US 5,211,894 A · Skin replication technique

Abstract

The invention provides a composition and a method for studying skin surface areas with simplified magnifying devices by making a replication of the skin surface area while minimizing irritation to the subject's skin, cracking of the replicas, surface artifacts, and air bubbles in the replicas. The method entails preparing a negative skin surface replica composition by mixing a silicone polysiloxane base and a biocompatible surface tension modifying agent. The mixture is placed in a vacuum desiccator to remove air bubbles and thereafter a curing agent is added to the mixture. An adhesive collar is placed on the subject's skin, which collar surrounds the surface area to be replicated, and thereafter the composition is applied to the skin surface area and the adhesive collar and allowed to dry. The negative skin surface casting is removed from the skin area and is then placed skin side up in a mold cup. A positive liquid skin surface replica composition comprising a polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer and a low micron pigment blend is prepared and is heated. The positive replica composition is then poured into the mold cup until the negative casting is covered. The mold cup is centrifuged, cooled to room temperature and thereafter the negative and positive skin surface replica castings are separated and studied.

Claims74

Dependent claims

A method of studying surface areas by making a positive surface replica casting from a negative surface replica casting comprising the steps of:

mixing a silicone polysiloxane base comprising a room temperature vulcanizing diorganopolysiloxane and a surface tension modifying agent;
removing air bubbles from the silicone polysiloxane base and surface tension modifying agent mixture;
forming a negative surface replica composition comprising a curing catalyst and the silicone polysiloxane base and surface tension modifying agent mixture;
positioning an adhesive collar over the surface area to be replicated;
applying the negative surface replica composition to the surface area to be replicated and to the adhesive collar;
curing the negative surface replicate composition at 25.degree. C. for two minutes;
forming a negative surface replica casting from the cured negative surface replica composition;
removing the adhesive collar and the negative surface replica casting from the surface area;
separating the adhesive collar from the negative surface replica casting;
placing the negative surface replica casting replicated surface side up in the bottom of a container;
forming a liquid positive surface replica composition comprising a polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer and a pigment;
heating the liquid positive surface replica composition;
covering the negative surface replica casting with the heated liquid positive surface replica composition;
centrifuging the container;
cooling the container;
forming a positive surface replica casting from the negative surface replica casting and from the cooled liquid surface replica composition;
separating a connected positive and negative surface castings at the interface;
and
observing the negative and positive surface replica castings.

16 more elements

A method of studying changes in the skin surface caused by substances applied to the skin by making a before and after positive skin surface replica casting of the skin surface test area comprising the steps of:

mixing a silicone polysiloxane base comprising a room temperature vulcanizing diorganopolysiloxane and a biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
removing air bubbles from the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
marking the skin surface test area;
forming a negative skin surface replica composition comprising a curing catalyst and the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent mixture;
applying the negative skin surface replica composition to the skin surface area to be replicated;
curing the negative skin surface replica composition at 25.degree. C. for two minutes;
forming a negative surface replica casting from the cured negative surface replica composition;
removing the negative skin surface replica casting from the skin surface area;
placing the negative skin surface replica casting replicated surface side up in a container;
forming a positive skin surface replica composition comprising a polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer and a pigment;
heating the positive skin surface replica composition;
covering the negative skin surface replica casting with the heated positive skin surface replica composition;
centrifuging the container;
cooling the container;
forming a positive surface replica casting from the negative surface replica casting and the cooled liquid surface replica composition;
separating a connected positive and negative skin surface replica castings at the interface;
applying a test substance on the skin surface test area;
preparing a second negative skin surface replica casting of the test area;
preparing a second positive skin surface replica casting of the test area;
and
comparing the first and second positive skin surface replica castings.

18 more elements

mixing a silicone polysiloxane base and a biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
removing air bubbles from the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
marking the skin surface test area;
forming a negative skin surface replica composition comprising a curing catalyst and the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent mixture;
applying the negative skin surface replica composition to the skin surface area to be replicated;
curing the negative skin surface replica composition;
forming a negative surface replica casting from the cured negative surface replica composition;
removing the negative skin surface replica casting from the skin surface area;
placing the negative skin surface replica casting replicated surface side up in a container;
forming a positive skin surface replica composition comprising a polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer and a pigment;
heating the positive skin surface replica composition;
covering the negative skin surface replica casting with the heated positive skin surface replica composition;
centrifuging the container;
cooling the container;
forming a positive surface replica casting from the negative surface replica casting and the cooled liquid surface replica composition;
separating a connected positive and negative skin surface replica castings at the interface;
applying a test substance on the skin surface test area;
preparing a second negative skin surface replica casting of the test area;
preparing a second positive skin surface replica casting of the test area;
comparing the first and second positive skin surface replica castings;
wherein the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent comprises a mixture of a surfactant and at least one non-ionic emulsifier;
and
wherein the surfactant and at least one non-ionic emulsifier mixture comprises cetyl dimethicone copolyol and polyglyceryl-4-isosterate and hexyl laurate.

20 more elements

mixing a silicone polysiloxane base and a biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
removing air bubbles from the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent;
marking the skin surface test area;
forming a negative skin surface replica composition comprising a curing catalyst and the silicone polysiloxane base and the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent mixture;
applying the negative skin surface replica composition to the skin surface area to be replicated;
curing the negative skin surface replica composition;
forming a negative surface replica casting from the cured negative surface replica composition;
removing the negative skin surface replica casting from the skin surface area;
placing the negative skin surface replica casting replicated surface side up in a container;
forming a positive skin surface replica composition comprising a polyethylene, a polyethylene copolymer and a pigment;
heating the positive skin surface replica composition;
covering the negative skin surface replica casting with the heated positive skin surface replica composition;
centrifuging the container;
cooling the container;
forming a positive surface replica casting from the negative surface replica casting and the cooled liquid surface replica composition;
separating a connected positive and negative skin surface replica castings at the interface;
applying a test substance on the skin surface test area;
preparing a second negative skin surface replica casting of the test area;
preparing a second positive skin surface replica casting of the test area;
comparing the first and second positive skin surface replica castings;
wherein the biocompatible surface tension modifying agent comprises a mixture of a surfactant and at least one non-ionic emulsifier;
and
wherein the surfactant and at least one non-ionic emulsifier mixture comprises cetyl dimethicone copolyol and polyglyceryl-3-oleate and hexyl laurate.

20 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Skin replication technique

Life of this patent

Skin replication technique

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims74