systems and methods for treating a person's skin.
Abrasion of the outer layer or epidermis of the skin is desirable to smooth or blend scars, blemishes, or other skin conditions that may be caused by, for example, acne, sun exposure, and aging. Standard techniques used to abrade the skin have generally been separated into two fields referred to as dermabrasion and microdermabrasion. Both techniques remove portions of the epidermis called the stratum corneum, which the body interprets as a mild injury. The body then replaces the lost skin cells, resulting in a new outer layer of skin. Additionally, despite the mild edema and erythema associated with the procedures, the skin looks and feels smoother because of the new outer layer of skin.
According to some embodiments, a skin treatment system comprises a tower assembly including a manifold assembly, the manifold assembly comprising at least one fluid connector to secure at least one treatment fluid container, a handpiece assembly configured to hydraulically couple to the tower assembly, wherein the handpiece assembly is hydraulically coupled to the tower assembly using at least one fluid conduit, and a pressure source configured to deliver a separate fluid to the handpiece assembly, wherein the separate fluid is distinct from a fluid contained in the at least one treatment fluid container, wherein the handpiece assembly is configured to be hydraulically coupled to a vacuum source to remove spent fluid and other waste materials away from a distal end of the handpiece assembly during use, and wherein a pressure created by the separate fluid on skin tissue is configured to facilitate delivery of fluids delivered from the at least one treatment fluid container to the handpiece device deeper into a targeted skin surface of a subject.
According to some embodiments, the treatment system comprises a second handpiece assembly, wherein the tower assembly is configured to provide the separate fluid to both the handpiece assembly and the second handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, waste conduits from both the handpiece assembly and the second handpiece assembly are in fluid communication with a single waste container.
According to some embodiments, the separate fluid is configured to be delivered continuously. In other embodiments, the separate fluid is configured to delivered intermittently (e.g., according to a pulsed pattern). In some arrangements, a pulsed pattern comprises a step-like pattern. In other embodiments, the pulsed pattern comprises an undulating (e.g., sinusoidal, other smooth, etc.), pattern.
According to some embodiments, the handpiece assembly comprises a piston or other pressure regulating device to regulate the flow of the separate fluid. In some embodiments, the pressure source comprises a pressure tank.
According to some embodiments, the at least one treatment fluid comprises at least two fluids, wherein the at least two fluids are not combined until they are within the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, the handpiece assembly is configured to receive a vial, the vial configured to contain an additional treatment material.
According to some embodiments, the system is configured to collect data collected in association with use of the system and transmit said data to a network. In some embodiments, the network comprises a network over an internet connection.
According to some embodiments, the system is configured to operatively couple to an additional device to facilitate a treatment procedure. In some embodiments, the additional device comprises a device configured to detect at least one property of a skin surface being treated. In some embodiments, the at least one property of a skin surface comprises one or more of the following: skin texture, hydration or moisture level, elasticity, firmness, oiliness, redness or irritation, tone, luminosity and another skin property. According to some embodiments, the device comprises a camera or other imaging device.
According to some embodiments, the additional device comprises a device configured to provide treatment to a skin surface being treated. In some embodiments, the additional device comprises one or more of the following: a LED or other light-based handpiece or device, a device for providing thermal treatment, a lymphatic stimulation device and any other skin treatment device.
According to some embodiments, a method of treating skin comprises providing suction to a handpiece assembly of a skin treatment system, wherein providing suction creates a vacuum along a distal end of the handpiece assembly to engage at least a portion of a skin surface being treated, providing at least one treatment fluid to the distal end of the handpiece assembly from at least one fluid source, wherein providing suction to a handpiece helps remove at least a portion of the at least one treatment fluid delivered to the distal end of the handpiece assembly and other debris resulting from the skin treatment procedure, wherein providing suction further assists in providing at least one treatment fluid to the distal end of the handpiece assembly when the distal end of the handpiece assembly contacts a skin surface, and providing a separate fluid to the handpiece assembly using positive fluid pressure to move the separate fluid from a separate fluid source to the handpiece assembly.
According to some embodiments, the at least one fluid source comprises a bottle or other container positioned within a manifold. In some embodiments, the at least one fluid source comprises a vial that is secured to or along a portion of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, the at least one fluid source comprises both a bottle or other container positioned within a manifold and a vial that is secured to or along a portion of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, the separate fluid source comprises a pressure tank.
According to some embodiments, the separate fluid is configured to be delivered continuously. In some embodiments, the separate fluid is configured to delivered intermittently. In some embodiments, the separate fluid is configured to be delivered according to a pulsed pattern. In one embodiment, the pulsed pattern comprises a step-like pattern. In some embodiments, the pulsed pattern comprises an undulating or other smooth pattern (e.g., sinusoidal).
According to some embodiments, the handpiece assembly comprises a piston or other pressure regulating device to regulate the flow of the separate fluid. In some embodiments, the at least one treatment fluid comprises at least two treatment fluids, wherein the at least two treatment fluids are combined within the handpiece assembly.
According to some embodiments, the method further comprises collecting data related to a skin treatment procedure performed by the skin treatment system. In some embodiments, the data is related to at least one property of a skin surface being treated. In some embodiments, the at least one property of a skin surface comprises one or more of the following: skin texture, hydration or moisture level, elasticity, firmness, oiliness, redness or irritation, tone, luminosity and another skin property.
According to some embodiments, the method additionally comprises transmitting said data to a processor of the skin treatment system. In some embodiments, said transmitted data is configured to be provided to a network via a network connection of the skin treatment system. In some embodiments, the skin treatment system is configured to provide one or more suggested future treatment protocols for a subject based on an analysis of said data.
According to some embodiments, a skin treatment system comprises a console (e.g., tower) comprising a manifold assembly, wherein the manifold assembly includes a first receiving area and at least a second receiving area, wherein the first receiving area and the at least second receiving area are configured to receive a bottle containing a treatment material, a handpiece assembly configured to be in fluid communication with the manifold assembly using at least one fluid conduit, wherein the system is configured to selectively transfer a treatment material from a bottle secured to the first receiving area or the at least second receiving area to the handpiece assembly during a treatment procedure, at least one identification tag reader positioned at or near the first receiving area and the at least second receiving area of the manifold assembly, wherein the at least one identification tag is configured to communicate with an identification tag positioned on a bottle adapted to be secured to the first receiving area and the at least second receiving area, and at least one processor configured to receive information regarding the at least one identification tag from the at least one identification tag reader.
According to some embodiments, the at least one identification tag reader comprises a RFID tag reader. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises a RFID tag. In some arrangements, the at least one identification tag reader comprises a chip. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises an antenna.
According to some embodiments, the at least one identification tag is configured to both send data to and receive data from at least one identification tag reader. In some arrangements, the at least one identification tag is configured to modify the data contained therein based, at least in part, from data received by the at least one identification tag reader.
According to some embodiments, the at least one identification tag is located on a cap portion of the bottle. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises a flat or planar profile.
According to some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises a circular shape. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises an annular shape. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises a non-circular shape (e.g., square, rectangular, other polygonal, irregular, etc.).
According to some embodiments, the at least one processor comprises a first processor located at or near the manifold assembly. In some embodiments, the first processor comprises a motherboard or circuit board. In some embodiments, the at least one processor comprises a second processor that is operatively coupled to the first processor. In some embodiments, the second processor is operatively coupled to the first processor using at least one hardwired connection. In some embodiments, the second processor is operatively coupled to the first processor using at least one wireless connection.
According to some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to be operatively coupled to a separate computing device. In some embodiments, the separate computing device is integrated into the treatment system. In one arrangement, the separate computing device comprises a touchscreen. In some embodiments, the separate computing device is not integrated into the treatment system. In some embodiments, the separate computing device comprises at least one of: a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, a personal computer and another computing device or system.
According to some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to be operatively coupled to a cloud computing infrastructure or platform. In some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to provide an alert (e.g., warning, update, general information, etc.) to a user.
According to some embodiments, the user is an aesthetician performing a skin treatment procedure using the treatment system. In some embodiments, the user is a facility manager of a facility in which the treatment system is located. In some embodiments, the user is a supplier of the treatment system. In some embodiments, the user is a supplier of the bottles configured to be used in connection with the treatment system.
According to some embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to, based at least in part on data received from the at least identification tag reader, open or close a valve in fluid communication with a fluid line of the manifold assembly.
According to some embodiments, a bottle containing a treatment fluid and configured to be secured to a skin treatment system comprises a main body portion configured to receive a treatment fluid, a cap portion configured to be secured to the main body portion, and a nozzle extending from the cap portion, the nozzle configured to be positioned within and secured to a manifold assembly of a skin treatment system, wherein the cap portion comprises an identification tag, the identification tag being configured to provide data to a corresponding identification tag reader located on or along the manifold assembly of the skin treatment system, and wherein the cap portion cannot be removed from the main body portion without at least partially irreversibly damaging or destroying the connection between the cap portion and the main body portion.
According to some embodiments, the identification tag is flat or substantially flat. In some embodiments, the identification tag comprises a circular shape. In some embodiments, the identification tag comprises an annular shape. In some embodiments, the at least one identification tag comprises a non-circular shape (e.g., square, rectangular, other polygonal, irregular, etc.).
According to some embodiments, the identification tag comprises a RFID tag. In some embodiments, the identification tag comprises an antenna.
According to some embodiments, the identification tag is configured to both provide data to the corresponding identification tag reader and receive data from the corresponding identification tag reader.
According to some embodiments, the nozzle comprises at least one securement feature configured to help secure the bottle to the manifold assembly. In some embodiments, the at least one securement feature of the nozzle comprises an angled portion of the nozzle.
According to some embodiments, the main body portion and the cap portion comprise at least one plastic material. In some embodiments, the nozzle is integrated with a remaining portion of the cap portion.
