Patent Application
20240350825
The present disclosure relates generally to devices that are used to apply mechanical manipulation, light treatment, substances, and/or electrical current to skin and other tissues to improve the quality and/or appearance of such tissues.
Cleansing, sanitizing and treating the skin is a common part of many people's daily routines. Many different types of skin creams, lotions, soaps and medications are applied to the skin in order to treat or prevent aging, affect wrinkles, reduce discoloration, pigmentation and age spots and eliminate medical skin conditions such as acne and sanitize or cleanse the skin from contaminants, viruses and bacteria. Skin care and hair care can also include treatment of the human scalp. In addition, nails are often treated with creams, lotions and decorated with paints and other soluble ingredients.
Applying physical force through brushing, scrubbing, wiping and massaging the skin aim to clean and sanitize the surface of the skin, remove dead skin cells and impurities and stimulate the skin to produce new skin cells and repair itself. Adding lotion, creams and medications to a skin care regiment enhances the beneficial effect of physically cleaning and massaging the skin.
Phototherapy and the use of various different light sources, including laser light, LED light sources, and incandescent light sources (including, e.g., halogen light sources) have also been used to provide cosmetic and therapeutic benefits to human skin, hair and nails. Various forms of light have been used to enhance sanitization of surfaces and to treat human skin, hair and nails. Light of different frequencies can be emitted from various light sources onto the skin, which can support production of collagen, increase blood flow, kill viruses and bacteria and reduce inflammation. These light frequencies include, but are not limited to, ultraviolet light, near infrared light, infrared light, and blue light. Phototherapy can also be used outside of the field of skin care to provide cleaning and sanitization benefits.
Hot and cold materials placed on the skin have also been demonstrated to have certain medical, cosmetic and therapeutic benefits. In addition, mechanical vibrations, mild currents from an electric source, and sonic waves have also been demonstrated to provide such benefits.
Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a convenient apparatus that can provide one or more of such treatments to skin and other tissues, including certain combinations of such treatments.
The following simplified summary is provided in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview and is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Embodiments of the disclosure can provide a device for treating or affecting skin tissue and other external body parts (such as a scalp) that includes a housing that can be held in the hand. A treatment head can be rotatably affixed to the device, e.g. via a protruding shaft, and may be detachable, and a motor can be provided in the device to rotate the head at one or more desired speeds. In some embodiments, a rotatable disc may be affixed to the shaft, and a removable/replaceable disc cover can be affixed to the disc to provide a rotating surface that affects the skin. This configuration allows for easier replacement of the treatment head between users of the device and/or switching of heads with different surfaces for different treatments, and may be economical for providing heads that are disposable after use.
One or more light sources, such as LEDs, can be provided on the housing below the rotatable head, and the head can have one or more transparent or translucent sections that allow light from the light sources to shine therethrough and onto the skin while the device is being used. The LEDs can be configured to emit one or more colors of light depending on the desired effect. Such light colors include red, blue, infrared, and UV light. In some embodiments, a switch and/or sensor can be provided on the device to detect which type of head is affixed thereto and select one or more light colors accordingly. The light colors may also be selectable by a user, e.g., using another switch or selector on the device.
The device can include a microprocessor and certain electronic and electrical components to control its operation. Such components can include switches to control power to the device, selecting light colors, selecting rotational speeds, a timer to keep the device powered for predetermined time periods, and the like. The device can also include a sensor that detects proximity of the head to the skin or another surface, and can be configured to cut off power to the rotating head and/or lights when the head is not proximal to a surface. This can provide safety benefits by powering down aspects of the device when the head is not close to or in contact with skin or another surface.
The device can also be provided with a chamber that contains an ingredient or substance, such as a lotion, salve, or other liquid, that may be dispensed onto the skin while the device is being used. The substance may be dispensed through a channel provided through the rotating shaft, where a corresponding opening is provided in the head and/or disc and disc cover, or by other nozzles or orifices in the device. Dispensing of the substance can be controlled by a small pump within the device, by compressing a portion of the chamber that has flexible walls, or by other means.
In some embodiments the heads (or disc cover) may have a plurality of soft, resilient, and/or firm/hard bristles or protrusions on it that are configured to interact with the skin surface when the head or disc cover rotates. These protrusions may have the shape of nubs, vertical cylinders, elongated wipers, round or ovoid protrusions or objects, or combinations thereof. Soft or resilient protrusions and rigid protrusions may be combined on a single head. Such protrusions can be provided in rotationally symmetric or radially symmetric configurations, e.g., in concentric circular or ring-shaped regions on the head or disc cover. In some embodiments, the head or disc cover may include transparent or translucent regions between these regions to allow light sources provided on the device to shine therethrough and onto the skin being treated.
