8535 results about "Wrinkle" patented technology

A vacuum filtration apparatus (900) for detecting microorganisms and particulates in liquid samples. The apparatus includes a base (901), an absorbent pad (991), a filter (990), a funnel (930), and a lid (960). The funnel is releasably attached to the base, and may contain an integral flexible seal for releasably sealing the filter to the base. The outer wall of the lid may be segmented to make it flexible, this flexibility allows it to be releasably attached to the funnel or the base. The apparatus is designed so that any funnel will fit any base, and any lid will fit any base or any funnel when all parts are manufactured to normal tolerances. The apparatus may be configured to to keep the filter wrinkle free in both the dry and wet states.

A method of lipolysis. The method comprises deforming a region of skin so that the region of skin protrudes from surrounding skin. One or more radio frequency (RF) electrodes are positioned on the protruding region of skin so as to generate an electrical current through adipose tissue in the protruding region of skin when a voltage is applied to the electrode or electrodes. A voltage is then applied to the electrode or electrodes so as to deliver sufficient RF energy to the protruding region of skin to damage subcutaneous adipose tissue. The method of the invention may be used, for example, to achieve a reduction in body weight, cellulite reduction, loose skin reduction, wrinkle treatment, body surface tightening, skin tightening, and collagen remodeling.

An apparatus and method for reducing wrinkles in the skin tissue of a patient. The method includes detecting a nerve. The nerve can be detected by inserting an electrode into the skin tissue, delivering a current and then observing any stimulation of muscle tissue. The process of inserting the electrode, delivering current and detecting muscle stimulation may be repeated at a plurality of different skin location to trace the nerve. Once the nerve is traced, the electrode can be inserted into the skin at various locations, either at or adjacent to the nerve, and deliver energy into the tissue at a level sufficient to disrupt interaction between the nerve and the adjacent muscle. Once the nerve / muscle interaction is disrupted the muscle will be relaxed and the wrinkle(s) will either be removed or reduced.

The application of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors to the skin inhibits the degradation of proteins found in the skin including collagen, elastin, and other basement membrane and extracellular matrix protein. MMP inhibitors may be used in both cosmetic compositions and pharmaceutical compositions for application to skin. MMP inhibitors are formulated with a cosmetically suitable vehicle or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient for application to the skin as creams, lotions, ointments, solutions, face masks, etc. As cosmetics, the inventive MMP inhibitor compositions are applied to the skin to prevent or reduce the appearance of wrinkles, pigmentation changes, loss of elasticity, or other effects associated with aging or sun damage. As pharmaceuticals, the inventive MMP inhibitor compositions may also be applied to the skin to treat or prevent a skin disease (e.g., proliferative disease, inflammatory disease).

A topical composition comprising a lipoic acid, a carnitine, and a carnosine in a suitable vehicle for topical application and a method for treating skin is provided. The present compositions are useful in improving the appearance of aged skin characterized by wrinkles and loss of elasticity. Preferred components include R-lipoic acid or R-dihydrolipoic acid, acetyl-1-carnitine, and 1-carnosine.

Devices and methods for the treatment of skin conditions and lesions are disclosed herein. A compact hand held device that can be safely used by those suffering from skin conditions, such as acne, warts, cold blisters, blemished skin, or fine wrinkles. The devices employ the application of ultrasound energy and heat for the treatment of skin conditions and lesions. Typically, the peak temperatures employed are about 40° C. to about 70° C. by the devices, are achieved in less than about 20 second, and maintained for less than about 40 second. Ultrasound absorption and thermal conduction transfers heat from the device to the skin and causes a biological response that accelerates acne clearing, treats blemished skin, itching, or fine wrinkles. The total heat transferred is low enough to prevent burns.