According to some embodiments, the bottle further comprises a covering configured to be positioned on an open end of the nozzle. In some embodiments, at least one of the main body portion and the cap portion comprises a ratcheted design to help prevent separation of the main body portion and the cap portion without at least partially irreversibly damaging or destroying the connection between the cap portion and the main body portion. In some embodiments, both the main body portion and the cap portion comprise a ratcheted design to help prevent separation of the main body portion and the cap portion without at least partially irreversibly damaging or destroying the connection between the cap portion and the main body portion.
According to some embodiments, the identification tag is secured to the cap portion of the bottle using an adhesive.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present application are described with reference to drawings of certain embodiments, which are intended to illustrate, but not to limit, the present inventions. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of illustrating the various concepts disclosed herein and may not be to scale.
Although the various embodiments of a handpiece assembly have specific relevance to a skin treatment system, the features, advantages and other characteristics disclosed herein may have direct or indirect applicability in other applications, such as, for example, medical devices, mechanical devices and/or the like.
Several embodiments of the inventions disclosed herein are particularly advantageous because they include one, several or all of the following benefits: (i) provide for enhanced delivery of treatment fluids to the skin of a subject; (ii) provide for deeper penetration of fluids into the skin of a subject; (iii) provide for delivery of fluids to the skin of a subject while reducing the likelihood of contamination; (iv) provide for the combination of two or more fluid streams at or near the tip-skin interface; (v) provide for enhanced collection of data regarding a skin treatment procedure; (vi) provide for enhanced treatment protocols based on data collection and processing; and (vii) provide for enhanced safety and other counterfeiting measures related to fluids delivered by skin treatment systems.
The tower assembly 12 can further comprise one or more input and/or output devices (e.g., a touchscreen or other monitor 14), an outer housing or other exterior structure 13, tubing, one or more trays or other storage or mounting components 15, casters or other wheels 17, interior components (e.g., processor, memory, power source, tubing, valves and/or other hydraulic components, electrical wiring and other electrical components, etc.) and/or the like.
As discussed further herein, the tower assembly 12, and thus the skin treatment system 10, can be provided with one or more identification components, tools and/or other features that advantageously provide data or other information to the user, manufacturer or supplier and/or any other party or entity associated with skin treatment procedures performed by a particular system. For instance, the system 10 can be configured to identify one or more RFID tags or other identifiers (e.g., other electromagnetic identifiers, graphic or other visual identifiers such as QR codes, barcodes, alphanumeric codes, etc.) secured to or otherwise associated with a serum or other treatment fluid container. The tags or other identifiers can help ensure that the correct serums and other treatment serums are being utilized for a specific skin procedure or other protocol.
As illustrated schematically in
In some arrangements, one or more components of the treatment system 10 can be configured to couple (e.g., physically, wirelessly, operatively, etc.) to the tower assembly 12. As illustrated in
In some embodiments, a treatment system can be configured to provide one or more types pulsing effects and/or patterns to the tip or other distal portion that contacts targeted skin tissue of a subject undergoing a skin treatment procedure.
According to some embodiments, as illustrated in
With reference to
With continued reference to the schematic of
With continued reference to
As shown, the system 250 can include one or more components to accomplish the desired or required scheme to the tip or distal end of the handpiece assembly. For example, in some embodiments, the system 250 can include a muffler or other vent 282, a waste canister (e.g., to capture any spent treatment materials, exfoliated or removed skin tissue and/or other waste materials, etc.) from the tip or distal end of the handpiece assembly and/or the like.
Further, as discussed herein, the handpiece assembly 260 can further include a flow adjustment feature, component, device and/or other mechanism 264 to provide the user with an opportunity to adjust the flow of one or more treatment materials form a treatment material source 290 to the tip or distal end 270 of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, the flow adjustment feature, component, device and/or other mechanism 264 comprises a valve or other flow control feature that regulates the flowrate of treatment fluid that is delivered to the tip or distal end. This can be separate from the regulation of vacuum/suction and/or positive delivery occurring within the handpiece.
Therefore, according to some embodiments, a handpiece assembly can be configured to deliver one or more treatment fluids and/or other materials from a fluid source (e.g., a cartridge positioned within the handpiece assembly, a manifold assembly, etc.) using vacuum/suction and/or positive pressure. In some embodiments, such vacuum/positive pressure delivery can occur in accordance with a step-line pattern (e.g., as schematically illustrated in
One embodiment of a hydraulic arrangement 100 for a skin treatment system is schematically illustrated in
The depicted system additionally includes a second handpiece assembly 20B that may or may not be configured to deliver treatment fluids to the subject. By way of example, such a handpiece assembly 20B can include a lymphatic handpiece assembly that is configured to provide suction to a targeted skin surface. Such suction can be continuous or intermittent, and may or not may not be accompanying by fluid delivery through the handpiece assembly 20B. According to some embodiments, a procedure performed by a lymphatic handpiece assembly can provide one or more benefits to a subject, including, without limitation, removing toxic buildup from the subject's skin, assisting with the detoxification of the skin, decreasing inflammation, removing unwanted buildup and generally improving skin health.
