Patent US4777599A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4777599A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Viscoelastometry of skin using shear wave propagation
Assignee: Gillette Co LLC
•
Filing: 1985-02-26
•
Granted: 1988-10-11
•
Expires: 2005-02-26
Abstract
Abstract The properties of the skin are quantitatively defined by inducing shear waves in the outermost layers of the skin. The response of the skin to these waves is measured in terms of changes in the phase and amplitude of the waves as they propagate through the skin. From such measurements, various relationships of the viscoelastic properties of the skin are determined. These viscoelastic properties are expressed in terms of the viscosity of each of the stratum corneum and epidermal layers as well as the elasticity of the stratum corneum. These quantitative parameters can then be used to generate various moduli which can be displayed in a manner that enables changes in such properties to be readily perceived.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter L. Dorogi
- 👤 Edmund M. Buras, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 21:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/0048; A61B5/0051; A61B5/44; A61B5/441; A61B5/442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: including oscillations having an amplitude no greater than about 30 micrometers in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a discrete-element mechanical skin model on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: including oscillations having an amplitude no greater than about 30 micrometers in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a discrete-element mechanical skin model on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oscillations have an amplitude in the range of 20-30 micrometers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said skin model comprises three discrete elements respectively defined by said constants, and wherein one of said constants is related to the rigidity of the stratum corneum layer of the skin, another of said constants is indicative of the viscosity of the stratum corneum, and a third constant is indicative of the viscosity of the viable epidermis layer which underlies the stratum corneum.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oscillations are induced at a plurality of frequencies.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said plurality of frequencies are within the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said oscillations occur in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction of travel of said shear waves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said changes are measured at a location that is remote from the location at which the oscillations are induced in the skin, in the direction that is parallel to the surface of the skin.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for determining and indicating the effects of a product on the properties of the two outermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: (i) inducing strains in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; (ii) measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; (iii) determining quantities based on the modulus of elasticity for at least one of said layers and the viscosity of each of said two layers on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; (iv) displaying said quantities; (v) applying the product to the skin; and (vi) repeating steps (i) through (iv) after the product has been applied.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for determining and indicating the effects of a product on the properties of the two outermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: (i) inducing strains in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; (ii) measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; (iii) determining quantities based on the modulus of elasticity for at least one of said layers and the viscosity of each of said two layers on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; (iv) displaying said quantities; (v) applying the product to the skin; and (vi) repeating steps (i) through (iv) after the product has been applied.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said strains have an amplitude no greater than about 30 micrometers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said strains are induced at a plurality of frequencies.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said plurality of frequencies are within the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 8 wherein said strains are induced in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction of travel to said shear waves.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing a quantitative indication of the properties of the outer layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing strains having an amplitude no greater than 30 micrometers in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin at a plurality of different frequencies; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude for each frequency of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining the dynamic compliance of the skin for each frequency on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying the determined dynamic compliance in the form of a graph.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for providing a quantitative indication of the properties of the outer layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing strains having an amplitude no greater than 30 micrometers in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin at a plurality of different frequencies; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude for each frequency of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining the dynamic compliance of the skin for each frequency on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying the determined dynamic compliance in the form of a graph.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said dynamic compliance is comprised of an in-phase component G 1 and an out-of-phase component G 2 , and said display is a graph of one component along one axis thereof and the other component along the other axis thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 14 further including the step of providing a display of a second graph wherein relative fluidity, defined as G 2 /G 1 , is represented on one axis of said second graph and total compliance, defined as ##EQU6## is represented on the other axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said strains have an amplitude in the range of 20-30 micrometers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said plurality of frequencies are within the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said strains are induced in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction of travel to said shear waves.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for providing a quantitative indication of properties of the stratum corneum layer of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillatory deformations at the surface of the skin to generate shear waves that propagate along the stratum corneum layer of the skin, said deformations being induced at a plurality of different frequencies in the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz with a maximum amplitude of 30 micrometers and in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction propagation of said shear waves; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude for different frequencies of the shear waves as they propagate through the stratum corneum layer; and determining a modulus of elasticity and a modulus of viscosity for the stratum corneum layer of the skin on the basis of the measured changes.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for providing a quantitative indication of properties of the stratum corneum layer of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillatory deformations at the surface of the skin to generate shear waves that propagate along the stratum corneum layer of the skin, said deformations being induced at a plurality of different frequencies in the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz with a maximum amplitude of 30 micrometers and in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction propagation of said shear waves; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude for different frequencies of the shear waves as they propagate through the stratum corneum layer; and determining a modulus of elasticity and a modulus of viscosity for the stratum corneum layer of the skin on the basis of the measured changes.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said changes are measured at a location that is remote from the location at which the oscillations are induced in the skin, in the direction that is parallel to the surface of the skin.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillations in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining, from the measured changes in phase and amplitude, modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a mechanical skin model having three discrete elements respectively defined by said constants, wherein one of said constants is related to the rigidity of the stratum corneum layer of the skin, another of said constants is indicative of the viscosity of the stratum corneum, and a third constant is indicative of the viscosity of the viable epidermis layer which underlies the stratum corneum; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
141 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillations in the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining, from the measured changes in phase and amplitude, modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a mechanical skin model having three discrete elements respectively defined by said constants, wherein one of said constants is related to the rigidity of the stratum corneum layer of the skin, another of said constants is indicative of the viscosity of the stratum corneum, and a third constant is indicative of the viscosity of the viable epidermis layer which underlies the stratum corneum; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said oscillations are induced at a plurality of frequencies.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said plurality of frequencies are within the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said oscillations occur in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin and perpendicular to the direction of travel of said shear waves.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillations in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said oscillations; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a discrete-element mechanical skin model on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
103 words
A method for measuring and quantitatively indicating viscoelastic properties of the uppermost layers of the skin, comprising the steps of: inducing oscillations in a direction parallel to the surface of the skin to generate shear waves that propagate through the skin in a direction perpendicular to the direction of said oscillations; measuring changes in the phase and amplitude of the shear waves as they propagate through the skin; determining modulus of elasticity and viscosity constants descriptive of a discrete-element mechanical skin model on the basis of the measured changes in phase and amplitude; and displaying various complex moduli of elasticity and viscosity relationships.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said oscillations are induced at a plurality of frequencies.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 wherein said plurality of frequencies are within the range of about 8 Hz to about 1024 Hz.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said changes are measured at a location that is remote from the location at which the oscillations are induced in the skin, in the direction that is parallel to the surface of the skin.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-11 | 1992-04-11 | 1992-10-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-11 | 1996-04-11 | 1996-10-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-11 | 2000-04-11 | 2000-10-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |