Patent Picks—Skin Imaging, Carnitine Creatine for Skin, Sclareol for Antiaging and More
By: Rachel Grabenhofer
Posted: July 28, 2010
Chosen biweekly by Rachel Grabenhofer, senior editor, for their relevance to personal care, Patent Picks are taken from publicly available sources. This edition features recently issued patents relevant to the skin care category.
Imaging Apparatus and Methods for Capturing and Analyzing Digital Images of the Skin
US Patent 7764303
Publication date: July 27, 2010
Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc. (Skillman, NJ, USA)
According to this patent, the disadvantages and limitations of known apparatuses and methods for skin imaging and analysis are overcome by the described invention, which includes an imaging station for capturing images of a subject in a given ambient lighting environment. The imaging station houses an aperture where the subject is presented to capture images of it, a digital image capture device, a light for illuminating the subject during image capture, and a computer for controlling the image capture device and the light. The housing contains the digital image capturing device and the light. In addition, the housing at least partially limits ambient light, if present in an ambient lighting environment, when the digital image of the subject is captured. In one embodiment of the present invention, the imaging station has the capability of taking a plurality of digital images of a subject under a plurality of illuminating conditions, storing, displaying and analyzing the digital images.
Cosmetic Compositions Having Carnitine Creatinate and Methods for Use
US Patent 7763655
Publication Date: July 27, 2010
Assignee: Avon Products Inc. (New York, NY, USA)
This patent describes a topical composition containing carnitine creatinate in a cosmetically acceptable vehicle. Also provided are methods for improving the aesthetic appearance of skin and for inhibiting the induction of lipid synthesis and formation of cellulite in skin. According to the patent, carnitine creatinate is a salt of the acid-base reaction between carnitine and creatine. In the described invention, the carnitine creatinate is present at 0.01–25% w/w of the total composition, more preferably at 0.05–10% w/w and most preferably at 0.1–5.0% w/w.