Disposable accessory for dermabrasion apparatus handpieces and handpieces provided with said accessory

DESCRIPTION Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of dermabrasion apparatuses and specifically to the handpieces used by said apparatuses. State of the art

As known, various mechanical systems intended to remove surface stratum corneum cells are adopted in beauty treatments. These include non-invasive techniques, such as:

- rotating brushes, generally formed by hairs or bristles of goats or other animals, or of a synthetic type, are made to turn in contact with the skin surface promoting the removal of stratum corneum cells; - ultrasound spatula, steel foil is made to vibrate by low frequency ultrasounds, so that it vibrates; applied sideways on the skin surface it allows a satisfactory desquamative action;

- vacuum application handpieces, connected to a vacuum generating apparatus, so as to promote a suction of the skin towards the handpiece, on the edges of which an abrasive material disc capable of promoting a cleansing of the stratum corneum is present.

The above-described mechanical systems are all based on tools, the terminals (bristles or hairs, steel spatula, abrasive surface) of which are integral with the handpiece, i.e. are repeatedly used on several people with poor guarantees of hygiene; furthermore, the use of ultrasound spatulas and handpieces for the application of vacuum contemplate the use of rigid structures to be applied onto the skin surface so as to guarantee a good smoothing action, exposing the skin itself however to potentially dangerous actions, such as for example an excessive mechanical aggression or an unpleasant feeling of pain. The interest for an embodiment capable of simply, cost-effectively and efficiently overcoming the aforesaid problems is thus obvious.

Brief description of the invention

Fig. 1. shows a schematic section view of an accessory according to the invention in expanded (1 a) and compressed (1 b) positions, respectively; Fig. 2 shows a schematic section view of a traditional handpiece (2a) and a modified handpiece (2b) onto which an accessory according to the invention is applied.

Detailed description of the invention

The present invention allows to overcome the aforesaid problems in virtue of an accessory consisting of a soft, compressible body provided with at least one surface constituted by abrasive material and at least one surface provided with means adapted to allow the adherence thereof, in removable manner, to the handpiece of a dermabrasion apparatus (specifically a handpiece for dermabrasion apparatuses which use aspiration means). As shown in figure 1 , the accessory according to the invention consists in a spongy, elastic, soft material body 10 thus capable of being compressed also in non-uniform, asymmetric manner with the contact by pressure onto the skin surface, ensuing on one hand the best possible adherence and consequently the best stratum corneum cell removal action, and on the other hand the possibility of "damping" the presence of possible protruding or extremely rigid formations immediately under the skin surface, such as for example the knuckles of the hands, the joint of elbows and knees, the crest of the pelvis, the tip of the shoulder blades, the cartilage of the ribs, the malleolus or even scars and consequences of skin traumas in general, characterised by thickening and hardening of the stratum corneum. Said body 10 may have any shape adapted to the tool to which it is applied and a thickness comprised between 3 and 40 mm (expanded), reducible under compression to 0.5 mm.

At least one surface 1 1 of said body 10 consists of a layer of abrasive material 12 capable of removing the skin tissue. Said abrasive material may be formed by, for example, a rigid polymeric material, sand or other minerals in powder form and the like, integrally adherent to elastic body 10 and may have, for example, a grain size comprised between 500 and

2000 and a thickness comprised between 1 and 15 millimetres (expanded body) and 1 mm (maximum compression body).

Furthermore, at least one surface 13 of body 10 is provided with means (not shown in the figure) capable of ensuring the adhesion, in removable manner, of body 10 to the support for which it is intended, normally the handpiece of a dermabrasion apparatus, preferably of the type traditionally used for apparatuses provided with an aspiration system.

Said removable adhesion means are for example: clips, Velcro, glue, two-sided adhesive and the like. Preferably, body 10 will present a single abrasive surface and removable adhesion means will be arranged on the opposite surface.

The accessory may be applied to handpieces to be used by the operator with manual massage, or may be applied onto handpieces intended for working connected, supplied and/or managed by apparatuses, such as for example micro motors which would make the concerned abrasive surface turn, applied onto the stratum corneum until the required desquamative effect is obtained, or connected to vacuum generators which would favour a suction of the skin towards a handpiece on the surface on which the concerned abrasive surface is present. Body 10 and, obviously, layer 12 may present one or more through holes (14) or may consist of a compact structure (refer to figure 2a and b).

In the first case, the accessory may, for example, be applied directly to a traditional bell-shaped handpiece adhering to the edges of bell C itself while in the second case it may be applied to a supporting surface 15 arranged inside bell C itself and integrally connected to it, in suitable position to allow the contact thereof with the epidermis of the subject being treated.

According to a specific embodiment, the invention also refers to a modified handpiece presenting the internal resting surface of body 10, as described above. The use of the accessory according to the invention is apparent. The operator will apply the accessory to the employed handpiece, possibly modified so as to present suitable engagement means with the removable adhesion means of the accessory.

After that, the operator will run the handpiece on the surface stratum corneum in the usual manner ensuring an optimal level of surface cleansing, i.e. the removal of the stratum corneum cells, without causing forms of sensitisation or traumas of any type.

At the end of the application, the operator may easily eliminate the accessory and replace it with another one for a new application thus ensuring maximum hygiene for each user.