With continued reference to the schematic of
As illustrated schematically in
With continued reference to
As noted above, the skin treatment system can be designed and otherwise adapted to accommodate one handpiece assembly or more than one handpiece assembly. For example, in accordance with the arrangement illustrated schematically in
In order to facilitate the ability of the user to switch between different handpiece assemblies, a skin treatment system can include one or more valves or other flow regulating devices. For example, in
According to some embodiments, a skin treatment system can be configured to use vacuum or suction force to draw spent fluids and/or waste materials away from the skin surface being treated, while simultaneously causing treatment fluid (e.g., from a bottle or other container secured to a fluid manifold, from a vial or other container secured to or in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly, etc.) to be drawn to the skin surface of the subject. This can be accomplished by creating a closed suction system when the tip of the handpiece assembly is placed along a targeted skin surface being treated. For instance, the tip can include a peripheral lip that is configured to create at least a partial seal with the adjacent skin surface of the subject. Once such a partial seal is created and if a suction force is generated along the tip of the handpiece assembly (e.g., via a vacuum pump or other suction source that is in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly), a suction force created within an interior region defined by the tip and its peripheral lip or other boundary relative to the skin surface will help draw treatment fluid to the tip of the handpiece assembly.
However, in other embodiments, a treatment system is configured to deliver fluid (e.g., air, liquid) to the tip of the handpiece assembly in addition to the closed loop system described above. Such a delivery of fluid can assist with and provide benefits to a skin treatment procedure in one or more ways. For instance, fluid delivered using a positive fluid pressure to the skin surface (e.g., a mechanism above and beyond the use of only suction from a vacuum pump and a closed loop hydraulic design to move treatment fluid to the skin surface) via a handpiece assembly can assist in creating a desired fluid pattern along the tip-skin surface interface. Fluid delivered to the skin surface during a treatment procedure can include any combination of gas and liquid, as desired or required. For example, fluid delivered to the skin surface can include one or more of the serums or other treatment fluids that are used as part of a treatment protocol. In other embodiments, fluid that is delivered as a result of positive pressure to the skin surface can include air and/or other gases, water and/or any other liquid or gas, regardless of whether it is being used as part of a particular treatment procedure.
One embodiment of a handpiece assembly 20 that is designed and otherwise configured to deliver fluid using a positive pressure delivery scheme is schematically illustrated in
According to some embodiments, the handpiece assembly 20 comprises a first fluid pathway for fluid originating from a first fluid source (e.g., one or more bottles or other containers of a manifold) and a second fluid pathway originating from a second fluid source (e.g., a vial or other container that is secured to or otherwise placed in fluid communication with a portion 24 of the handpiece assembly). Such separate fluid streams can be collectively or individually controlled by a valve or other flow adjustment device (26). In some arrangements, such a valve or other flow adjustment device 26 is configured to be manipulated or otherwise controlled by the user while the user is performing a procedure. For example, as shown in the handpiece assembly illustrated in
In some arrangements, the handpiece assembly 20 is further coupled to an additional fluid source that is configured to provide one or more fluids (e.g., a gas, a liquid, a combination thereof, etc.) using a positive delivery pressure to the tip 30. In some embodiments, as discussed in detail with reference to the embodiment of
A separate fluid delivered to the tip of the handpiece assembly using a positive fluid source (e.g., a pump, a pressure tank, etc.) can provide one or more benefits to a skin treatment procedure. For example, the impact or pressure exerted by such fluid on the targeted skin tissue can help drive or push treatment fluids that are at the tip-skin interface deeper into the targeted tissue.
The separate fluid source that is delivered using a positive pressure source (e.g., pump, pressurized tank, etc.) to and through the handpiece assembly 20 can be delivered continuously or intermittently (e.g., using a pulsation scheme), as desired or required. In some embodiments, a pulsed delivery of such a supplemental fluid (e.g., air, other gas, liquid, etc.) can assist with pushing or driving treatment fluids deeper into skin tissue (e.g., vis-à-vis non-pulsated delivery of such fluid).
According to some embodiments, the separate fluid comprises air and is delivered to the handpiece assembly at a pressure of 0 to 200 psi (e.g., 0-200, 0-100, 100-200, 150-250, 0-50, 0-25, 25-50, 50-100, 100-150, 0-10, 0-20, 0-30, 0-40, 0-50, 10-50 psi, ranges and values between the foregoing, etc.). In some arrangements, the air other separate fluid is delivered to the handpiece assembly continuously. However, in other configurations, the air or other separate fluid is delivered to the handpiece in a pulsed manner. The rate of pulsation can be adjusted manually or automatically during the execution of a treatment procedure, as desired or required.
Further, as also illustrated in
In some embodiments, combining two or more fluid streams at or near the tip or otherwise closer to the skin surface can provide some benefits and advantages. For example, it may be desirable or required to combine separate fluid streams at or closer to the skin surface of a subject for efficacy and/or safety reasons. In some embodiments, treatment fluids provide a better treatment result when they are combined along the tip-skin surface interface. Depending on the fluids being combined, it may be necessary to not combine the fluids too far in advance (e.g., form a time perspective, from a distance perspective, from a reactivity perspective, etc.) of delivery of the skin surface.
