DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF A CUTANEOUS SURFACE OR MUCOUS MEMBRANE

Abstract

Method and device for treatment of a cutaneous surface or a mucous membrane. The device comprises a container, such as an aerosol can, for containing a composition comprising at least one refrigerant. The container has a container outlet and a valve communicating with the container outlet. An applicator is mounted or mountable to the container. The applicator comprises a heat exchanger, a contact surface and a dispensing channel between the container outlet and one or more applicator outlets arranged for wetting the contact surface. The dispensing channel defining a flow path crossing the heat exchanger. The contact surface can for example be formed by a non-porous layer, e.g. of plastic or rubber.

Claims

1. A device for treatment of a cutaneous surface or a mucous membrane, the device comprising: a container for containing a composition comprising at least one refrigerant, the container having a container outlet and a valve communicating with the container outlet, an applicator mounted or mountable to the container, the applicator comprising a contact surface and a dispensing channel between the container outlet and one or more applicator outlets arranged for wetting the contact surface; and a heat exchanger defining the contact surface, the dispensing channel defining a flow path crossing the heat exchanger.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises a housing with an opening exposing the contact surface.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a non-porous layer forming the contact surface.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the non-porous layer is made of a plastic or rubber material.

5. The device according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger is held by a ridge of the applicator at least partly bordering the opening, the ridge being profiled to define the applicator outlets at a circumference of the contact surface.

6. The device according to claim 5, comprising a bush having one end connected to the container outlet and one end engaging the heat exchanger.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the bush comprises a support surface, e.g., an inner ridge of the bush, resting on top of the container outlet.

8. The device according to claim 7, the applicator being movable between a rest position with the valve being closed, and a dispensing position with the support surface of the bush pressing the container outlet down to open the valve, wherein the valve resiliently biases the applicator into the rest position.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the end of the bush engaging the heat exchanger comprises a collar with a circumferential edge sealing against an inner cylindrical skirt of the applicator.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the collar is curved to resiliently press against the heat exchanger.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises an outer skirt extending over a top edge of the container.

12. The device according to claim 11, comprising a snap joint between the applicator and the container allowing up and down movement of the applicator relative to the container between a rest position and a dispensing position.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger comprises a member having one or more channels or passages formed therein extending below the contact surface.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the member comprises a porous body of a thermo-conductive material.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the porous heat exchanger comprises a sintered material, such as metal like brass, or plastic.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the composition comprises at least one therapeutic agent, at least one cosmetic ingredient and/or at least one excipient.

17. A method for treatment of a cutaneous surface or a mucous membrane by dispensing a composition comprising a therapeutic or cosmetic ingredient and a refrigerant onto the cutaneous surface or mucous membrane using an applicator comprising a contact surface, which is cooled by a heat exchanger through which the composition is passed during dispensing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of the device in cross section;

[0032] FIG. 2 shows in side view the housing of the applicator of the device shown in FIG. 1;

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the housing of FIG. 2 in bottom view;

[0034] FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 1 with a cover;

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the applicator in a locked position;

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the applicator in an unlocked position;

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a top view of an alternative embodiment;

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a longitudinal cross section of the device of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0039] In the drawings FIG. 1 shows a top section of an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for the treatment of a cutaneous surface or mucous membrane, e.g., for medical or 3.5 cosmetic purposes. The device 1 includes a container 2 containing a sprayable liquid composition comprising a refrigerant and a therapeutic or cosmetic ingredient. The container 2 may be a standard spray or aerosol can having a valve (not shown) and a container outlet tube 3. The can may have a capacity of 25-500 ml, more particular 50-100 ml, for example. The container 2 is mainly cylindrical having a collar 4 spaced coaxially around the container outlet 3.

[0040] An applicator 6 is mounted on the container 2 at the end with the container outlet 3. The applicator 6 comprises a dome shaped housing 7 and a convex contact surface 8 formed by a heat exchanger 9 held in the housing 7. The heat exchanger 9 comprises a porous body 11 of a thermally conductive material, such as a sintered metal alloy, and non-porous top layer 12 covering the porous body 11 at the contact surface 8. The non-porous layer 12 can for example be a rubber or plastic layer.

[0041] At its top end the housing 7 of the applicator 6 comprises an opening 13 exposing the contact surface 8. The opening 13 is bordered by a circumferential ridge 14 forming part of a fitting fixating the heat exchanger 11. The housing 7 of the applicator 6 comprises an inner cylindrical skirt 16 extending from the circumferential ridge 14 into the direction of the container 2.

[0042] The applicator 6 further comprises a bush 17 having one end connected to the container outlet 3 and one end engaging a lower surface the porous heat exchanger 11 opposite to the convex contact surface 8, so as to define a channel 20 between the container outlet 3 and the porous body 11 of the heat exchanger 9. At the outer end engaging the heat exchanger 9 the bush 17 comprises a collar 18 with a circumferential edge sealingly fitting into a recess 19 in the inner cylindrical skirt 16 of the applicator 6. The collar 18 is curved with its outer circumference curved downward, i.e., in the direction of the container 2, to form an inverse saucer-shape.

[0043] The bush 17 comprises an annular inner ridge 21 forming a support surface which rests on top of the container outlet 3. The valve in the container 2 is resiliently biased to push the container outlet tube 3 upward, i.e. towards the applicator 6. The container outlet tube 3 pushes the saucer-shaped collar 18 of the bush 17 against the heat exchanger 9, which in turn is pushed against the ridge 14 defining the opening 13 exposing the contact surface 8. This way, relative movement of the heat exchanger 9 and the applicator housing 6 is prevented.

[0044] The ridge 14 bordering the opening 13 exposing the contact surface 8 is profiled to define dispensing outlets 22 around the contact surface 8 for passage of dispensed liquid to wet the contact surface 8. The container outlet tube 3, the collared bush 17, the inner skirt 16 and the ridge 14 define a leaktight dispense channel between the container outlet tube 3 and the passages 22 around the contact surface 8. This channel and the non-porous top layer 12 fully enclose the porous body 11 to prevent contamination.

[0045] The applicator 6 comprises an outer skirt 23 extending slidably over a top edge of the container 2. In the shown embodiment, the outer skirt 23 is a separate cylindrical part connected to a lower edge of the applicator housing. In alternative embodiment the skirt may be an integral part of the applicator housing.

[0046] The applicator housing 7 is provided with three latches 24 extending in the direction of e container 2. The latches 24 form a snap connection with matching undercuts 26 near the upper inner edge of the outer skirt 23. As particularly shown in FIG. 3, a bridge 28 extends between each of the latches 24 and the inner skirt 16 of the applicator housing 7.

[0047] Parts 29 are optional latches to lock the latches 24 and to prevent removal of the applicator housing 7 from the outer skirt 23.

[0048] The outer skirt 23 is provided with an inner latch 24 to form a snap connection with the collar 4 of the container 2. This snap connection is such that it allows up and down movement of the applicator 6 relative to the container 2 between an upper rest position and a lower dispensing position. This movement is guided by the slidable fit of the outer skirt 23 over the container 2.

[0049] The valve is resiliently biased into its closed position and pushes the container outlet tube 3, the collared bush 17, the heat exchanger 9 and the applicator housing 7 upwardly into the rest position.

[0050] The applicator 6 of the shown exemplary embodiment is provided with an optional child-proof lock to prevent the applicator from being activated, in this case depressed, by a child. The housing 7 may rotate to a limited extent with respect to skirt 23 around an axis which is in line with the axis of container 2.

[0051] In this embodiment, dome-shaped housing 7 is biased towards its closing position, so that a user must hold the dome-shaped wall portion 7 in its rotated position in order to be able to depress it. When the user releases the housing 7 it will spring back to its locked position.

[0052] The child-proof lock in this embodiment comprises locking members in the form of locking cams 31, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 showing bottom views of the device 1 in a locked and unlocked position of the applicator 6, respectively. In the locking position of FIG. 5, these cams 31 are positioned in seats 32 near the circumference of the housing 7. The cams 31 are then positioned above upper collar 4 of container 2 (see FIGS. 1 and 4), thereby preventing a downward movement of the applicator 6 because the cams 31 are stopped by the collar 4 of the container 2.

[0053] The housing 7 of the applicator 6 comprises downwardly protruding projections 30 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) engaging a respective cam 31 in axial direction. The cams 31 are mounted at free ends of transmitting or holding members, here flexible arms 33 which are curved and which are mounted at their ends remote from cams 31 to a part of the applicator 6 that is connected to skirt 23, in this case to radial ribs 34 extending between a central cylinder wall 37 and the skirt 23. The arms 33 extend mainly in circumferential direction and connect to cams 31 more in radial direction.

[0054] The seats 32 have a seat wall portion 35 mainly in radial direction on the side of arms 33. These seat wall portions 35 urge cams 31 radially inwardly when the seats 32 are moved mainly in circumferential direction upon rotation of the dome-shaped housing 7 and the arms 33 are held by the ribs 34 thereby pulling cams 31 away from their seats 32 to move along the seat wall portions 35 (see FIG. 6). This inward, more or less radial movement of cams 31 causes cams 31 to move out of engagement with the collar 4, such that there is no part below cams 31 blocking their movement. The cams 31 and therewith dome-shaped housing 7 and skirt 23 may then be depressed with respect to container 2. As a result, outlet tube 3 of the container 2 may be depressed by a member of applicator 4, in this case bottom portion 13 of mounting member 12, and thus the valve of the container 2 is opened to allow liquid to enter the applicator 6. When the housing 7 is released, it will spring back upwardly by the spring pressure of outlet tube 3, while the spring pressure in arms 33 will rotate dome-shaped wall housing 7 back to the locked position with the cams 31 aligned with the collar 4 of the container 2.

