# US 10,869,812 B2 · Method, system, and apparatus for dermatological treatment

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- Number: US 10,869,812 B2
- Document ID: US10869812B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/724,261
- Filed: 2017-10-03
- Published: 2018-04-19
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2008-08-06
- Applicants: Jongju Na
- Inventors: Jongju Na
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10869812B2

## CPC

- A61H 39/086: {Acupuncture needles}
- A61H 15/02: adapted for simultaneous treatment with light, heat or drugs
- A61H 39/002: {Using electric currents (electrotherapy A61N1/32)}
- A61H 39/007: {Stimulation by mechanical vibrations, e.g. ultrasonic}
- A61M 37/00: Other apparatus for introducing media into the body (for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30); Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin (salt baths A61H33/04)
- A61N 1/0502: {Skin piercing electrodes}
- A61N 1/328: {for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment}
- A61N 1/36017: {with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin}
- A61N 5/0616: {Skin treatment other than tanning}
- A61N 5/062: {Photodynamic therapy, i.e. excitation of an agent}
- A61N 5/0624: {for eliminating microbes, germs, bacteria on or in the body}
- A61B 2017/3409: {including needle or instrument drives}
- A61H 23/02: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2015/0014: {cylinder-like, i.e. rollers}
- A61H 2039/005: {by means of electromagnetic waves, e.g. I.R., U.V. rays}
- A61H 2201/0153: hand-held
- A61H 2201/105: with means for delivering media, e.g. drugs or cosmetics
- A61H 2201/1207: with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H 2201/1604: Head
- A61H 2201/169: Physical characteristics of the surface, e.g. material, relief, texture or indicia
- A61H 2201/5007: computer controlled
- A61H 2201/5097: wireless
- A61H 2205/022: Face
- A61H 2205/04: neck
- A61H 2205/06: Arms
- A61H 2205/065: Hands
- A61H 2205/084: Chest
- A61H 2205/10: Leg
- A61H 2205/12: Feet
- A61M 2037/0007: {having means for enhancing the permeation of substances through the epidermis, e.g. using suction or depression, electric or magnetic fields, sound waves or chemical agents}
- A61M 2037/0023: {Drug applicators using microneedles}
- A61M 2205/8206: battery-operated
- A61N 2005/0644: {Handheld applicators}
- A61N 2005/0652: {Arrays of diodes}
- A61N 2005/0659: {infrared}
- A61N 2005/0661: {ultraviolet}
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

Embodiments of dermatological cell treatment are described generally herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of treating dermatological tissue, comprising:
placing a user holdable device releasably couplable deployable needle module end surface on or near dermatological tissue to be treated, the user holdable device including a proximal end and the releasably couplable deployable needle module, the releasably couplable deployable needle module mechanically separatably from the user holdable device proximal end and including a needle assembly including a plurality of needles, the needle assembly movable within the releasably couplable deployable needle module to extend the plurality of needles from the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly end surface while at least one electrical contact of the needle assembly remains electrically coupled to at least one electrical contact of the user holdable device proximal end; and
communicating electrical signals from the user holdable device proximal end to the needle assembly via the electrical contacts.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising energizing a motor coupled to the needle assembly to cause the plurality of the needles to extend a desired distance from the releasably couplable deployable needle module end surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising energizing the plurality of needles via a signal generator electrically coupled to the user holdable device proximal end.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein the user holdable device proximal end further includes at least one embedded LED therein and further including energizing the at least one embedded LED so the at least one embedded LED illuminates the releasably couplable deployable needle module.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the needle assembly includes a translucent section and further including energizing the least one embedded LED to illuminate the plurality of needles via the needle assembly translucent section.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising energizing the motor to deploy the plurality of needles to a predetermined depth and directing the signal generator to energize the plurality of needles at a predetermined intensity for a predetermined duty cycle.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one of the at least one electrical contacts is extendable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the user holdable device proximal end includes a motor with a drive shaft releasably couplable to the needle assembly and the method further including energizing the motor coupled via the drive shaft to the needle assembly to cause the plurality of needles to extend a desired distance from the releasably couplable deployable needle module end surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one of the at least one electrical contacts includes a pin that is extendable in the same direction as the plurality of needles.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein a first electrical contact of the at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to a first plurality of the plurality of needles and a second electrical contact of the at least one electrical contact is electrically coupled to a second, different plurality of the plurality of needles.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein one of the user holdable device proximal end and the needle assembly includes at least two extendable electrical contacts and the other includes at least two electrical contacts couplable to at least two extendable electrical contacts.

### Claim 12

An apparatus for treating dermatological tissue, comprising:
a user holdable device including a proximal end and
a releasably couplable deployable needle module, the releasably couplable deployable needle module mechanically separatably from the user holdable device proximal end and including a needle assembly including a plurality of needles, the needle assembly movable within the releasably couplable deployable needle module to extend the plurality of needles from the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly end surface while at least one electrical contact of the needle assembly remains electrically coupled to at least one electrical contact of the user holdable device proximal end.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, further including a motor coupled to the needle assembly to extend the plurality of needles a desired distance from the releasably couplable deployable needle assembly end surface when the motor is energized with a particular signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, further including a signal generator electrically coupled to the user holdable device proximal end to energize the plurality of needles.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user holdable device proximal end includes an electrical connector couplable to the signal generator.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user holdable device proximal end includes the motor, the motor including a drive shaft releasably couplable to the needle assembly.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the user holdable device proximal end further includes at least one embedded LED therein and the apparatus further including a photonic signal generator electrically coupled to the least one embedded LED, the at least one embedded LED capable of illuminating the needle assembly when energized.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the at least one electrical contacts includes a pin that is extendable in the same direction as the plurality of needles.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the user holdable device proximal end and the needle assembly includes at least two extendable electrical contacts and the other includes at least two electrical contacts couplable to the at least two extendable electrical contacts.

### Claim 20 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the at least one electrical contacts is extendable.