Hand-held microneedling device for local puncturing of a skin, skin puncturing device, and item

Abstract

The invention relates to a hand-held microneedling device (1; 20) for local puncturing of a skin, comprising a housing (2); a drive device which is arranged in the housing (2) and is configured to provide a drive force; a skin puncturing device (6); a microneedling puncturing tool (8) which is formed on the skin puncturing device (6) and is connected to the drive device such that, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool (8) can be moved back and forth at a repetition rate by means of the drive force; and a needle plate (9) which is formed on the microneedling puncturing tool (8) and on which a plurality of puncturing needles (10) are arranged distributed over a front-side application surface (11); wherein, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool (8) can be moved back and forth, between a front working position and a rear working position which is retracted in comparison thereto, by means of the drive force at the repetition rate. Furthermore, a skin puncturing device (6) for a hand-held microneedling device and an article are provided.

Claims

1. A hand-held microneedling device for local puncturing of a skin, comprising: a housing; a drive device which is arranged in the housing and which is configured to provide a drive force; a skin puncturing device; a microneedling puncturing tool which is formed on the skin puncturing device and is connected to the drive device such that, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool moves back and forth by means of the drive force at a repetition rate; and a needle plate which is formed on the microneedling puncturing tool and on which a plurality of puncturing needles are distributed over a front-side application surface; wherein, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool moves back and forth by means of the drive force at the repetition rate, between a front working position and a rear working position which is retracted in comparison thereto.

2. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein, when moving between the front working position and the rear working position, at least the plurality of puncturing needles of the needle plate in the front working position and the rear working position of the microneedling puncturing tool are arranged entirely outside the housing and are thus arranged in an exposed manner.

3. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein, during operation, at least the front-side application surface in the front working position and the retracted rear working position of the microneedling puncturing tool is arranged entirely outside the housing and is thus arranged in an exposed manner.

4. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein, in the microneedling puncturing tool, the needle plate is formed without a housing portion of the housing that at least partially encompasses the needle plate.

5. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 4, wherein the needle plate is arranged on a housing portion of the housing which moves together with the microneedling puncturing tool when said microneedling puncturing tool moves back and forth during operation.

6. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 4, wherein the needle plate is integrally formed on the housing portion of the housing.

7. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein a front housing part which is associated with the skin puncturing device is provided in the form of a sleeve at the rear and at least partially encloses a rear housing part which is associated with the drive device.

8. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein the skin puncturing device is detachably arranged on the housing.

9. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 8, wherein the drive device is formed with a drive device for an electric toothbrush which is configured to be optionally detachably coupled to the skin puncturing device or to a toothbrush attachment that can be operated by means of the drive device.

10. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 8, wherein, in the microneedling puncturing tool, the needle plate is formed without a housing portion of the housing that at least partially encompasses the needle plate and wherein the microneedling puncturing tool together with the housing portion is detachable from the housing.

11. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein the microneedling puncturing tool can be displaced through an opening at a front-side housing end of the housing into a non-working position which is further retracted in comparison to the retracted rear working position, in which non-working position at least the front-side application surface of the needle plate is retracted in relation to the opening.

12. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 11, wherein, when displaced through the opening, the needle plate is, on one or more sides, at a distance from an edge surrounding the opening.

13. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 11, wherein the needle plate, in the further retracted non-working position, is arranged in an exposed manner at a distance from housing portions of the housing surrounding the needle plate.

14. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device is arranged in a reusable drive module, and the skin puncturing device is arranged in a disposable module which is detachably connected to the drive module.

15. The hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, wherein the drive device is configured to move, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool back and forth by means of the drive force introduced thereupon at a repetition rate of between approximately 10 Hz and approximately 200 Hz.

16. A skin puncturing device having a housing configured to be coupled to a drive device so as to form a hand-held microneedling device according to claim 1, comprising: a microneedling puncturing tool which is formed on the skin puncturing device and connectable to the drive device such that, during operation, the microneedling puncturing tool moves back and forth at a repetition rate by means of a drive force provided by the drive device; and a needle plate which is formed on the microneedling puncturing tool and on which a plurality of puncturing needles are distributed over a front-side application surface; wherein the microneedling puncturing tool is moveable back and forth between a front working position and a rear working position which is retracted in comparison thereto, and wherein at least the plurality of puncturing needles of the needle plate in the front working position and the rear working position of the microneedling puncturing tool are arranged entirely outside the housing and are thus arranged in an exposed manner.

17. A kit, comprising: a drive device which is arranged in a housing; a toothbrush attachment configured for detachable connection to the housing and thus to be coupled to the drive device to form an electric toothbrush; and a skin puncturing device configured for detachable connection to the housing and thus to be coupled to the drive device to form a hand-held microneedling device, wherein one of the toothbrush attachment and the skin puncturing device can be connected to the housing at any one time.

