Abstract:
This application teaches a novel ultrasonic skin care device with a built-in specimen containment and a dispensing mechanism to enable easy application of the specimen for hygiene operation of the device for skin beautification purpose. The device provides portability for usage anywhere and anytime and provides a flexibility of multi-purpose skin care treatment with a unique design of multiple specimen containment structures.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to ultrasonic technology. More particularly, it relates to a novel ultrasonic skin care device with a built-in specimen containment and a dispensing mechanism to enable easy application of the specimen for hygiene operation of the device for skin beautification purpose. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ultrasound method used for skin care and beautification has been long demonstrated and realized in commercial products and therapeutic devices. The following listed documents are the references which are most relevant to the subject matter of the present invention: (1) Y. Mitsu, “Skin beautification cosmetic system using iontophoresis device, ultrasonic facial stimulator, and cosmetic additive”, U.S. Pat. No. 7,427,273 B2 (2008); (2) M. Nunomura, and T. Oba, “Ultrasound applying skin care device”, Pub. No. US 2006/0149169 (2006); (3) U. Motoyoshi, “ULTRASONIC FACIAL AND BEAUTY APPLIANCE”, Pub. No. JP2007050204 (A) (2007); (4) H. Hisao, “ULTRASONIC FACE MASSAGER”, Pub. No. JP2001314473 (A) (2001); (5) J. Reed, and et al, “Ultrasound based cosmetic therapy method and apparatus”, Pub. No. US 2009/0318853 (2009); and (6) FaceMate  330  Ultrasonic Face and Skin Massager from Balkowitsch Enterprises (www.balkowitsch.com). 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a generic ultrasound skin care design that is commonly shared among all available products in market and in prior arts. The design includes a device body  1 , i.e. a handle or a casing. Inside of the device body is the electronics that controls the ultrasound transducer  3  and also provides other functions such as power control and charging. The design also contains a vibration plate  2 , which is usually metallic. The vibration plate  2 , while being used by a user, contacts the user&#39;s or somebody else&#39;s skin with its outside surface  4 . The vibration plate  2  is driven by an ultrasound transducer  3  at the inside surface at ultrasonic frequency. The vibration from the transducer  3  is transmitted to the skin or skin care products via the driven vibration of the plate  2 . The plate  2  and the transducer  3  are contained within the enclosed housing of the device body  1  for easy handling. 
     Using any of the existing devices, due to the design feature as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the user has to dispense the specimen from separate specimen container and applies the specimen either directly to the skin surface or to the surface  4  of plate  2  prior to the treatment on a target skin area. This process of application of skin care specimen from an external container limits the device&#39;s portability because it not only increases the complexity of the skin treatment process but also imposes hygiene concerns if such skin treatment process is to be performed not in a dedicated area, such as a beauty salon or a private room, but in a public area with frequent traffic, such as in office, public transportation or elevator. 
     The inventors realize that ultrasound assistance to skin care specimen effect on skin beautification process is beneficial. However, the effect of ultrasound requires enough application time of the ultrasound vibration on the treated skin area to achieve desired result. For daily beautification purpose, it is desired that such ultrasound treatment process can extend further into a typical user&#39;s day time other than the usual limited time skin care process in the morning or at night to benefit from the full scale that ultrasound treatment can offer. Prior arts devices, due to their limited portability and need of separate specimen containment, are unable to meet the stated treatment requirement because of the complexity of the application process. 
     What is desired is an ultrasonic skin care device with a built-in, replaceable specimen container and a dispensing mechanism to enable easy application of the specimen for skin beautification purpose. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of this invention to integrate a skin care specimen dispenser with an ultrasonic vibration generation device to produce a portable and hygiene solution to enable extended ultrasound treatment for daily skin beautification. Another object of this invention is to provide specimen dispenser designs that are feasible to manufacture and user friendly. 
     The present invention teaches an ultrasonic device with an integrated specimen dispensing system. The device includes a body, a vibrating plate coupled to the body, an ultrasonic generator coupled to the vibrating plate, and an integrated specimen dispensing system. The ultrasonic generator provides ultrasonic vibration in a frequency or frequencies between 20 KHz-25 MHz to the vibrating plate. The vibrating plate has a smooth surface suitable for massaging human skin. The ultrasonic generator and the integrated specimen dispenser are built in the device body. Specimen, such as liquid, gel, or cream, is dispensed to the plate&#39;s smooth surface via an outlet coupled to the plate. 
     The outlet can be a small hole or an array of small holes from which specimen is dispensed. The outlet can be either visible or receded from the vibrating plate&#39;s smooth surface such that it is hidden from view. 
     The integrated specimen dispensing system provides specimen to the vibrating plate&#39;s smooth surface via the above described outlet in the smooth surface. The dispensing system may have various implementations, including a refillable cartridge, a disposable cartridge prefilled with specimen, or one or more replaceable containers prefilled with specimen. The dispensing system includes a valve which is sealed when the device is in a non-operation mode or in a mode that a user does not intend to use specimen. The valve is opened or turned on when the user intends to dispense specimen. 
