Apparatus and method for skin treatment
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12311135-B2
Publication Date
2025-05-27
Expiration Date
Abstract
Apparatuses and methods configured to provide heat and cold to the skin along with a skin treatment to control rate of skin treatment flow to the skin are described. The disclosed apparatuses and methods include beneficially delaying the transition of skin treatments once skin penetration is achieved to improve the effectiveness of topical treatments to the skin. Accordingly, the disclosed apparatuses and methods are configured to enhance the benefits of topical treatments to the skin.
Core Innovation
The patent describes an apparatus and method for skin treatment in which a transdermal delivery device uses thermoelectric heat and cold to control drug permeation and drug transport/flow dynamics through skin. The disclosure focuses on how temperature management at the skin surface and within the drug delivery device influences epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous fat layer behavior, including vasoconstriction and vasodilation effects.
A central concept is that cold delivered by thermoelectric devices can cause pooling of drug in superficial skin layers, resulting in increased superficial concentration and reduced plasma levels. To manage treatment progression, the disclosure describes a thermal cycling process that can include normothermic/off, cold, and optionally heat/hot, to delay a treatment transition after penetration is achieved and to create controllable drug flow profiles.
The document further discloses multiple device constructions for implementing thermoelectric drug delivery, including a thermoelectric drug device with a drug reservoir, layered constructions having gel/support/barrier elements, and a drug application layer with recesses and protruding thermoelectric elements. Additional embodiments include inflatable structures for pressure-based absorption with timer-triggered depressurization after a predetermined treatment time, refillable/removable drug layers, wearable/support configurations such as bands, masks, and headgear, and zone control using cool/cold versus warm zones to localize drug transport.
Claims Coverage
The partial claims set includes three independent claims. Across these claims, the inventive coverage centers on thermoelectric-driven transdermal delivery device structures, including inflatable support configurations, annular edge thermoelectric placement for spatial thermal control, and planar support layouts with non-overlapping placement of drug layer and thermoelectric device in plan view.
Inflatable thermoelectric transdermal delivery device with adjacent drug layer
A transdermal delivery device comprising an inflatable structure; at least one thermoelectric device supported on the inflatable structure; and a drug layer positioned adjacent to the inflatable structure and to the at least one thermoelectric device, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device extends from a surface of the inflatable structure.
Annular support with outer-edge thermoelectric devices and interior drug layer
A transdermal delivery device comprising an annular support; a plurality of thermoelectric devices positioned on an outermost edge of the annular support; and a drug layer positioned within the annular support and at a position interior from the plurality of thermoelectric devices.
Planar support arrangement with non-overlapping drug layer and thermoelectric device
A transdermal delivery device comprising a support having a planar surface with a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and an interior surface arranged on the planar surface between the first side and the second side; a drug layer containing a drug positioned on the interior surface of the support; and a thermoelectric device on the interior surface closer to the first side than to the second side, wherein the drug layer and the thermoelectric device do not overlap when viewed in a plan view of the transdermal delivery device.
Overall, the independent claim set covers thermoelectric transdermal delivery devices implemented using an inflatable structure with an outward-extending thermoelectric device adjacent to a drug layer, an annular support with multiple thermoelectric devices at an outer edge and a drug layer positioned interior to them, and a planar support where the drug layer and thermoelectric device are arranged on an interior surface without overlapping in plan view.
Stated Advantages
Cold thermoelectric delivery can cause pooling of drug in superficial skin layers with increased superficial concentration and reduced plasma levels.
Documented Applications
Skin treatment using transdermal delivery where thermoelectric heat/cold controls drug permeation and drug transport/flow dynamics, including controllable drug flow profiles through thermal cycling.
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