IONTOPHORESIS DEVICE WITH MULTI-ELECTRODE END PIECE

Abstract

The invention relates to an end piece intended for equipping a device for cosmetic treatment of keratin materials with an electric current, the end piece comprising an application member (6) comprising an electrode (1) and a counter electrode (2), said electrode (1) and counter electrode (2) being separated from one another by an electrically insulating zone (3).

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. An application member configured to be equipped as an end piece of a device for cosmetic treatment of keratin materials with an electric current, the application member comprising: an electrode; a counter electrode; and an electrical insulator separating the electrode and the counter electrode.

16. The application member of claim 15, wherein the application member is configured to rotate about a rotation axis.

17. The application member of claim 16, wherein a thickness of the electrical insulator, taken in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis, is greater than a thickness of the electrode and a thickness of the counter electrode, taken in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis.

18. The application member of claim 15, wherein at least one of the electrode, the counter electrode, or the application member is a ball.

19. The application member of claim 15, wherein the electrical insulator forms a wall that extends from an outer surface of the application member, between the electrode and the thickness of the counter electrode, such that the wall is configured to prevent the diffusion of a cosmetic composition between the electrode and the counter electrode.

20. The application member of claim 15, wherein the electrical insulator is configured to prevent the diffusion of a cosmetic composition between the electrode and the counter electrode.

21. The application member of claim 15, wherein the electrical insulator has an electrical conductivity of less than about 10.sup.−6 S.m.sup.−1 and/or a relative permittivity of greater than about 0.5.

22. The application member of claim 15, wherein the surface of the application member comprises at least one relief.

23. The application member of claim 15, wherein electrical insulator comprises a material selected from electrically insulating polymers, electrically insulating ceramics, or air.

24. The application member of claim 15, wherein the electrical insulator comprises an electrically insulating material selected from a thermoplastic material, a thermosetting material, a silicone material, a thermoplastic elastomeric material, a polyester-based or polyether-based thermoplastic polyurethane, or a PVC-based thermoplastic elastomer.

25. The application member of claim 15, wherein the application member comprises a plurality of electrical insulators, each electrical insulator separating adjacent portions of the electrode and the counter electrode.

26. An iontophoresis device comprising: an application member comprising: an electrode; a counter electrode; and an electrical insulator separating the electrode and the counter electrode; a hand piece connected to the application member; and a power supply configured to provide an electrical current between the electrode and the counter electrode of the application member.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the power supply is configured to selectively change the polarity of the current provided between the electrode and the counter electrode.

28. The device of claim 26, wherein the power supply is configured to provide a sequential current between the electrode and the counter electrode of the application member.

29. The device of claim 26, wherein the power supply is configured to deliver a currently density ranging from about 0.01 mA/cm.sup.2 to about 0.500 mA/cm.sup.2 to a keratin material in contact with the application member.

30. The device of claim 26, further comprising a heat source configured to heat an external surface of the application member, a keratin material treated by the device, or a combination thereof.

31. The device of claim 30, wherein the heat source comprises a heating resistor, a thermoelectric element, or an infrared source.

32. The device of claim 26, further comprising a light source configured to illuminate a keratin material treated by the device.

33. The device of claim 26, further comprising at least one reservoir comprising a cosmetic composition.

34. A cosmetic treatment method comprising: providing an iontophoresis device comprising: an application member comprising: an electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrical insulator separating the electrode and the counter electrode; a hand piece connected to the application member; and a power supply configured to provide an electrical current between the electrode and the counter electrode of the application member; applying an electric current to a keratin material using the application member; and optionally applying a cosmetic composition to the keratin material prior to or during the application of the electric current.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0173] FIG. 1 represents a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of an end piece according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an iontophoresis device 20 including the end piece of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partial and schematic cross-sectional view of an end piece having a ball configuration. FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing electrical connections of the device 20.

[0174] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the end piece comprises an application member 6 intended to equip a hand piece 8 of the iontophoresis device 20. The application member 6 comprises an electrode 1 and a counter electrode 2. The electrode 1 and the counter electrode 2 are separated from one another by an electrically insulating zone 3. The iontophoresis device 20 may optionally comprise one or more supplemental modules 14 chosen from a light source, a heat source, a vibration source, or a combination thereof.

[0175] Referring to FIG. 3, the end piece includes an application member 6 in the form of a ball rotatable around a rotation axis (X). The application member includes an electrode 1, a counter electrode 2, and an insulating zone 3.

[0176] Referring to FIG. 4, the iontophoresis device may include a power source 10, which may be a battery, electrically connected to the application member 6, and a switch 12 configured to control current flow between the power source 10 and the application member 10.

[0177] The electrically insulating zone 3 is formed of a polymeric material selected from those listed in the table below.

TABLE-US-00002 Polymeric material Commercial name Producer HDPE DOW ™ DOW LDPE Elite ® DOW Polypropylene Velvex ™ Styron Polybutadiene Arinte ® DSM PET Rynite ® DuPont Polystyrene Styrosolution ®PS Styrosolution ABS—acrylonitrile Sicoflex ® Ravago butadiene styrene terpolymer PMMA Altuglas ® PMMA Altuglas International- Arkema PVC S-58-02 Shin Etsu Silicones Tego ® RC Silicones Evonik Industries TPE Enflex ® Ravago TPU Irogran ® Huntsman Thermoplastic polyester Hytrel ® DuPont elastomer

[0178] The electrically insulating zone 3 forms a bar between the electrode 1 and the counter electrode 2. This bar is defined by:

[0179] a height h greater than the thickness e of the electrode and of the counter electrode,

[0180] a width L.sub.2 equal to the distance L.sub.1 between the electrode and the counter electrode.

[0181] In this example, the length of the wall is equal to the length of the electrode and of the counter electrode.

[0182] FIG. 1 illustrates the paths of the active agents A located close to the electrodes that have the same charge. It is observed that they are repelled towards the skin S and that they do not pass directly towards the other electrode. Thus, the quality of the cosmetic treatment is improved.

[0183] The present invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, and with reference to a particular example, but it is understood that other variants may be envisaged by a person skilled in the art, in particular the number and types of electrodes may vary and arrangements other than those described may be envisaged in order to form appliances according to the invention. In particular, the shape of the end piece may vary or the position of the electrodes and the counter electrode. Similarly, the geometry or the composition of the electrically insulating zone 3 may vary.

[0184] Preferably, the application member of the end piece can rotate about a rotation axis (X).

[0185] More preferably, the application member of the end piece is a ball.

[0186] More preferably still, the application member comprises at least one relief.