Internet connected dermatological devices and systems
A dermatological treatment and analysis system includes a handheld treatment device having a handheld body, a treatment radiation source that delivers a dermatological treatment to the skin, and skin sensor(s) configured to generate signals indicative of one or more skin properties. A wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device or in a docking/charging station that receives the handheld treatment device. The wireless transmitter is configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received skin-related data for analysis of the skin-related data by a remote data analysis system, which may analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data, and communicate the skin analysis data as feedback to the user of the handheld treatment device, e.g., via a website or application hosted on an internet-connected device of the user.
1. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:
a handheld treatment device, comprising:
a handheld body;
a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;
electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;
at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and
a processor configured to:
analyze the signals from the at least one skin sensor to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;
calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin; and
generate skin-related data based at least on the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs;
a wireless transmitter integrated in the handheld treatment device, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to wirelessly transmit the skin-related data for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data;
such that the handheld treatment device is configured to both (a) deliver radiation to the skin to provide the dermatological treatment and (b) wirelessly transmit skin-related data, detected by the at least one sensor of the handheld treatment device, for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data.
2. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 1 , further comprising a remote data analysis system configured to:
receive the skin-related data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via a communications network;
analyze the received skin-related data to generate skin analysis data; and
communicate the skin analysis data to a user via a display device or via the communications network.
3. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2 , wherein the remote data analysis system is configured to:
identify previously received skin-related data associated with the same treatment device or user as the currently received skin-related data;
analyze the currently received skin-related data and previously received skin-related data to generate skin-related trend data associated with the treatment device or user, the skin-related trend data indicating trends in one or more skin-related parameter over time; and
communicate the skin-related trend data to the user via the communications network.
4. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2 , wherein the remote data analysis system is configured to:
identify previously received device usage data associated with the same treatment device or user as the currently received device usage data;
analyze the currently received device usage data and previously received device usage data to generate device usage trend data associated with the treatment device or user, the device usage trend data indicating trends in the usage of the treatment device over time; and
communicate the device usage trend data to the user via the communications network.
5. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2 , wherein:
the handheld treatment device further includes electronics configured to generate device usage data related to the usage of the handheld treatment device by a user;
the wireless transmitter is further configured to wirelessly transmit the device usage data to the communications network; and
the remote data analysis system is configured to:
receive the device usage data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via the communications network;
analyze the received device usage data to generate device usage analysis data; and
communicate the device usage analysis data to the user via the communications network.
6. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 2 , further comprising a user device comprising a display and configured to:
receive the skin analysis data transmitted by the remote data analysis system via the communications network; and
display the skin analysis data to a user via the display.
7. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6 , wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the skin analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time (a) during a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, or (b) upon the completion of a treatment session using the handheld treatment device.
8. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6 , wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the skin analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time upon a connection of the handheld treatment device with a docking device.
9. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 6 , wherein the handheld treatment device, remote data analysis system, and user device are configured to cooperate such that the device usage analysis data is displayable via the user device in real time or substantially in real time (a) during a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, (b) upon the completion of a treatment session using the handheld treatment device, or (c) upon the handheld treatment device being removably connected to a docking device.
10. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:
a handheld treatment device, comprising:
a handheld body;
a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;
electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;
at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and
a wireless transmitter configured to receive skin-related data comprising the signals from the at least one skin sensor and/or information derived from such signals, and to wirelessly transmit the received data to a communications network for remote analysis of the skin-related data;
such that the handheld treatment device is configured to both (a) deliver radiation to the skin to provide the dermatological treatment and (b) wirelessly transmit skin-related data, detected by the at least one sensor of the handheld treatment device, for remote analysis of the skin-related data; and
a remote data analysis system including at least one processor configured to:
receive the skin-related data transmitted by the wireless transmitter via the communications network;
analyze the received skin-related data to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;
calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin;
generate skin-related data that is dependent on the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs; and
communicate the skin skin-related data to a user via a display device or via the communications network.
11. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 10 , further comprising a user device comprising a display and configured to:
receive the skin analysis data transmitted by the remote data analysis system via the communications network; and
display the skin analysis data to a user via the display.
12. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless transmitter is integrated in the handheld treatment device.
13. A dermatological treatment and analysis system, comprising:
a handheld treatment device, comprising:
a handheld body;
a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;
electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a dermatological treatment that forms microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;
at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and
a processor configured to:
receive the signals from the at least one skin sensor;
analyze the signals from the at least one skin sensor to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;
calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin;
using the calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs to generate skin-related data; and
display via a display device or wirelessly transmit the skin-related data for remote analysis or display of the skin-related data.
14. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is provided in the handheld treatment device.
15. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 13 , wherein the processor is provided in a device distinct from the handheld treatment device.
16. The dermatological treatment and analysis system of claim 1 , wherein:
the handheld treatment device is configured to provide a fractional treatment to the skin by delivering laser radiation to an array of spaced apart locations on the skin to thereby create an array of spaced-apart microthermal zones (MTZs) in the skin;
wherein the array of MTZs form a corresponding array of MENDs in the skin.
17. A handheld treatment device, comprising:
a handheld body;
a treatment radiation source housed in the handheld body;
electronics configured to control the treatment radiation source to deliver radiation to the skin to provide a fractional treatment by delivering laser radiation to an array of spaced apart locations on the skin to thereby create an array of spaced-apart microthermal zones (MTZs) in the skin;
wherein the array of MTZs form a corresponding array of microscopic epidermal necrotic debris (MENDs) in the skin;
at least one skin sensor housed or integrated in the handheld body and configured to generate sensor signals indicative of one or more properties of the skin; and
a control system including at least one processor configured to:
analyze the sensor signals to identify a plurality of discrete MENDs formed by the radiation delivered to the skin by the handheld treatment device;
calculate a quantity or density of identified MENDs in at least one area of the skin; and
control the treatment radiation source as a function of calculated quantity or density of identified MENDs.