Surface topography method for determining effect of a botulinum toxin upon a muscle

1. A method for determining an effect of a botulinum toxin upon a muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) making a first impression of a skin surface in proximity to a muscle into or in the vicinity of which a botulinum toxin will be administered, the impression being made while the muscle is at a first maximum voluntary contraction;

(b) administering the botulinum toxin to the muscle;

(c) making a second impression of the skin surface in proximity to the muscle, the impression being made while the muscle is at a second maximum voluntary contraction;

(d) examining the first impression and the second impression by illuminating at least one of the first impression and the second impression with a single light source, and;

(e) comparing the first impression and the second impression to determine an effect of a botulinum toxin upon the muscle.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a mean depth of a plurality of skin wrinkles.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a mean length of a plurality of skin wrinkles.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a total length of a skin wrinkle.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a total number of skin wrinkles.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a surface area of a skin wrinkle.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising after the examining step and before the determining step, the step of obtaining from an impression a form factor skin characteristic.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining step determines a paralytic effect of the botulinum toxin upon the muscle.

9. A method for determining a paralytic effect of a botulinum toxin upon a muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) making a first impression of a skin surface in proximity to a muscle into or in the vicinity of which a botulinum toxin will be administered, the first impression being made while the muscle is at a first maximum voluntary contraction;

(b) administering the botulinum toxin to the muscle;

(c) making a second impression of the skin surface in proximity to the muscle, the second impression being made while the muscle is at a second maximum voluntary contraction;

(d) examining the first impression and the second impression by illuminating at least one of the first impression and the second impression with a single light source;

(e) obtaining from at least one of the first impression and the second impression a mean depth, mean length, total length, number of wrinkles, surface area and form factor skin surface characteristics, and;

(f) comparing the first impression and the second impression to determine a paralytic effect of a botulinum toxin upon the muscle.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the botulinum toxin is a botulinum toxin type A.

12. A method for determining an effect of a botulinum toxin upon a muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) making a first impression of a skin surface in proximity to a muscle into or in the vicinity of which a botulinum toxin will be administered, the impression being made while the muscle is at a first maximum voluntary contraction;

(b) administering a botulinum toxin to the muscle;

(c) making a second impression of the skin surface in proximity to the muscle, the impression being made while the muscle is at a second maximum voluntary contraction;

(d) examining the first impression and the second impression;

(e) obtaining from at least one of the first impression and the second impression a mean depth of a plurality of skin wrinkles, and;

(f) comparing the first impression and the second impression to determine an effect of a botulinum toxin upon the muscle.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obtaining step further comprises obtaining from an impression a mean length of a plurality of skin wrinkles.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obtaining step further comprises obtaining from an impression a total length of a skin wrinkle.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obtaining step further comprises obtaining from an impression a total number of skin wrinkles.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obtaining step further comprises obtaining from an impression a surface area of a skin wrinkle.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein the obtaining step further comprises obtaining from an impression a form factor skin surface characteristic.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein the determining step determines a paralytic effect of the botulinum toxin upon the muscle.

19. The method of claim 12 , wherein the botulinum toxin is selected from the group consisting of botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.

20. The method of claim 12 , wherein the botulinum toxin is a botulinum toxin type A.

21. A method for determining an effect of a botulinum toxin upon a muscle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) making a first impression of a skin surface in proximity to a muscle into or in the vicinity of which a botulinum toxin will be administered, the impression being made while the muscle is at a first maximum voluntary contraction;

(b) administering the botulinum toxin to the muscle;

(c) making a second impression of the skin surface in proximity to the muscle, the impression being made while the muscle is at a second maximum voluntary contraction;

(d) examining the first impression and the second impression;

(e) obtaining from at least one of the first impression and the second impression a mean skin wrinkle depth, mean skin wrinkle length, total skin wrinkle length, total number of skin wrinkles, surface area of a skin wrinkle and form factor skin surface characteristics, and;

(f) comparing the first impression and the second impression to determine a paralytic effect of a botulinum toxin upon the muscle.