Cyclical Mechanical Strain for Cutaneous Protein Modulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current skin treatments lack effective solutions for addressing the aging effects on the skin at a protein level, such as reducing terminal differentiation, improving epidermal cohesion, and enhancing extracellular matrix proteins, which are essential for maintaining skin elasticity and resilience.

Innovation Solution

The application of cyclical mechanical strain with specific frequencies, ranging from 50 hertz to 100 hertz, to modulate cutaneous proteins, including integrin, filaggrin, and collagen, using appliances with cyclical mechanical strain components and control circuits to induce mechanical strain in the skin, thereby promoting anti-aging effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional skin treatments are used, then general skin care is provided, but they lack effectiveness at modulating cutaneous proteins for anti-aging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness of skin treatmentVSAvoidability to modulate specific cutaneous proteins
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies cyclical mechanical strain with specific frequency parameters (50-100 Hz) to modulate cutaneous proteins. By changing the physical parameter of mechanical strain frequency, the treatment effectively targets specific proteins like integrin, filaggrin, and collagen to achieve anti-aging effects that conventional treatments cannot accomplish

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If mechanical strain is applied to upregulate beneficial proteins, then anti-aging effects are achieved, but there is risk of upregulating detrimental proteins

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-aging effectVSAvoidupregulation of detrimental proteins
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies mechanical strain with specific local characteristics (frequency 50-100 Hz, cyclical pattern) that selectively upregulates beneficial cutaneous proteins while minimizing upregulation of detrimental proteins. The localized quality of the mechanical strain parameters ensures targeted protein modulation for anti-aging without harmful side effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If cyclical mechanical strain with specific frequency is applied, then cutaneous proteins are effectively modulated, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotein modulation effectivenessVSAvoidappliance structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses cyclical mechanical strain (vibration) at specific frequencies (50-100 Hz) applied through an appliance to modulate cutaneous proteins. This mechanical vibration approach achieves effective protein modulation while using a relatively simple appliance structure compared to other advanced skin treatment technologies

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively upregulates beneficial proteins associated with young, healthy skin, improving skin elasticity, cohesion, and reducing the appearance of aging, while minimizing the upregulation of detrimental proteins, resulting in noticeable anti-aging effects.

Implementation Method 1

applying a cyclical mechanical strain having a peak cyclic or oscillation frequency ranging from about 50 hertz to about 100 hertz

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical vibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP3244864B1Systems and methods for regulation of one or more cutaneous proteins
Publication Date: 2021.04.28 LOREAL SA
  • EP3244864B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3244864B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3244864B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosed embodiments provide skin stimulating devices and methods that address the aging effects of skin at a protein level. Particularly, cyclical mechanical strain is used to regulate specific proteins within the skin, so as to produce specific effects. As a non-limiting example, the disclosed embodiments can be used to increase the production of certain proteins (e.g., hyaluronan synthase 3 (HAS3); fibronectin; tropoelastin; procolll; integrin, etc.) in the skin, which results in anti-aging effects by increasing epidermal cohesion.