Device and method for cleansing and treating skin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handheld skin cleansing devices fail to effectively clean the interstitial spaces between skin cells and fine skin features, as their brushes and pads only reach the surface, leading to incomplete cleansing and potential skin roughening due to the accumulation of dirt and dead cells at the bristle base.
Innovation Solution
A cleansing device with a cleansing head featuring elastomeric cleansing features that undergo a stick-slip action, providing oscillating movement at a frequency of 5 Hz to 30 Hz, allowing for deeper skin penetration and effective removal of dirt and dead cells through a combination of skin stretching and sliding action.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional brush-based cleansing devices are used, then mechanical cleaning action is provided, but the brushes fail to reach interstitial spaces between skin cells and accumulate dirt at the bristle base
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical brush system with an acoustic field-based cleansing mechanism. An acoustic transducer generates ultrasonic vibrations that propagate through a coupling medium to create cavitation bubbles and microstreaming in the interstitial spaces between skin cells, eliminating the need for physical brush contact and enabling penetration into previously inaccessible areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes acoustic cavitation - the formation, growth, and collapse of bubbles in a liquid medium under ultrasonic vibration. These collapsing bubbles generate localized high-pressure shock waves and microjets that penetrate interstitial spaces and dislodge debris, while the fluid dynamics of the coupling medium enable deep penetration without mechanical contact.
2Productivity
If brushes are used for facial cleansing, then surface cleaning is achieved, but skin roughening occurs due to accumulation of dirt and dead cells at bristle base
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical brush component entirely, replacing it with an acoustic field that cleanses through cavitation and microstreaming. This substitution maintains high cleaning efficiency while completely preventing the accumulation of debris on brush bristles, thereby eliminating the source of skin roughening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potentially harmful mechanical friction of brushes into a beneficial gentle acoustic field. The ultrasonic vibrations create a non-contact cleansing mechanism that removes dead cells and dirt without the abrasive effects of bristles, transforming a harmful mechanical action into a beneficial gentle process.
3Productivity
If rotating or vibrating brush heads are used, then superior cleaning action is provided compared to hands, but brushes only reach the surface and do not effectively clean interstitial spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs acoustic waves propagating through a liquid coupling medium to deliver cleansing energy deep into interstitial spaces. The acoustic field and fluid dynamics enable penetration far beyond the physical reach of any brush, using the fluid medium as a vehicle to transport energy and cleansing action into previously inaccessible deep skin layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical brush system with an acoustic field-based system. The acoustic transducer generates vibrations that propagate through the coupling medium, enabling deep penetration into interstitial spaces without the length limitations of physical brushes. The acoustic field extends the effective reach indefinitely through the medium.
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
The device achieves a more thorough cleansing and exfoliation, improving skin smoothness, softness, and clarity by effectively removing dead cells and dirt from deeper skin layers, while reducing skin roughening effects compared to traditional brush-based devices.
Implementation Method 1
elastomeric cleansing features that undergo a stick-slip action, providing oscillating movement at a frequency of 5 Hz to 30 Hz
Implementation Method 2
at least a portion of the cleansing features are formed from an elastomeric composition
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C~1D
Figure 1E~1F
AI summary
A cleansing device for mammalian skin includes a cleansing head having a plurality of elastomeric cleansing features extending away from the first surface and having an aspect ratio of about 1:5 to 10:1. The cleansing head is attached to a handle adapted to apply oscillating movement to one or more cleansing head sections to provide a total displacement per oscillation of about 2 mm to 8 mm at a frequency of about 5 Hz to 30 Hz.