Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CRYOGENIC TREATMENT FOR REJUVENATING HUMAN SKIN
1
2
3
4
2. Background of the invention.
6 A. Field of the invention.
7 An embodiment of the present invention relates to a method for rejuvenating
and
8 tightening human skin, and more particularly, to a method for rejuvenating
and tightening
9 human skin utilizing a cryogenic liquid.
B. Description of the Prior Art.
11 Liquid nitrogen, and/or other biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic liquids,
all herein
12 sometimes referred to as "cryogenic liquids" is frequently used at offices
of physicians in
13 removal of warts, lesions, sun damage, and/or the like from a person's
skin. For example,
14 a method used for removing a wart is to apply liquid nitrogen thereto for a
substantial
length of time, usually a matter of seconds. The liquid nitrogen has a boiling
temperature
16 of approximately -335 F.
17 Although liquid nitrogen is here mentioned, it will be understood that
other suitable
18 biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic liquids could be substituted therefor,
and the very cold
19 temperature used in the treatment could be different and might vary. In
treating the wart,
the nitrogen "burns" by freezing the wart.
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1 Numerous innovations for skin rejuvenation have been provided in the prior
art,
2 which will be described below in chronological order to show advancement in
the art, and
3 which are incorporated herein by reference thereto. Even though each of
these innovations
4 may be suitable for a specific purpose to which it is addressed, the
innovations all differ in
structure and/or technique and/or objective from that of the present
invention, in that they
6 do not teach a method for rejuvenating and tightening human skin utilizing
quick
7 application of a cryogenic liquid.
8 (1) United States Patent Number 4,074,717 to Schulze et al.
9 United States Patent Number 4,074,717 issued to Schulze et al. on February
21,
1978 teaches a cryogenic probe, its method of charging, and its method of use.
The probe
11 includes a barrel having a plunger mechanism movably mounted therein and a
valve on the
12 lower end thereof. The valve normally closes the lower end of the barrel,
but the plunger is
13 movable relative to the barrel to permit a cryogenic liquid, such as liquid
nitrogen, to
14 by-pass the valve and move upwardly into the interior of the barrel. The
valve has a tip
portion at the lower end thereof. The barrel is removably positioned in a
guard, so that the
16 tip portion extends outwardly through the bottom of the guard, whereby the
upper end of
17 the plunger is exposed above the guard. The tip portion has a lower end
portion that is
18 extremely thin, so that the cryogenic liquid will be positioned closely
adjacent the skin, but
19 not in actual contact therewith when the tip portion is placed into contact
with the patient's
skin.
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1 (2) United States Patent Number 5,330, 745 to McDow.
2 United States Patent Number 5,330,745 issued to McDow on July 19, 1994
teaches
3 a method for cryogenically treating a skin lesion employing a hollow fluid
retaining device
4 for retaining cryogenic refrigerant in a liquid pool, and then contacting
the area of the skin
lesion at a temperature and for a time, so that permanent, irreversible
rupture of the cellular
6 membrane of the lesion cells occurs.
7 (3) United States Patent Number 6,350,276 to Knowlton.
8 United States Patent Number 6,350,276 issued to Knowlton on February 26,
2002
9 teaches a fluid delivery apparatus for introducing a fluid cooling media to
a skin surface,
including a template with a skin interface surface. An energy delivery device
is coupled to
11 the template. A fluid cooling media introduction member is coupled to the
template.
12 Resources controllably deliver energy from the energy delivery device to
the skin surface.
13 In a related embodiment, the resources are configured to controllably
deliver the flowable
14 cooling media to the introduction member. In another embodiment, a sensor
is coupled to
the resources and to the skin surface.
16 (4) United States Patent Number 6,726,693 to Weber et at
17 United States Patent Number 6,726,693 issued to Weber et al. on April 27,
2004
18 teaches tissue resurfacing accomplished by propelling biocompatible, non-
toxic materials
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1 at the tissue with sufficient velocity to cause destruction or loosening of
tissues to a desired
2 depth. The biocompatible materials are generated by abrading a solid frozen
unit and
3 propelling the abraded material onto the surface of the skin or tissue to be
treated. A
4 vacuum line near the delivery tip is used to remove excess materials or
reaction
by-products building up on the surface of the skin. The treatment system
generally
6 includes a control unit, a handheld particle generator, and a cable
connecting the control
7 unit to the particle generator. The control unit includes user controls to
select particle
8 temperature, particle flux, particle velocity, and vacuum. The handheld
particle generator
9 contains a mechanism to push the frozen biocompatible material against a
rotating grinding
wheel producing the small particles being propelled against tissue being
treated.
