DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE NON-INVASIVE PERSONALIZED TREATMENT OF SKIN BLEMISHES

Abstract

Device for non-invasive personalized treatment of skin disorders and imperfections, including: a console having recesses suitable for housing handpieces capable of being grasped by an operator to treat a patient's body or face thanks to the vibration generated by an internal cylinder at each handpiece at a predetermined frequency, each cylinder having rotating elements; a vibration adjustment device for each handpiece; an electric energy absorption sensor possibly combined with pressure and/or rpm sensors for each handpiece, suitable for communicating the data detected to a control unit adapted to process the data from the absorption sensors and to act on the frequency regulation devices of each handpiece to obtain an immediate variation of the vibration of the cylinders according to the mechanical resistance offered by the patient's tissue; and a communication interface.

Claims

1. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, adapted for the diagnosis and treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances based on the characteristics of each patient, the device comprising: a console provided with wheels and handles for an easy transport and electrical connection means for the power supply of the components integrated in the console itself, comprising at least one pair of recesses adapted to reversibly house a corresponding pair of handpieces; said at least one pair of handpieces including a larger handpiece and a smaller handpiece; said larger handpiece being adapted to be grasped on grip thereof by an operator for performing the micro-vibration treatment on the body of a patient; said smaller handpiece being adapted to be grasped on a grip thereof by an operator in order perform micro-vibration treatment on the face of a patient; said treatment being administered due to the rotation and to the simultaneous vibration of each internal cylinder relative to each handpiece which rotates and vibrates at a pre-established frequency; each of said cylinders being provided, on its external surface, with a plurality of independently movable rotary elements connected to said cylinder, adapted to be pressed on the body or on the face of the patient, in order to obtain the desired massaging effect; at least one device for adjusting the rotation and vibration, integrated in each handpiece, and adapted to govern the frequency of said rotations and vibrations of said cylinder of said handpieces; at least one electrical energy absorption sensor for each handpiece, adapted to detect the quantity of electrical energy absorbed by each handpiece in order to obtain the rotation and the vibration that are desired for the relative rotating elements; said electrical energy absorption sensors being adapted to communicate the data relative to a control unit programmed with a dedicated software adapted to process the data coming from said electrical energy absorption sensors and consequently act, in real time, on said frequency adjusting devices of each handpiece in order to obtain an immediate variation of the rotation and vibration frequency of said cylinders, within a pre-established range comprised between 20 Hz and 700 Hz, preferably between 40 Hz and 355 Hz, depending on the mechanical strength offered by the skin tissue of the patient in contact with one of said handpieces; and a communication interface, preferably integrated in said console, adapted to allow an operator to receive, in real time, the information regarding the treatment underway and to set the desired parameters between which the frequency of the vibrations and of the rotations to be administered to the patient through said handpieces.

2. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein said rotating elements of said cylinder integrated in said larger handpiece are constituted by spheres, ovoids or cylinders, arranged as a honeycomb, made as a gel with hardness comprised between 5 shore and 100 shore.

3. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein said rotating elements of said cylinder integrated in said of said smaller handpiece are constituted by spheres, ovoids or cylinders, arranged as a “V”, made of non-allergenic silicone with a surface treatment adapted to obtain a predetermined surface roughness, said rotating elements having hardness comprised between 5 shore and 100 shore.

4. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein by means of said communication interface, the operator can independently adjust the rotation frequency and the vibration frequency of the cylinders of said handpieces.

5. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein each of said handpieces comprises: a common quick release mechanism adapted to allow the stable disconnection and re-connection between a handpiece and the relative cylinder, a pair of lateral indicators, placed on both sides of the relative handpiece, and adapted to emit light signals to the operator in order to indicate the drain direction for the purposes of a correct lymphatic drainage; a light signaler constituted by a plurality of LED lights adapted to be progressively turned on with the increase of the pressure exerted by the operator on the body of the patient and vice versa; and a display adapted to replicate said communication interface on the side of the handpiece viewed by the operator.

6. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein that said cylinder of said smaller handpiece is provided with a ring nut which, by rotating around the longitudinal axis of said cylinder, is adapted to modify the incidence angle of said rotating elements on the body of the patient, i.e. to ensure that they impart a converging or diverging force with respect to a neutral point corresponding with the position of said ring nut.

7. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein said rotating elements of said larger handpiece and/or of said smaller handpiece have an external surface provided with a plurality of recesses with spherical cap shape, adapted to create a suction effect when pressed on the epidermis of the patient.

8. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein said recesses of said console are provided with an internal heating element adapted to heat said handpieces when they are placed back into relative recesses up to a pre-established temperature by means of said communication interface.

9. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein said handpieces are provided with an internal heating element adapted to raise the temperature thereof, when not used, up to a pre-established temperature settable by means of said communication interface; said internal heating element, operating with infrared light, also has bactericide function.

10. Device for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said handpieces is provided with at least one temperature sensor adapted to detect the skin temperature of the patient, sending the data to said control unit which reproduces the data on said communication interface, also signaling the value of the temperature increase from the start of the treatment.

11. Method for the non-invasive personalized treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances, adapted for the diagnosis and treatment of skin blemishes and disturbances based on the characteristics of each patient, wherein it makes use of a treatment device according to claim 1, and comprises the following steps: (A) first step of setting the parameters, in which an operator sets, by means of a communication interface of the treatment device, an admissible frequency range for the rotations and vibrations based on the characteristics of the tissue of the patient, on his/her age and his/her musculature; the frequency of the vibrations being comprised between 20 Hz and 700 Hz, preferably between 40 Hz and 355 Hz; (B) second test step, in which, by grasping a handpiece of said treatment device, and placing the relative cylinder in contact with the body or with the face of the patient, an electrical energy absorption sensor of said handpiece-sends the detected data to a control unit-integrated in the treatment device; said control unit, comparing the electrical energy absorption data and the data of the vibration and rotation frequency set by the operator, communicates by means of the communication interface the correctness or lack of correctness of the vibration and rotation frequency range set by said operator; (C) third step of administering the therapy, in which said operator follows the areas of the body or of the face of the patient to be treated with a handpiece, applying a predetermined pressure perpendicular to the skin tissue of the patient; during said third step of administration of the therapy, if the electrical energy absorption sensor of the handpiece during use detected a zone of greater mechanical strength, e.g. a muscular contracture, said control unit that processes the data sent by said electrical energy absorption sensor sends a command to increase the frequency of the vibrations and of the rotations to a frequency adjustment device of the frequency of the handpiece in use, up to detecting a lower mechanical strength; (D) fourth step of monitoring the uniformity of the treatment over the entire area affected by the skin blemish or disturbance, said step able to be performed by means of visual analysis of the skin reddening due to the vascularization of the tissue induced by the treatment, by the operator, or said step able to be performed by means of monitoring the increase of skin temperature, due to the vascularization of the tissue induced by the treatment, performed by the control unit which processes the temperature data detected by the temperature sensor of the handpiece in use.

12. The device of claim 2, wherein the hardness of the gel is 35 shore.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein the hardness of the rotating elements is 35 shore.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0055] The invention will hereinafter be described in at least one preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the accompanying figures, in which:

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a general view of the console 1 with the two recesses 1.1-1.2 for the two handpieces 3-4, the communication interface 2 and the control unit 5 schematized inside the body of the console 1.

[0057] FIG. 2 shows in detail the external structure of the two handpieces 3-4 with all the features that allow the operator performing the treatment not to make mistakes and to act effortlessly. FIG. 2(a) shows a lateral view, while FIG. 2(b) shows the front view, i.e. the side of the handpiece 3-4 that is in view of the operator while he/she is performing the treatment on the patient's body or face.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of the spheres on the two handpieces 3-4. FIG. 3(a) shows the honeycomb arrangement of the spheres 3.6 of the cylinder 3.7 of the first handpiece 3. FIG. 3(b), on the other hand, shows the arrangement of the spheres 4.6 of the cylinder 4.7 of the second handpiece 4 provided with a ring nut 4.7.1.

[0059] FIG. 4 schematically shows the relationship between the electric energy absorption sensors 3.1-4.1 of the two handpieces 3-4 which communicate the data detected to the control unit 5 which, in turn, acts on the relative frequency regulation devices.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] With reference to FIG. 1, the personalized and non-invasive treatment device of the present invention is shown in a three-dimensional view.

[0061] It is provided with a console 1 provided with wheels and handles for easy transport and with electrical connection means for powering the integrated components. At the top, said console 1 is provided with a pair of recesses 1.1-1.2 of which one suitable for housing a larger handpiece 3 and a smaller one suitable for housing a smaller handpiece 4.

[0062] The difference in size between the handpieces 3-4 is due to several factors, but mainly to the fact that the larger handpiece 3 is specifically designed to perform treatments on larger areas of the patient's body, while the smaller handpiece 4 is suitable for being applied on the face or on other anatomical parts with an articulated conformation.

[0063] Both said handpieces 3-4 contain a relative cylinder 3.7-4.7 which rotates and turns, at predetermined frequencies. On the external surface of each cylinder 3.7-4.7, independent rotating spheres 3.64.6 are movably engaged.