I have discovered cosmetic or topical pharmaceutical compositions for external body part or organ slimming, firming, cellulite reduction, fat-reduction, and obesity control benefits that are in synergistic combination with benefits for the treatment of skin aging, skin wrinkles reduction, skin exfoliating, treatment of acne, treatment of rosacea, age-spots reduction, skin surface whitening, skin surface brightening striae distensae (stretch marks) reduction, treatment of pimples, treatment of skin infections and lesions, spider veins reduction, blood microcirculation (venous insufficiency) improvement, UVA / UVB protection of skin, and skin redness reduction. These compositions thus provide multiple combinations of skin and external body part or organ enhancement benefits that can be selective and specific for external body parts and organs such as face, chin, cheeks, arms, "love handles" in abdomen area, eye lids and eye zone, neck, breasts, thighs, and hips. These compositions include a body beneficial composition selected from certain nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical ingredients, a composition to promote collagen and elastin synthesis in the skin, and a cosmetically or pharmaceutically acceptable delivery system.

Devices, systems, and methods treat cosmetic defects, and often apply cooling with at least one tissue-penetrating probe inserted through of the skin of a patient. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissue so as to effect a desired change in a composition of the target tissue and / or a change in its behavior. Exemplary embodiments of the cooling treatments will interfere with the nerve / muscle contractile function chain so as to mitigate wrinkles of the skin. Related treatments may be used therapeutically for treatment of back and other muscle spasms, chronic pain, and the like. Some embodiments may remodel subcutaneous adipose tissue so as to alter a shape or appearance of the skin surface.

The present invention provides for plant extracts and dermatological formulations comprising one or more plant extracts that are capable of inhibiting one or more extracellular proteases selected from the group of: matrix metalloprotease-1 (MMP-1), matrix metalloprotease-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloprotease-3 (MMP-3), matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9) and human leukocyte elastase (HLE). The present invention further provides for a rapid method for screening plant extracts to identify those having the above activity that are suitable for incorporation into the dermatological formulations of the invention. The invention also provides for the use of the plant extracts as dermatological agents suitable for the treatment or prevention of various dermatological conditions, including wrinkling or sagging of the skin, irradiation induced skin and / or hair damage, deepening of skin lines, elastotic changes in the skin, as well as for the routine care of the skin, hair and / or nails.

Devices, systems, and methods treat cosmetic defects, and often apply cooling with at least one tissue-penetrating probe inserted through of the skin of a patient. The cooling may remodel one or more target tissue so as to effect a desired change in a composition of the target tissue and / or a change in its behavior. Exemplary embodiments of the cooling treatments will interfere with the nerve / muscle contractile function chain so as to mitigate wrinkles of the skin. Related treatments may be used therapeutically for treatment of back and other muscle spasms, chronic pain, and the like. Some embodiments may remodel subcutaneous adipose tissue so as to alter a shape or appearance of the skin surface.

Methods of treating, preventing, correcting and / or managing skin diseases or disorders characterized by overgrowths of the epidermis, keratoses, scleroderma, cutaneous vasculitis, acne or wrinkles are disclosed. Specific embodiments encompass the administration of an immunomodulatory compound, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, hydrate, stereoisomer, clathrate, or prodrug thereof, alone or in combination with a second active agent. Specific second active ingredients are capable of affecting or inhibiting cell growth or proliferation, removing or improving acne scars, or reducing or correcting wrinkle lines. Pharmaceutical compositions, single unit dosage forms, and kits suitable for use in methods of the invention are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods for treating, preventing, minimizing, and / or diminishing signs of aging in the skin comprising administering to the subject in need thereof a nanoemulsion composition.

This invention comprises administering to a human or animal in need of treatment an effective amount of an antioxidant lipoic acid derivative and / or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof for the treatment or prevention of pathological (inflammatory, proliferative and degenerative diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and chronic viral diseases) and non-pathological (e.g. skin aging and wrinkle formation) conditions caused by oxidative damage. Methods of synthesizing novel antioxidant lipoic acid derivatives and their use in preventing or treating diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions are described. Another aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant compositions for the protection of skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and dessication, and to provide improved skin feel by desquamating, cleansing and clarifying the skin. The compositions described in this invention increase cellular viability of epidermal cells, promote cytoprotection, and decrease the production of inflammatory mediators such as inflammatory cytokines in these cells. The antioxidant compositions are incorporated into sunscreen products, soap, moisturizing lotions, skin toners, and other skin care products.