In some embodiments, the head or disc cover can include one or more rotationally or radially symmetric regions that is formed of a rigid material having a wavy surface, to provide massaging or vibrational tissue stimulation when the rotating head/cover contacts the skin. In certain embodiments, these wavy regions (or the entire head/cover) can be formed at least in part of a metallic material, which can effectively transfer heat or cold to the tissue. Heating can be achieved, e.g., by conducting heat through the head from light elements or another type of heat-producing arrangement provided in the body of the device (e.g. a resistive heating element and circuit), providing resistive heating elements within the head together with an electrical connection between the body of the device and the rotating head, preheating the head, e.g. by immersing it in hot water, or providing chambers within the head that can contain a heated material. Similarly, cooling can be provided by precooling the head in a refrigerator or freezer, by providing chambers within the head that can contain a cooled material, or by providing a cooling arrangement such as a thermoelectric cooling element within or affixed to the head.
In still further embodiments, a partially or fully metallic head or disc cover can be used to introduced galvanic currents into the skin while using the device. This can be achieved by providing two or more electrically isolated metallic regions in the head, which are in electrical contact with a current or voltage source contained in the device. The electrical connection can be configured, e.g., as brush contacts provided on the head that are in electrical communication with electrical contacts on the rotating shaft, allowing electrical power to be supplied to the metallic regions while the head rotates. The metallic regions can be, e.g., separate wavy rings provided on the head, and/or separate metallic sections of a single wavy ring that are separated by an electrically insulating material.
Further objects, features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures showing illustrative examples, results and/or features of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, in which:
The various embodiments of the disclosure are described herein with reference to the figures, where like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Further features and advantages of the disclosure as well as the structure and operation of various embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. To the extent that the present disclosure does reference the figures, it is done so in connection with the illustrative embodiments and is not limited by the particular embodiments illustrated in the figures. It is intended that changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments without departing from the true scope and spirit of the present disclosure.
The embodiments set forth below represent the necessary information to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and illustrate the best mode of practicing the embodiments. Upon reading the following description in light of the accompanying figures, those skilled in the art will understand the concepts of the disclosure and will recognize applications of these concepts that are not particularly addressed herein. It should be understood that these concepts and applications fall within the scope of the disclosure and the accompanying embodiments.
The purpose of the terminology used herein is only for describing embodiments and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Unless defined otherwise, all terms of art, notations and other scientific terms or terminology used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. In some cases, terms with commonly understood meanings are defined herein for clarity and/or for ready reference, and the inclusion of such definitions herein should not necessarily be construed to represent a substantial difference over what is generally understood in the art. All patents, applications, published applications and other publications referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. If a definition set forth in this section is contrary to or otherwise inconsistent with a definition set forth in the patents, application, published applications and other publications that are herein incorporated by reference, the definition set forth in this section prevails over the definition that is incorporated herein by reference.
Unless otherwise specified herein, the features of the presently disclosed solution may be economically molded or assembled by using one or more distinct parts and associated components which may be assembled together for removable or integral application.
Where context permits, words using singular or plural form may also include the plural or singular form, respectively. As used herein, “a” or “an” means “at least one” or “one or more.” As used herein, the term “user”, “subject”, “end-user” or the like is not limited to a specific entity or person. For example, the term “user” may refer to a person who uses the systems and methods described herein, and frequently may be a technician. However, this term is not limited to end users or technicians and thus encompasses a variety of persons or entities who can use the disclosed systems and methods.
The exemplary apparatus of
The device may be operable to dispense an ingredient so that simultaneously, the light reaches the ingredient as well as the user's skin, hair, scalp or nails, or other applied surface. The light can impact the ingredient, so that chemical processes or alterations in the ingredient are activated. The light source can also impact the user's skin, scalp or nails, by increasing blood flow, in the case of certain red frequencies of light, or by killing bacteria or viruses on the surface of the skin, such is the case with certain blue frequencies of light. The light can also act as a source of heat that melts the ingredient when dispensed through the applicator, or that heats up either the ingredient, the skin, hair or nails of the user, or both the ingredient and part of the housing in order to provide therapeutic or cosmetic benefits.
