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US 12,661,503 B2Granted
Microcurrent-based skin treatment and pretreatment techniques
AssigneeNSE Products, Inc.
InventorsDale G. Kern, Ganesh Diwakar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method includes applying one or more electrodes to the skin or skin surface of a subject, applying a voltage or current signal to the skin surface via one or more of the electrodes, and modulating the signal to maintain treatment efficacy, or so that the power output can be charge balanced, or both. An agent can be applied to the skin surface during a treatment period defined after the voltage or current signal is applied. Permeability of the skin to one or more components of the agent is enhanced or increased during the treatment period, responsive to the modulated power output. A device for performing the method is also provided.
Claims34
A method comprising:
- pretreating a skin surface of a subject by applying a voltage or current signal to the skin surface via one or more electrodes, wherein power is output to the skin surface, and
- modulating the voltage or current signal, wherein the power output is selected to enhance or increase permeability of the skin surface;
- and
- treating the skin surface by applying an agent thereto;
- wherein permeability of the skin to one or more components of the agent is enhanced or increased, responsive to the modulated power output while pretreating the skin surface, absent further voltage or current signal applied to the skin surface via the one or more electrodes;
- and
- generating a feedback signal responsive to change in the applied voltage or current signal, wherein the change is based at least in part on sensing the voltage or current signal proximate one or more of the electrodes;
- defining a response curve for modulating the power output between predetermined minimum and maximum power levels, based on the feedback signal;
- and
- reducing the power output by lowering the response curve to or toward the predetermined minimum power level, based on a change in the feedback signal meeting or exceeding a threshold, or
- increasing the power output by raising the response curve to or toward the predetermined maximum power level, based on an absence of change in the feedback signal meeting or exceeding the threshold.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- placing at least two electrodes adjacent a skin area;
- providing a microcurrent pretreatment to the skin area via a voltage or current waveform applied to the electrodes;
- modulating a power output of the microcurrent pretreatment to enhance or increase permeability of the skin area for a selected treatment substance;
- removing the electrodes from adjacent the skin area;
- and
- applying the selected treatment substance to the skin area, wherein the permeability of the skin area to the selected treatment substance is enhanced or increased following removal of the electrodes;
- wherein modulating the power output comprises regulating the power output between predetermined minimum and maximum power levels selected to enhance or increase the permeability of the skin surface to the selected treatment substance in the treatment phase, as compared to such a skin surface absent application of the microcurrent pretreatment in the pretreatment phase;
- and
- generating a feedback signal responsive to change in the voltage or current waveform, wherein the change is based at least in part on sensing the voltage or current waveform proximate one or more of the electrodes;
- defining a response curve for modulating the power output between the predetermined minimum and maximum power levels, based on the feedback signal;
- and
- reducing the power output by lowering the response curve to or toward the predetermined minimum power level, based on a change in the feedback signal meeting or exceeding a threshold, or
- increasing the power output by raising the response curve to or toward the predetermined maximum power level, based on an absence of change in the feedback signal meeting or exceeding the threshold.
10 more elements
A skin treatment system comprising:
- a voltage or current source adapted to generate a voltage or current signal;
- one or more electrodes adapted for applying the voltage or current signal to a skin surface of a subject, wherein power is output to the skin surface during a pretreatment phase;
- and
- control circuitry adapted to modulate the power output to the skin surface during the pretreatment phase, wherein the power output is selected to enhance or increase permeability of the skin surface to one or more components of an agent applied to the skin surface during a treatment phase, following the pretreatment phase;
- wherein the enhanced or increased permeability of the skin surface is responsive to the modulated power output in the pretreatment phase, absent further voltage or current signal applied to the skin surface via the one or more electrodes in the treatment phase;
- and
- a voltage or current sensor configured for sensing the voltage or current signal proximate one or more of the electrodes;
- and
- a feedback circuit configured for generating a feedback signal responsive to change in the sensed voltage or current signal, based at least in part on impedance of or through the skin surface;
- wherein the control circuitry is configured to define a response curve for the power output to the skin surface;
- and to:
- lower the response curve to or toward a predetermined minimum level, based on a change in the feedback signal, or
- raise the response curve to or toward a predetermined maximum level, based on an absence of said change in the feedback signal.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.