Patent ID: 9504814
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A61M

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for applying a tattoo or permanent make-up, comprising: a handpiece having a rotary drive, a detachable needle holding module connected to one end of said handpiece, the detachable needle holding module being disposed on one end of the handpiece and the detachable needle holding module is connected directly to an end portion of the handpiece, said detachable needle holding module including therein a needle shaft, a needle guide having an opening, and a needle disposed in said needle shaft and supported for movement in said needle guide and extending through a needle nozzle opening in the detachable needle holding module, and a drive mechanism including at least one structural member coupled to said needle shaft to achieve reciprocating movements of said needle, said at least one structural member including a coupler for coupling the rotary drive to said needle shaft, wherein said coupler comprises a conversion mechanism to convert a rotary drive motion generated by said rotary drive into linear motion of said needle shaft, a portion of the conversion mechanism being disposed in the handpiece and another portion of the conversion mechanism being attached to said detachable needle holding module, said detachable needle holding module and said another portion of the conversion mechanism defining a disposable module and being structured and arranged to be simultaneously removable together in unison from said handpiece, wherein the coupler further comprises a first coupling member and a second coupling member, wherein the second coupling member is coupled to the rotary drive, and wherein the first coupling member is pressed against a surface of the second coupling member by a retaining element.