For example, the housing [1] may incorporate a chamber [13] to hold said ingredient, which may be transmitted through shaft [4], which can be hollow or have one or more channels provided therethrough, and/or through openings in applicator disc [5] and optional disc cover [6]. Although not illustrated in
Applicator disc [5] and/or disc cover [6] may further comprise a chamber into which various elements such as hot or cold gel containers or ice can be inserted, for instance, such that the surface covering can provide temperature specific benefits to the skin, or said chamber may contain liquid ingredients such as skin creams, lotions, medication, sanitizers and soaps that are dispensed through an opening to the skin of the user. Applicator disc [5] and/or disc cover [6] can be made from a material that retains heat or cold. Applicator disc [5] or disc cover [6] may be impregnated with a material so that it deposits the ingredient to the surface being cleaned.
The panel [3] may comprise a microcontroller [21] for operating the light sources [23], such as LEDs. In other embodiments, the microcontroller [21] and other electronic components described herein may be located within the housing [1]. The microcontroller [21] may be programmable to control the wavelength (and thus frequency) of light waves emitted by the LEDs [23], since different wavelengths of light have different effects in the treatment of various conditions. For instance, blue light wavelengths (e.g., wavelengths between about 400-500 nm) are known as an effective treatment for acne, while infrared wavelengths (e.g., near-infrared wavelengths between about 700-1000 nm) can be provided to stimulate blood circulation and promote wound healing and muscle recovery. Red wavelengths (e.g., wavelengths between about 630-700 nm) can be beneficial for skin rejuvenation. It should be noted that the device is readily adaptable to different uses other than skin treatments, for example, light sources [23] may be configured to emit UV light, which may be used on various articles for sterilization. In some embodiments, light sources [23] can be provided that emit different wavelengths of light to combine or enhance the exemplary effects above.
A switch [10] may be included on the housing of the device to turn the device on and off, and a power source [12] may be included in or on the housing [1] of the device to provide power. Various power sources [12] such as, e.g., batteries or other AC or DC power sources can be implemented. Batteries may be provided within the housing [1], and can be replaceable, or rechargeable through electrical induction or through a port and cable connecting the device to an external power source. In some embodiments, the device can be powered directly by an external power source, such as an electrical outlet or external battery pack, via an appropriate wire or cable.
The panel [3] may additionally comprise a sensor [24], for example on its outer surface, such that the light sources [23] are only activated when the translucent head plate [2] is proximal to or pressed against the skin or other body part of the user, thereby preventing light activation or light shining into the eye of the user. The sensor [24] can also be used to prevent activation of the device (e.g., motor activation and spinning of the applicator disc [5] and optional disc cover [6]) if the device is not adjacent to or pressed onto the skin or other body part of the user.
The panel [3] may be an electronic circuit board comprising one or more light sources such as, e.g., light-emitting diodes (LEDs) [23] on its outer surface, i.e., the surface facing the translucent head plate [2] and/or applicator disc [5].
The transparent or translucent head plate [2] can be assembled integral with the housing [1] of the device and may be planar or it may have other surface topology. The translucent or transparent head plate [2] and/or translucent or transparent applicator disc [5] may integrate lenses to further focus and/or direct the light sources [23].
Different light frequencies, or no light at all, may be optimal for different applicator discs [5] and/or disc covers [6]. Input from a sensor [24] and/or switch [10] may be applied to select the frequency/wavelength of lights emitted by the light sources [23]. a sensor [24] and/or switch [10] may also be provided to detect the type of applicator disc [5] and/or disc cover [6] attached to the housing [1], which may trigger a selected frequency of light emitted by the light sources [23]. For instance, a sensor [24] may detect applicator discs [5] and/or disc covers [6] of selected colors that can be recognized by the sensor [24], each of which may be assigned to a selected frequency of light. As another example, the applicator disc [5] may be attachable to the device via insertion plugs of selected shapes or lengths, or it may have specific protrusions or the like, such that a switch [10] and/or sensor [24] may detect the selected shape or length of the applicator disc insertion plug or protrusions, which may be assigned to one or more pre-selected frequencies/wavelengths of light. In this manner, interchangeable applicator discs [5] and/or disc covers [6] may activate different frequencies of light, or no light at all.
A timer [22] may be operatively coupled to the LEDs [23] such that light is applied for a prescribed amount of time. The panel [3] or housing [1] of the device may additionally comprise a sonic emitter, such as an ultrasonic transducer that produces ultrasonic sound that may be transmitted through apertures in the translucent head plate [2].
