U.S. patent application number 10/663518 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for method for skin/surface abrasion.
Invention is credited to Ignon, Roger G..
Application Number | 20040097967 10/663518 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28675791 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040097967 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ignon, Roger G. |
May 20, 2004 |
Method for skin/surface abrasion
Abstract
A dermabrasion handpiece adapted for use to abrade the skin of a
patient includes a housing extending along an axis between a
proximal end and a distal end. Portions of the housing define a
hole at the distal end with an abrasion element disposed in the
housing in proximity to the hole. The housing is adapted for
connection to a vacuum source to pull a portion of the skin through
the hole and to move the skin portion into contact with the
abrasion element. Movement of the abrader relative to the skin
abrades tissue from the skin portion extending through the hole.
The abrader can be provided in the form of a roller or blade
moveable relative to the housing to abrade the skin. The abrasion
element can be selected from a series of elements each having
different abrasion characteristics and can be mounted in either the
cap or the base of the housing.
Inventors: |
Ignon, Roger G.; (Redondo
Beach, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Myers Dawes Andras & Sherman LLP
Suite 1150
19900 MacArthur Blvd.
Irvine
CA
92612
US
|
Family ID: |
28675791 |
Appl. No.: |
10/663518 |
Filed: |
September 15, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10663518 |
Sep 15, 2003 |
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09699220 |
Oct 27, 2000 |
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6629983 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 2017/320012
20130101; A61B 2017/00561 20130101; A61B 17/54 20130101; A61B
2017/00535 20130101; A61B 2017/00761 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/131 |
International
Class: |
A61B 017/50 |
Claims
1. A surface abrasion handpiece adapted for use to abrade skin of a
patient, comprising: a housing extending along an axis between a
proximal end and a distal end; portions of the housing defining a
hole at the distal end of the housing; an abrasion element disposed
in the housing in proximity to the hole; the housing being adapted
for connection to a vacuum source to pull a portion of the skin
through the hole and to move the skin portion into contact with the
abrasion element; whereby movement of the abrader relative to the
skin abrades tissue from the skin portion extending through the
hole.
2. The handpiece recited in claim 1 wherein the abrader includes an
abrasive surface disposed relative to the hole.
3. The handpiece recited in claim 2 wherein the abrader includes: a
disc having a generally planer outer surface; and the abrasive
surface is formed on the outer surface of the disc.
4. The handpiece recited in claim 2, wherein: the abrader includes
a roller having a generally cylindrical outer surface; and the
abrasive surface forms the outer surface of the roller.
5. The handpiece recited in claim 1, wherein the abrader includes a
blade disposed in proximity to the hole, the blade being movable
relative to the housing.
6. The handpiece recited in claim 5, wherein: the blade is moveable
between a first position and a second position; the blade in the
first position being adapted for scraping the skin with movement of
the housing in a first direction; and the blade in the second
position being adapted for scraping the skin with movement of the
housing in a second direction opposed to the first direction.
7. The handpiece recited in claim 6, wherein the blade is pivotal
relative to the housing between the first position and the second
position.
8. A method for abrading skin of a patient, comprising the steps
of: providing a hand piece with a hole; moving a portion of the
skin through the hole and into the handpiece; and abrading the skin
portion moved through the hole of the handpiece.
9. The method of abrading skin recited in claim 8, further
comprising the step of: providing an abrasive surface in proximity
to the hole in the housing; and moving the skin relative to the
abrasive surface to abrade the skin portion.
10. The method recited in claim 9, wherein the moving step includes
the steps of: moving the abrasive surface relative to the skin to
abrade the skin portion extending through the hole.
11. The method recited in claim 10 wherein the step of moving the
abrasive surface relative to the skin includes a step of moving the
housing relative to the skin.
12. The method recited in claim 8 where the abrading step includes
the steps of: providing an abrader in the housing; moving the
handpiece over the skin to draw successive portions of the skin
through the hole and into abrasive contact with the abrader.
13. The method recited in claim 10 wherein the step of moving the
abrasive surface includes the step of moving the abrasive surface
relative to the housing.
14. The method recited in claim 13 wherein the step of moving the
abrasive surface relative to the housing includes the step of
rotating the abrasive surface relative to the housing.