     In one embodiment where the dispensing system has a multiple identical compartments containing same or different specimen, each of the compartments can be selected and aligned to the outlet. Each of the compartments may include a valve which is sealed when the compartment is not selected by the user. 
     In another embodiment where the dispensing system has multiple cartridges, each of the cartridges can be selected and aligned to the outlet. Each of the cartridges may have a valve which is sealed when specimen in the cartridge is not selected by the user. 
     Yet in another embodiment, the outlet comprises a valve which is sealed when the device is in a non-operation mode or in a mode that a user does not intend to use specimen. It is open or turned on when the user intends to dispense specimen. 
     The dispensing system may include a piston which exerts pressure to specimen contained in a container. The piston can be moved by a force exerted from outside of the container or by a pre-existing force from the container. In an alternative implementation, the dispensing system may include a self-contracting porch which contains specimen and exerts pressure to specimen by the contracting force. 
     The device has a mechanical leverage structure on the body to control dispense of specimen. The mechanical leverage structure can be a button, a roller wheel, or a lever, with which the user can control the dispensing system manually. 
     In an alternative implementation, the device has an electrical interface on the body to control dispense of specimen. The electrical interface can be, but not limited to, a switch, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, or a proximity sensor. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram illustrating a generic ultrasound skin care design according to the prior arts; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of an ultrasonic device with an integrated specimen dispenser according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-section view of the ultrasonic device according to  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a first implementation of a specimen cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a second implementation of a specimen cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3C  is a schematic diagram illustrating a third implementation of a specimen cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3D  is a schematic diagram illustrating a forth implementation of a specimen cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotating design for cartridge selection and positioning in a multiple-cartridge implementation according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotating design for selection and positioning of cartridge compartment in a one-cartridge with multiple compartment implementation according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, designs or configurations, for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further implementations of the principles of the invention as described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a front view of an ultrasonic device with an integrated specimen dispenser according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a cross-section view of the ultrasonic device along the center line  30  in  FIG. 2A . The device include: (1) an enclosure body  11 ; (2) an ultrasound transmission plate  12  with its inner side coupled to the body  11  and with its outer side providing a smooth surface suitable for contacting human skin and transmitting ultrasound vibration to the target skin area; (3) an ultrasound generator  13 , enclosed in the body  11  and coupled to the transmission plate  12 , generating ultrasound vibration with a frequency or frequencies in a range of 20 kHz-25MHz; (4) a skin care specimen container and dispenser, which are collectively called as a specimen cartridge  14 ; (5) a specimen outlet  15  located in an upper longitudinal portion of the transmission plate  12 , through which skin care specimen is dispensed close to, or preferably directly on, the touching surface  121  of the transmission plate  12  that is to be in contact with the skin during skin treatment; (6) control electronics  16  comprising circuits and components, which controls ultrasonic vibration generation from the generator  13 , provides user interface, power supply and charging functions, and optionally, provides specimen dispensing from the cartridge  14 . The specimen cartridge  14  is located immediately behind the outlet  15 . The generator  13  is located behind a lower longitudinal portion of the transmission plate. The transmission plate&#39;s longitudinal measurement is approximately the same as the body&#39;s longitudinal measurement and the transmission plate&#39;s latitudinal measurement is approximately the same as the body&#39;s latitudinal measurement. The plate&#39;s longitudinal measurement is larger than its latitudinal measurement. In a typical rectangular configuration, the transmission plate&#39;s longitudinal and latitudinal measurements are identical to these of the body  11 . 
     The generator  13 , the cartridge  14 , and the control electronics  16  are all enclosed in the device body  11 . Only outlet  15  is shown on the device surface. In other words, except the smooth surface  121 , the outlet  15  is the only physical structure which is visible on the surface  121 . Alternatively, the outlet  15  can be receded from the smooth surface of the vibrating plate such that it is hidden from view. 
       FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 3C  are schematic diagrams illustrating the structure and function of the cartridge  14 . 
       FIG. 3A  shows a first embodiment of the cartridge  14  having an outside housing  17 , an outlet  152  and a piston  18  that moves in the direction towards or away from the interior wall of the housing  17  where the outlet  152  is located. Skin care specimen is stored in the space  20  enclosed by the interior wall and the piston  18 . When the piston  18  moves towards the interior wall where the outlet  152  is located and reduces the volume within the space  20 , specimen is dispensed through outlet  152  to outside the cartridge  14  due to pressure. Movement of the piston  18  is mechanical, which can be realized through pushing and pulling force from a button-type or a roller-type leverage structures existing externally on the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , and thus the specimen dispensing can be manually controlled by the user. Alternatively, the pushing and pulling force can be applied through electric motor component residing within the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , and thus the specimen dispensing can be operated by an electrical-switch-type or a touch-sensor-type electronic interface located externally on the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . 