11 (5) United States Patent Number 6,749,624 to Knowlton.
12 United States Patent Number 6,749,624 issued to Knowlton on June 15, 2004
13 teaches a fluid delivery apparatus for introducing a fluid cooling media to
a skin surface,
14 which includes a template with a skin interface surface. An energy delivery
device is
coupled to the template. A fluid cooling media introduction member is coupled
to the
16 template. Resources controllably deliver energy from the energy delivery
device to the
17 skin surface. In a related embodiment, the resources are configured to
controllably deliver
18 the flowable cooling media to the introduction member. In another
embodiment, a sensor
19 is coupled to the resources and to the skin surface.
(6) United States Patent Number 6,764,493 to Weber et at
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1 United States Patent Number 6,764,493 issued to Weber et al. on July 20,
2004
2 teaches biocompatible materials propelled at the skin with sufficient
velocity to cause
3 desired resurfacing of tissue to the desired penetration depth. The
materials, such as dry
4 ice or water ice, are harmonious with the human body and thus eliminate
foreign body
reactions. Various materials are used in combination, which include local
anesthetics and
6 vasoconstrictors in solid or liquid form. The biocompatible solid or liquid
particles are
7 suspended in a cold carrier fluid, and are propelled through an insulated
delivery system to
8 the surface of the skin. The treatment of diseased skin lesions is
accomplished by its use as
9 a drug delivery system.
It is apparent that numerous innovations for skin treatments have been
provided in
11 the prior art. Even though these innovations each may be suitable for a
specific purpose to
12 which it is addressed, the innovations would not be suitable, either
individually or
13 collectively, for the purposes of an embodiment of the present invention as
hereafter
14 described, namely, a method for rejuvenating and tightening human skin
utilizing a
cryogenic applicator.
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1 3. Summary of the invention.
2 Thus, an object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a
method
3 for rejuvenating and tightening human skin utilizing a cryogenic applicator,
which avoids
4 the disadvantages of the prior art.
Briefly stated, another object of an embodiment of the present invention is to
6 provide a method for tightening and rejuvenating skin utilizing a cryogenic
applicator,
7 which includes the steps of holding a handle of a barrel of the cryogenic
applicator in a
8 hand, fluidly communicating the barrel with a source of a biocompatible non-
toxic
9 cryogenic fluid to supply the biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid
through a hollow
interior of the barrel, out through a plurality of openings in a distal
portion of the barrel,
11 and onto a head of the cryogenic applicator, rolling the head quickly,
smoothly, and evenly
12 over the skin being treated for a period of time in an order of hundredths
or tenths of a
13 second, and sparging the biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid onto the
skin quickly,
14 evenly, and smoothly when the head is rolled on the skin, and thereby
tightening and
rejuvenating the skin.
16 The novel features considered characteristic of an embodiment of the
present
17 invention are set forth in the appended claims. An embodiment of the
present invention
18 itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation
together with
19 additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the
following
description of an embodiments when read and understood in connection with the
21 accompanying figures of the drawing.
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1 4. Brief description of the figures of the drawing.
2 The figures of the drawing are briefly described as follows:
3 FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the cryogenic applicator
4 utilized by an embodiment of the method of the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the cryogenic
6 applicator utilized by an embodiment of the method of the present
7 invention identified by ARROW 2 in FIGURE 1;
8 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view taken along LINE
9 3-3 in FIGURE 2;
FIGURE 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area
11 generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 4 in
12 FIGURE 3;
13 FIGURE 5 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area
14 generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 5 in
FIGURE 3;
16 FIGURE 6 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area
17 generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 6 in
18 FIGURE 3; and
19 FIGURES 7A-713 are a flowchart of the method of an embodiment of the
present
invention.
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1 5. List of reference numerals utilized in the figures of the drawing.
2 A. General.
3 10 cryogenic applicator utilized by method of embodiment of present
invention for
4 rejuvenating and tightening human skin 12
12 human skin
6 B. Overall Configuration of cryogenic applicator 10.
7 14 barrel
8 15 flow-control dial of barrel 14 for controlling flow of biocompatible non-
toxic
9 cryogenic fluid 20
16 head
11 18 cryogenic interface for fluidly connecting barrel 14 to source 22 of
biocompatible
12 non-toxic cryogenic fluid 20 to supply cryogenic fluid 20 through barrel 14
to head
13 16 that in turn sparges biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid 20 onto
skin 12
14 quickly, evenly, and smoothly when head 16 is rolled on skin 12, and
thereby
tightening and rejuvenating skin 12
16 20 biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid
17 22 source of biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid 20
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I C. Specific configuration of barrel 14, head 16, and cryogenic interface 18.
