Abstract:
A skin resurfacing device for peeling the outermost layer of the skin for renewing the skin surface and repairing skin damage including a housing, a skin sensor, and a skin treater. The skin treater consists of an abrasive tip, a first end, a transparent portion, a first filter, and a second end, all of which are detachable and replaceable. The skin treater is connected to a vacuum source by a tubular hose. The vacuum provides both closeness of contact between the abrasive tip and the user&#39;s skin and the suctioning of skin debris peeled off. The skin treater, especially the abrasive tip are made with common material and mass production process so that they are disposable and economic.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a skin resurfacing device. More particularly, this invention relates to a skin resurfacing device that peels the outermost layers of skin to provide a refreshed skin surface. 
   Dermabrasion is the process of removing skin blemishes or imperfections. By removing the outermost layer of skin, pigment lesions, skin discoloration, aging spots, lines, and other skin blemishes or imperfections can be treated and often repaired. 
   One technique in dermabrasion is to abrade the skin surface using compressed air, and a powdered, abrasive substance, typically microcrystals of quartz, metal, or aluminum oxide, then removing the abrasive substance and loosened skin tissue using a vacuum. The vacuum, through a treatment tool, collects skin debris after the crystals abrade the epidermis. 
   Another technique in dermabrasion is permanently attaching an abrasive material to the treatment tip, instead of a powdered substance. Often the permanently attached abrasive materials are diamonds, aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxide, or metal nitrade. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,241,739 and 6,500,183). A disadvantage of this technique is when skin debris is held and remains between abrasive particles, it is very difficult to remove the debris completely. Remaining debris may cause serious medical problems such as bacteria infection. Remaining debris also degrade abrasion performance. Disadvantages of the prior art include the need for these techniques to be typically administered in medical facilities and requiring commercial means for sterilization and cleaning of the abrasive tip. Thus, these techniques of dermabrasion are often very expensive. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention contrives to solve the disadvantage of the prior art. 
   An objective of the invention is to provide a skin resurfacing device designed for both domestic and professional use that is inexpensive and simple to use. Another objective of the invention is to provide a disposable and replaceable skin resurfacing device so there is either no need or minimum need to sanitize or clean the abrasive tip that contacts and peels the skin. Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a double filtering system that is visible to the user to insure proper functioning of the skin resurfacing device. 
   To achieve the above objectives, a device for skin resurfacing comprises a skin treater, and a vacuum source connected to the skin treater. The skin treater comprises a hollow tube having a first end, a second end, an abrasive tip detachably fixed on the first end, a first filter that is provided inside the tube between the first end and the second end where the vacuum source is connected to the second end. The hollow tube of the skin treater has a transparent portion so that the filter is visible outside. The abrasive tip has abrasive particles. In another embodiment of the skin treater, the parts are not detachable, but the entire skin treater is disposable. 
   The abrasive particles of the abrasive tip consist of aluminum oxide crystals, silicon carbide crystals, or silicon oxide crystals having a predetermined range of size from about sixty (60) μ to about one hundred fifty (150) μ. The abrasive tip is made by pressure molding and heat treating the abrasive particles. The abrasive tip has a flat annular portion that contacts the skin of a user, and wherein a suction hole is provided in the annular portion through which air is sucked. The abrasive tip is coated with liquid ceramic material that is colored with different colors according to the different size of abrasive crystals. In another embodiment of the abrasive tip, the abrasive tip has a roller that protrudes from the flat annular portion so the roller contacts and rolls on the skin of the user. 
   The skin resurfacing device has a skin sensor that measures the oiliness of the skin of a user. The intensity of the vacuum provided by the vacuum source is automatically controlled according to the measured oiliness by the skin sensor or manually controlled by the user. The skin resurfacing device has a timer that controls the operation time of the device. 
   There is also a second filter between the skin treater and the vacuum source that includes a container that with an open end, a lid that plugs the open end, an inlet pipe passing through the lid, an outlet pipe passing through the lid, and a filter element that is fixed to the outlet pipe. The container is detachable from the lid. 