       FIG. 3B  shows a second embodiment of the cartridge  14  structure. It is similar to  FIG. 3A , but the pushing force is applied by embedded loading force, as exampled by the spring like structure  19  in  FIG. 3B . The loading force can be applied from either side of the piston  18 , where  FIG. 3B  is only one of many variations. In addition, the loading force can be implemented as, including but not limited to, spring, rubber cushion, rubber band or compressed air. The loading force applies a constant pressure on the specimen within the space  20 , and the specimen can be dispensed through outlet  152  automatically as soon as the outlet  152  is set to an open mode. To control and limit flow of specimen, a switch structure such as a valve  21  is coupled to the outlet  152 , which is able to close and open the flow path of specimen through outlet  152 . The valve  21  can be a slit valve, a one-way valve, or a double-way valve. Operation of the valve  21  can be realized through a button-type or a roller-type leverage structures existing externally on the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , and the specimen dispensing can be operated manually. Alternatively, valve  21  can be operated through an electric motor component residing within the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , and thus the specimen can be operated by an electrical-switch-type or a touch-sensor-type electronic interface existing externally on the enclosure body  11  of  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B . 
       FIG. 3C  shows a third embodiment of the cartridge  14  structure. It is similar to  FIG. 3B , but replacing the piston and loading structure with a simple self-contracting porch  22  existing within the enclosed housing  17 . The self-contracting porch  22  can be, but not limited to, a dilated rubber pocket. The specimen is contained in the internal space of the porch  22 . The self-contracting force of the porch  22  produces enough pressure to dispense the specimen when the valve  21  opens up the flow through the outlet  152 . 
       FIG. 3D  then shows a fourth embodiment of the cartridge  14  structure. It is a variation of  FIG. 3A  with a valve  21  coupled to the outlet  152 . The valve  21  can be operated simultaneously with the piston  18  to produce more precise specimen flow through the outlet  152 . Operation of valve  21  can be achieved through the same mechanical or electronic interface that user uses to operate piston  18 . 
     Dispense of specimen can be controlled by a mechanical device or an electronic interface. The mechanical device can be a button, a roller, a wheel or a lever. The electronic interface can be a switch, touch sensor, pressure sensor, or proximity sensor. 
     The cartridge  14  may also have any, several or all of the below features: (1) the cartridge  14  is replaceable, i.e., it can be taken out and installed back into the enclosure body  11 ; (2) cartridge  14  can be reused, i.e., the specimen may be replenished into the space  20  within the cartridge  14  after depletion of the specimen during skin beatification process; (3) the cartridge  14  is pre-filled with specimen and is disposable after the specimen is exhausted; (4) the device may operate without the cartridge  14  installed; (5) two or more cartridges  14  containing same or different specimens may be installed in the enclosure body  11 , such that cartridges can be individually selected, positioned and with the cartridge outlet  152  aligned with the outlet  15  of the device body to dispense specimen. 
     The selection, positioning and alignment can be realized by means of, such as but not limited to, a rotation through different cartridges. Different cartridges may have their own built-in specimen dispensing mechanism but share the same user interface for dispensing the specimen when the cartridge is selected and aligned with the outlet  15 .  FIG. 4A  is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotating design for cartridge selection and positioning in a multiple cartridge implementation. In the implementation, there are four cartridges with identical size, body shape and other structural properties. When the user rotates a cartridge to a selection position, the outlet  152  is coupled to the outlet  15  on the transmission plate  12  in a perfect manner. 
     The selection, positioning and alignment can be realized by means of, such as but not limited to, a rotation through different compartments or a built-in valve system that defines or designates a compartment from which the specimen is dispensed.  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram illustrating a rotating design for selection and positioning of the cartridge compartment  142  in an implementation of a single cartridge with four compartments. In the implementation, the cartridge  14  has four specimen compartments that contain same or different specimens, such that each compartment within the cartridge can be individually selected, positioned and aligned with the cartridge outlet  152  to dispense specimen. Different compartments may share the same specimen dispensing mechanism as discussed in  FIG. 3A  through  FIG. 3D , or each compartment has its own dispensing mechanism but share the same user interface for dispensing the specimen when the compartment is selected and aligned with the outlet  152 . 
     The advantages of this invention are numerous. For examples: (1) ultrasonic device with integrated specimen dispenser reduces complexity of operation and increases its portability to enable anywhere/any-time usage; (2) multiple specimen containment enables one device for all needed skin treatment process with various specimen options; and (3) disposable cartridge option further increases the easiness and hygiene of specimen application that enables ultrasound treatment of skin to be further extended into daily skin care purpose. 
     While one or more embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated above, the skilled artisan will appreciate that modifications and adoptions to those embodiments may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.