GB2390022A

GB2390022A - Hand-held iontophoresis device for application to skin pre-treated with a medicament or cosmetic

Info

Publication number: GB2390022A
Application number: GB0214855A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kieron Loy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-27
Filing date: 2002-06-27
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Also published as: GB0214855D0

Abstract

The hand-held iontophoresis device comprises a body housing part forming a handle and carrying a first electrode 8, and a treatment tip carrying a second electrode 12, the electrodes separated by an insulating gasket 14. The electrodes carry a low DC voltage, preferably from a battery cell 20 between the user's hand that grasps the device and the treatment site on the user's skin. Preferably an indicator lamp 18 is lit when the circuit between the electrodes is completed, and a current limiting resistor 24 may be provided. The tip electrode 12 may be made of stainless steel. The handle electrode 8 (or two part housing 8, 10 as shown in figure 2 ) may be ABS plastic coated with a conductor or the plastic may be impregnated with metal to render its surface conducting.

Description

1/4 TITLE:

i. Handheld iontophoretic skin care device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

2. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates to a handheld iontophoretic skin care device for the use of enhancing the penetration process of over the counter cosmetic creams, gels 8 serums, for example anti-wrinkle, vitamin, moisturizer, antioxidant and medicated creams.

3. Description of the Prior Art.

Iontophoresis may be defined as the non-evasive transdermal delivery of a medicine/chemicals achieved by placing a medicine (in ionic form) on a carrier or applied directly upon subject. The electrodes provide an electric current through the skin. The electric current causes a migration of the ionic medicine through the skin and diffusion into the blood stream. This process has become an increasingly popular and effective method of the delivery of pharmaceuticals.

There are numerous instances where for cosmetic reasons it is desired to apply a cream, gel, serum or other treatment substance to the skin for penetration through the epidermis and into the dermis. Such instances are for example the application onto the skin of vitamin, medicated & moisturising creams to supplement, promote and assist healing, maintenance and condition of the skin and skins appearance.

An improved apparatus has now been devised for such purposes.

According to the present invention there is provided an iontophoretic device comprising a body of two halves containing a low-tension battery-

energised D.C. power source and sheathed tip retained in an insulating gasket. The body halve or halves are the negative electrode/s, cathode operatively connected to the negative pole of said source: and the sheathed tip is the positive electrode, anode operatively connected to the positive pole of said source.

It is preferred that the device body is fabricated from plastic such as ABS and one or both halves coated or metal impregnated rendering it/them electrically conductive.

2/4 It is also preferred that said sheathed tip is formed from a hard corrosion-

resistant metal, for example stainless steel rendering it electrically conductive and to facilitate the effective cleaning and sterilization of the tip e.g. by use of an antiseptic, boiling water or other solvent solution.

The current operatively applied through said insulated tip is preferably less than 1 ma and may be around 0.5 ma to 0.9 ma.

The D.C. power source may include a low voltage DC battery for providing a source of electric current and a circuit mounted on a printed circuit board for controlling the power supply and generating the iontophoretic current Preferably the device will include an indicator light LED and/or other method, for example an audible alarm or vibratory device, to show when current is flowing through the electrode circuit.

The device may include a control switch for on/off functions or high and low settings conveniently located on the device body.

Also, the device may include 2 other indicator lights LED's to show when the said DC battery is full or empty.

4. The invention will now be further described in a specific embodiment, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig is a front view of the present invention; Fig 2 is a Side View of the of the present invention; Fig 3 is the Back View of the present invention; Fig 4 is a front Sectional View of the present invention illustrating its circuitry and electrodes.

The iontophoretic device includes a body of two halves 8 and 10 (Figure 2) conveniently of moulded plastic and coated or impregnated rendering it electrically conductive and internally contains the low-tension battery-

energised DC power source 20 (Figure 4). Connected into the top of the body is the sheathed tip 12 (Figure 1, 2 & 4), which is formed from a hard corrosion-resistant metal, for example stainless steel rendering it electrically conductive. The sheathed tip is insulated from the body halves

3/4 by a gasket 14 (Figure 1, 2 & 4) through which the tip is push & retained.