15. The method recited in claim 13 wherein the step of moving the
abrasive surface relative to the housing includes the step of
oscillating the abrasive surface relative to the housing.
16. The method recited in claim 8 wherein the moving step includes
the step of drawing the skin portion into the hole.
17. The method recited in claim 16 wherein the drawing step
includes the step of sucking the skin portion into the hole.
18. A method for operating a skin abrader, including the steps of:
providing a housing with a base and a cap separable to provide
access to an abrasion element within the housing; providing a
series of abrasion elements each having different abrasion
characteristics; selecting from this series a particular one of the
abrasion elements having the abrasion characteristics desired;
removing the cap from the base; mounting the particular abrasion
element in one of the caps and the base; and replacing the cap on
the base with the particular abrasion element disposed in the
housing.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to skin or surface abrasion
apparatus and methods, and more specifically to semi-automatic
handpieces used in dermabrasion.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Prior Art
[0004] It is often desirable to abrade the outer layer or epidermis
of the skin in order to smooth or blend scars, or blemishes caused
by acne for example. The techniques employed have been separated
generally into two fields referred to as dermabrasion and
microdermabrasion. With microdermabrasion, a sand or grit is
carried by an airflow that is directed against the skin. The
momentum of the grit tends to wear away two to three cell layers of
the skin with each pass of a handpiece.
[0005] Dermabrasion refers generally to the mechanical movement of
an abrasive element against the skin. A handpiece is employed which
may include a pneumatic or electric motor which drives the abrasive
element typically in the form of a burr, wheel, or disk. This
process tends to be relatively painful and messy.
[0006] Dermabrasion has also been accomplished using a
semi-automatic handpiece having a grit fixed to its outer surface.
The handpiece is then moved over the skin causing the grit to
abrade the cell layers. Suction has been applied to the
semi-automatic handpiece through a hole which extends to the outer
surface carrying the grit. As the skin is drawn into the hole, it
is also pulled against the grit surrounding the hole on the outer
surface of the handpiece. This is also a fairly messy procedure
since the abrasion takes place outside of the handpiece. In this
device, no attempt has been made to use the suction to remove the
debris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, a semi-automatic
handpiece is disclosed which uses suction to clear the debris from
the operative site. Suction is applied to the handpiece to draw
skin through a hole and into the handpiece. Within the handpiece,
this skin extending through the hole is drawn onto an abrasive
surface. As the handpiece is moved over the skin, progressive areas
of the skin are drawn into the handpiece and abraded. This suction
also creates a seal with the outer edges of the hole so debris
abraded from the skin interiorly of the handpiece can be drawn away
by the suction.
[0008] The abrasive element within the handpiece can be made
disposable so that a new abrasion element is available for each
reuse of the handpiece. A set of abrasive elements can be provided
with different abrasion characteristics to provide for coarse and
fine adjustments in the process. The handpiece can be formed with a
housing having a body and a cap removable from the body to access
the abrasive element.
[0009] In one aspect of the invention a dermabrasion handpiece is
adapted for use in abrading the skin of a patient. The handpiece
includes a housing extending along an axis between a proximal end
and a distal end. Portions of the housing define a hole at the
distal end of the handpiece. An abrasion element is disposed in the
housing in proximity to the hole. The housing is adapted for
connection to a vacuum source so that, in operation, a portion of
the skin is drawn through the hole and moved into contact with the
abrasion element. Movement of the handpiece relative to the skin
abrades tissue from the skin portion extend through the hole.
[0010] In another aspect of the invention, a method for abrading
the skin of the patient includes the step of providing a handpiece
with a hole and moving a portion of the skin through the hole and
into the handpiece. Ultimately, the skin portion moved through the
hole of the handpiece is abraded within the handpiece.
[0011] In a further aspect of the invention a method for operating
a skin abrader includes the steps of providing a housing with a
base and a cap separable to provide access to an abrasion element
within the housing. A series of abrasion elements is provided, each
having different abrasion characteristics. From this series, a
particular one of the elements can be chosen for the specific
abrasion characteristics described. The cap is removed from the
base and the chosen element is mounted within the cap or the base.