A method for organizing event data by identifying a primary timeline containing event data, extracting a first timestamp from a first item of the primary timeline, setting a radius around the first timestamp, identifying a second timestamp within the radius, determining whether the second timestamp is already in a wrinkle timeline, and, if not, incorporating the second timestamp into the wrinkle timeline. Event data associated with the first item may be marked and emphasized in the wrinkle timeline. The system may also create one or more indexes of the event data.

In some arrangements, product packaging is digitally watermarked over most of its extent to facilitate high-throughput item identification at retail checkouts. Imagery captured by conventional or plenoptic cameras can be processed (e.g., by GPUs) to derive several different perspective-transformed views—further minimizing the need to manually reposition items for identification. Crinkles and other deformations in product packaging can be optically sensed, allowing such surfaces to be virtually flattened to aid identification. Piles of items can be 3D-modelled and virtually segmented into geometric primitives to aid identification, and to discover locations of obscured items. Other data (e.g., including data from sensors in aisles, shelves and carts, and gaze tracking for clues about visual saliency) can be used in assessing identification hypotheses about an item. Logos may be identified and used—or ignored—in product identification. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

A preformed, seamless, three-dimensional, anatomically contoured prosthetic device for reinforcing breast tissue and supporting a breast implant includes a flat back wall, a concave front wall and a curved transitional region between the flat back wall and the front wall defining a smoothly curved bottom periphery. A concave receiving space is defined by the back wall and the front wall for at least partially receiving and supporting the breast implant therein. The three-dimensional prosthetic device is free of wrinkles, creases, folds or seams, which may have otherwise caused potential tissue irritation, bacteria hosting, infection and palpability problems.

The present invention provides systems, apparatus and methods for selective applying energy to a patient's dermis tissue to generate the growth of new collagen in this tissue, while minimizing the effect on the outer epidermis layer, thereby minimizing or suppressing the wound healing phase of the procedure. In one aspect of the invention, a method includes positioning a first electrode adjacent to, or in contact with, a region on or within a patient's skin, and applying a sufficient high frequency voltage between the first electrode and a second electrode to create a heat injury to a target tissue within the patient's dermis layer without ablating the epidermis layer overlying the target tissue. Typically, the voltage applied to the first and second electrodes is sufficient to induce heating of the dermis layer to about 60.degree.-80.degree. C., preferably about 65.degree.-75.degree. C. This induced heating causes the patient's body to undergo a wound healing response in the slightly inflamed tissue of the dermis. The wound healing process involves the generation of neo-collagen in the dermis layer, which fills in the wrinkle in the patient's skin.

A process and associated apparatus used to prepare a thermoplastic composite from a plurality of plies of thermoplastic resin prepregs. The prepregs are formed into a composite structure under two chambers; a rigid outer chamber (of any convenient size or shape) and a second flexible inner chamber containing a prepreg lay-up. The absolute pressures are reduced concurrently in a stepwise method in both chambers. This concurrent, stepped pressure reduction is accomplished at a rate which prevents the vacuum bag from moving far from the prepregs, and prevents wrinkles from forming in the prepregs. Pinching off the diffusion paths required for the removal of unwanted gases is eliminated. The lay-up is then heated and the absolute pressure in the outer rigid chamber is increased. This pressure constrains the flexible inner chamber during out-gassing of the thermoplastic resin, preventing wrinkles from forming in the prepregs. The absolute pressure in the outer rigid chamber is increased to atmospheric pressure or greater causing the prepregs to consolidate. A low absolute pressure is maintained in the flexible inner chamber. The temperature is then increased to the cure temperature of the resin and held for a time sufficient for the resin to cure. The resulting consolidated thermoplastic resin is substantially void free and detectable wrinkles are absent.

