Home use device and method for treating skin conditions

Abstract

Skin tissue is subjected to thermal energy that creates heating of the area being treated causing pores and follicle ducts to open so that excess oil, sebum, fatty deposits, or other unwanted deposits can be removed. A vacuum device is used to direct suction to the treated skin area helping to remove the unwanted deposits. Patterned thermal modification of tissue is used to expedite healing and minimize pain. The heating is controlled so that no skin tissue is damaged while still providing enough heat to the skin to alter the flow of sebum and destroy bacteria in the treated area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for treating a region of intact living skin having a surface and an epidermal/dermal junction, comprising:
 a. an energy source;   b. a treatment head comprising an electrical resistance heater, a treatment tip having an area of between 0.2 cm 2  and 9 cm 2  configured to be placed against a skin surface, and a layer of electrically insulating but thermally conducting material in thermal contact with the treatment head, wherein the treatment head is configured to provide a thermal energy pulse at the treatment tip responsive to energy provided by the energy source;   c. a controller that cooperates with the energy source to provide sufficient energy to the electrical resistance heater to heat the treatment tip and thereby create the energy pulse with the treatment head, wherein the controller controls and limits the energy provided to the electrical resistance heater such that the energy is provided to the electrical resistance heater to create an energy pulse; having a duration of no more than 100 sec, and the energy pulse delivers an average energy density of 5 J/cm 2  or less from the treatment tip, and heats the treatment tip to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius; and   d. a source providing suction.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the treatment tip has an area of between 0.2 cm 2  and 9 cm 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the energy is provided to the electrical resistance heater to create an energy pulse having a duration of no more than 100 sec, and the energy pulse delivers an average energy density of 5 J/cm 2  or less from the treatment tip, and heats the treatment tip to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source providing suction provides suction to the surface of the skin at the same location that the energy is applied. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source providing suction provides suction to the surface of the skin before the application of energy. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source providing suction provides suction to the surface of the skin after the application of energy. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source providing suction provides suction to the surface of the skin during the application of energy. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the source of suction is a vacuum pump. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact suction head connected to the source providing suction. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the energy source and the controller are located in a common hand-holdable housing. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein a first side of the layer of thermally conducting material defines the treatment area. 
     
     
         12 . A device comprising:
 a. a hand-holdable housing;   b. an energy source, wherein the energy source comprises a battery and a capacitor;   c. a heating element comprising a resistive heater and a treatment tip, wherein the treatment tip comprises a diameter of between 0.2 mm and 10 cm;   d. a controller configured to trigger the capacitor to release its discharge capacity to the heating element; and   e. a source providing suction, wherein the capacitor is configured to have a discharge capacity sufficient to provide a thermal energy pulse from the treatment tip of between 0.5 J/cm 2  and 5 J/cm 2 , and to heat the treatment tip to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius.   
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the treatment tip comprises a diameter of between 0.2 mm and 10 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the capacitor is configured to have a discharge capacity sufficient to provide a thermal energy pulse from the treatment tip of between 0.5 J/cm 2  and 5 J/cm 2 , and to heat the treatment tip to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a. a user interface on the hand-holdable housing, wherein the user interface comprises:   b. a charge button configured to effectuate charging of the capacitor when the charge button is activated by a user;   c. a fire button configured to cause, when activated by a user, the controller to trigger the capacitor to release its discharge capacity to the heating element.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the resistive heater comprises a flat conductor. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the source providing suction provides suction at the treatment tip. 
     
     
         18 . A device for treating a region of intact living skin having a surface and an epidermal/dermal junction, comprising:
 a. an energy source;   b. a treatment head comprising a thermal heater, a treatment tip comprising a layer of thermally conducting material in thermal contact with the thermal heater and comprising a diameter between 0.2 mm and 10 cm configured to be placed against a skin surface, wherein the treatment head is configured to provide a thermal energy pulse at the treatment tip responsive to energy provided by the energy source;   c. a controller that cooperates with the energy source to provide sufficient energy to the thermal heater to heat the treatment tip and thereby create the energy pulse with the treatment head, wherein the controller controls and limits the energy provided by the energy source such that the energy is provided to the thermal heater to create an energy pulse having a duration of no more than 100 sec, and the energy pulse delivers an average energy density of 5 J/cm 2  or less from the treatment tip, and heats the treatment tip to a temperature of at least 50 degrees Celsius; and   d. a source of suction.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said thermal heater is selected from the group consisting essentially of a light source, an RF Source, an Ultrasound source, an EM energy source, and an electric heater. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , wherein said thermally conducting material comprises a material capable of transferring said energy pulse to the skin.