Oscillating Elastomeric Cleansing Device to Reduce Skin Roughening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handheld skin cleansing devices fail to effectively clean the interstitial spaces between skin cells and often cause skin roughening due to the buildup of cleansers, dirt, and dead cells at the bristle base, as they primarily focus on the surface layer and do not adequately reach or remove trapped dirt and dead cells.
Innovation Solution
A cleansing device with an oscillating head featuring elastomeric cleansing features that provide a total displacement of 0.5 mm to 12 mm, allowing for deeper skin cleaning by stretching and removing dead cells without causing discomfort, using a combination of stick-slip motion and a cleanser to reduce friction and enhance cleansing efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional bristle brushes are used for skin cleansing, then the device can reach the surface layer of skin cells, but it fails to effectively clean the interstitial spaces between cells and causes skin roughening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical bristle brush system with an oscillating acoustic field generated by a transducer. This acoustic field creates micro-vibrations and cavitation effects that can penetrate and clean interstitial spaces between skin cells without the mechanical contact that causes roughening. The oscillating head moves at frequencies and amplitudes that enable deep cleaning while maintaining skin smoothness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic oscillating motion of the cleansing head at controlled frequencies and amplitudes. This periodic action allows the cleansing elements to penetrate into and clean interstitial spaces between skin cells, reaching areas that static or simple rotating brushes cannot access. The oscillating motion pattern enables effective cleaning while minimizing mechanical trauma to the skin surface.
2Productivity
If brushes apply mechanical action against skin, then cleansing action is provided, but the brushes only reach the surface layer and do not remove trapped dirt and dead cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface cleaning with brushes to three-dimensional cleaning by utilizing acoustic wave propagation. The oscillating acoustic field penetrates vertically into the skin's interstitial spaces and laterally between cells, creating a volumetric cleaning effect that reaches trapped dirt and dead cells deep within the skin structure, not just on the surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes acoustic cavitation, which involves phase transitions of fluid (water/cleanser) from liquid to vapor and back. These rapid phase transitions create micro-bubbles that collapse and generate localized high-energy shockwaves, enabling the breakdown and removal of trapped debris and dead cells from interstitial spaces that mechanical brushes cannot reach.
3Ease of manufacture
If brushes are used for facial cleansing, then surface cleaning is achieved, but cleansers, dirt, and dead cells build up at the bristle base
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical bristle structure that accumulates debris with an oscillating acoustic field generated by a transducer. The oscillating head has no bristles or fibrous elements where dirt and dead cells can become trapped. The smooth oscillating surface combined with the acoustic energy prevents buildup, maintaining hygiene without requiring complex brush maintenance mechanisms.
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 provides a more thorough cleansing action, improves skin smoothness and softness, and enhances skin health by effectively removing dead cells and promoting collagen production, while maintaining comfort and reducing skin roughening effects.
Implementation Method 1
using a combination of stick-slip motion and a cleanser to reduce friction and enhance cleansing efficacy
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of elastomeric cleansing features extending away from the first surface
Data Source
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.