DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING THE TOPICAL APPLICATION OF A BENEFIT AGENT
The present invention relates to devices and methods for treating, reducing and preventing adverse skin/scalp conditions and enhancing the topical application of a benefit agent. The devices are ultrasonic with transducers positioned at an angle other than 90° relative to the surface at which the ultrasound is to be applied.
1 . An ultrasound device, comprising:
a.) a housing having bottom portion comprising an application surface,
b.) a power source positioned in the housing;
c.) an acoustic transducer positioned in the housing in electrical communication with the power source for producing ultrasound waves and oriented such that the ultrasound waves are projected from the transducer at an angle θ of other than 90° relative to the surface of the application surface.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the application surface is adapted to lie on and be substantially parallel with the surface or the skin of a user.
3 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical drive circuit in electrical communication with the transducer and the power source.
4 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the angle θ ranges from 5° to 75° relative to the skin surface of affected area.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the angle θ ranges from 10° to 75° relative to the skin surface of affected area.
6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the angle θ ranges from 10° to 60° relative to the skin surface of affected area.
7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the angle θ ranges from 10° to 45° relative to the skin surface of affected area.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the angle θ ranges from 15° to 30° relative to the skin surface of affected area.
9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the transducer is calibrated to generate acoustic energy at a frequency ranging from about 20 kHz to about 3000 kHz.
10 . The device of claim 9 , wherein the frequency ranges from about 100 kHz to about 1000 kHz.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the frequency ranges from about 250 kHz to about 750 kHz.
12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein ultrasound pressure generated by the device is less than any ultrasound pressure generated by ultrasound waves projected toward the application surface at an angle which is perpendicular relative to the application surface when measured, in each case, using the Ultrasound Pressure Measurement Test described in the Specification hereof.
13 . The device of claim 12 wherein the ultrasound pressure is at least a 5 fold less than ultrasound pressure generated by ultrasound waves projected toward the application surface at an angle which is perpendicular relative to the application surface when measured, in each case, using the Ultrasound Pressure Measurement Test described in the Specification hereof.
14 . The device of claim 13 wherein the ultrasound pressure is at least 10 fold less than ultrasound pressure generated by ultrasound waves projected toward the application surface at an angle which is perpendicular relative to the application surface when measured, in each case, using the Ultrasound Pressure Measurement Test described in the Specification hereof.
15 . The device of claim 14 wherein the ultrasound pressure is at least 15 fold less than ultrasound pressure generated by ultrasound waves projected toward the application surface at an angle which is perpendicular relative to the application surface when measured, in each case, using the Ultrasound Pressure Measurement Test described in the Specification hereof.
16 . A method of treating skin using the device of claim 1 .
17 . A method of enhancing penetration of a benefit agent into skin using the device of claim 1 .
18 . A method of conditioning skin for application of a benefit agent using the device of claim 1 .