[0055] In an alternative embodiment not shown, the spring force of the arms 33 may be reduced such that dome-shaped housing 7 will not be biased to the locked position. The dome-shaped housing 7 may then remain in the unlocked position and may be rotated back to the locked position manually. In such embodiment, wall portion 7 and skirt 23 may be provided with click members to mark the locked and unlocked position. It is conceivable to connect the holding and locking members to the housing 7 and to form the seats to the skirt 23, as long as there is a relative movement between the locking members and a part moving the locking member(s) away from the collar 4 of the container 2.

[0056] After unlocking the optional child-proof lock, a user can use the device 1 by moving the applicator 6 relative to the container 2 into the dispensing position. The collared bush 17 and the container outlet tube 3 are pushed in and actuate the valve to spray the liquid as an aerosol. The aerosol flows through the container outlet tube 3, the bush 17 and the porous body 11 and is dispensed via the outlet passages 22 around the contact surface 8. The contact surface 8 is wetted via the dispensing outlets 22. In the heat exchanger 9 the refrigerant component in the liquid extracts heat from the heat exchanger 9 which cools down. This cools the contact surface 8, enabling to provide a cold treatment combined with topical application of the therapeutic or cosmetic ingredient. The evaporated refrigerant escapes via the dispensing outlets 22 as a gas. The liquid remaining on the cooled contact surface 8 mainly comprises the therapeutic or cosmetic ingredients with other possible ingredients.

[0057] After a while, when a sufficient amount of liquid is collected on the cooled contact surface 8, the user may stop depressing applicator 6 so that it will return to its rest position by the resilient bias force of the valve of the container 2. The user can then apply the released liquid by massaging the cutaneous surface or mucous membrane with the cooled contact surface 8.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows the applicator 6 capped by a cover 26 clicked onto the applicator to cover the contact surface 8. Also the cover may be provided with a child-proof lock, for example such that the cover and applicator can only be depressed after a small rotation of the cover and/or applicator. This can be effected by providing a member allowing depression of the applicator in one rotational position and preventing depression in another rotational position.

[0059] FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the device 41, which is identical to the device 1 of the preceding Figures, except that the non-porous layer 12 is provided with an array of radial slits 42. Same reference numbers are used for the same parts. When the applicator 6 is unlocked and depressed, the aerosol flows into the heat exchanger 9. Pressure in the porous body of the heat exchanger 9 increases and opens the slits 42, which form dispensing outlets for the released liquid and the evaporated refrigerant. After deactivation of the applicator 6, the slits 42 close again due to the elasticity of the non-porous layer 12 to isolate the porous body of the heat exchanger 9 during application the released liquid on the cutaneous surface or mucous membrane.

[0060] From the foregoing it will be clear that the invention provides a device which is very easy to handle and operate. The device can be easily controlled.

[0061] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above which can be varied in different manners within the scope of the invention. First of all, it is noted that features of different embodiments can be used in other combinations. Furthermore, it is possible to replace parts of the device by alternative arrangements. For example, instead of a sintered porous heat exchanger, it is possible to use a member having one or more channels or passages formed therein extending directly below the contact surface and allowing close contact between refrigerant and the heat exchanger material.

[0062] The mounting member and the wall portions of the applicator are generally made of plastic material. Especially the outer wall of the applicator is preferably made of material having a low heat conductivity (substantially lower than that of the porous heat exchanger), so that the temperature of the applicator housing does not lower too much.

[0063] The shape of the contact surface of the applicator may be varied in accordance with the disorder to be treated. In case of an applicator for treating piles in the anus, the applicator will have a narrower elongated part containing the contact member so that it can be inserted in the anus and the contact member surface will (also) be on the circumference of the elongated part, not (only) at the end thereof. In case the device is used for treatment in a body cavity, such as the nose or anus, disposable wrappers may be included with the device.

[0064] Generally, the applicator and the container will be a disposable unit. However, especially with the embodiment in which the applicator is removable from the container, it is possible to have a reusable applicator sold separately, so that if the container is empty it can be replaced by a new one to which the old applicator is mounted. Therefore the invention also covers an applicator without the container, which is adapted to be mounted to a fitting container. The valve for supplying refrigerant may also be present in the applicator.