The cap is then replaced on the base with the abrasion element
disposed in the housing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a dermabrader including a
console and a handpiece associated with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view of one embodiment of
the handpiece of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 3 is an axial cross-section view of the handpiece
operatively disposed relative to the skin of a patient;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the
handpiece of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a further embodiment of the
handpiece of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 6 is an axial cross-section view taken along lines 6-6
of FIG. 5;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the
handpiece of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of
FIG. 7; and
[0020] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 and
illustrating a further embodiment the handpiece of the present
invention
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS AND BEST MODE OF THE
INVENTION
[0021] A dermabrader is illustrated in FIG. 1 and designated by the
reference numeral 10. The dermabrader 10 includes a console 12, and
a handpiece 14 connectable to the console 12 through a vacuum tube
16 having an inline filter 18. The console 12 in this case is
powered by a 12 volt transformer 21 and includes a power switch 23
and a vacuum adjustment 25. Releasable connectors are provided at a
vacuum port 27 and a pressure port 30 discussed in greater detail
below.
[0022] The handpiece 14, which is shown in the exploded view of
FIG. 2, includes a housing 32 which in this embodiment is formed by
base 34 and a cap 36 having an opening 37. The base 34 has a
central channel 38 extending between a proximal end 41 and a distal
end 43. At the proximal end 41, the channel 38 is coupled to the
vacuum tube 16; at the distal end 43, the cap 36 is attached to the
base 34 in a snap-fit relationship. This configuration is
facilitated by provision of an O-ring 45 at the distal end 43.
[0023] Of particular interest to the present invention is an
abrasive disc or element 47 which is disposed between the cap 36
and the base 34. In this embodiment, the element 47 includes a
laminate having an abrasive layer 50 and a resilient layer 52. The
abrasive layer 50 includes an abrasive grit 54 adhered to a backing
56 which may be porous. The resilient layer 52 in this embodiment
is formed a resilient sponge material. In practice, the abrasive
element 47 may be provided as a series of elements having a similar
construction but differing in the size of the grit 54 and hence the
abrasive characteristics of each element 47. In FIG. 2, these
alternative elements that provide different abrasion
characteristics are designated by the reference numerals 58 and
61.
[0024] An assembled view of the handpiece 14 is illustrated in FIG.
3. In this cross-sectional view, the handpiece 14 illustrated to be
operatively disposed relative to skin 63 of a patient. With this
disposition of the handpiece 14, vacuum can be applied by the
console 12 (FIG. 1) to the tube 16 and through the channel 38 to
the distal end 43 of the base 34. At this point, the vacuum
provides suction around and/or through the abrasive disk or element
47 to the opening 37 in the cap 36. When this opening 37 in the
handpiece 14 is brought into proximity with the skin 63, a portion
of the skin, designated by the reference numeral 65, is drawn
through the opening 37 and into abrasive contact with the disk or
element 47. It is of particular interest that abrasion occurs only
with respect to the skin portion 65 which is drawn through the
opening 37. This insures that any debris resulting from the
abrasion is exposed to the vacuum and drawn off into the channel 38
and vacuum tube 16.
[0025] In this embodiment abrasion occurs not simply due to contact
between the skin portion 65 and the abrasive element 47, but due to
the relevant movement of the skin portion 65 and the element 47 as
the handpiece 14 is moved over the skin 63. Thus, progressive
portions of the skin 63 are drawn into abrasive contact with the
element 47 as the handpiece 14 is moved relative to the surface or
skin 63.
[0026] In a particular embodiment, the abrasive layer 50 may be
fixed and rigid relative to the cap 36 and the base 34. This
orientation tends to produce abrasion that is dependent only upon
the force applied to the handpiece 14 by the user. In order to
create a more uniform pressure, and therefore more uniform
abrasion, a preferred embodiment includes the layer 52 which
provides a flexible backing and hence more resilient
characteristics for the abrasion layer 50. In FIG. 3, the abrasive
disk or element 47 differs from that previously discussed in that
it includes a second abrasive layer 67 on the opposite side of the
resilient layer 52. With this configuration, the pad can be
reversed to provide a new abrasive surface with the same size of
grit, or alternatively to provide an abrasive surface which has a
different size of grit.