2
3 23 hollow interior of barrel 14 for directing biocompatible non-toxic
cryogenic liquid
4 20 to head 16.
24 proximal portion of barrel 14
6 26 distal portion of barrel 14
7 28 handle of proximal portion 24 of barrel 14 for being hand-held
8 30 plurality of openings in distal portion 26 of barrel 14
9 32 circumferential groove in barrel 14
34 end of distal portion 26 of barrel 14
11 36 tit of end 34 of distal portion 26 of barrel 14
12 38 flexible tube of cryogenic interface 18 for fluidly communicating with
source 22 of
13 cryogenic fluid 20 to supply cryogenic fluid 20 through hollow interior 23
of barrel
14 14, out through plurality of openings 30 in distal portion 26 of barrel 14,
and onto
head 16 that in turn sparges cryogenic fluid 20 onto skin 12 quickly, evenly,
and
16 smoothly when head 16 is rolled on skin 12, and thereby tightening and
17 rejuvenating the skin 12
18 39 valve for regulating flow of cryogenic fluid
19 40 drum of head 16
42 web of head 16
21 44 mesh of drum 40 of head 16
22 46 soft porous material of web 42 of head 16 for contacting skin 12 in
rolling action
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1 48 proximal end of mesh 44 of drum 40 of head 16
2 50 distal end of mesh 44 of drum 40 of head 16
3 52 circumferential ring of proximal end 48 of mesh 44 of drum 40 of head 16
4 54 opening in distal end 50 of mesh 44 of drum 40 of head 16
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1 6. Detailed description of an embodiment.
2 A. General.
3 Referring now to the figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts,
and
4 particularly to FIGURE 1, a diagrammatic perspective view of the cryogenic
applicator
utilized by an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the
cryogenic applicator
6 utilized by the method of an embodiment of the present invention is shown
generally at 10
7 for rejuvenating and tightening human skin 12.
8 B. Overall Configuration of the cryogenic applicator 10.
9 The overall configuration of the cryogenic applicator 10 can best be seen in
FIGURE 2, which is an enlarged diagrammatic perspective view of the cryogenic
11 applicator utilized by an embodiment of the method of the present invention
identified by
12 ARROW 2 in FIGURE 1, and as such, will be discussed in conjunction
therewith.
13 The cryogenic applicator 10 comprises a barrel 14, a head 16, and a
cryogenic
14 interface 18.
The barrel 14 is hand-held, and is provided with a flow-control dial 15.
16 The head 16 is rotatably mounted to the barrel 14.
17 The cryogenic interface 18 is for fluidly connecting the barrel 14 to a
source 22 of a
18 biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid 20 to supply the cryogenic fluid 20
through the
19 barrel 14 to the head 16 that in turn sparges the biocompatible non-toxic
cryogenic fluid 20
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1 onto the skin 12 quickly, evenly, and smoothly when the head 16 is rolled on
the skin 12,
2 and thereby tightening and rejuvenating the skin 12.
3 The valve 39, or similar apparatus for controlling flow of the cryogenic
liquid can
4 be arranged, as is well known in the art, at the source 22, in the interface
18, or at the barrel
14. The valve 39, or similar apparatus, is controllable by the operator by way
of the dial 15
6 using ways also well known in the art.
7 The cryogenic applicator 10 provides a simple, effective way for wrinkle,
lesion,
8 and discoloration reduction or elimination thereof from the skin 12.
Applicant achieves
9 tightening and rejuvenation of the skin 12 by using a quick, smooth, and
even application
of the cryogenic fluid 20, e.g., liquid nitrogen or other suitable
biocompatible non-toxic
11 cryogenic liquid, over one or more substantial surfaced areas of a person's
skin 12.
12 Typically, the areas of the skin 12 treated include the forehead, the
temples, the
13 nose, the cheeks, around the eyes, the cheeks, the chin, the neck, the
backs of the hands,
14 and/or other suitable areas for a dramatically shorter time period,
typically in the order of
hundredths or tenths of a second, so that the cryogenic liquid 20 quickly
evaporates,
16 wrinkles, lesions, and discolorations are reduced or eliminated, and the
skin 12 is tightened
17 and rejuvenated.
18 These things happen while the person experiences mild exhilaration. The
treatment
19 is painless, eliminating a need for local anesthetic, in fact it is a
pleasurable experience. It
affects only the epidermal layer(s) of the skin 12 because the cryogenic
liquid 12 is applied
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1 at its boiling temperature for a very short length of time, so that damage
to the epidermal
2 layer does not occur.
3 With proper operation of the cryogenic applicator 10, heat of the skin 12
very
4 quickly evaporates the cryogenic liquid 20 in at the most one to two seconds
to treat
wrinkles, blemishes, and/or discolorations without adversely affecting the
skin 12. Waste
6 of the biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic liquid 20 is avoided eliminating a
need for
7 expensive facilities for storage thereof. The cryogenic applicator 10 is
economical to
8 manufacture, reliable, durable, easy and safe to use, refined in appearance,
easy to clean,
9 and easy to maintain.
C. Specific configuration of the barrel 14, the head 16, and the cryogenic
11 interface 18.
12 The specific configuration of the barrel 14, the head 16, and the cryogenic
interface
13 18 can best be seen in FIGURES 3-6, which are, respectively, an enlarged
diagrammatic
14 cross sectional view taken along LINE 3-3 in FIGURE 2, an enlarged
diagrammatic cross
sectional view of the area generally enclosed by the dotted curve identified
by ARROW 4
16 in FIGURE 3, an enlarged diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area
generally
17 enclosed by the dotted curve identified by ARROW 5 in FIGURE 3, and an
enlarged
18 diagrammatic cross sectional view of the area generally enclosed by the
dotted curve
19 identified by ARROW 6 in FIGURE 3, and as such, will be discussed with
reference
thereto.
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1 The barrel 14 is slender, elongated, and has a hollow interior 23, a
proximal portion
2 24, and a distal portion 26.
3 The hollow interior 23 of the barrel 14 is for directing the biocompatible
non-toxic
4 cryogenic liquid 20 to the head 16.
The proximal portion 24 of the barrel 14 functions as a handle 28 for being
hand-
6 held.
7 The distal portion 26 of the barrel 14 has a plurality of openings 30
extending
8 radially therethrough, spaced axially therealong, and communicating with the
hollow
9 interior 23 of the barrel 14 for passing the biocompatible non-toxic
cryogenic liquid 20 to
the head 16.
11 The source of the cryogenic fluid 20 could be arranged optionally in the
barrel 14.
12 By this expedient, the interface (supply tube) 18 could be eliminated. The
barrel 14 could
13 be thinner and ergonomically shaped, being thinner or wider in its middle.
The barrel 14
14 should heft like a knife handle.
As shown in FIGURE 4, the barrel 14 further has a circumferential groove 32
16 extending completely therearound and being located where the proximal
portion 24 of the
17 barrel 14 meets the distal portion 26 of the barrel 14.
18 As shown in FIGURE 5, the distal portion 26 of the barrel 14 terminates in
an end
19 34. The end 34 of the distal portion 26 of the barrel 14 is closed, and has
a tit 36 extending
axially outwardly therefrom.
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1 Returning now to FIGURE 3, the cryogenic interface 18 is a flexible tube 38
2 fluidly communicating with the proximal portion 24 of the barrel 14 and for
fluidly
3 communicating with the source 22 of the cryogenic fluid 20 to supply the
cryogenic fluid
4 20 through the hollow interior 23 of the barrel 14, out through the
plurality of openings 30
in the distal portion 26 of the barrel 14, and onto the head 16 (FIG. 6) that
in turn sparges
6 the cryogenic fluid 20 onto the skin 12 quickly, evenly, and smoothly when
the head 16 is
7 rolled on the skin 12, and thereby tightening and rejuvenating the skin 12.
8 As shown in FIGURE 6, the head 16 comprises a drum 40 and a web 42.
9 The drum 40 of the head 16 is open surfaced, such as a mesh 44, and is
generally
cylindrically-shaped and rotatably mounted to the distal portion 26 of the
barrel 14.
11 The web 42 of the head 16 is a soft porous material 46, such as cotton or
fabric,
12 woven or non-woven, overlying the mesh 44 of the drum 40 of the head 16 and
affixed
13 thereto for contacting the skin 12 in a rolling action. The mesh 44 can be
replaceably
14 disposable like a sock.