With continued reference to
As illustrated schematically in
With continued reference to
As illustrated in the embodiment of
As discussed above with reference to the embodiment of
With continued reference to
A separate pressurized fluid line as disclosed herein can be advantageously hydraulically isolated from other fluid lines of the handpiece and/or of the overall system to reduce or eliminate the likelihood of cross-contamination of fluid streams (e.g., upstream of the skin surface being treated).
According to some embodiments, as illustrated in
In some arrangements, the monitor or other display 14 is configured to be selectively rotated by a user from a closed position (as illustrated in
With reference to
As shown in
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
With continued reference to
According to some embodiments, as illustrated in
According to some embodiments, the handpiece assembly 1100 is in fluid communication with the various bottles or other containers 1200 positioned within and/or otherwise secured to the skin treatment system 1010 via one or more fluid conduits. As discussed in greater detail herein, the system 1010 can include a manifold assembly 1400 with which various bottles or other containers 1200 are placed in fluid communication when such bottles or other containers are properly secured to the system. The manifold assembly 1400 can be configured to direct liquid and/or other material contained in a particular bottle 1200 to the handpiece assembly 1100 (e.g., via one or more fluid conduits). In some embodiments, only liquid and/or other materials from a single bottle 1200 is directed to the handpiece assembly 1100 during a treatment procedure. However, in other arrangements, liquid and/or other materials from two or more bottles 1200 are simultaneously provided to the handpiece assembly. The delivery of liquids, other fluids and/or other materials can be regulated by a desired delivery pattern selected by a user (e.g., prior to and/or during a skin treatment procedure).
According to some embodiments, liquids, other fluids and/or other materials are transferred from one or more bottles or other containers 1200 secured to the system 1010 using the assistance of a vacuum or suction force. For instance, the system 1010 can include a vacuum or suction source (e.g., pump) and/or can be placed in fluid communication with a vacuum or suction source, as desired or required.
The handpiece assembly 1100 can include one or more fluid passageways (e.g., internal passageways) that are in fluid communication with the fluid conduit which connects the handpiece assembly 1100 with the bottles 1200 and/or the vacuum or suction source.
As noted above, a vacuum or suction force placed in fluid communication with a waste conduit can be configured to remove waste materials from the distal end of the handpiece assembly 1100 and help deliver liquids, other fluids and/or any other materials from a bottle or other container 1200 to the handpiece assembly-skin surface interface. When the distal end of the handpiece assembly is positioned against a subject's skin, suction created by the vacuum source can be transmitted to one or more fluid channels or conduits of the handpiece assembly 1100. Such a suction force created within the corresponding channels or conduits of the handpiece assembly can remain intact as long as the distal end of the handpiece assembly 1100 is maintained against or substantially against the subject's skin. Consequently, the suction force created by the vacuum source can be transferred to one or more fluid delivery channels of the assembly 1100, thereby transferring fluids and/or other materials from the bottle or other container toward the distal end of the handpiece assembly, and thus the skin tissue of the subject being treated.
In some embodiments, treatment liquids, other fluids and/or other materials can be delivered to the distal end of the handpiece assembly 1100 during use through one or more peripheral or other non-centrally located channels, conduits and/or other lines or fittings. For instance, such fluids and/or other materials can be routed through one or more internal channels of the assembly and/or waste conduits of the tip. In other arrangements, however, one or more of the fluid conduits or lines can be external to the handpiece assembly 1100, as desired or required.
In some embodiments, the tip or other distal end of the handpiece assembly includes an outer or peripheral lip or boundary that is configured to contact skin during use. The lip or boundary can form a seal when the handpiece is positioned along a skin surface (e.g., at certain angles relative to the skin surface). Accordingly, when the vacuum or suction source is activated, the seal can help draw liquids, other fluids and/or other materials from one or more bottles or other containers 1200 to the distal end of the handpiece assembly 1100, and thus, the skin surface of the subject being treated.
With continued reference to
Additional details regarding the handpiece assembly and other aspects of the skin treatment system are provided in PCT Application PCT/US2014/024992, filed on Mar. 12, 2014 and published as WO 2014/151104 on Sep. 25, 2014. The entire contents of WO 2014/151104 are incorporated by reference herein and made part of the present application.
According to certain embodiments, as illustrated schematically in
With continued reference to the schematic of
According to certain embodiments, one or more of the fluid lines fluid conduits of the manifold system illustrated in
In some embodiments, the vials, cartridges, bottles (e.g., used in towers or other manifold-systems) and/or other fluid sources can include any combination of skin tightening agents, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), exfoliation agents, peptides, bleaching agents, anti-acne agents, human growth factors, serums, salicylic acid, other anti-acne acids and materials, microcapsules, capsules, other time-release products and substances, human growth factors, cytokines, collagen, brightening or lightening agents, peptides, peeling agents, acids, antioxidants, matrix proteins, saline, water (e.g., distilled, tap water, filtered, etc.) and/or other liquids or substances, as desired or required by a particular application or use. In certain embodiments, a treatment protocol may require the use of one, two or more different cartridges for a specific procedure. Thus, vials or cartridges 1200 can be removed from or inserted into a handpiece assembly prior to or during a particular procedure. Alternatively, when a manifold system is being used to supply fluids to the handpiece assembly, one or more valves can be actuated (e.g., manually or automatically) to enable the desired fluid and/or other substance to be in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly.
The RFID or other identification tag can be read or otherwise detected (e.g., automatically, manually, etc.) by one or more readers or detectors of a manifold assembly 1400, a handheld assembly 1100 and/or any other portion of a tower system and/or a skin treatment system. For example, in some embodiments, such a reader can be placed at or near each station of a manifold system 1400 (e.g., adjacent the portion of the manifold to which the nozzle or top portion of the bottle or other container 1200 secures). Accordingly, the RFID or other type of reader can detect and identify the RFID tag of the bottle or other container. Likewise, a RFID or other type of reader can detect and identify the RFID or other identification tag (not shown) of a vial when such a vial or smaller container is properly positioned within the handheld assembly.
Therefore, in circumstances where the detected identifier is inconsistent with the proper, predicted, safe, appropriate and/or approved operation of the system, the system can be configured to prevent fluid from that vial or container from being used (e.g., by terminating the vacuum source, by maintaining a solenoid valve or other valve in the closed position, by otherwise preventing the flow of fluid from one or more of the bottles or other containers to the fluid delivery system of the manifold 1400, the handpiece and other portions of the tower and/or the skin treatment system, etc.).
The use of the RFID or other identification tags on the bottles, vials and/or other containers of the system can provide one or more other advantages or benefits. The collection of data regarding use of and/or related to the corresponding container (e.g., bottle, vial, etc.) can be gathered or otherwise collected to generate reports for billing, reordering and/or other purposes. In some embodiments, the number of times that a container can be removed and reinserted within a manifold or handheld assembly can be limited (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), as desired or required. For example, such limits can help prevent or reduce the likelihood of contamination of the fluid. In some embodiments, the automatic identification of the fluid container being secured to the system (e.g., manifold station, handheld assembly, etc.) can allow the system to determine if a rinse, flush and/or other steps or actions are required before the fluid from that container can be used and/or any other action can be taken in connection with use of the system.
According to some embodiments, the use of RFID or other identification tags can facilitate the execution of a particular skin treatment protocol by the system. For instance, the system can include various bottles containing fluids necessary to carry out any one of a number of various skin treatment procedures. For example, a treatment sequence can be configured for use in procedures for periodic or normal microdermabrasion treatment, anti-aging, anti-acne, skin lightening, oily skin treatment and/or the like. Each of the sequences, protocols or modes can include the delivery of one, two or more various serums and/or other fluids that are housed in the bottles or other containers 1200 in fluid communication with the manifold system 1400 and/or other portion of the skin treatment system.
In some embodiments, the skin treatment system comprises a touchscreen and/or other user interface (e.g., input and/or output device) 1020 (see, for example,
In some embodiments, RFID-based tags can be used to advantageously store information regarding the specific bottle, vial or other container. For example, the tag can include information regarding the contents of the container, expiration date, manufacturing date, size, lot number, skin procedure with which the contents are intended to be used, other limitations or restrictions on use (e.g., counter-indications, adverse effects, other fluids with which the contents should not be combined, etc.).
As illustrated in
Accordingly, in circumstances where the detected identifier is inconsistent with the proper, safe, appropriate and/or approved operation of the system, the system can be configured to prevent fluid from that vial or container from being used (e.g., by terminating the vacuum source, by maintaining a solenoid valve or other valve in the closed position, etc.). As noted above, in some arrangements, such a prevention of fluid delivery can be temporary. For example, the stop can be temporary or reversible (e.g., by the user, by a supplier, etc.), as desired or required.
In some embodiments, the use of RFID or other identification tags 1300 on bottles, vials and/or other containers 1200 of the system provides one or more other advantages or benefits. The collection of data regarding use of the corresponding container (e.g., bottle, vial, etc.) can be collected to generate reports for billing, reordering and/or other purposes. In some embodiments, the number of times that a container can be removed and reinserted within a manifold or handheld assembly can be limited (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.), as desired or required. For example, such limits can help prevent or reduce the likelihood of contamination of the fluid. In some embodiments, the automatic identification of the fluid container being secured to the system (e.g., manifold station, handheld assembly, etc.) can allow the system to determine if a rinse, flush and/or other preparatory steps are required before the fluid from that container can be used.
According to some embodiments, the use of RFID or other identification tags can facilitate the execution of a particular skin treatment protocol by the system. For instance, the system can include various bottles 1200 containing fluids necessary to carry out any one of a number of various skin treatment procedures. As illustrated and discussed herein, such bottles or other containers 1200 can be shaped, sized and otherwise designed and configured for placement in a manifold assembly 1400 of a skin treatment system (e.g., a tower of a skin treatment system).
