Patent Description:
Skin treatment appliances which are used for generalized treatment of skin are well known. One example, among others, is shown in <CIT>, owned by the assignee of the present invention. However, many skin conditions occur as spots, i.e. localized irregularities within a specific area, generally less than a few centimeters in diameter. In many such cases, it is unnecessary to treat larger skin areas, when attempting to provide treatment to small area irregularities. Further, an individual may have several spots, each of which require a different form of treatment. As examples, these spots or irregularities may include surface blemishes, age spots, specific skin discolorations, clogged pores, acne, various wounds, insect bites, rashes, rosacea, ingrown hairs, warts, tattoos and other irregularities. Each of these conditions can be best treated with its own regimen and may require a specific device and/or a specific formulation with an active ingredient. Each of these treatments typically requires a workpiece with an active element designed specifically for treatment, including activation of a specific formulation. It is not efficient or reasonable to expect a consumer to purchase separate devices for numerous different specific skin conditions. Accordingly, it would be desirable for a single appliance to be adaptable to treat a wide variety of spot skin irregularities.

<CIT> discloses a therapy device which emits a desired wavelength of electromagnetic radiation.

<CIT> discloses an apparatus for allowing a user to perform a variety of skin treatment procedures.

<CIT> discloses a dermatological apparatus comprising a variety of treatment heads.

<CIT> discloses a massage appliance equipped with interchangeable heads.

<CIT> discloses apparatus for administering mechanical shockwaves.

The present invention is directed towards a skin treatment appliance with changeable workpieces as defined by claim <NUM>.

A presently known skin formulation dispenser <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. The dispenser includes a body <NUM>, an on/off switch <NUM> and a detachable soft workpiece <NUM> which is adapted to carry a skin formulation and fits onto a mounting member <NUM> in the body. The appliance includes a motor (not shown) which moves the workpiece back and forth, toward and away from the skin of a user at a selected frequency. The appliance is useful for the specific task of infusion of skin formulations, usually in the facial area. However, it is not particularly useful in treating particular spot conditions, each of which may require a specific type of treatment method in addition to a specific formulation.

The present invention is adapted to treat a variety of skin spot irregularities with changeable workpieces and a signal-generating assembly for producing the signals to operate the various workpieces. This is shown very generally in <FIG>, in which an appliance body is shown at <NUM>, which can be similar to body/handle <NUM> of <FIG>. The appliance includes an on/off switch <NUM>. One changeable workpiece is shown generally at <NUM>, for illustration, which is attachable/detachable from appliance body/handle <NUM>. Each workpiece includes a specific active element which is designed to treat a specific spot skin condition, described in more detail with various examples below. The operation of the appliance requires an electrical connection between the appliance body and the workpiece, with the appliance body including a handle interface assembly <NUM> and the workpiece including a workpiece interface assembly <NUM>. The appliance body includes a signal assembly <NUM> which can include a sensing module <NUM> and a signal generator <NUM> controlled by a microprocessor <NUM>. The microprocessor and the signal assembly draw power from a power supply or battery, shown generally at <NUM>. The battery can be rechargeable, with a separate charging member <NUM>.

The workpiece <NUM> is a selected one of a variety of different workpieces, each of which is arranged and adapted for treatment of a particular skin condition. Examples of various workpieces include an LED, a thermoelectric element, a heating element, an iontophoresis tip, an ultrasound transducer and a radio frequency workpiece, among others. These are only examples of workpieces which have specific outputs for treatment of particular localized skin irregularities. Typically, a localized irregularity will be a spot or the like with an area of a few centimeters. One characteristic of the workpiece action is a direct effect on the skin irregularity, but another characteristic is increased infusion of a selected active formulation at the desired location, leading to improved condition of the skin irregularity. Additional possibilities include stimulation of tissue or other biological effect to promote healing or regeneration of the particular irregularity.

<FIG> show an example of an LED workpiece <NUM> attached to an appliance <NUM>. <FIG> show a workpiece <NUM> capable of emitting an ultrasound signal, for example in the range of <NUM> to <NUM>, while <FIG> shows the ultrasound workpiece <NUM> attached to an appliance <NUM>. <FIG> show an iontophoresis tip embodiment; 7A shows the iontophoresis tip <NUM>, while 7B shows the iontophoresis tip in an appliance <NUM>. As indicated above, the above three specific examples discussed above are only a few of the many specific workpiece tips which can be utilized with one appliance.

Each workpiece will typically require a different driving signal, particularly adapted to operate it. When a workpiece is attached to the handle, there must first be a recognition of the particular workpiece. This can be done in a variety of ways. In accordance with the present invention, one way is to identify the particular workpiece by its impedance/resistance value at various frequencies and polarities. A table is shown in <FIG> which illustrates this approach for the various workpieces set out above. This will require use of the signal generator portion of the signal assembly <NUM>. Each workpiece element will have a particular impedance value which can be recognized. The signal generator <NUM> will produce a signal that sweeps from a low frequency, approximately <NUM> to <NUM>. This frequency range enables the identification of the six workpiece elements specified in <FIG>. The signal will be applied through the respective interface assemblies to the workpiece element. Each element will have a particular resistance which can be associated in a table in a memory portion of the sensing module <NUM> or the microprocessor <NUM>. For instance, for an LED, the sensing circuit will identify an open circuit in one direction and less than <NUM> Ohms in the other direction, since it is an LED in a diode configuration. For a thermoelectric element, the resistance/impedance value will be <NUM>-<NUM> Ohm in both directions, while a heating element will be <NUM>-<NUM> Ohms in both directions. An iontophoresis element will have a variable resistance of <NUM> Ohms to <NUM> Ohms. An ultrasound transducer will be identified by an open circuit to <NUM> and then a peak of <NUM> Ohms or less, somewhere between <NUM> and <NUM>. A radio frequency workpiece will be an open circuit to <NUM>. If there is an open circuit beyond <NUM>, there is no workpiece installed. Other types of workpieces will have a known impedance/resistance value which can be stored in memory in the appliance.

A wide range of workpiece elements thus can be dynamically identified, but other variations are contemplated. For instance, an appliance can be adapted to a non-active head and alternatively a heated head, or an LED head.

It should be understood that other, non-claimed ways of identifying workpieces can also be used, including for instance, an RFID arrangement, an optical arrangement, a magnetic arrangement, a particular physical interlock arrangement or a charge-coupled arrangement. <FIG> is a simple representation of an RFID arrangement involving an RFID tag <NUM> on the workpiece interface <NUM> and an optical RFID reader <NUM> in the appliance interface <NUM>. Information from the reader is then applied to the sensing module in the handle to determine the type of workpiece element attached. An optical arrangement is represented in <FIG>, in which a bar code tag <NUM> or the like is applied to a workpiece interface <NUM> with an optical reader <NUM> in the appliance interface <NUM>. Other arrangements for identifying the particular workpiece can also be used.

Once the particular workpiece has been identified, the microprocessor and the signal generator <NUM> will provide the correct operating signal for the recognized workpiece. With respect to the examples above, the various workpieces and the appropriate electrical signals are identified in the Table <NUM>. Each workpiece has a particular operating signal. The correct operating signal is stored in the microprocessor <NUM>, and when the workpiece is recognized, the microprocessor will send a control signal to the signal generator <NUM> to produce the correct operating signal. Table <NUM> sets forth the correct operating signals for a variety of workpieces. Other workpieces will require other operating signals.

<FIG> and <FIG> show the particular physical arrangement and connection between the workpiece and the body/handle. In each figure, the handle is identified at <NUM>, while the workpiece is identified generally at <NUM>. The workpiece includes a base portion <NUM>, including an outer circular wall <NUM> and an inner circular wall <NUM> connected to the outer wall by an intermediate flat portion <NUM>. The lower edge <NUM> of inner wall <NUM> includes one inwardly extending portion <NUM> which snaps on to a corresponding lip <NUM> in the handle, as explained in more detail below. The workpiece includes a flat element <NUM> which fits on intermediate portion <NUM>, covering the opening <NUM> defined by the inner wall. Extending downwardly from element <NUM> is an electrical connector <NUM>. Electrical connector <NUM> can be in the form of a coaxial connector which has two electrical leads <NUM> and <NUM> extending therefrom to the workpiece element <NUM> which can, as indicated previously, be a variety of elements such as set forth, for example, in Table <NUM>. An additional spring connector <NUM> is positioned between the inner and outer wall and extends through the intermediate member <NUM> to the flat plate <NUM>. A lead <NUM> extends from the flat plate <NUM> to the workpiece element <NUM>, if a third connector is required. The workpiece includes a cover element <NUM> which mates with the outer wall <NUM> of the workpiece base <NUM> to form a complete workpiece.