The gasket may be fabricated of moulded plastic, silicone or rubber The sheathed tip 12 (Figure 1, 2 & 4), is connected to the positive pole of the low voltage DC battery 20 (Figure 4), so that the positive pole of the battery 20 (Figure 4) makes contact with the user when used for enhanced infusion of cream, gel or serum treatment of the skin.

The negative pole of the battery 20 (Figure 4) is connected to the interior surface of the body halve/e 8 and/or 10, which is formed of ABS and coated or impregnated rendering it electrically conductive so that the negative pole of the battery 20 (Figure 4) makes contact with the users hand when holding the device for use.

Referring now to Figure 2, a fixing arrangement/s such as ultrasonic welding, gluing or screws couples together, the body halves 8 and 10, which both contain the low-tension battery energised DC power source 20 (Figure 4) and retains the insulating gasket 14.

The low tension battery energised DC power source 20 (Figure 4) contains a low voltage battery to which electrode/s 8 and/or 10 are connected and to which electrode 12 are connected through a circuit 22 (Figure 4) mounted on a printed circuit board. The circuit will be further described hereafter. Referring now to Figure 4, a resistor 24 is connected in series between negative pole of battery 20 and the electrode body halve/e 8 and/or 10, which is formed of ABS and coated or impregnated rendering it electrically conductive, and said connection also passes in series through a indictor light, an L.E.D. 18 which is mounted through the wall of the electrode body halve 10 so that it is visible to the user when in use.

The positive pole of battery 20 is connected to the sheathed tip 12 which is formed from a hard corrosion-resistant metal, for example stainless steel rendering it electrically conductive so that the positive pole of the battery 20 makes contact with the users skin when in use and the exposed portion of the sheathed tip comes into conta* with users skin.

Preferably resistor 24 has a value so that the current applied at the sheathed tip 12 is less than alma and may be around 0.5 - O.9ma, example value of around 0.7ma.

r 4/4 The current level is such that there is no risk of damaging the skin but it is found that application of the sheathed tip 14 to the skin is effective in enhancing the penetration process of over the counter cosmetic creams, gels & serums transdermally iontophoretically.

Accordingly, the present invention enables the user to simply and conveniently, self administer infusion treatment to localised regions of the skin by holding the iontophoretic device in one hand and placing the insulated tip on the skin region pre-treated with cream, gel or serum thus automatically completing the electrical circuit through the users body. The indicating light L.E.D. 18 will illuminate, thus alerting the user the circuit has been completed. Application is usually effective if continued for around 10 - 60 seconds per 25mm2 of treatment area.

The sheathed tip 12 (Figure 1, 2 & 4) illustrated is "T" tubular shaped with ball nose forms on both ends of the exposed operational surface. The top of the "T" tubular shape provides the user with a line contact of approximately 20mm to 25mm for larger surfaces regions of the skin being treated & the ball nose ends provides the user with point contact for smaller targeted surface regions of the skin being treated.

The sheathed tip 12 (Figure 1, 2 4) may be constructed in other shapes other than the illustrated "T" tubular shape to accommodate other regions of the skins surface, for example ball shaped, conical shaped, flat spade shaped or ball point shaped.

Claims

1/1 CLAIMS.

1. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device for the use of enhancing the penetration process of over the counter cosmetic skin care creams, gels and serums non-evasively and self-administered comprising: An electrode body halve/e operatively connected to the negative pole of the low voltage DC power source to be held by the user and sheathed tip operatively connected to the positive pole of said power source to be placed on the users skin region pre-treated with an over the counter cosmetic skin care cream, gel or serum.

2. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device as in claim 1 wherein said electrode body halve/e is formed from ABS plastic and coated or impregnated or formed from corrosion resistant metal, the electrode being shaped to be held in users hand for electrical contact.

3. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device as in claim 1 wherein sheathed tip electrode is formed from a hard corrosion-resistant metal, for example stainless steel.

4. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device as in any proceeding claim includes an indicator light to show when current is flowing through the electric circuit.

5. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device as in any proceeding claim wherein the DC power source incorporates an audible alarm powered from a battery carried in the DC power source.

6. A handheld iontophoretic skin care device as in any proceeding claim wherein the DC power source incorporates a vibratory device powered from a battery carried in the DC power source.