Heated Tip Array for Controlled Skin Micro-Depressions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for fractional skin rejuvenation, such as CO2 and Erbium lasers, cause significant damage to the stratum corneum, leading to increased risk of infection and limited clinical effect on fine wrinkles and skin texture, while non-ablative treatments have milder effects but are less effective in permeability enhancement for drug delivery.
Innovation Solution
A method using a heated rod or array of tips to create micro depressions in the skin, maintaining a layer of stratum corneum to prevent infection and enhance skin permeability, with a biocompatible coating that withstands high temperatures and controls crater depth through mechanical resistance detection and thermal skin crushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If CO2 or Erbium lasers are used to vaporize tissue, then skin permeability is enhanced, but stratum corneum is damaged leading to increased infection risk
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment divides the skin into multiple micro-depressions distributed across the surface, with each depression treating a localized area while preserving the overall stratum corneum barrier. This segmentation allows permeability enhancement without complete barrier destruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The method creates localized micro-depressions with controlled depth and spacing, applying thermal energy only to specific points rather than the entire surface. This local treatment approach enhances permeability at treatment sites while maintaining stratum corneum integrity elsewhere.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If non-ablative infrared treatments are used, then skin surface remains intact, but clinical effect on fine wrinkles and skin texture is milder
Solution Approach 1:
The method changes the thermal parameters by using controlled, brief heating pulses that reach the papillary dermis without vaporizing tissue. This parameter adjustment creates micro-depressions with sufficient depth to improve wrinkles while maintaining surface integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment applies thermal energy that is sufficient to create meaningful micro-depressions and improve skin texture, but not excessive enough to cause complete ablation. This partial action achieves clinical effects without the harshness of full vaporization.
3Manufacturing precision
If thermal energy is applied to vaporize tissue, then micro depressions are created, but thermal damage spreads beyond the target area
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment divides the thermal energy application into discrete, spatially separated micro-depressions rather than continuous heating. This segmentation confines thermal damage to localized areas, preventing widespread collateral damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The method uses periodic, pulsed thermal application rather than continuous heating. The brief pulse duration allows heat to be applied quickly to the target depth before diffusing to surrounding areas, controlling both crater depth and thermal damage spread.
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 method effectively creates controlled micro depressions that enhance skin permeability and reduce infection risk, while minimizing thermal damage and improving skin texture and drug delivery efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
vaporization of tissue
Implementation Method 2
heated rod or array of tips to create micro depressions
Implementation Method 3
biocompatible coating that withstands high temperatures
Implementation Method 4
enhance skin permeability
Implementation Method 5
crater depth through mechanical resistance detection
Data Source
AI summary
A method of producing an array of sharp tips including a biocompatible coating, wherein the biocompatible coating is thicker at a sharp end of the sharp tips than at a broader section of the sharp tips, the method including providing an array of sharp tips, and coating the sharp end of the sharp tips differentially from coating the broader section of the sharp tips. A method of treating skin including producing a hollow in the skin by heating and mechanically compressing epidermis while retaining a covering of stratum corneum. A method of treating tissue including heating a tip to a temperature suitable for producing a crater in the tissue, advancing the tip toward the tissue, detecting when the tip comes into contact with the tissue by detecting a change in mechanical resistance to the advancing, and measuring the mechanical resistance to the advancing. Related apparatus and methods are also described.