DEVICE FOR EXFOLIATING THE STRATUM CORNEUM OF THEEPIDERMIS AND REVITALISING THE SKINThe present invention relates to a device for exfoliating the stzahlm colnelem of the epidermis and revitalising the skin.
It is known that human skin undergoes ageing with the passage of years. Skin ageing is a biological process accelerated by environmental stresses, the sun, smog, excessive make-up or deficient hydration which gives rise to wrinkles of varying depth, lifeless skin, dark pigmented patches or patches of hyperkeratosis.
At the present time three systems are mainly used to attempt to reduce the effects of ageing:Skin abrasion, which has an abrasive mechanical action on the skin, but the treatment is painful and for this reason local anaesthesia is often necessary.
Such treatment also gives rise to tissue damage with a manifest inflammatory reaction, and the use of antibiotics after treatment is recommended in order to prevent post-operative infections. The patient is made to rest for a few days, and must apply a special protective cream several times per day.
The second system in common use is laser abrasion, which consists of a peeling technique using a superpulsed CO2 surgical laser. This is a laser surgery technique and can only be used by medical personnel. The peeling effect is obtained by burning off the surface layers of the epidermis. The patient experiences a burning feeling during treatment, and pain in the days thereafter until final healing takes place.
The third system is chemical abrasion, for which various concentrations of glycolic acid, which has a caustic effect on the skin, is currently used. The part treated first becomes black, forming a slight scab, which becomes detached, leaving space for new skin. Although effective, this method necessarily brings about the tissue damage mentioned, and very often the treatment has to be repeated.
The present invention relates to an instrument which can be used for aesthetic treatment of the face and body. It makes use of the principle of ultrasound applied to a device which when in contact with the skin brings about thorough cleaning with exfoliation of the dead cells in the stratum corneum of the epidermis, the removal of make-up residues, sebum, etc. The instrument is also associated with special currents of extremely low strength similar to body currents, which in combination with the ultrasound bring about toning of the tissues, with restimulation of local metabolism, reactivation of blood circulation, toning of the facial muscles, etc.
The device for exfoliation of the stratum corneum of the epidermis and revitalisation of the skin according to this invention substantially comprises an electronic generator and an applicator for exfoliation/toning which makes use of the principle of ultrasound applied to a device known as an actuator or applicator. As stated previously, the device comprises an electronic generator operated by a microprocessor and is substantially composed of the following functional units: a supply unit; a stage of generating operating voltages; a logic stage for control of the display, selection of controls, feedback actuator, working frequencies; and a power stage. The generator mentioned above is connected to an ultrasonic and microcurrent actuator or applicator provided with a steel blade, which has a shaped free terminal part which when excited by piezoelectric devices produces complex vibration consisting of micromovements of the blade in vertical, horizontal and rotatory directions.
In practice, as already mentioned, when the actuator is placed in contact with the skin the vibration and the micromovements of the blade in association with the microcurrents produce complete exfoliation of the old epidermis, at the same time stimulating the production of new collagen and elastic fibres in the underlying skin, thus thickening and restoring tone to the skin.
In some treatments the micromovements of the actuator may be associated with e.g. the prevention of skin ageing, the emission of microcurrents, or low voltage currents, similar to the body currents which produce an increase in muscle tone in the skin, stiffening of the tissues, stimulation of ATP, regeneration of elastin and collagen and restoration of balance to the local metabolism (membrane transport, protein synthesis).
The invention is further described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a device according to the invention;Figure 2 shows partly as a block diagram and partly as a diagrammatic view, the actuator and its blade;Figure 3 shows detailed views of the device in Figure 2;Figure 4 is a graph of voltage against time for microcurrents.
With reference to the drawings and in particular to Figure 1, a device according to this invention comprises a device 2 for generating working voltages, supplied from the mains. The device 2 is connected to a logic device 3, controlling a display located on the outside of the device, the selection of controls a feedback actuator 5 and working frequencies. A power stage 4 is placed between the logic device 3 and the actuator 5. In turn the actuator 5 is, as has been mentioned, connected to the logic device 3 for monitoring the load on the actuator 5 (feedback) for automatic adjustment of the load.