18. The kit according to claim 17, wherein the drive device is configured to form a handpiece.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0035] Further embodiments are explained below with reference to Figures of a drawing, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective representation of a hand-held microneedling device;

[0037] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective representation of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 1, a puncturing module having a microneedling puncturing tool being detached;

[0038] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective representation of a front portion of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 1, the microneedling puncturing tool having the needle plate being arranged in a front working position;

[0039] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective representation of the front portion of the hand-held microneedling device, the microneedling puncturing tool having the needle plate being arranged in a retracted rear working position;

[0040] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective representation of the front portion of the hand-held microneedling device, a cover cap being fitted on the front side of the microneedling puncturing tool, covering the needle plate;

[0041] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective representation of the front portion of the hand-held microneedling device, partially in section with the cover cap in place;

[0042] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective representation of the front portion of the hand-held microneedling device, partially in section with the cover cap removed;

[0043] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective representation of an electric toothbrush;

[0044] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective representation of a further hand-held microneedling device;

[0045] FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective representation of a front housing part of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 9 in section;

[0046] FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective representation of the front housing part of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 9, the needle plate of the puncturing tool being arranged in a retracted non-working position;

[0047] FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective representation of the front housing part of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 9, the needle plate of the puncturing tool in a front working position being arranged in an exposed manner;

[0048] FIG. 13 is a schematic perspective representation of the front housing part of the hand-held microneedling device from FIG. 9, the needle plate in a retracted rear working position being arranged in an exposed manner; and

[0049] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective representation of the cover or protective cap.

[0050] FIGS. 1 to 7 are perspective representations of a hand-held microneedling device 1 which has a housing 2 which in the example shown is configured in several parts. The housing 2 is formed with a rear housing part 3 and a front housing part 4, which are associated with a drive module 5 and a skin puncturing device 6 which is detachably arranged thereon and with which a puncturing module 7 is optionally formed. According to FIG. 2, the skin puncturing device 6 and thus optionally the puncturing module 7 are removable from the drive module 5 and are thus exchangeable. In the example shown, the drive module 5 and skin puncturing device 6 are detachably connected by a plug connection.

[0051] In the rear housing part 3, which is associated with the drive module 5, a drive device is arranged, for example an electric motor, with which a drive movement or force is provided, which drive movement or force is coupled to a microneedling puncturing tool 8 of the skin puncturing device 6, in order to move the microneedling puncturing tool 8 back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 at a repetition rate by means of the drive force provided. In this way, the microneedling puncturing tool 8 which is formed with a needle plate 9 is repetitively displaced according to FIGS. 3 and 4 between a front working position (FIG. 3) and a rear working position (FIG. 4). In this way, during operation, a plurality of puncturing needles 10 that protrude from the needle plate 9 in the region of an application surface 11 are locally punctured into an associated portion of skin and withdrawn again. The needle plate 9 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 is arranged in an exposed manner both in the front and in the rear working position according to FIGS. 3 and 4, i.e. in particular not completely or partially surrounded by a portion of the housing 2 and thus outside an interior space 12 of the housing 2. In this way, the local portion of skin which comes into contact with the plurality of puncturing needles 10 can vibrate freely due to the back and forth movement of the microneedling puncturing tool 8 having the needle plate 9, which supports efficient and painless puncturing of the skin.

[0052] In the example shown, the plurality of puncturing needles 10 are arranged in associated openings 13 in the region of the application surface 11 on the needle plate 9 and are fixed therein, for example by means of gluing or soldering. In another embodiment, the plurality of puncturing needles 10 can be placed on the application surface 11, for example by means of welding. Alternatively, the puncturing needles 10 can be formed thereon by means of an injection molding process or can be integrated as insert components. Above the application surface 11, the plurality of puncturing needles can all have substantially the same needle length or different needle lengths, it being possible for groups of the plurality of puncturing needles 10 to have the same needle length.

[0053] In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the skin puncturing device 6, and thus optionally the puncturing module 7, is/are plugged on by means of a coupling 14 which is formed with a drive-side coupling part 14a and a piercing tool-side coupling part 14b. The coupling 14 is configured, for example, as a magnetic coupling between the drive-side coupling part 14a and the piercing tool-side coupling part 14b (cf. FIG. 6). The initiation of the drive force/movement for moving the needle plate 9 with the puncturing needles 10 back and forth takes place via the coupling 14.

[0054] In the example shown, an anti-twist device 15 is provided, which secures the puncturing module or puncturing tool module 6 against twisting.

[0055] According to FIG. 5, during non-operation, the needle plate 9 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 can be covered by a cover cap 16 which is detachably fitted and can thus be removed for operation. In the example shown, the cover cap 16 is attached.

[0056] FIGS. 6 and 7 show the front portion of the hand-held microneedling device 1, partially in section, with and without the cover cap 16. The result is that the plurality of puncturing needles 10 run in associated bores 17 in the needle plate 9 and are received on a needle holder 18 on the back of the needle plate 9.

[0057] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective representation of an electric toothbrush 19 in which a front housing part 19a is formed with a toothbrush attachment 19b which is fitted thereon instead of the skin puncturing device 6 and is coupled to the drive device in the rear housing part 3 of the housing 2, so that the drive force (back-and-forth movement) is used to move a brush assembly 19c during operation. The skin puncturing device 6 and the toothbrush attachment 19b can thus optionally be detachably fitted and be operated with one and the same drive module 5, so that either the hand-held microneedling device 1 or the electric toothbrush 19 is provided.