   The advantages of the present invention are: (1) a skin resurfacing device of the present invention is suitable for mass production at low cost; (2) a skin resurfacing device that is inexpensive in relation to other skin resurfacing devices; (3) the skin resurfacing device that is made for both personal and professional use; (4) the skin resurfacing device that has a double filtering system filters the skin debris with greater efficiency; (5) a skin treater of the skin resurfacing device that has detachable parts for ease of disposal, replacement, and cleanliness; and (6) a skin treater that provides a replaceable and disposable abrasive tip. 
   Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the fuller understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description and appended claims. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a skin resurfacing device according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a skin treater; 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along the line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a rear view of the skin resurfacing device; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a second filter; 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of the skin resurfacing process; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a skin treater and abrasive tip; and 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the an abrasive tip with a roller. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a skin resurfacing device  10  which has a housing  12 , a skin sensor  22 , and a skin treater  34 . The housing  12  comprises an ON/OFF switch  14 , a skin sensor starting button  16  to measure the level of skin oiliness, a skin peeling start button  18  to begin the skin peeling process, and a pressure controller button  20  for controlling the intensity of the peeling pressure and vacuum pressure. The skin sensor  22  is connected to the housing  12  by an electrical wire  24 . Skin sensor electrodes  26  that measure the oiliness of the skin are provided on the skin sensor  22  on the opposite end of the electrical wire  24 . The skin sensor  22  can be placed in the skin sensor slot  28  when the skin sensor  22  is not in use. The skin resurfacing device  10  adjusts the pressure applied in the peeling process based on the oiliness of skin measured by the skin sensor  22 . The intensity of the peeling pressure and vacuum pressure is also controllable with the pressure controller button  20  and the amount of intensity is indicated by the pressure indicator  30 . The LED timer  32  times each individual skin resurfacing session. When the device  10  is turned on, the timer is reset for a time that is usually from 15 to 20 minutes. 
   A skin treater  34  has a hollow tube  35  having a first end  38 , a second end  42 , an abrasive tip  36  detachably fixed on the first end  38 , and a first filter  64  provided between the first end  38  and the second end  42 . The skin treater  34  is connected to a vacuum source inside the housing  12  by a tubular hose  44  at the second end  42 . The strength of vacuum is displayed by the LED pressure indicator  30 . The user can manually adjust the vacuum strength that has been automatically set by the device  10 . The contact strength of the skin treater  34  on the skin of the user follows the vacuum strength. When the vacuum is strong, the abrasive tip  36  adhere to the skin more tight. After the timer is off, the device continues to suck air for about 10 seconds so that debris within the skin treater  34  is removed. 
     FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the skin treater  34 . The hollow tube  35  includes an abrasive tip  36 , a first tube  39 , a transparent portion  40 , and a second tube  43 . The first filter  34  is located inside the transparent portion  40 . The abrasive tip  36 , first tube  39 , transparent portion  40 , first filter  64 , and second tube  43  are all detachable for ease of cleaning and replacement. The transparent portion  40  of the skin treater  34  allows the first filter  40  to be visible to the user. Thus, the user is able to see and confirm that the skin resurfacing device  10  is functioning properly. The transparent portion  40  that allows visibility of the first filter  40  also serves to inform the user when the skin treater  34  and all the comprising parts need replacement, either individually or as a whole. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3  the abrasive tip  36  has a flat annular portion  60  that contacts the skin of the user. The abrasive tip  36  also has a suction hole  62  in the annular portion  60  where air is suctioned in causing skin particles peeled by the abrasive tip  36  to be suctioned in as well. Once the abrasive tip  36 , which is made of aluminum oxide or silica oxide crystals between the predetermined range of sixty (60) μ to about one hundred fifty (150) μ, peels the outer layer of the skin, it is suctioned through the suction hole  62  as the skin treater  34  is moved along the skin in a direction consistent with the muscles of the skin. The variance in range of the crystals on the abrasive tip produce different levels of abrasion, with the larger particles peeling skin more rapidly. The abrasive tips are color-coordinated according to the predetermined range and are easily detachable and replaceable. The abrasive tip is made by pressure molding a mixture of aluminum oxide powder, silicon oxide (SiO 2 ), and Fe 2 O 3 , etc. and heat treating the molded mixture at about 2000 degree Celsius to solidify the mixture. The solidified mixture has a little porosity. However, it is desirable to remove any porosity in order not to degrade suction performance of the skin treater. Liquid ceramic material is coated on the surface of the abrasive tip to seal pores. The liquid ceramic material is colored with a different color for a different size of abrasive crystals. Thus the color of the coating indicates abrasive particle size. Skin resurfacing operation is enhanced by choosing different abrasive size for different skin conditions. 