[0064] Another difference between the handpieces 3-4 is represented by the type of said spheres 3.6-4.6. Both types of spheres have a hardness between 5 shore and 100 shore, preferably 35 shore, but, while the spheres 3.6 of the larger handpiece 3 are made of gel and are arranged as a honeycomb, the spheres 4.6 of the smaller handpiece 4 are made of silicone, they are arranged in a “V” shape and have a surface finish that makes them rough so as to perform a peeling and stretching of the patient's face skin.

[0065] Finally, the smaller handpiece 4 is characterized in that the spheres 4.6 which are located in the upper portion of the cylinder 4.7 rotate in the opposite direction to the spheres 4.6 located in the lower portion of the cylinder 4.7. This means that, with respect to a neutral point, towards which the thrust of the spheres 4.6 converges or from which it diverges, a relaxing or recompacting effect of the skin tissue is obtained. Just at this neutral point there is a ring nut 4.7.1 which, if rotated by the operator acting on the handpiece 4, changes the rotation angle of the spheres 4.6, thus obtaining the converging or diverging effect.

[0066] The operation of the device object of the present invention is semi-automatic in that it makes use of advanced software capable of setting the treatment parameters in real time, following any change in the mechanical features of the skin tissue undergoing treatment.

[0067] This is made possible by the fact that each handpiece 3-4 is provided with an electrical energy absorption sensor 3.1-4.1, possibly combined with pressure and/or rpm sensors, which detects the amount of electrical energy absorbed by the relative handpiece 3-4 to obtain the desired rotation and vibration frequency. This absorption varies according to the mechanical resistance of the patient's skin tissue. Said sensors 3.1-4.1 send the detected data to a control unit 5 programmed with the aforementioned software which processes them and verifies that the resistance the desired rotation and vibration frequency is not excessive or too mild for the mechanical resistance of the tissue on which said handpiece 3-4 acts.

[0068] To regulate in real time the frequency of this rotation and of this vibration, the control unit 5 acts on a device for adjusting the rotation and vibration 3.2-4.2 integrated in each of said handpieces 3-4.

[0069] Let's assume now that we need to perform a relaxing treatment on the back of a patient, let's put a sportsman, suffering from muscle contractures.

[0070] The operator first performs a parameter setting step, selecting a frequency range of rotations and vibrations (always between a minimum of 20 Hz, preferably 40 Hz and a maximum of 700 Hz, preferably 355 Hz). The range is set through a specific communication interface 2, integrated in said console 1. The operator, based on his/her experience, selects the frequency according to age, musculature and the condition suffered. In the example in question this will be quite high.

[0071] At this point, a second test step follows in which, by grasping the larger handpiece 3 and placing its cylinder 3.7 in contact with a point on the patient's back, the electrical energy absorption sensor 3.1, possibly combined with pressure and/or rpm sensors, of the larger handpiece 3 sends the detected data to the control unit 5. From the latter, by comparing the electricity absorption data and the rotation and vibration frequency data set by the operator, the control unit communicates, via the communication interface, the correctness or otherwise of the frequency range of the rotations and vibrations set by the operator.

[0072] Treatment can now be administered in the third step of the treatment method. In this step, the operator runs across the patient's back with the larger handpiece 3, applying a predetermined pressure perpendicular to the patient's skin tissue. The applied pressure force is communicated to the operator by a light signaler 3.4 constituted by a plurality of LED lights adapted to be progressively turned on with the increase of the pressure exerted by the operator on the body of the patient and vice versa.

[0073] During this third step of administration of the therapy, if the electric energy absorption sensor 3.1 should detect an area of greater mechanical strength typically due to a muscle contracture, the control unit 5 that processes the data sent by said electric energy absorption sensor 3.1, sends a command to increase the frequency of rotations and vibrations to the device 3.2 for adjusting the frequency of the larger handpiece 3, until a lower mechanical resistance is detected.

[0074] The therapy causes the vascularization of the tissues and therefore the raising of their temperature and the consequent redness. Thanks to the visual analysis of the patient's back, the operator can check the homogeneity of the therapy on the whole part to be treated.

[0075] At the end of the treatment, thanks to a quick release mechanism 3.9 located laterally to the handle 50 of the handpiece 3, the cylinder 3.7 inside the handpiece 3 can be disconnected so as to be able to extract the cylinder 3.7 and sanitize it in all its parts, spheres 3.6 included.

[0076] Finally, it is clear that modifications, additions or variants may be made to the invention described thus far which are obvious to a man skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection that is provided by the appended claims.