Method and apparatus for skin resurfacing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9439673-B2
Application number	US-201213982121-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 27, 2012
Priority date	Jan 28, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments of method and apparatus are provided for resurfacing of skin that includes formation of a plurality of small holes, e.g., having widths less than about 1 mm or 0.5 mm, using a mechanical apparatus, thus avoiding generation of thermal damage as occurs with conventional laser resurfacing procedures and devices. The holes formed can be well-tolerated by the skin, and can exhibit shorter healing times and less swelling than conventional resurfacing procedures. The apparatus includes one or more needles adapted to remove a small portion of tissue when inserted into and withdrawn from the skin. The fractional surface coverage of the holes can be between about 0.1 and 0.7, or between about 0.2 and 0.5. The exemplary method and apparatus can produce cosmetic effects such as increases in collagen content, epidermal thickness, and dermal/epidermal junction undulations in the skin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for producing a cosmetic effect in a region of skin tissue, comprising:
a plurality of hollow needles configured to remove portions of the skin tissue when the plurality of hollow needles are repeatedly inserted into and withdrawn from the skin tissue, so as to produce the cosmetic effect,
wherein:
(i) the apparatus is configured to remove an areal fraction of the skin tissue that is about 0.1; and
(ii) the apparatus further comprises:
a) a filter arrangement and container for capturing the portions of the skin tissue to be discarded; and
b) a reciprocating arrangement configured to translate the plurality of hollow needles over the skin tissue in one direction or two orthogonal directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hollow needles each comprises a lumen and a cutting arrangement at a distal end thereof.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cutting arrangement comprises at least two prongs.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein an inner a diameter of at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is less than about 0.5 mm.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the inner diameter of at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is between about 0.24 mm and 0.4 mm.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the gauge size of at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is between about 22 and 25 gauge.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hollow needles further comprises at least one protrusion provided within the lumen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hollow needles further comprises at least one angled notch provided in a wall of the at least one hollow needle.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating arrangement is configured to displace the plurality of hollow needles back and forth along a direction substantially parallel to the axis of the plurality of hollow needles.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a low-pressure conduit, wherein the low-pressure conduit is connected to a low pressure source to generate a suction in the plurality of hollow needles.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the low-pressure source is a vacuum pump or a piston.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distance between adjacent hollow needles is about 15 mm or less.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the distance between adjacent hollow needles is about 10 mm or less.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner diameter of at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is between about 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the length of at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is between about 2 mm and about 5 mm.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein an edge of the at least one notch protrudes outward beyond an outer periphery of the at least one hollow needle.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of hollow needles is sized to extend through the entire dermis to at least a depth of a subcutaneous fat layer.

18. A method for resurfacing a skin tissue, comprising:
producing a plurality of holes in the skin tissue using the apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein each hole is produced by removing a portion of the skin tissue,
and
discarding removed portions of the skin tissue.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein an areal fraction of about 0.1 of the skin tissue is removed.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein each hole extends through the entire dermis to at least a depth of a subcutaneous fat layer.

21. The method of claim 18 , wherein the diameter of each hole is less than about 0.5 mm.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the diameter of each hole is between about 0.24 mm and 0.4 mm.

23. The method of claim 18 , wherein the diameter of each hole is between about 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

24. The method of claim 18 , wherein an areal fraction of about 0.1 of the skin tissue is removed and wherein the diameter of each hole is less than about 0.5 mm.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the diameter of each hole is between about 0.24 mm and 0.4 mm.

26. The method of claim 18 , wherein an areal fraction of about 0.1 of the skin tissue is removed and wherein the diameter of each hole is between about 0.3 mm and 0.5 mm.

27. The method of claim 18 , wherein the distance between adjacent holes is about 15 mm or less.

28. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of holes in the skin tissue is in an array.

Assignees

• Austen William G
• Massachusetts Gen Hospital

Inventors

• Austen William G

Classifications

• A61B2017/00765

  Decreasing the barrier function of skin tissue by radiated energy, e.g. using ultrasound, using laser for skin perforation · CPC title

• A61B2017/32007

  with suction or vacuum means · CPC title

• A61B2017/3454

  Details of tips · CPC title

• A61B2017/00761

  Removing layer of skin tissue, e.g. wrinkles, scars or cancerous tissue · CPC title

• A61B17/32053 Primary

  Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife (A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695) · CPC title