[0058] FIGS. 9 to 13 show a further hand-held microneedling device 20 in which the microneedling puncturing tool 8 having the needle plate 9 can be displaced through a front-side housing opening 21 on the skin puncturing device 6 (puncturing module 7) between a retracted nonworking position according to FIGS. 9 to 11 and extended working positions according to FIGS. 12 and 13.

[0059] During non-operation, the needle plate 9 of the skin puncturing device 6 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 arranged thereon can be retracted behind the surface of the housing opening 21 such that, according to FIG. 9, both the needle plate 9 and the puncturing needles 10 are arranged entirely behind the housing opening 21 in the interior space 12 of the front housing part 4 which is associated with the skin puncturing device 6 in the embodiment shown. On the front housing part 4, the housing opening 21 is formed at a front portion 4a.

[0060] During operation for microneedling, the needle plate 9 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 according to FIGS. 12 and 13 is moved back and forth between the front working position (cf. FIG. 12) and the rear working position retracted in relation thereto (cf. FIG. 13), i.e. back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 corresponding to a working stroke, so that the needle plate 9 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 is arranged both in the front and in the rear working position in relation to the housing opening 21 in front of its surface and thus outside the housing 2, in particular outside the front portion 4a of the front housing part 4, which in turn allows a stimulation of the portion of skin to be treated so that it vibrates freely, i.e. without this vibration being hindered by the housing 2, in particular by a front housing edge 22 surrounding the housing opening 21. In the example shown, substantially the entire microneedling puncturing tool 8 is arranged in front of the housing opening 21 during operation. During non-operation, the needle plate 9 can then be displaced into the retracted non-working position according to FIGS. 9 to 10.

[0061] According to the example in FIGS. 9 to 13, the needle plate 9 is circumferentially and continuously at a distance from the housing edge 22, i.e. without contact, when it is passed through the housing opening 21.

[0062] It can be provided that the needle plate 9 can assume a plurality of different retracted nonworking positions within the front housing part 4 behind the housing opening 21, which positions differ in terms of their corresponding distance from the housing opening.

[0063] In the region of the coupling 14, the rear-side, puncturing tool-side coupling part 14b of the skin puncturing device 6 according to FIG. 10 is (detachably) connected to the drive-side coupling part 14a which is configured in this case as a shaft component, to couple the provided drive force/movement to the microneedling puncturing tool 8 having the needle plate 9.

[0064] FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective representation of another embodiment of the protective or cover cap 16 having a functional tool 16a. Openings 40 are provided on the cover cap 16. In the example shown, the openings are arranged in the region of a lateral surface 41 of the cover cap 16 and thus form lateral openings. Alternatively or additionally, in other embodiments, such openings can be arranged in the region of the front surface 16c (cf. FIG. 5). For example, the openings 40 can be used to carry out gas sterilization for the needle plate 9 having the plurality of puncturing needles 10 when the cover cap 16 is attached. The lateral openings 40 shown in FIG. 14 have the advantage that the ingress of dust particles to the needle plate 9 and dust deposits caused thereby are reduced.

[0065] On the cover cap 16 which covers the plurality of puncturing needles 10 when it is fitted, the functional tool 16a is arranged, which in the embodiment shown is formed with an arrangement of functional elements 16b which are, for example, massage elements. The cover cap 16 is thus configured as a multifunctional cap. In the embodiment shown, the functional elements 16b are configured in particular in the region of a front or end face 16c of the cover cap 16.

[0066] Alternatively, the cover cap 16 can have, at least on the outside, an inclined end face with a functional tool. The possibility for the functional tool to be folded away is also conceivable, or also an axially displaceable sleeve without missing cover surface or with a cover surface that has been broken through for the functional tool (comparable to a type of drill bit with tools on the circumference or on the remaining top surface), or the possibility for the functional tool to be switched on and off, for example, by a rotary gate cam control using a rotary slide movement.

[0067] Other functional tools can be provided on the cover cap 16, for example silicone nubs, gripping and pinching tools made of resilient material and/or alternately directed stimulation tools, which in turn achieve a puncture-like (puncture simulating) effect on the skin and thereby cause the skin to spread. Alternative functional tools for skin stimulation can be provided which differ from the aforementioned, for example with regard to a tip radius or tip angle.

[0068] In one embodiment, the needle plate 9 can be configured as a reversible plate or reversible insert, such that different functional tools can be arranged thereon in an exchangeable or detachable manner in order to provide a plurality of functions or to compensate for wear. These may also be interchangeable inserts that are detachably arranged on the needle plate 9 depending on the desired application. Reversible inserts can carry tools on both sides. The interchangeable inserts can be selected from an assortment or a graded set of tool properties.

[0069] The features disclosed in the above description, the claims, and the drawings may be of relevance, both individually and also in any combination, for implementing the various embodiments.