GB2299759A - Vacuum apparatus for skin treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus, which is for use upon skin having a dimpled apppearance due to subcutaneous adipose tissue 2, comprises a main body portion 16 connected to a vacuum source (22) and a nozzle 18 having a continuous lip portion 20 which, in use, contacts an area 4 of the skin containing at least one hollow or dimple 12. On application of vacuum to the nozzle in contact with such area, a subcutaneous fibrous tie or septum 10 passing through the tissue at the site of the dimple is put under tension to stretch it, resulting in its permanent elongation. The tie or septum is thus rendered of sufficient length not to cause a dimple to form at such site. The lip portion of the nozzle may define a contact zone encompassing the site of a single septum or of a plurality of septa.

Description

APPARATUS FOR COSMETIC USE The invention is concerned with apparatus for use to improve the appearance of human skin.

A great deal of attention has been given to the undesirably dimpled appearance of human skin in areas where, for one reason or another, the volume of the adipose tissues increases. The dimpling phenomenon may be most clearly observable in the region of thighs and hips and is generally referred to as being caused by "cellulite".

Various techniques have been developed to deal with the problem of cellulite formation and the undesirable appearance of the skin. In one technique, liposuction, fatty tissues are removed from beneath the dermis by a surgical suction method. Removal of fatty tissue by lipo-sculpturing has also been suggested. However, it has been realised that the problem of appearance is not simply related to the presence of additional fat associated with an increase in the person's weight, but is related to the structure of the skin.

An alternative approach to the problem of improving the appearance of the skin has been suggested which is based on the principle that at the site of each "dimple visible in the affected skin area there is a fibrous tie or linking tissue lying substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the skin and securing the dermis/epidermis to the subcutaneous tissue. When the volume of the adipose tissue through which these ties pass increases, the presence of the ties becomes visibly apparent. It has therefore been suggested that a form of lipo-structuring should be used that involves cutting the subcutaneous ties with for example an ultrasonic probe which may be inserted beneath the skin to sever the ties without major intrusion into blood vessels, nerves or sweat glands.

Such remedies demand surgical techniques, and may often involve considerable discomfort for the patient.

It is an object of the invention to provide apparatus the use of which does not involve incisions in the skin in order to improve the appearance thereof.

The invention provides apparatus for use upon skin having a dimpled appearance due to the presence of subcutaneous adipose tissue, comprising a main body portion adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, and a nozzle having an at least substantially continuous lip portion adapted in use to be in contact with an area of the skin containing at least one hollowed area or dimple, the construction and arrangement being such that, on application of vacuum to the nozzle in contact with the dimpled area, a subcutaneous fibrous tie or septum passing through the adipose tissue is put under tension to cause stretching thereof, resulting in permanent elongation.

The result of the use of the apparatus according to the invention is that skin which has a dimpled appearance due to the increase in volume of the adipose tissue with inelastic fibrous ties passing therethrough may have its appearance noticeably improved by the elongation of the fibrous ties by stretching, so that the disparity between the length of the tie and the thickness of the layer of adipose tissue is greatly reduced or eliminated.

There will now be described, with reference to the drawings, use of apparatus according to the invention.

It will be understood that the description is given by way of example and not by way of limitation.

In the drawings: Figures 1 and 2 respectively show cross-sectional views of normal and "cellulite" skin structure; Figure 3 shows d first example of an apparatus according to the invention; Figure 4 shows a second example; Figure 5 shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in use; and Figure 6 illustrates the effect of said use upon fibrous ties.

Figure 1 shows a normal skin construction comprising subcutaneous adipose tissue 2 between an outer dermal layer 4 and a lower layer 6 that acts as a bond with muscular structure 8 beneath. Linking the layers 4 and 6 are a plurality of subcutaneous fibrous ties 10 which may be in the form of cords or septa. In normal skin conditions, the length a of the ties 10 is the same as that of the depth of the adipose tissue 2 and therefore there is no distortion of the outer layer 4 which is visually completely smooth.

However, as shown in Figure 2, where there is a weight gain of the person concerned, the volume of the adipose tissue increases. In cases where the ties 10 are not elastic and therefore do not naturally stretch, they cause distortion of the outer layer 4, resulting in the formation of unsightly hollows or dimples 12.

Figure 3 illustrates apparatus 14 adapted to stretch the ties 10 so as to lengthen them by an amount necessary to prevent the above mentioned distortion.

The apparatus comprises a main body portion 16 having a nozzle 18, lip portions 20 of which are adapted to surround at least one dimple 12. Figure 4 shows a second example of apparatus 14' in which the nozzle 18' is large enough to cover more than one dimple 12. A suction source 22 is provided to bring about a partial vacuum within the nozzle area. As the levei of vacuum is increased, so the layer 4 is drawn outwards of the layer 2 as shown in Figure 5 and the tie 10 is stretched. This stretching causes permanent elongation of the tie by an amount x and the dimple 12 is removed.

Figure 6 shows the skin construction after use of the apparatus. The overall length of the tie is now a + x, as is the depth of the adipose tissue 2 present, and the appearance of the skin layer 4 is smooth again.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. Apparatus for use upon skin having a dimpled appearance due to the presence of subcutaneous adipose tissue, comprising a main body portion adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, and a nozzle having an at least substantially continuous lip portion adapted in use to be in contact with an area of the skin containing at least one hollowed area or dimple, the construction and arrangement being such that, on application of vacuum to the nozzle in contact with the dimpled area, a subcutaneous fibrous tie or septum passing through the adipose tissue is put under tension to cause stretching thereof, resulting in permanent elongation.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is arranged to define a partially evacuated chamber, said lip portions defining a contact zone suitable to encompass the site of a single tie or septum.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is arranged to define a partially evacuated chamber, said lip portions defining a contact zone suitable to encompass the site of a plurality of ties or septa.

4. Stretching apparatus for use in the elongatinof fibrous tie or septa in the reduction of dimpling in skin, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

4. Apparatus for use in the reduction of dimpling in skin constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. Stretching apparatus when used upon skin having a dimpled appearance due to the presence of subcutaneous adipose tissue and adapted to cause elongation of a subcutaneous fibrous tie or septum passing through said tissue, said apparatus comprising a main body portion adapted to be connected to a vacuum source, and a nozzle having an at least substantially continuous lip portion adapted in use to be in contact with an area of the skin containing at least one hollowed area or dimple indicating the site of said tie or septum, the construction and arrangement being such that, on application of vacuum to the nozzle in contact with the dimpled area, a tensioning force is applied lengthwise of the subcutaneous fibrous tie or septum to cause stretching thereof, resulting in permanent elongation.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle is arranged to define a partially evacuated chamber, said lip portions defining a contact zone suitable to encompass the site of a single tie or septum.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nozzle is arranged to define a partially evacuated champse > ,~said lip portions defining a contact zone suitable toiL encompass the site of a plurality of ties or septa.r.