Adjustable misting arrays

Abstract

An adjustable misting system and method for treating a region of a biological surface is presented. In an embodiment, a reconfigurable misting nebulizer includes a first misting panel having a plurality of apertures configured to atomize a formulation, and a second misting panel coupled to the first misting panel having a plurality of apertures configured to atomize the formulation. In some embodiments, a relative position of the first misting panel with respect to the second misting panel is adjustable.

Claims

1. A reconfigurable misting nebulizer, comprising: a first misting panel having a plurality of openings configured to atomize a formulation; a second misting panel coupled to the first misting panel, the second misting panel having a plurality of openings configured to atomize the formulation; and a source of an alternating current (AC) connected to the first and second misting panels, wherein a relative position of the first misting panel with respect to the second misting panel is adjustable, wherein the first and second misting panels are each fabricated from piezoelectric material, and wherein the first and second misting panels are configured to vibrate in response to the AC, wherein the first misting panel and the second misting panel are hingedly coupled, and wherein: the first misting panel and the second misting panel are coplanar when the nebulizer is in its operating configuration; and the first misting panel and the second misting panel are folded to face each other when the nebulizer is in its storage configuration.

2. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the first misting panel has a first surface area and the second misting panel has a second surface area, and wherein the first surface area is different from the second surface area.

3. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the first misting panel and the second misting panel belong to a first plurality of misting panels, the nebulizer further comprising a second plurality of misting panels hingedly coupled with corresponding misting panels of the first plurality of misting panels.

4. The nebulizer of claim 3, wherein the first plurality of misting panels and the second plurality of misting panels form a surface contour that corresponds to an opposing surface contour of user's skin.

5. The nebulizer of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings of the first misting panel and of the second misting panel are configured for transporting the formulation from first sides of the individual misting panels to opposing second sides of the individual misting panels, and wherein the second sides of the individual misting panels face user's skin.

6. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising: a reservoir configured to hold the formulation in contact with the first and second misting panels; and a pump configured to pressurize the formulation inside the reservoir.

7. The nebulizer of claim 1, further comprising: a proximity detector configured to sense a distance between the nebulizer and a user; and a controller configured to activate the nebulizer upon receiving a proximity signal from the proximity detector.

8. A reconfigurable misting nebulizer, comprising: a first misting panel having a plurality of openings configured to atomize a formulation; a second misting panel hingedly coupled to the first misting panel, the second misting panel having a plurality of openings configured to atomize the formulation, wherein: the first misting panel and the second misting panel are coplanar when the nebulizer is in its operating configuration, and the first misting panel and the second misting panel are folded to face each other when the nebulizer is in its storage configuration; a first source of alternating current (AC) connected to the first misting panel, wherein the first misting panel is fabricated from piezoelectric material configured to vibrate in response to the first source of AC; and a second source of AC connected to the second misting panel, wherein the second misting panel is fabricated from piezoelectric material configured to vibrate in response to the second source of AC, wherein a relative position of the first misting panel with respect to the second misting panel is adjustable.

9. The nebulizer of claim 8, wherein the first source of AC operates at a first frequency, wherein the second source of AC operates at a second frequency, and wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency.

10. A reconfigurable misting nebulizer, comprising: a foldable misting panel having a plurality of openings configured to atomize a formulation, wherein the foldable misting panel has a first configuration when the nebulizer is in an operating configuration, and wherein the foldable misting panel has a second configuration when the nebulizer is in a storage configuration, wherein the first configuration of the foldable misting panel is generally cylindrical or semispherical, and wherein the second configuration of the foldable misting panel is generally spiral.

11. The nebulizer of claim 10, wherein the first configuration of the foldable misting panel has a first shape that corresponds to an opposing shape of a surface of a user's skin.

12. The nebulizer of claim 10, wherein the foldable misting panel is fabricated from piezoelectric material, the nebulizer further comprising a source of an alternating current (AC) connected to the foldable misting panel, and wherein the foldable misting panel is configured to vibrate in response to the AC.

13. The nebulizer of claim 12, wherein a frequency of AC is within a range of ultrasound frequencies.

14. The nebulizer of claim 10, further comprising: a reservoir configured to hold the formulation in contact with the foldable misting panel; and a pump configured to pressurize the formulation inside the reservoir.

15. The nebulizer of claim 10, further comprising: a proximity detector configured to sense a distance between the nebulizer and a user; and a controller configured to activate the nebulizer upon receiving a proximity signal from the proximity detector.

16. The nebulizer of claim 10, wherein the formulation is selected from a group consisting of lotion, sunscreen, water, fragrance and makeup.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with prior art;

(3) FIG. 2 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with prior art;

(4) FIG. 3 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with the present technology;

(5) FIG. 4 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with the present technology;

(6) FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively side and front views of misting panels in accordance with the present technology;

(7) FIG. 5 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with the present technology;

(8) FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of a misting panel in accordance with the present technology; and

(9) FIG. 6 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer in accordance with the present technology.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) The following description provides several examples of reconfigurable misting nebulizers, such as systems used to apply an atomized formulation to a skin portion.

(11) FIG. 3 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer 1000 in accordance with the present technology. In some embodiments, a reservoir or a cartridge 110 contains a misting material or formulation 16 (e.g., liquid lotion, sunscreen, water, fragrance, makeup, etc.). In different embodiments, the formulation 16 may be a liquid or gel. The cartridge 110 may be held against a misting panel 400 by mechanical means (e.g., clips, fasteners, elastomer, etc.). The cartridge 110 may be partially porous or open on the side that faces the misting panel 400, thus allowing the formulation 16 to flow through the openings 402 of the misting panel 400.

