Fluid skin treatment systems and methods

Abstract

Devices and methods for dermatology and more particularly to fluid enhanced skin treatment system for skin rejuvenation that can use an abrasive probe for removing epidermal layers while contemporaneously providing for the infusion of therapeutic fluids into the skin.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A tissue treatment device for use with a treatment media source and a vacuum source, the device comprising:
 a housing and carrying a distal tip configured to contact a tissue surface;   a plurality of flexible elements extending on an outer surface of the distal tip towards a central shaft portion of the distal tip, where the flexible elements include a plurality of abrasive elements;   a motor configured to cause movement of the central shaft portion in a reciprocating motion that is relative to an axis of the distal tip;   a first aperture arrangement in the distal tip consisting of at least one port in communication with the treatment media source; and   a second aperture arrangement in the distal tip consisting of at least one port in communication with the vacuum source for removing treatment media and removed tissue during a treatment procedure.   
     
     
         3 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the distal tip is configured for detachable coupling to a handpiece. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , where the plurality of flexible elements extends outward from a center hub of the distal tip such that the reciprocating motion of the distal tip causes the flexible elements to move in an arc over a skin of a patient. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of flexible elements extend in a partial spiral shape outward from a center hub of the distal tip. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , where the plurality of flexible elements comprise a plurality of spiral elements that are deformable and spring-like. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of flexible elements comprise projecting elements. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , where the plurality of flexible elements comprise a lower durometer material located at a distal end. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , where the plurality of flexible elements comprises a plurality of abrasive elements. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the motor includes a plurality of drive magnets and a plurality of actuator magnets, where the plurality of drive magnets and the plurality of actuator magnets are offset from a central axis of the central shaft portion, the plurality of actuator magnets are coupled to the central shaft portion such that driving of the plurality of drive magnets by the motor causes movement of the plurality of actuator magnets to cause rotational actuation of the central portion. 
     
     
         11 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the motor is configured to vibrate to cause movement of the central shaft portion independent of the housing to displace the plurality of flexible elements. 
     
     
         12 . The tissue treatment device of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of flexible elements are spaced apart from each other. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a skin of a patient, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of flexible elements of an abrasion device against the skin of the patient, where the plurality of flexible elements extend on an outer surface abrasion device from a periphery of the abrasion device towards a central shaft portion, where the plurality of flexible elements include a plurality of abrasive elements;   actuating the plurality of flexible elements with a motor such that movement of the plurality of flexible elements causes the plurality of abrasive elements to remove a tissue debris from a surface of the skin of the patient;   delivering a fluid between the plurality of flexible elements such that the fluid contacts the skin of the patient;   providing a negative pressure at the plurality of flexible elements to aspirate the fluid and the tissue debris.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , where the plurality of flexible elements extends outward from a center hub such that the reciprocating motion causes the plurality of flexible elements to move in an arc over the skin of the patient. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , where the plurality of flexible elements are spaced apart and extend in a partial spiral shape outward from the center hub and where actuating the plurality of flexible elements in the reciprocating motion causes the spiral shape to deform or twist. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , where the plurality of flexible elements further include a plurality of ports therein, where the fluid is delivered through at least one port of the plurality of ports, where each port of the plurality of flexible elements is fluidly coupled to a microchannel between adjacent flexible elements. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , where the plurality of flexible elements comprise a lower durometer material located at a distal end. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , where the abrasion device comprises a plurality of actuator magnets and where actuating the plurality of flexible elements comprises driving a plurality of drive magnets with the motor to cause the plurality of actuator magnets to cause motion of the plurality of flexible elements, where the plurality of drive magnets and the plurality of actuator magnets are offset from a central axis of the central shaft portion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adjusting a distance between the plurality of actuator magnets and the plurality of drive magnets to increase an actuation force applied during actuating the flexible elements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the abrasion device comprises a switch located on a body, the method further comprising using the switch to adjust either:
 an actuation force applied during actuating the plurality of flexible elements;   a frequency of an actuation of the plurality of flexible elements; and/or   delivery of the fluid from the abrasion device.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising rotating the central shaft portion to displace the plurality of flexible elements such that a surface of a distal tip reciprocates in a rotational motion independent of the housing.