Patent Application
20160089525
This invention relates generally to skin treatment appliances, and more specifically concerns such an appliance which is adapted for treatment of small area spots and local skin irregularities.
Skin treatment appliances which are used for generalized treatment of skin are well known. One example, among others, is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,320,691, owned by the assignee of the present invention. However, many skin conditions occur as spots, i.e. localized irregularities within a specific area, generally less than a few centimeters in diameter. In many such cases, it is unnecessary to treat larger skin areas, when attempting to provide treatment to small area irregularities. Further, an individual may have several spots, each of which require a different form of treatment. As examples, these spots or irregularities may include surface blemishes, age spots, specific skin discolorations, clogged pores, acne, various wounds, insect bites, rashes, rosacea, ingrown hairs, warts, tattoos and other irregularities. Each of these conditions can be best treated with its own regimen and may require a specific device and/or a specific formulation with an active ingredient. Each of these treatments typically requires a workpiece with an active element designed specifically for treatment, including activation of a specific formulation. It is not efficient or reasonable to expect a consumer to purchase separate devices for numerous different specific skin conditions. Accordingly, it would be desirable for a single appliance to be adaptable to treat a wide variety of spot skin irregularities.
Accordingly, the skin treatment appliance with changeable workpieces, comprising: an appliance body; an appliance body interface assembly for receiving workpieces; a signal generator with electrical connections to the appliance body interface, wherein the sign generator, controlled by a microprocessor, generates signals which are adapted to control and operate the workpiece attached thereto; at least two workpieces, each workpiece adapted to treat a selected spot skin irregularity; and a system for identifying the workpiece attached to the appliance body interface, wherein each of the workpieces has an interface assembly for mechanically and electrically connecting to the appliance body interface.
A presently known skin formulation dispenser 10 is shown in
The present invention is adapted to treat a variety of skin spot irregularities with changeable workpieces and a signal-generating assembly for producing the signals to operate the various workpieces. This is shown very generally in
The workpiece 24 is a selected one of a variety of different workpieces, each of which is arranged and adapted for treatment of a particular skin condition. Examples of various workpieces include an LED, a thermoelectric element, a heating element, an iontophoresis tip, an ultrasound transducer and a radio frequency workpiece, among others. These are only examples of workpieces which have specific outputs for treatment of particular localized skin irregularities. Typically, a localized irregularity will be a spot or the like with an area of a few centimeters. One characteristic of the workpiece action is a direct effect on the skin irregularity, but another characteristic is increased infusion of a selected active formulation at the desired location, leading to improved condition of the skin irregularity. Additional possibilities include stimulation of tissue or other biological effect to promote healing or regeneration of the particular irregularity.
Each workpiece will typically require a different driving signal, particularly adapted to operate it. When a workpiece is attached to the handle, there must first be a recognition of the particular workpiece. This can be done in a variety of ways. One way is to identify the particular workpiece by its impedance/resistance value at various frequencies and polarities. A table is shown in
A wide range of workpiece elements thus can be dynamically identified, but this is not necessary to the invention. For instance, an appliance can be adapted to a non-active head and alternatively a heated head, or an LED head.
It should be understood that other ways of identifying workpieces can also be used, including for instance, an RFID arrangement, an optical arrangement, a magnetic arrangement, a particular physical interlock arrangement or a charge-coupled arrangement.
Once the particular workpiece has been identified, the microprocessor and the signal generator 38 will provide the correct operating signal for the recognized workpiece. With respect to the examples above, the various workpieces and the appropriate electrical signals are identified in the Table 9. Each workpiece has a particular operating signal. The correct operating signal is stored in the microprocessor 40, and when the workpiece is recognized, the microprocessor will send a control signal to the signal generator 38 to produce the correct operating signal. Table 9 sets forth the correct operating signals for a variety of workpieces. Other workpieces will require other operating signals.
The appliance body/handle includes an opening 106 into which the workpiece fits. The handle includes a mounting member 108 which is supported within the handle. Mounting member 108 is also supported to a circular depending assembly 110 with a flexible element 113 connecting the mounting member 108 and depending assembly 110. The mounting member 108 is thus free to move to some extent to accommodate the attachment of the workpiece. At the upper end of the mounting member 108 is a portion 112 which is conical in shape and is configured so that a space 114 exists between portion 112 and an upper surface 116 of the mounting member 108. The conical portion is configured in such a manner that the inwardly extending portion 86 of inner wall 80 of the workpiece can snap under the conical member 112, holding the workpiece in place. Extending through mounting member 108 is an electrical connection 118 which can be a coaxial cable. Coaxial cable 118 mates with the coaxial cable 92 in the workpiece when the workpiece is snapped onto the handle, providing a secure, reliable electrical connection.
Additional spring lead 98 connects electrically to a face connector element 122 on the upper surface of the mounting element located below the conical portion 112. Face connector 122 is electrically conductive. An electrical connection 123 provides a signal from the appliance to the spring connector 98, if needed. Hence, the arrangement shown includes three separate electrical connections where three connections are necessary. In some cases, only two connections may be necessary.
Further with respect to the above specific workpieces, an LED workpiece can, for instance, be driven with a regulated current, in which case the appliance works as a sensing power supply to provide the correct voltage to match the polarity and impedance of the LED workpiece. For an LED only, two electrical connections are required.
A thermoelectric element workpiece can operate from a constant current appliance setting but typically it will be a different current level than that used for the LED. Two electrical connections are required for this workpiece.
A heating element workpiece has the potential of harming the user by burning unless direct thermal feedback is used to prevent overheating. Typically, this requires an additional electrical connection, but it is possible to use a heating element, the resistance of which changes with temperature. In this arrangement, a separate third connection is not required. If a thermocouple is to be used in the workpiece, a third connection is necessary.
An iontophoresis workpiece requires two connections for a constant current supply in the handle.
Both ultrasound and RF workpieces require two connections and an AC signal that senses the frequency of the particular workpiece. This can be accomplished using a resonant circuit; it is thus possible to use a single connector element for an RF workpiece.
Other specific workpieces will require other specific electrical connections.
Accordingly, an appliance has been disclosed having a handle portion with a plurality of detachable workpieces, which are individually adapted to treat spots and irregularities on the skin, typically, but not necessarily, on the facial skin. Other skin areas may be treated
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that various changes, modifications and substitutions may be incorporated in the embodiment without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is defined by the claims which follow.