   Sanitary concerns, such as skin debris lodged in and between the crystals are reduced or eliminated because the abrasive tip  36  is very easily changed. Particles and skin debris picked up by the vacuum through the suction hole  62  pass along the first tube  39  to the transparent portion  40  that contains the first filter  64 . The first filter  40  filters the debris so mostly air is passed to the second tube  43 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the back of the housing  12  where the electrical wire  24  and the tubular hose  44  are connected. A rear recess  66  is provided in the back of the housing  12  to hold the second filter  46 . The second filter  46  is provided between the skin treater  34  and the vacuum source. 
     FIG. 5  shows the second filter  46  comprising a lid  48  that is fixed to the housing  12 . The lid  48  contains two openings, a first opening  50  and a second opening  52 . An inlet hose  72  runs through the first opening  50 . An outlet tube  54  from the vacuum source runs through the second opening  52 . The outlet tube  54  contains a filter element  56  that acts as a second line of filtering after the first filter  64 . A container  58  with an open end  59  is provided. The open end  59  is plugged by the lid  48 . The container  58  is detachably attached to the lid  48  and encloses the inlet hose  72  and the outlet tube  54 . Any remaining debris and mostly air pass from the second tube  43  are routed into the first opening  50  of the lid  48  through the inlet tube  72  and then falls to the bottom of the container  58  due to gravity. The vacuum source provides a vacuuming effect that collects skin debris by suctioning skin peeled by the abrasive tip  36 . The vacuum source  68  also increases the closeness of contact between the abrasive tip  36  and the user&#39;s skin due to the flow of air through the skin treater  34 . The outlet pipe  54  powered by the vacuum source picks up the smaller debris. Any debris that is picked up by the outlet pipe  54  is filtered by the filter element  56  so only air flows past the filter element  56 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a block diagram of the skin resurfacing process. To operate the skin resurfacing device  10 , the ON/OFF switch  14  activates the power supply  70 . The skin sensor  22 , with skin sensor electrodes  26  at the end, measures the oiliness of the user&#39;s skin. The controller  74  adjusts vacuum pressure of the skin peeling process. The pressure is automatically set at a constant level by the controller based on the measurement of oiliness displayed on the pressure indicator  20 . The user is also able to adjust the pressure with the pressure controller button  20  according to the desired pressure at either constant or variable levels. The skin treated  34  is connected to the vacuum source  68  that is also adjusted by the controller  74 . The skin treater  34  is disposable. 
     FIG. 7  shows a skin treater  34  having an abrasive tip  36  having a different shape. Also the skin treater  34  has a transparent hollow tube  35 . 
     FIG. 8  shows an abrasive tip that is similar to the abrasive tip  36  but further includes a roller  76  that protrudes from the flat annular portion so that the roller  76  contacts and rolls on the skin of a user. The roller  76  is rotationally attached to the wall of the abrasive tip  36  with a rotation axis  78 . The roller  76  has a role of pressing the portion of the skin that is resurfaced by the skin resurfacing device  10 . 
   While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.