The mesh 44 of the drum 40 of the head 16 provides support for the soft porous
16 material 46 of the web 42 of the head 16, while allowing the cryogenic
fluid 20 passing
17 through the plurality of openings 30 in the distal portion 26 of the barrel
14 to pass
18 therethrough and into the soft porous material 46 of the web 42 of the head
16 that in turn
19 sparges the cryogenic fluid 20 onto the skin 12 quickly, evenly, and
smoothly when the
head 16 is rolled on the skin 12, and thereby tightening and rejuvenating the
skin 12.
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1 The mesh 44 of the drum 40 of the head 16 has a proximal end 48 (FIG. 4) and
a
2 distal end 50 (FIG. 5).
3 As shown in FIGURE 4, the proximal end 48 of the mesh 44 of the drum 40 of
the
4 head 16 is formed into a circumferential ring 52 rotatably engaging in the
circumferential
groove 32 in the barrel 14, and as shown in FIGURE 5, the distal end 50 of the
mesh 44 of
6 the drum 40 of the head 16 has an opening 54 therein rotatably receiving the
tit 36 on the
7 end 34 of the distal portion 26 of the barrel 14 for journaling and allowing
the head 16 to
8 rotate axially relative to the barrel 14.
9 It is to be understood that the positioning of the opening 54 and the tit 36
can be
reversed without departing from the spirit of an embodiment of the present
invention.
11 D. Method for tightening and rejuvenating the skin 12 utilizing the
cryogenic
12 applicator 10.
13 The method for tightening and rejuvenating the skin 12 utilizing the
cryogenic
14 applicator 10 can best be seen FIGURES 7A-7B, which are a flowchart of the
method of
an embodiment of the present invention, and as such, will be discussed with
reference
16 thereto.
17 STEP 1: Hold the handle 28 of the barrel 14 in a hand. The dial 15 controls
flow of
18 the cryogenic fluid 20 using the valve 39.
19 STEP 2: Fluidly communicate the barrel 14 with the source 22 of the
cryogenic fluid
20 to supply the cryogenic fluid 20 through the interior 23 of the barrel 14,
21 out through the plurality of openings 30 in the distal portion 26 of the
barrel
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1 14, and onto the head 16. Control flow of the cryogenic material (if
2 necessary) by way of the dial 15.
3 STEP 3: Roll the head 16 quickly, smoothly, and evenly over the skin 12
being
4 treated for a period of time of a different magnitude from typical
procedures, such as "burning" of warts, more in the order of hundredths or
6 tenths of a second.
7 STEP 4: Sparge the biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic fluid 20 onto the skin
12
8 quickly, evenly, and smoothly when the head 16 is rolled on the skin 12, and
9 thereby tightening and rejuvenate the skin 12.
The person experiences a mild tingling and exhilarating feeling. Wrinkles,
11 blemishes, and discolorations are reduced or eliminated. The skin 12 is
stimulated and
12 rejuvenated. The old look younger, the young look better, all look happier,
their skin 12
13 looks refreshed, and they feel buoyant. So their usual reaction is to
rejoice.
14 It is to be understood that some other biocompatible non-toxic cryogenic
fluid 20
could be used in place of the liquid nitrogen, and the form of the handle 28
of the proximal
16 portion 24 of the barrel 14 could be modified. Connection with the supply
22 of the
17 cryogenic fluid 20 and its control 15 and valve 39 could take different
forms. Methods of
18 connecting the head 16 mechanically to the barrel 14 for axial rotation
thereabout may
19 vary. The materials of the barrel 14 and the head 16 could be either metal,
plastic, or some
combination thereof, and the cotton of the soft porous material 46 might be
replaced
21 typically by a non-woven fabric or any other suitable soft porous material.
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I E. Impression.
2 It will be understood that each of the elements described above or two or
more
3 together may also find a useful application in other types of constructions
differing from
4 the types described above.
Although an embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and
6 described as embodied in a method for tightening and rejuvenating skin
utilizing a
7 cryogenic applicator, however, it is not limited to the details shown
because it will be
8 understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions, and changes
in the forms
9 and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those
skilled in the art
without departing from the spirit of an embodiment of the present invention.
11 Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of an
12 embodiment of the present invention that others can by applying current
knowledge readily
13 adapt it for various applications without omitting features that from the
standpoint of prior
14 art fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of
an embodiment of
the present invention.