The motor [11] may be configured to rotate, vibrate, or otherwise move the applicator disc [5] (and optional disc cover [6] if present) to stimulate the skin. For example, the motor [11] can be configured and controlled to rotate the applicator disc [5] at a particular number of revolutions per minute (RPM). In some embodiments, the RPM can be between about 50 and 300 RPM. This general range can be effective for massaging the skin and optionally for introducing an ingredient (e.g., a lotion, a salve, or another skincare substance) dispensed by the device into the skin. In some embodiments, the RPM of the motor [11] (and thus of the applicator disc [5]) can be about 150-200 RPM, which can be effective for massaging the skin without being too abrasive or disruptive.
The massaging effect of the device having a rotating applicator disc [5] can be more effective if it rotates continuously in one direction for at least several seconds or more, optionally rotating in a single direction for the entire time it is being used. This is in contrast to an oscillating circular motion, where the direction of rotation changes in shorter time intervals, e.g., on the order of about a second or less. Such oscillating motion can be more disruptive and irritating to the skin, and may potentially be abrasive and pull the skin in opposite directions at a high frequency, leading to injury or discomfort. Oscillating motion also may be less effective in introducing a lotion or other substance into the skin, e.g., by reversing the introduction of the substance when the rotation direction changes over short time intervals. In contrast, continuous rotation can be beneficial based on the smoothness of interaction with the skin as compared to an oscillating motion, and allows the contact surface to deliver a high frequency of impulses in a smooth motion.
Applicator disc [5] may incorporate a variety of surface elements such as a brush with hair or tentacles, pads, abrasive material such as sand paper, silicone or rubber surfaces, metal, glass, rolling balls made from rigid materials and other constrictions where the surface interacts with the skin in a beneficial way. These protrusions or surface contours can be provided in a plurality of rotationally or radially symmetric regions on the head.
Similar to applicator disc [5], disc cover [6] may comprise a base of one or more transparent or translucent sections such that light can emanate through head plate [2], applicator disc [5], and through said transparent or translucent sections of disc cover [6]. For example, the entire disc cover [6] may be a transparent or translucent flexible silicone cover, comprising transparent or non-transparent bristles, or it may comprise non-transparent or non-translucent surface elements interspersed between transparent or translucent sections of its base, similar to the examples shown in
In this manner, the light therapy device can be used by holding the housing [1] of the device and moving the device across the skin, hair, scalp or nails, or other applied surface in a manner where applicator disc [5] is touching or facing said skin, hair, scalp or nails, or other applied surface. The light sources [23] mounted on the panel [3] behind the applicator disc [5] shine through to provide phototherapy benefits while the device is applied. For instance, the device may be applied during facial cleansing to clean the skin while simultaneously providing phototherapy benefits. It will be noted that the device may have other applications other than to skin, as light therapy can have broad applications. As another example, the device can be used with UV light to sterilize dishes while washing. The device may be used without attaching the applicator disc [5], for instance, when light is desired to be applied without the additional effects of the applicator disc [5]. Any of the embodiments described herein may be waterproof, e.g., to facilitate their use in wet environments (e.g., in a shower, or for sterilizing dishes), and to prevent undesirable leakage of a dispensed ingredient or substance into other components of the device.
In another embodiment, shown in
The massaging effect of the applicator head [90] having wavy rings [95] can be varied or determined by the number of waves and the RPM at which the applicator head [90] is rotated. For example, in
The applicator head [90] can be formed of a rigid material such as a hard plastic or polymer. In other embodiments, the applicator head [90] can be formed at least in part of a metal. The entire head [90] may be formed of metal, the wavy rings [95] can be formed of a metal provided on a plastic or polymer base, or the wavy rings [95] can be formed of a plastic or polymer coated or plated with a metallic material. A metal head, whether it contains light rings or is solid without any light rings, can provide certain advantages. For example, metal wavy rings [95] can provide an effective way of delivering heat to the top surface of the applicator head [90]. Because it moves in close proximity to the brush body, heat that is delivered from the top of the brush body could be conducted through the metal wavy rings [95] and to the surface of the user's skin. Heat can be generated, e.g., by heating elements embedded in the wavy rings [95] or in the housing [1] below the applicator head [90], by heat captured off the light elements [23], or by a combination of both. Similarly, cooling effects can be achieved by provided cooling elements embedded in the wavy rings [95] and/or in the body of the applicator head [90].