In some embodiments, a treatment sequence can be configured as a core or basic fluid delivery sequence (e.g., for use in a periodic or normal wet microdermabrasion procedure). Other possible treatment modes or sequences include, but are not limited to, anti-aging, anti-acne, skin lightening, oily skin treatment, scalp treatment, treatment of other skin tissues (e.g., lips, eyes, etc.) and/or the like. Each of the sequences or modes can include the delivery of one, two or more various serums and/or other fluids that are housed in the bottles secured to the manifold system.
As noted herein, in some embodiments, the system comprises a touchscreen and/or other user interface 1020 (
If the necessary bottles or other containers 1200 have been properly loaded onto the various stations of the system, the control module can initiate the treatment process. Alternatively, if the control module determines that one or more fluids are missing (and/or that fluids included in a bottle already loaded onto the manifold system 1400 are improper, e.g., because they have expired, they have been recalled, or for any other purpose or reason), the control module can prevent the treatment protocol from being initiated.
In some embodiments, the system (e.g., via a touchscreen or some other interface, visual, audible, etc.) can be configured to alert the user that one or more of the required serums and/or other substances necessary or desired for a selected protocol (e.g., as included in a bottle or other container 1200 secured or otherwise positioned to a skin treatment system) are either missing or should not be used. Accordingly, the system can prompt the user to make the necessary changes in order to resume with the protocol.
In some embodiments, a treatment system is configured to permit a user to manually enter information about the contents of a bottle or other container loaded onto a station of the manifold system.
With continued reference to
As depicted in
With further reference to
The RFID or other identification tag 1300 can be secured to the receiving area 1224 of the base or any other area or portion of the cap portion or bottle using one or more adhesives. However, any other type of securement device, technology or method can be used, either in addition to or in lieu of adhesives, such as, for example, press-fit or friction fit connection, fasteners and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the bottles or other containers 1200 configured to be secured to a manifold assembly 1400 or other component or portion of a skin treatment system are provided to the user with the corresponding RFID chips or other identification tags 1300. In other words, the bottles or other containers 1200 can be supplied to the users by the supplier manufacturer or anyone else in supply chain with the tags 1300. However, in alternative embodiments, the tags can be provided by the user, as desired or required for a particular application or use.
With continued reference to
As illustrated in
With specific reference to
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, the sealing member 1270 is configured to provide isolation and other protection to the internal contents of the bottle or other container 1200. For example, the various bottles and/or other containers 1200 that are supplied to aestheticians or other users of a skin treatment system can include such a sealing member 1270 to prevent or reduce the likelihood of leaks, contamination and/or the like. In some configurations, once the cap portion 1220 has been removed from the nozzle 1240 of the bottle or other container 1200 (e.g., before securing the bottle or other container to a manifold assembly of a skin treatment system), the sealing member 1270 can be separated from the distal end of the nozzle 1240 to permit a user to secure the bottle or other container 1200 to a skin treatment system.
As illustrated in
With further attention to
In some embodiments, the manifold board or hub 1470 can be configured to read signals received from the RFID tags 1300 of the bottles/other container 1200 secured to the manifold assembly 1400 and/or write signals to one or more other components, devices, etc. (e.g., a system motherboard, hub or processor, the RFID tag or other identification tag 1300 of the bottles 1200 and/or the like), as desired or required. For example, in some embodiments, the manifold board or hub 1470 is configured to write or otherwise provide data and/or other information from the various RFID or other identification tags 1300 of the bottles.
Such data and/or other information can include, without limitation, information regarding the specific serum, formulation and/or other treatment fluid or material included in a bottle, the date of manufacture, the expiration date of the contents of the bottle or other container, the volume of the treatment fluid or other material contained in the bottle or other container, the used and/or remaining volume of the treatment fluid or other material contained in the bottle or other container, the number of times or procedures a bottle or other container has been accessed, how many times a bottle can be removed and/or inserted into a manifold of a skin treatment system, the batch number and/or other unique identifier of the bottle or other container (e.g., for purposes of recalls and/or other safety controls) and/or the like.
Accordingly, the manifold board 1470 can keep track of data and/or other information regarding the bottles/containers 1200 and their contents. In some embodiments, the manifold board 1470 can be configured to transfer information to the RFID or other identification tags 1300 of the bottles 1200 (e.g., via the antennas 1350) to update certain data and/or other information for one or more of the bottles 1200. For example, the manifold board 1470 can provide a signal to a RFID tag 1300 of a bottle 1200 regarding how many times that bottle 1200 has been used (e.g., how many times and/or for how long the manifold has drawn fluid from the bottle). In some embodiments, the system is configured to estimate (e.g., empirically, accurately, roughly, etc.) how much of the volume of the treatment material in the bottle has been used and/or how much of the volume is remaining.
