US 6,821,281 B2Granted

Microstructures for treating and conditioning skin

AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company

InventorsFaiz Feisal Sherman, Vladimir Gartstein

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An improved method and apparatus is provided as a system to enhance skin appearance and health, in which skin is cleaned (or exfoliated) and conditioned by use of microelements affixed to a base element or hand-held patch. The dimensions of the microelements are controlled so as to remove a certain number of layers of skin cells and to accumulate those skin cells, along with other foreign substances, into areas between the microelements. In addition, a conditioning compound or therapeutic active can be applied to the exfoliated skin to enhance the skin. Moreover, the amount of accumulated skin cells represents a self-limiting maximum quantity that cannot be substantially exceeded regardless of the number of attempts by a user to re-use the microstructure apparatus.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A method for removing cells from skin, said method comprising:

(a) providing a microstructure having a substrate and a plurality of microelements;
(b) placing said microstructure on skin then rubbing the microstructure against said skin, and along the surface of the skin, thereby scraping and accumulating skin cells on said substrate in areas between said plurality of microelements;
and
(c) withdrawing said microstructure from said skin, and thereby removing a large majority of said skin cells that have accumulated upon said substrate;
said method further comprising the steps of:
providing a fluidic compound that flows through first passageways in said substrate, then along channels in walls of said microelements and through second passageways in said microelements, thereby both exfoliating said skin and delivering said fluidic compound to said skin in a single procedure.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/952,403Filed 14 Sep 2001 · us provisional application
Priority: 16 Oct 2000
Published: US 2002/0045907 A118 Apr 2002
Granted: 23 Nov 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61M 37/0015
Other apparatus for introducing media into the body ; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin: by using…
A45D 26/0004
Hair-singeing apparatus; Apparatus for removing superfluous hair, e.g. tweezers: by abrasion
A61B 17/205
For vaccinating or cleaning the skin previous to the vaccination: vaccinating by means of needles or other puncturing devices
A61B 17/322
Surgical cutting instruments: skin grafting apparatus