MOBILE ITCHING TREATMENT DEVICE WITH INTERFACE

Abstract

The invention preferably relates to a device for hyperthermal treatment of itching and/or herpes diseases comprising a control device on which at least two treatment programs are stored and an interface for a selection of one of the at least two treatment programs by means of a mobile device, so that after actuation of an operating element the control device heats a treatment surface according to the selected treatment program to a treatment temperature between 40°-65° C. and holds the treatment temperature for a treatment duration between 1 and 12 seconds.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. Device for the hyperthermal treatment of itching or herpes diseases comprising at least one treatment surface; and a control device, which is configured to regulate the treatment surface in a heating-up phase to a treatment temperature between 40°-65° C. by heating at least one heating element according to predetermined treatment parameters of a treatment program and to maintain said treatment temperature for a treatment duration between 1 and 12 seconds, characterized in that at least two different treatment programs specifying different treatment parameters are stored on the control device, and wherein the device has at least one interface for a connection to a mobile device, and the device is configured for a selection of one of the at least two treatment programs by said mobile device, so that the selected treatment program is executed after actuation of an operating element which is present on the device or the mobile device, wherein the device is configured in such a way that the mobile device is excluded from changing the treatment parameters, which are specified by the treatment programs.

17. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the treatment parameters defined by the treatment programs include the treatment temperature and the treatment duration, wherein preferably additionally a duration for the heating-up phase is defined as a treatment parameter and/or in between 2 and 10, preferably between 4 and 8 treatment programs are stored on the control device.

18. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device exhibits only exactly one operating element for heating the treatment surface in accordance with the selected treatment program and a manual selection of a treatment program can be not made manually on the device itself.

19. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device is configured in such a way that, independently of an existing communication to a mobile device, a last selected treatment program is executed after an actuation.

20. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the interface and the control device are configured in such a way that a selection of one of the at least two treatment programs by means of a mobile device is only allowed if an authentication has been successful.

21. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the treatment temperatures specified in the at least two treatment programs are between 40° C. and 60° C., preferably between 45° C. and 53° C., and particularly preferably between 47° C. and 53° C.

22. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that in a first of the selectable treatment programs a treatment duration of 1-3 seconds is specified, while in a second of the selectable treatment programs a treatment duration between 3-12 seconds is specified and/or in a first of the selectable treatment programs a treatment temperature between 48° C. and 53° C. is specified, while in a second of the selectable treatment programs a treatment temperature between 45° C. and 48° C. is specified.

23. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the size of the treatment surface is less than 1 cm.sup.2, preferably between 20 and 80 mm.sup.2 and/or the size of the treatment surface is between 1 cm.sup.2 and 18 cm.sup.2, preferably between 6 and 9 cm.sup.2.

24. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device comprises an energy storage device, preferably a battery, particularly preferably a lithium polymer and/or a metal hydride battery, and/or the battery is a solid state battery, preferably a lithium ceramic battery.

25. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the interface is additionally configured for a power supply by means of a mobile device and/or the interface is additionally configured for a data exchange with a mobile device.

26. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device comprises at least one first temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the treatment surface and the control device sets the temperature of the treatment surface based on the measurement data of the temperature sensor, and/or a hardware-implemented temperature monitor reversibly limits the maximum temperature of the treatment surface and a fuse switches off the device in the event of a short circuit or uncontrolled continues heating.

27. Device according to claim 16, characterized in that the device comprises a contact sensor which can determine whether or not the treatment surface is in contact with a skin.

28. A kit comprising a device according to claim 16, and a software for installation on a mobile device, wherein the software is configured to select one of at least two treatment programs via the interface of the device.

29. System comprising a device according to claim 16, and a mobile device, wherein a software is installed on the mobile device, which is configured to select one of at least two treatment programs via the interface of the device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0269] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

[0270] FIG. 2 shows another preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the device being a two-part device and comprising a head element and body element.

[0271] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a head element of the two-part device shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0272] FIG. 1 shows a device for hyperthermal treatment of itching or herpes, comprising a treatment surface 3, an operating element 5 and a control device (not visible). The control device is configured to regulate the treatment surface 3 in a heating-up phase to a treatment temperature between 40°-65° C. by heating at least one heating element according to predetermined treatment parameters of a treatment program and to maintain this temperature for a treatment duration between 1 and 12 seconds. At least two different treatment programs are stored on the control device, which specify different treatment parameters. Device 1 has at least one interface (not visible) for connection to a mobile device and is configured for the selection of one of the at least two treatment programs by means of the mobile device, so that the selected treatment program is executed after actuating the operating element 5.

[0273] For communication with the mobile device, device 1 comprises a wireless interface (not visible), preferably a Bluetooth interface. Preferably, a treatment program is selected via the interface with the help of a mobile device. To this end a software (‘app’) may be provided on the mobile device. The selected treatment program is preferably executed after actuating an operating element 5 on said device 1. By actuating the operating element 5 on device 1, it is preferred that the last selected treatment program is executed. Device 1 is advantageously configured in such a way that the mobile device enables a selection of the treatment programs stored in the control device, preferably in the firmware, without the mobile device or the app being able to change operating parameters. As a result, the device 1 that can be conveniently operated by means of a mobile device may be provided without risking to compromise on safety standards.