[0027] An additional embodiment of the invention is illustrated in
FIG. 4 where elements of similar structure are designated by the
same reference numeral followed by the lower case letter "a". Thus,
the handpiece 14a is coupled to the vacuum tube 16a. However, in
this case, the handpiece 14a has a base 34a and a head 70 which are
integrally molded, perhaps from plastic. The head 70 includes an
opening 37a which in this embodiment has a rectangular
configuration. An abrasive surface is provided by the abrasive
element 47a which also has a rectangular configuration. The element
47a in this case can be glued on or snapped into the head 70.
[0028] A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG.
5 wherein elements of similar structure are designated by the same
reference numeral followed by the lower case letter "b". Thus, this
embodiment includes a base 34b defining a channel 38b which is in
fluid communication with the vacuum tube 16b. In this case, the
base 34b also defines a second channel 72 which is spaced from the
channel 38b. The channel 72 is adapted for connection to the
pressure tube 74 which is illustrated in FIG. 5 and also in the
system view of FIG. 1.
[0029] The cap 36b includes a septum 76 which divides the cap 36b
into two chambers, an abrasion chamber 78 communicating with the
vacuum channel 38b, and a chemical chamber 81 having an opening 82
and communicating with the pressure channel 72. Disposed within the
abrasion chamber 78 is the abrasion element 47b previously
discussed. In the chemical chamber 81, a sponge or pad 83 can be
impregnated with a chemical such as vitamin C or vitamin A. In this
embodiment, the cap 36b can be snap-fit to the base 34b in the
manner previously discussed or attached with a bayonet fitting 85.
Both the pad 83 and abrasive element 37b could be combined in a
single disposable element.
[0030] A cross-section view of the embodiment of FIG. 5 is
illustrated in FIG. 6. In operation, the vacuum tube 16b, channel
38b, opening 37b, and abrasive element 47b function in the manner
previously disclosed. However in this embodiment, pressurized air
is introduced into the tube 72 and the chemical chamber 81 to force
any chemical impregnated in the sponge 83 outwardly through the
opening 82. This ensures that the chemical, such as vitamin A or
vitamin C, is introduced onto the abraded area of the skin.
[0031] Further embodiments of the invention are illustrated in
FIGS. 7-9 wherein abrasive elements are discussed which move
relative to the handpiece. In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 & 8,
elements of structure similar to those previously disclosed are
designated with the same reference numeral followed by the lower
case letter "c". Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 9, these
structural elements are followed by the lower case letter "d".
[0032] Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 7, the cap 36c includes
a skirt 87 and a projection 90 which extends to the opening 37c.
The skirt 87 can provide a snap-fit, screw, or bayonet attachment
to the base 34 (FIG. 2). The opening 37c in the projection 90 is
longitudinal in configuration to provide the greatest exposure to a
longitudinal abrasion element which is supported on a shaft 92
which is fixed at its ends to the projection 90. The abrasion
element 47c in this case is provided in the form of a blade 94 best
illustrated in the cross-section view of FIG. 8. As noted, the
blade 94 is pivotal with or on the shaft 92 relative to the cap
36c. The blade 94 may oscillate under the power of the vacuum or
pressurized air. Alternatively, the blade 94 may be moveable by
mere contact with the skin 63 between terminal positions shown by
the lines 96 and 98 in FIG. 8. In this embodiment, the blade 94
functions as a scraper as it is drawn along the skin 63 (FIG.
3).
[0033] In the embodiment of FIG. 9, an abrasive wheel 100 is
mounted on the shaft 92. The wheel 100 may be fixed to the
projection 90 so that it does not move relative to the skin 63
(FIG. 3) but rather is stationary and therefore abrasive to the
skin 63. The wheel 100 can be indexed however to expose different
portions of the wheel 100 so that a new abrasive surface faces the
opening 37c as the wheel is indexed.
[0034] Alternatively, the wheel 100 can be rotated under the power
of the vacuum or pressurized air from the console 12 (FIG. 1) which
might be applied, for example, to an impeller (not shown)
associated with the roller 100.
* * * * *