Needling device and drug applicator

Abstract

A needling device may be used for needling of a subject's skin, and a drug applicator device may be used for applying a drug to a subject's skin. For example, a needling device may be applied to a subject's skin for hair growth applications, or may be used for wrinkle, scar, or tattoo removal. A drug applicator device may be used for multiple drug application purposes such as applying a hair growth compound to the skin of a subject.

1 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A needling device, comprising:
 a sheath assembly comprising a needle array; and   a main unit comprising a motor for driving the needle array,   wherein the needle array comprises a rectangular base and two substantially parallel rows of needles on the rectangular base; wherein the needles of a first row are offset from the needles of a second row so that a needle on the first row is horizontally displaced from two needles on the second row.   
     
     
         26 .- 64 . (canceled) 
     
     
         65 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein the main unit is configured to be fully encapsulated within the sheath assembly so that all parts of the main unit are protected from the outside environment, characterized in that the sheath assembly further comprises a sheath cap, wherein the sheath cap is removable for inserting or removing the main unit. 
     
     
         66 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein the internal components of the sheath assembly include a bio-barrier as a layer of protection and sealing of the main unit, and a drive shaft interface that is connected to the needles of the needle array and removably attachable to a drive shaft of the needling device. 
     
     
         67 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein
 (i) the base is rectangular; and/or   (ii) the array comprises three or more rows; and/or   (iii) the needles of a first row are offset from the needles of a second row such that a needle on the first row is horizontally between and equidistant from two needles on the second row.   
     
     
         68 . The needling device of  claim 66 , wherein the needles of the needle array are arranged on a needle holder that is secured to the drive shaft interface. 
     
     
         69 . The needling device of  claim 68 , wherein the bio-barrier is securely attached about the needle holder, and wherein the bio-barrier is configured to move axially with the needle holder. 
     
     
         70 . The needling device of  claim 25 ,
 (i) wherein the needle array is driven axially by the motor in a direction that is parallel with a longitudinal axis of the needling device along which the needling device extends,   (ii) the needling device is adapted to perform needling of a human scalp for promoting hair growth, of skin tissue for skin repair, or of scar tissue for scar removal, wherein preferably the needling device is adapted to treat baldness or chemotherapy-induced alopecia; or   (iii) the needling device is adapted to disrupt a basal or suprabasal epidermal layer of a human skin.   
     
     
         71 . The needling device of  claim 65 , wherein the sheath assembly keeps the main unit substantially germ free, sterile, or free from biological contamination as a result of fully encapsulating the main unit. 
     
     
         72 . The needling device of  claim 65 , wherein the main unit further comprises a main unit cap and the sheath cap is configured to rotate the main unit cap. 
     
     
         73 . The needling device of  claim 65 , wherein the sheath cap is configured to control a depth of the needle array without removing the fully encapsulated main unit from within the sheath assembly, wherein the depth of the needle array ranges from a depth extending beyond an end of the sheath assembly and towards a subject's skin to a depth that is fully retracted within the sheath assembly and away from the subject's skin. 
     
     
         74 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein the needling device further comprises one or more buttons for controlling the needling device positioned on a surface of the sheath assembly without removing the fully encapsulated main unit from within the sheath assembly. 
     
     
         75 . The needling device of  claim 74 , wherein the one or more buttons are configured to control one or more of a depth of the needle array, a speed of needling, a power of the needling device, and a LED for illumination of a perturbation area. 
     
     
         76 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein:
 the main unit further comprises a main unit cap and a drive shuttle chassis for controlling a depth of the needle array, and in response to a user rotating the sheath cap, the main unit cap is rotated, the drive shuttle chassis is axially displaced, and the depth of the needle array is adjusted; and/or   the needle array comprises a rectangular base.   
     
     
         77 . The needling device of  claim 76 , wherein the needling device eliminates dragging of needles in a subject's skin. 
     
     
         78 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein the main unit further comprises a drive shaft interface that is configured to contact the needle array for controlling needling. 
     
     
         79 . The needling device of  claim 78 , wherein the main unit further comprises a drive cam and the drive cam is attached to the drive shaft interface for actively controlling a positive and return motion of the needle array, the positive motion being towards a skin of a subject and the return motion being away from the skin of the subject and towards the needling device. 
     
     
         80 . The needling device of  claim 79 , wherein
 (i) the needling device is configured to eliminate vibration to reduce fatigue to a user's hand while operating the needling device, or   (ii) the drive cam comprises a slot that retains a pin attached to the drive shaft for reducing a vibration of the needle array.   
     
     
         81 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein the main unit further comprises a drive cam that is attached to the motor for controlling a positive and return motion of needling, the positive motion being towards a skin of a subject and the return motion being away from the skin of the subject and towards the needling device. 
     
     
         82 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein
 (i) the needling device further comprises a means for emitting infrared rays, wherein follicles of a subject's scalp can be stimulated using both the needle array and the emitted infrared rays, or   (ii) the needling device further comprises a light for illuminating a target region on a subject's skin.   
     
     
         83 . The needling device of  claim 25 , wherein needle array is configured so as to provide for a quicker and more efficient needling operation in contrast to a rounded arrangement of needles or a circular needle array.