By updating data and/or other information on the RFID or other identification tag 1300 of the bottle 1200, such data/information can be retrieved and updated even if the corresponding bottle 1200 is removed from or reinserted in a manifold assembly. Thus, updated data and/or other information can be maintained about a bottle and its contents at all times. This can advantageously improve the safety, predictability, reliability and other factors associated with a skin treatment system and related procedure.
In some embodiments, the manifold board, hub or other processor 1470 is configured to open or close a valve or other flow control member associated with each bottle 1200. Thus, although not illustrated herein, a valve or similar flow control device or member can be positioned along each of the fluid lines of the manifold 1400. For example, in some embodiments, based at least in on information communicated to the manifold board or processor 1470, the system can be configured to disable use of a particular bottle or other container that has been secured to the manifold (e.g., initially, after a particular time duration or based on an event, etc.).
With continued reference to
According to some embodiments, the system motherboard or processor 1500 can be configured to receive data and/or other information from the manifold board or processor 1470, any other board or processor, a cloud and/or any other computing platform. Likewise, the system motherboard or processor 1500 can be configured to provide data and/or other information to the manifold board or processor 1470, any other board or processor, a cloud and/or any other computing platform.
In some arrangements, the system motherboard or processor 1500 is configured to determine what data should be written (e.g., updated) on the RFID tags or other identifiers 1300 of the bottles or other containers 1200. The system motherboard or processor 1500 can be configured to communicate with one or more user interface modules (e.g., a touchscreen of the tower/console assembly of the treatment system, a smartphone, a tablet or other computing device that is operatively coupled and/or in data communication with the system motherboard or processor 1500, etc.). Thus, the system motherboard or processor 1500 can provide messages to the user, can request information to be input and/or the like. In some embodiments, the system motherboard or processor 1500 can be configured to provide an alert to one or more users or entities associated with the operation of the treatment system. This can include, without limitation, data or information regarding the treatment material being used, confirmation that the bottle or other container being used is approved for the procedure, confirmation requests regarding the procedure and/or treatment materials and/or the like.
In some embodiments, the system motherboard or processor 1500 can provide instructions to the manifold board 1470 regarding the opening and/or closing of valves that are in fluid communication with the various bottles or other container secured to a manifold assembly. Such communications between boards, hubs and/or other processors, however, can occur in any manner desired or required by a particular system design. For example, the reading and/or writing of information, the transfer of instructions, user interface inputs and/or outputs and/or the like can be configured to occur using only a single board or processor. In other arrangements, two or more boards or processors can be used, as illustrated in the embodiment of
In some embodiments, a treatment system can include one or more sensors or other detection devices to further enhance the data and/or other information associated with the use of the bottles or other containers secured to a manifold assembly 1400 of a treatment system. For example, the system can include a level sensor or a weight sensor to determine or estimate the amount of fluid that has been used or that is remaining in a particular bottle or container. Such sensors or other devices can be located at or near the manifold assembly 1400 and/or any other portion of the treatment system, as desired or required.
Various embodiments disclosed herein permit for the automatic detection and data/information transfer between the bottles and the treatment system (e.g., the manifold assembly). For example, RFID tags and corresponding readers are discussed herein. Further, one or more other ways of automatically or manually obtaining information regarding the bottles or other containers can also be used, either in lieu of or in addition to using RFID tags. For example, the bottles can include a barcode, QR code and/or other unique identifier that can read by a corresponding reader. Such a reader can be incorporated into the system (e.g., the manifold assembly, another portion of the console/tower, another portion of the system, a separate device that is operatively coupled to the system, etc.). In other embodiments, a keyboard or touchscreen can be used to manually enter information regarding the bottles or other containers being used.
Although several embodiments and examples are disclosed herein, the present application extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments to other alternative embodiments and/or uses of the inventions and modifications and equivalents thereof. It is also contemplated that various combinations or subcombinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. Accordingly, it should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combine with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above, but should be determined only by a fair reading of the claims that follow.
While the inventions are susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the inventions are not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but, to the contrary, the inventions are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the various embodiments described and the appended claims. Any methods disclosed herein need not be performed in the order recited. The methods summarized above and set forth in further detail below describe certain actions taken by a practitioner; however, it should be understood that they can also include the instruction of those actions by another party. The methods summarized above and set forth in further detail below describe certain actions taken by a user (e.g., a professional in some instances); however, it should be understood that they can also include the instruction of those actions by another party. Thus, actions such as “moving a handpiece” or “delivering a fluid” include “instructing moving a handpiece” and “instructing delivering a fluid.” The ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all overlap, sub-ranges, and combinations thereof. Language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” “between,” and the like includes the number recited. Numbers proceeded by a term such as “about” or “approximately” include the recited numbers. For example, “about 10 mm” includes “10 mm.” Terms or phrases preceded by a term such as “substantially” include the recited term or phrase. For example, “substantially parallel” includes “parallel.”
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/111,474, filed Nov. 9, 2020, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/111,484, filed Nov. 9, 2020. The contents of each of the aforementioned applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2021/072294 | 11/8/2021 | WO |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63111474 | Nov 2020 | US | |
| 63111484 | Nov 2020 | US |