A novel method and system is disclosed to realistically simulate the progress or worsening of facial skin features that contribute to the overall look and condition of the skin. The method utilizes two close-up photographs of the face, one is captured with a digital camera in standard white light, and the other is captured with the same camera in UV light. Then, the method processes these images to simulate the progress or worsening of the major skin features: hyperpigmented spots, wrinkles and small texture features. The worsening of these features simulates facial skin aging due to prolonged exposures to sunlight, biological aging or degradation of the skin health. The progress of these features simulates the improvement of facial skin in terms of overall look and healthiness as though the patient has gone through a treatment. Therefore, the present invention discloses a series of methods that are useful in dermatology, cosmetics and computer animations.

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation or other energy to tissue. An array of needles can be inserted at least partially into the tissue, and energy, e.g., optical energy, can be provided to the needles. The needles can include an optical waveguide configured to direct the energy to needle tips located within the tissue adjacent to one or more target regions. The energy can thus be provided directly to the target regions through the needles without being absorbed by upper portions of the tissue. Such method and apparatus can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including wrinkles and pigmentation defects. One or more of the needles in the array can also be hollow and configured to provide an analgesic or other substance into the tissue near the target regions.

A method and apparatus are provided for dermatological treatment by focusing ultrasound energy in a volume of tissue below the dermis to obtain selective heating and thermal damage of certain portions of the volume while sparing other portions of the treatment volume from thermal damage. Selective heating of fibrous septae can be achieved while relatively sparing surrounding fatty tissue, which can lead to some shrinkage of the fibrous septae and reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. The matrix of hair follicles can also be selectively heated to provide relatively safe temporary or permanent hair removal. The superficial musculoaponeurotic system can also be selectively heated to obtain a tightening of the overlying skin.

The present invention includes methods and materials for soft tissue implant formed from biologically-compatible polymeric matrixes. The matrixes may have pores sized for in-growth of soft tissue. The material may be utilized with collagen or other matrix materials. This material may be used in a method of reforming soft tissues by implanting the material within soft body tissues to modify soft tissue defects such as wrinkles or biopsy tissue defects and to reshape soft tissue.

The invention features methods, kits, and compositions for treating aging-related skin conditions (e.g., wrinkles), pigmentation disorders, acne, and scar formation, as well as methods, kits, and compositions for preventing scar formation.

This invention comprises administering to a human or animal in need of treatment an effective amount of an antioxidant lipoic acid derivative and / or pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof for the treatment or prevention of pathological (inflammatory, proliferative and degenerative diseases, e.g. diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease and chronic viral diseases) and non-pathological (e.g. skin aging and wrinkle formation) conditions caused by oxidative damage. Methods of synthesizing novel antioxidant lipoic acid derivatives and their use in preventing or treating diseases or conditions caused by oxidative stress and other free radical mediated conditions are described. Another aspect of this invention is the use of these antioxidant compositions for the protection of skin from damage caused by ultraviolet radiation and dessication, and to provide improved skin feel by desquamating, cleansing and clarifying the skin. The compositions described in this invention increase cellular viability of epidermal cells, promote cytoprotection, and decrease the production of inflammatory mediators such as inflammatory cytokines in these cells. The antioxidant compositions are incorporated into sunscreen products, soap, moisturizing lotions, skin toners, and other skin care products.

The present invention relates to compositions and methods for the treatment of traumatic conditions of the skin including radiation dermatitis, thermal burn, sunburn, dermatomyo-fibromas, and exposure-induced wrinkles, comprising omega-3 fish oils, tocopherols, lavender oil and a suitable amount of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and optionally, one or more of the following: Sodium PCA, or MSM.

Pharmaceutical, personal care and cosmetic compositions containing a tripeptide and a tetrapeptide are useful for treating visible signs of aging including wrinkles, stretch marks and dark circles.

The invention features a method of treating at least one sign of aging on the skin selected from the group consisting of (i) thickening the skin, (ii) enhancing the barrier function of skin, and / or (iii) treating at least one sign of aging on the skin selected from the group consisting of enhancing the elasticity of said skin, enhancing the firmness of said skin, smoothing the surface of the skin, and reducing the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, wherein the method includes applying to skin in need of such treatment a skin care composition including a tensioning polymer, wherein the tensioning polymer has a contractile force greater than about 3 g / mg and a water resistance index from about 0.9 to about 1.9.