As already mentioned the actuator 5 plays a very important part in the device.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 the actuator 5 comprises piezoelectric ceramics, 6, 7, 8, 9 preferably of the PZT 8 type, approximately 3 mm thick and 3 cm in diameter, polarised longitudinally and placed in opposing groups of two; a rectangular piezoelectric ceramic 10 polarised through its thickness; a steel blade 11, with a free shaped terminal part which produces vibration when excited by the piezoelectric devices. The devices 6, 7, 8 and 9 induce vertical movement of the blade 11. The simultaneous action of all devices 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 produces rotary movement in the blade 11. The devices 6, 7, 8, 9 are supported by means 12.
The operation of the ultrasonic actuator as briefly described above is as follows.
As mentioned, the ultrasonic actuator comprises a transducer which has a resonance frequency of 25 kHz + ::::: 10% and a movement amplifier which has the task of transmitting sound energy produced by the transducer and transforming it into mechanical movement. A high level of output power is required from the transducer in order to achieve extensive flexural and longitudinal movement in the movement amplifier, and this is achieved using large area ceramics, in which case processing of the ceramics gives rise to appreciable problems in manufacture and assembly. The problem, which is particularly obvious in the case of flexural movement, has been solved through the use of the four circular piezoelectric ceramics of diameter 30 mm having a thickness of approximately 2 mm which have been selected and machined and positioned on the transducer in such a way that they have opposing polarities in order to ensure the flexural movement mentioned above.
Longitudinal movement is generated by a rectangular ceramic having a thickness of approximately 2 mm which vibrates in the direction of its thickness. The transducer is made of a fitted steel plate whose dimensions match the circular piezoelectric ceramics (for the flexural mode) and the rectangular piezoelectric ceramic (for the longitudinal mode) at the working frequency of 25 kHz. In order to obtain amplitudes of 10/20,us in the flexural vibration the movement of the transducer is amplified though a suitable movement amplifier applied to the transducer itself as illustrated inFigure 3. The amplifier is constructed of a steel blade. The amplifier and the transducer are matched in such a way that the maximum amplitude of the vibration occurs in the terminal part of the structure.
As may be seen in Figure 2, microcurrents 13, which consist of currents of very low strength, similar to body currents, which as mentioned induce toning of the tissues, with restimulation of local metabolism, reactivation of blood circulation, etc., may be associated with movement of the blade. Figure 4 shows the shape (waveform) of the microcurrent used.
The arrangement used to achieve flexural displacement is one of the preferred solutions, but not the only solution in that similar results can be obtained with a different number of ceramics, provided that matching is maintained between the various members of the transducer and between the transducer and the amplifier.
The invention may be summarised as follows: 1. An electromechanical system for exfoliation of the stratum coznellm of the epidermis and revitalisation of the skin, characterised in that it comprises an electronic generator operated by a microprocessor connected to an ultrasonic actuator or applicator provided with a blade which when excited by pie\electric devices is capable of making vertical, horizontal and rotatory micromovements which in combination with microcurrents give rise to exfoliation of the stratum corneum of the epidermis and revitalisation of the skin.
2. A system according to Summary 1, characterised in that the ultrasonic actuator comprises a transducer. having a resonant frequency of 25 kHz + 10% and a movement amplifier which has the task of transmitting the sound energy produced by the transducer and transforming it into mechanical movement.
3. A system according to one of the foregoing Summaries characterised in that, in order to obtain flexural and longitudinal movement in the movement amplifier, four circular piezoelectric ceramics of diameter 30 mm having a thickness of approximately 2 mm, which have been selected and machined and positioned on the transducer in such a way that they have opposing polarities in order to ensure flexural movement, are preferably used.
4. A system according to the foregoing Summaries characterised in that the transducer is made of a fitted steel plate whose dimensions match the circular piezoelectric ceramics and the rectangular piezoelectric ceramic for the longitudinal mode at the working frequency of 25 kHz.
5. A system according to the foregoing Summaries characterised in that in order to obtain amplitudes of 10/20 um in the flexural vibration the movement of the transducer is amplified through a suitable movement amplifier applied to the transducer itself and constructed of a steel blade; the amplifier and the transducer are matched in such a way that the maximum amplitude of the vibration occurs in the terminal part of the structure.
6. A system according to the foregoing Summaries characterised in that currents of very low strength similar to body currents which in combination with the ultrasound induce toning of the tissues, restimulation of local metabolism, activation of blood circulation, toning of the facial muscles and other beneficial results may be associated with the actuator blade.