Further, the metal applicator head [90] can also be detached and placed in a refrigerator or freezer, or under a stream of cold or warm water, to alter its temperature and deliver a temporary cold or warm action to the user's skin.
In still further embodiments, galvanic currents can be delivered by wavy rings [95] that are at least partially metallic to a user's skin or other body parts. Sometimes referred to as cosmetic electrotherapy, galvanic current can be used to infuse skin tissue and facial muscles with a low to medium electrical current, facilitating such positive effects as stimulating blood circulation, boosting cellular metabolism, breaking down congestion in the pores, and even providing a form of non-surgical skin tightening. Delivery of such galvanic current can be achieved by provided electrical isolation between the wavy rings [95]. A different voltage can be applied to each ring [95], e.g., using multiple brush-type electrical contacts between a voltage source in the device and the shaft [4] or a power source (such as a battery) provided on, in, or affixed to the applicator head [90]. Each ring [95] can be provided in electrical communication with a different contact on the shaft [4] to induce a different voltage on each ring [95], thereby generating galvanic currents on the user's skin between the rings [95] when the applicator head [95] is in contact with the skin. In a further embodiment, a single wavy ring [95] can have two or more electrically isolated metallic surface regions, with each region being connected to a different voltage level using contacts in the shaft [4] as described above. Such regions can be formed by providing physically separated metallic surface components mounted on a non-conductive base to form a ring [95].
In further embodiments, the applicator head [90] can be provided without transparent sections [51]. In these embodiments, the head [90] with wavy rings [95] can be used to provide any of the other benefits described above including, e.g., an effective massage effect, application of heat or cooling, application of galvanic currents, and/or application of a dispensed ingredient or substance into the skin.
In still further embodiments, shown in
The number of waves in the ring [95] and/or the number of beads [120] in
In further embodiments of the disclosure, an applicator device can be provided that may include any of the features described herein above. As used herein, the term applicator device can refer to a device that combines a container that dispenses a soluble or therapeutic substance while at the same time providing light or therapeutic light and/or mechanical stimulation (e.g., using rotating brushes or other moving contoured surfaces) that complements or enhances the treatment of the part of the skin, hair or nails of the user to which the substance is being applied.
The light source [23] can impact the ingredient, so that chemical processes or alterations in the ingredient is activated. The light source [23] can also impact the user's skin, scalp or nails, by increasing blood flow, in the case of certain red frequencies of light, or by killing bacteria or viruses on the surface of the skin, such is the case in with certain blue frequencies of light.
The light source [23] may also act as a source of heat that melts the ingredient when dispensed through the applicator [1120] or that heats up either the ingredient, the skin, hair or nails of the user or both ingredient and body part of the user in order to provide therapeutic or cosmetic benefits.
In another embodiment, the applicator can be a rotating brush or applicator surface that contains one or more sources of light [23] and that project on the user's skin, hair or nails while the rotating brush or applicator surface engages to clean, massage or provide therapeutic benefits to the user's skin, scalp, nails or hair.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Other variations to the exemplary embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practising the claimed invention from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended paragraphs. The mere fact that certain features are described in different paragraphs and/or illustrated in different figures does not indicate that any combination of these features cannot be used advantageously. Various modifications and alterations to the described exemplary embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings herein. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous techniques which, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the invention and are thus within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Further, all patents, patent applications, and other publications referenced, cited, or identified herein are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 18/305,331 filed on Apr. 22, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/029,944 filed on Sep. 23, 2020 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,666,776 on Jun. 6, 2023, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/819,016 filed on Mar. 13, 2020 and which also claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/878,150 filed on Jul. 24, 2019, U.S. provisional application No. 63/008,866 filed on Apr. 13, 2020, and U.S. provisional application No. 63/010,681 filed on Apr. 15, 2020; and it is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/819,016 filed on Mar. 13, 2020, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/878,150 filed on Jul. 24, 2019, and U.S. provisional application No. 62/818,180 filed on Mar. 14, 2019.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62878150 | Jul 2019 | US | |
| 63008866 | Apr 2020 | US | |
| 63010681 | Apr 2020 | US | |
| 62878150 | Jul 2019 | US | |
| 62818180 | Mar 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17029944 | Sep 2020 | US |
| Child | 18305331 | US | |
| Parent | 16819016 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Child | 18762632 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 18305331 | Apr 2023 | US |
| Child | 18762632 | US | |
| Parent | 16819016 | Mar 2020 | US |
| Child | 17029944 | US |
