Apparatus and method

Abstract

Apparatus 2 comprising a housing 4, at least one needle 10 arranged for reciprocal motion between a retracted position and an extended position to penetrate an animal tissue surface when in the extend

Description

This invention relates to apparatus for carrying out a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure, and particularly apparatus for carrying out a microneedling procedure. Microneedling is the practice of using small needles to puncture a skin surface at varying pre-determined depths to induce new collagen and elastin synthesis. When radio frequency (RF) energy is combined with microneedling, the element of heat-induced damage to the skin is also added to the treatment, which further increases collagen and elastin deposition. RF microneedling treatment is currently one of the most popular anti-aging treatments around the World. It works by delivering a series of fine needles into the skin as well as delivering electromagnetic radiation in the form of a radio frequency emission through the same needles. Microneedling and RF microneedling can be used to reduce the appearance of scars and the like on skin. Microneedling does not usually cause bleeding, but bleeding can occur depending upon the patient being treated and / or the depth of penetration of the microneedles into the skin. Deeper penetration of the skin by the microneedles is often necessary if treating deeper scarring of the skin, for instance. According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided apparatus comprising a housing, at least one needle arranged for reciprocal motion between a retracted position and an extended position to penetrate an animal tissue surface when in the extended position and a sealing device defining a channel through which a movable shaft extends to move the at least one needle in the reciprocating motion, wherein the sealing device serves to form a seal between the housing and the movable shaft. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing cross-contamination within apparatus for minimally invasive treatment of skin, the apparatus comprising a housing, at least one needle arranged for reciprocal motion between a retracted position and an extended position to penetrate an animal tissue surface when in the extended position and a sealing device defining a channel through which a movable shaft extends to move the at least one needle in the reciprocating motion, wherein the method comprise forming a seal between the housing and the movable shaft. Owing to these aspects, the interior of the housing is sealed from the moveable shaft so that any fluid originating from the skin surface cannot enter the region of the moveable shaft. Preferably, there is a plurality of needles mounted on mounting means. One end region of the sealing device is advantageously attached the mounting means on the opposite side from which the plurality of needles extend. The sealing device is preferably in the form of a conduit device, and is, advantageously, a flexible sleeve surrounding the movable shaft. In order that the present invention can be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a needle cartridge of a microneedling device, Figure 2 is a side view of the needle cartridge, Figure 3 is a cross-section along the line Ill-Ill shown in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the needle cartridge. Referring to the Figures, a microneedling apparatus comprises a microneedling cartridge 2 detachably connected to a handle / wand device (not shown) of the apparatus, so that whilst the hand / wand device is re-usable for consecutive patients, the needle cartridge is new for each patient so that each time needles of the needle cartridge are sterile for use on each patient. The cartridge 2 includes a housing 4 of a domed shape, the lower end region of which includes means for securely attaching the cartridge 2 to the handle / wand device. At the top end region of the housing 4 there is a needle guiding block 6 including a at least one needle channel 8 through which respective at least one needle 10 freely passes. Surrounding the guiding block 6 is a channel 12 bounded at its outer edge by a bounding wall structure 14 which extends substantially vertically away from the top end of the domed housing shape. The top edge of the wall structure 14 and the top surface of the guiding block 6 form a substantially planar surface to be pressed against the skin surface of a patient being treated. A conduit 16 extends from the wall structure 14 and communicates with the channel 12 so that suction can be applied to the conduit 12 to create a negative pressure in the channel 12 when the cartridge 2 is pressed against the skin surface, as is known. As shown, there is preferably a plurality of needles 10 mounted on an upper surface of mounting means 18 in the form of a mounting plate. One end of a movable shaft 20 (shown schematically in broken lines in Figure 3) mounted within the handle / wand device for reciprocal motion therein and which contacts the underside of the mounting plate 18 opposite the surface to which the plurality of needles 10 extend. In this way, when the handle / wand device is used with the cartridge 2 the needles 10 can be arranged to move from a retracted condition or position (shown in the Figures) in which free ends of the needles 10 do not project beyond the substantially planar top surface of the guiding block 6 and an extended condition or position where the free ends of the needles do project beyond the substantially planar top surface of the guiding block 6 to pre-determined amounts, depending upon the depth of skin penetration required for the treatment being given. The movement between the retracted and extended conditions may be biased to the needles