The appliance body/handle includes an opening <NUM> into which the workpiece fits. The handle includes a mounting member <NUM> which is supported within the handle. Mounting member <NUM> is also supported to a circular depending assembly <NUM><NUM> with a flexible element <NUM> connecting the mounting member <NUM> and depending assembly <NUM><NUM>. The mounting member <NUM> is thus free to move to some extent to accommodate the attachment of the workpiece. At the upper end of the mounting member <NUM> is a portion <NUM><NUM> which is conical in shape and is configured so that a space <NUM><NUM> exists between portion <NUM><NUM> and an upper surface <NUM> of the mounting member <NUM>. The conical portion is configured in such a manner that the inwardly extending portion <NUM> of inner wall <NUM> of the workpiece can snap under the conical member <NUM><NUM>, holding the workpiece in place. Extending through mounting member <NUM> is an electrical connection <NUM> which can be a coaxial cable. Coaxial cable <NUM> mates with the coaxial cable <NUM> in the workpiece when the workpiece is snapped onto the handle, providing a secure, reliable electrical connection.

Additional spring lead <NUM> connects electrically to a face connector element <NUM> on the upper surface of the mounting element located below the conical portion <NUM>. Face connector <NUM> is electrically conductive. An electrical connection <NUM> provides a signal from the appliance to the spring connector <NUM>, if needed. Hence, the arrangement shown includes three separate electrical connections where three connections are necessary. In some cases, only two connections may be necessary.

Further with respect to the above specific workpieces, an LED workpiece can, for instance, be driven with a regulated current, in which case the appliance works as a sensing power supply to provide the correct voltage to match the polarity and impedance of the LED workpiece. For an LED only, two electrical connections are required.

A thermoelectric element workpiece can operate from a constant current appliance setting but typically it will be a different current level than that used for the LED. Two electrical connections are required for this workpiece.

A heating element workpiece has the potential of harming the user by burning unless direct thermal feedback is used to prevent overheating. Typically, this requires an additional electrical connection, but it is possible to use a heating element, the resistance of which changes with temperature. In this arrangement, a separate third connection is not required. If a thermocouple is to be used in the workpiece, a third connection is necessary.

An iontophoresis workpiece requires two connections for a constant current supply in the handle.

Both ultrasound and RF workpieces require two connections and an AC signal that senses the frequency of the particular workpiece. This can be accomplished using a resonant circuit; it is thus possible to use a single connector element for an RF workpiece.

Other specific workpieces will require other specific electrical connections.

Claim 1:
A skin treatment appliance (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) with changeable workpieces, comprising:
an appliance body (<NUM>, <NUM>);
an appliance body interface assembly (<NUM>) for receiving separate removable workpieces (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a signal generator (<NUM>) with electrical connections to the appliance body interface, wherein the signal generator, controlled by a microprocessor (<NUM>), generates signals which are adapted to control and operate the workpiece attached to the signal generator, wherein the signal generator, in operation, is configured to generate a plurality of signals which have different frequencies and polarities and sweep over a frequency range from <NUM> to <NUM>, and to apply the signals to the workpiece for determining the impedance of the workpiece; and
at least two workpieces (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>), each workpiece adapted to treat a different selected spot skin irregularity, wherein each workpiece has a known impedance which is stored in a memory portion of a sensing module (<NUM>) or the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is adapted to identify an attached workpiece by its impedance, and wherein each of the workpieces has an interface assembly (<NUM>) for mechanically and electrically connecting to the appliance body interface;
wherein the microprocessor and signal generator are adapted to provide a correct operating signal for the identified workpiece.