Patent ID: 7354423

Claim:
A skin abrasion system for facilitating removal of tissue from the surface of a user's skin, comprising: an ergonomically shaped handheld device having an internal motion generator for imparting desired motion to a removable treatment component at a distal tip thereof, and a distal tip surface comprising a connection element for connecting the treatment component with said distal tip, and hand actuatable motion generator and control element; and the treatment component having a first portion designed for connection with a motion generating subsystem of the internal motion generator through the connection element and a second portion having a shaped configuration and a first and second surface, wherein the second portion is configured so that the first surface will conform to a skin surface and wherein said first surface comprises an abrasive material formed in or attached to the surface and which when applied to and moved on the skin will effect cleaning, abrasion or polishing of the skin to facilitate removal of tissue; wherein a locking mechanism is provided for locking the treatment component to the connection element of the handheld device wherein the locking mechanism includes a switch connected to the actuatable motion generator and control element so that when treatment component is properly secured to the distal tip, the motion generator and control element can be activated by the user but when no treatment component is connected and locked into position the handheld device cannot be activated; and wherein the locking mechanism comprises an aperture defined in one of the connection element or the first portion of the treatment component and a protrusion formed in the other so that when the treatment component is connected to the handheld device, the protrusion fits through the aperture, locking the distal tip to the treatment component and further comprising a slideable clasp member positioned on the treatment component or on the connection element which will slide over the interlocked aperture-protrusion connection when the treatment component is connected to the handheld device to prevent removal of the treatment component.