being in the retracted condition, by biasing means (not shown) such as springs or the like. Located inwardly of the mounting plate 18 in the housing 4, a supporting unit 20 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section includes a plurality of through holes 22 and 22'. One through-hole 22 is located centrally of the supporting unit 20 and two pairs of through-holes 22' are located radially outwardly from the central through-hole. One pair 22' distal to the central through-hole 22 are located at respective opposite sides of the supporting unit 20 and are used to attach the supporting unit 20 to the housing 4 by way of respective internal legs 24 of the housing 4 with the use of attaching means such screws or the like. The second pair of holes 22' proximal the central through-hole 22 are for the passage of respective energy transmission means 26 which extend from the underside of the mounting plate 18. Abutted against an outer rim of the supporting unit 20 is a substantially planar base plate 28 on the upper surface of which free ends of the energy transmission devices rest. The base plate 28 also includes a centrally located through-hole 30 arranged co-axially with the central through-hole 22 of the supporting unit 20. A sealing device in the form of a conduit device 32 extends through the central through-holes 22 and 30 and defines a channel in which the movable shaft 20 reciprocates but is still able to make contact with the mounting plate 18. A lower end region of the conduit device 32 includes a radially outwardly extending flange 34 which is attached to the underside of the base plate 28 and the upper end region opposite the lower end region is attached to the underside of the mounting plate 18. The conduit device 32 is preferably made of a flexible material and in the form of a tube or sleeve surrounding the shaft 20. The flexible nature of the tube forms a good seal between the internal volume of the housing 4 and the shaft 20 which leads to the handle / wand device. The flange 34 is of a size that ensures not only a good seal against the base plate 28 but also that it does not interfere with any of the electrical / electronic components of the handle / wand device to which the cartridge 2 os connected. The handle / wand device may also include positive and negative electrodes which make contact with the base plate 28 and electromagnetic radiation in the form of radio frequency energy is transmitted through the energy transmission means 26 also in contact with the base plate 28 to the needles 10. The energy is then transferred sub-dermally by the needles 10 puncturing the epidermal layer of the skin and the sub-dermal layers are consequently heated by that energy. Maintaining a temperature over 115°F (46°C) for over 3 minutes causes a human body to release heat-shock proteins which stimulate the body to create new collagen fibres. The needles 10 may be insulated to a suitable degree to ensure the radio frequency energy is emitted from a small or larger area of each needle 10, as is known. Although a primary objective of RF microneedling (or any form of microneedling) is not to produce a flow of blood from the patient, this can happen. In known microneedling apparatus, components of the handle / wand device are in fluid communication with the needle cartridge which therefore presents a cross-contamination risk where blood could be present. Use of the sealing device of the present invention eliminates this crosscontamination risk whilst maintaining the function of both an electrical connection required for the radio frequency operation and allowing the shaft to still be mounted within the handle / wand device. To ensure a complete reduction of cross-contamination risk, additional sealing means may be provided to other joining surfaces of the components contained within the housing 4, such additional sealing means may be by way of, for example, suitable 5 sealing washers or with a material such as silicone.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a housing, at least one needle arranged for reciprocal motion between a retracted position and an extended position to penetrate an animal tissue surface when in the extended position, and a sealing device defining a channel through which a movable shaft extends to move the at least one needle in the reciprocating motion, wherein the sealing device serves to form a seal between the housing and the movable shaft.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sealing device is a conduit device.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing device is a flexible sleeve surrounding the movable shaft.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a plurality of needles mounted on mounting means.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one end region of the sealing device is attached to the mounting means.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising energy transmission means serving to transmit electromagnetic radiation to the at least one needle.

7. A method of preventing cross-contamination within apparatus for minimally invasive treatment of skin, the apparatus comprising a housing, at least one needle arranged for reciprocal motion between a retracted position and an extended position to penetrate an animal tissue surface when in the extended position and a sealing device defining a channel through which a movable shaft extends to move the at least one needle in the reciprocating motion, wherein the method comprise forming a seal between the housing and the movable shaft.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said sealing is a by way of a conduit device.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said sealing is by way of a flexible sleeve surrounding the movable shaft.

Images