[0274] Instead, all defined treatment programs are preferably based on well-founded empirical values or study results, wherein the possibility of a deliberately limited individualization may further improve upon patient compliance and treatment success.

[0275] Advantageously, the mobile device allows for a straightforward selection from the various treatment programs, while the device itself can be kept slim and simple. As illustrated, the device 1 preferably comprises only a single simple operating element 5 for executing the selected treatment program.

[0276] Device 1 preferably comprises a separate energy storage unit, preferably a lithium battery, for an energy supply. Device 1 may be used independently without connection to a mobile device. As a stand-alone device 1, it is particularly easy to handle and guarantees a precise positioning of the treatment surface on a site of the skin to be treated. As preferred dimensions, the device 1 may, for example, exhibit a width 14 of 15 mm to 25 mm, a thickness 15 of 10 mm to 20 mm and a length 13 of between 50 mm and 100 mm, preferably 60 mm to 80 mm.

[0277] FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an alternative embodiment of device 1 according to the invention, wherein the device 1 is characterized by a two-part design.

[0278] The device 1 comprises a head element 7 and a body element 9, which are pluggable connected to each other via an interface 6. For the preferably illustrated embodiment, the treatment surface 3 and the control device (not visible) are present in the head element 7, while the operating element 5 and an energy storage (not visible) are present in the body element 9.

[0279] FIG. 2 shows the two-part device 1 in a connected or assembled state, while FIG. 3 shows the head element 7 in the disconnected state, allowing the interface 6 to be visible. Interface 6 may preferably allow for a USB Type C or Lightning plug connection to a mobile device. Interface 6 provides for mechanical stability in addition to other functionalities described in relation to the interface, such as data exchange and/or power supply.

[0280] As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, the treatment surface 3 is located in the head element 7 on the side opposite to interface 6 (or a body element 9 connected to it). Since no energy storage is required in the head element 7, it may be kept extremely compact such that for example dimensions of a width 14 from 15 mm to 25 mm, a thickness 15 from 10 mm to 20 mm and a length 13 from 15 mm to 30 mm may be achieved.

[0281] The compact head element 7 may be mounted onto a mobile device for treatment. For this purpose, head element 7 and body element 9 are disassembled and connected to a mobile device via the available interface 6. The interface 6 now functions as an interface to the mobile device, so that in the connected or mounted state, both a selection of the treatment programs and the power supply by means of the mobile device are possible.

[0282] As in the case of the embodiment described above, a corresponding software (‘app’) may be provided on the mobile device for this purpose. However, advantageously the mobile device does not allow for making any safety-relevant changes to the treatment programs. Instead also in this embodiment, the mobile device may preferably only select the treatment programs that are stored on the control device of the head element (e.g. within the firmware). Preferably the treatment may be triggered by an appropriate operation input in an app on the mobile device.

[0283] On the other hand, device 1 may also be used advantageously as a stand-alone device, i.e. independent of a mobile device. This is preferably done in an assembled state (see FIG. 2), i.e. in a state in which head element 7 and body element 9 are connected via interface 6. Energy is preferably supplied via the energy storage in body element 9, e.g. a lithium battery.

[0284] After actuating the operating element 5, the last selected treatment program is preferably executed. Preferably said treatment program corresponds to the treatment program that was selected during a connection of head element 7 with the mobile device. However, it may also be preferred that the two-part device 1 comprises two interfaces 6 for connection with a mobile device. On the one hand, the interface 6 between a body and head element may preferably be used as a first interface to a mobile device. On the other hand, the device may comprise a further, preferably wireless interface, for example a Bluetooth interface for a second interface with the mobile device. A wireless second interface enables a connection of the device 1 with the mobile device even when the device is assembled (see FIG. 2). This means in a state in which the head element 7 is connected to the body element 9 via interface 6, so that interface 6 is not available for a connection with a mobile device.

[0285] For storage purposes, device 1 may preferably have a cap 11, which is used to protect the interface 6 on the head element 7 when disassembled or disconnected. Preferably the cap 11 as well as the body element 9 and the head element 7 are dimensioned in such a way that the cap 11 is positioned at the open end of the body element 9 in the connected state and cannot be lost.

[0286] The depicted two-part version of the device 1 allows a high degree of flexibility and ease of use, which to a large extent meet various individual requirements. As preferred dimensions, the device 1 may, for example, exhibit a width 14 of 15 mm to 25 mm, a thickness 15 of 10 mm to 20 mm and a length 13 of between 60 mm and 120 mm, preferably 70 mm to 100 mm.

[0287] In preferred embodiments, the head element 7 shown in FIG. 3 may moreover function as an independent device 1, wherein a treatment in the mounted state is carried out as described using a mobile device.

[0288] It shall be noted that different alternatives to the described embodiments of the invention may be used to carry out the invention and to arrive at the solution according to the invention. Thus, the device, system or kit according to the invention shall not be limited to the above-mentioned preferred embodiments. Rather, various embodiments are conceivable which may deviate from the solution presented. The aim of the claims is to define the scope of protection of the invention. The scope of protection of the claims is directed to cover the device, system or kit as well as equivalent embodiments of these.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0289] 1 device

[0290] 3 treatment surface

[0291] 5 operating element or trigger

[0292] 6 interface

[0293] 7 head element

[0294] 9 body element

[0295] 11 cap