(12) In different embodiments, the atomization of the formulation 16 is achieved by different modalities. For example, in some embodiments, the cartridge 110 may be pressurized by a source of pressure 420 (e.g., a pump, a source of compressed air, a miniature compressor, etc.). The elevated pressure inside the cartridge 110 drives the formulation 16 through the openings 402 of the misting panel 400, thus generating aerosol particles 30 in the direction of user 50.

(13) In other embodiments, the misting panel 400 is energized by an energy source 410. For example, the misting panel 400 may be manufactured of piezoelectric material that expands and constricts when energized by alternate current (AC). As a result, the misting panel 400 vibrates at the frequency of AC, drawing the formulation 16 into the openings 402 as a liquid or gel, and ejecting aerosol particles 30 out of the openings 402. The magnitude and frequency of AC may at least in part define size and flow rate of aerosol particles 30. In some embodiments, frequency of the AC may be within an audible (sonic) or ultrasonic range.

(14) In some embodiments, multiple modalities for generating aerosol are used. For example, the cartridge 110 may be pressurized while the vibrating misting panel 400 is energized through the AC source 410.

(15) In some embodiments, the openings 402 have different sizes in different regions of the misting panel 400. A user may select an operating region of the misting panel 400 by, for example, occluding the non-used portions of the misting panel 400, thus controlling, for example, a flow rate of the formulation 16.

(16) In some embodiments, the openings 402 are formed at different angles with respect to the plane of the misting panel 400. As a result, the flow of the aerosol 30 may be directed to different portions of skin of the user 50.

(17) FIG. 4 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer 1000 in accordance with the present technology. The illustrated nebulizer includes a cartridge 110 inside a nebulizer housing 210. The cartridge 110 delivers the formulation to a misting panel 400. In the illustrated embodiment, the misting panel 400 is energized by the AC energy source 410, but in different embodiments other modes of atomizing the formulation are possible.

(18) The nebulizer 1000 includes several misting panels 400-1, 400-2, 400-3, etc. (collectively, misting array or adjustable misting array). In some embodiments, the misting panels are hingedly interconnected using joining elements 404. As a result, the outer surface of the group of misting panels may be configurable into a shape that, for example, corresponds to the shape of the opposing skin surface of the user. Some embodiments of the interconnected misting panels 400-i are described with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B below.

(19) FIGS. 4A and 4B are respectively side and front views of the misting panels in accordance with the present technology. FIG. 4A illustrates the misting panels 400-i (adjustable misting array) that are interconnected through the joining elements 404-i. In different embodiments, the joining elements 404-i may be hinges, magnetic elements, sleeves configured to hold edges of the misting panels, etc. Because the misting panels 400-i can be arranged in different relative positions with respect to each other, the collective outer surface of the misting panels may be constructed to at least partially follow the opposing surface of the user's skin. In at least some embodiments, when the nebulizer is not in operation, the misting panels 400-i may be removed and folded to require less space than the operating position of the misting panels. As a result, the portability of the nebulizer may be increased. In some embodiments, the individual misting panels 400-i are powered by their individual energy sources 410, but in different embodiments the individual misting panels 400-i may be powered by a common energy source 410.

(20) FIG. 4B is a side view of the misting panels 400-i shown in FIG. 4A. Illustrated misting panels 400-i have different lengths and widths, therefore further enabling different shapes of the outer surface contour of the nebulizer. In some embodiments, the individual misting panels 400-i may be curved, therefore adding to the variety and complexity of the shapes that the outer surface contour of the misting panels can have when, for example, conforming to the corresponding surface contour of user's face.

(21) FIG. 5 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer 1000 in accordance with the present technology. In some embodiments, the nebulizer 1000 includes a curved misting panel 400. For example, the openings 400 in the misting panel 400 may be directed toward a focal area or a focal point at the user's face. Therefore, aerosol particles 30 may better target a particular region of the user's skin.

(22) FIG. 5A is a schematic diagram of the misting panel 400 in accordance with the present technology. The illustrated misting panel 400 is arranged in a spiral shape when not in use. As a result, storage space required for the misting panel 400 is reduced and the portability of the nebulizer is improved.

(23) FIG. 6 is a partially schematic diagram of a nebulizer 1000 in accordance with the present technology. The illustrated nebulizer 1000 includes one or more proximity sensors 510. In operation, the proximity sensor 510 emits proximity signals 515 (e.g., ultrasound signal, light signal, etc.) toward the user 50 to estimate a distance between the nebulizer and the user. The proximity signals 515 may be received and processed by a controller 520. In some embodiments, the controller 520 activates the misting panel 400 when a pre-determined distance threshold is reached, therefore keeping the misting panel 400 off when the nebulizer 1000 is too far away from the user 50. As a result, the formulation may be used more effectively and economically.

(24) Many embodiments of the technology described above may take the form of computer- or controller-executable instructions, including routines executed by a programmable computer or controller. Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that the technology can be practiced on computer/controller systems other than those shown and described above. The technology can be embodied in a special-purpose computer, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), controller or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executable instructions described above. Of course, any logic or algorithm described herein can be implemented in software or hardware, or a combination of software and hardware.

(25) From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the technology have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the disclosure. Moreover, while various advantages and features associated with certain embodiments have been described above in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages and/or features, and not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages and/or features to fall within the scope of the technology. Where methods are described, the methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order. Accordingly, the disclosure can encompass other embodiments not expressly shown or described herein.

(26) For the purposes of the present disclosure, lists of two or more elements of the form, for example, at least one of A, B, and C, is intended to mean (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C), and further includes all similar permutations when any other quantity of elements is listed.