DEVICE FOR TRAINING AND DIRECT PRACTICE OF BREAST SELF-PALPATION TECHNIQUES

Abstract

Device for training and direct practice of breast self-palpation techniques for the early detection of breast cancer comprising a container flexible body refillable with viscous fluid, a support and transfer platform connected to the body, means to simulate the type of abnormal tissue detectable within the body; fluid distributor element directly on the user's skin coming from the chamber and transfer means arranged towards the distributor element.

Claims

1. A device for training and direct practice of breast self-palpation techniques for early detection of breast cancer, which allows learning to distinguish abnormal tissue, allows its use at home, provides means to perform the self-examination itself in a real way and facilitates the formation of a self-palpation habit, wherein the device comprises a container flexible body refillable with a viscous fluid; a support and transfer platform connected to the flexible body to define an inner chamber where the viscous fluid is contained; means for simulating at least one type of detectable abnormal tissue within the container flexible body; a distributor element of the fluid directly on the user's skin coming from the chamber; and transfer means arranged on the platform that allow the transfer of said fluid from the chamber to the distributor element.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container flexible body has the shape and size of a breast, it is formed by a semi-spherical membrane, with an upper circular access opening for filling the inner chamber with a viscous fluid comprising an anti-leak closure element that simulates the shape of a nipple; wherein the anti-leak closure element is made of a harder material than the flexible container but is equally elastomeric and comprises a central stem area of diameter greater than the circular access opening, a rounded lower projection with a diameter even greater than the stem, and an upper projection in a rounded disc shape with a diameter greater than the diameter of the lower projection; and wherein the upper projection of the anti-leak closure element is slightly curved downwards describing a curved truncated cone shape.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container flexible body comprises a lower edge with an inner perimeter projection in a flat ring shape.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the container flexible body is made of silicone elastomer with characteristics of high elasticity and resistance.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the support and transfer platform comprises a solid body formed by an upper surface parallel to a lower surface and an outer mantle with means to retain the flexible body; and wherein the means for retaining the flexible body comprise a perimeter groove made around the entire perimeter of the mantle and an outer perimeter seal ring.

8. (canceled)

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the perimeter groove comprises a depth that matches the width and thickness of the inner perimeter projection of the lower edge of the container flexible body where said projection is inserted into the slot, or wherein the outer perimeter seal ring has a stepped inner face that abuts outside the mantle of the platform and retains the lower edge of the flexible body with the inner projection inserted into the groove.

10. (canceled)

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means to simulate a type of abnormal tissue comprises at least one smaller body with a shape and size similar to a tumor made of a material harder and firmer than the material of the container flexible body; wherein said simulated tumor preferably has a semi-spheroidal shape with an irregular surface and; wherein said simulated tumor is fixedly located on the upper surface of the platform.

12. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the means to simulate a type of abnormal tissue also comprise at least one smaller body with a shape and size similar to a cyst or benign tumor made of a material similar to that of the container flexible body, wherein said body similar to a cyst has a spheroidal shape with soft walls and is found loosely inside the chamber of the container flexible body.

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the distributor element of the viscous fluid comprises a body of absorbent and spongy material, preferably cylindrical in shape not very high with a flat outer face with a rounded edge and a flat inner face with a straight edge; wherein said distributor element is joined by its inner flat face to the lower surface of the platform; and wherein said distributor element has a diameter that matches the diameter of the platform.

18. (canceled)

19. (canceled)

20. The device according to claim 17, wherein the distributor element is a soft sponge.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer means that allow the transfer of the viscous fluid from the chamber to the distributor element comprise at least one through opening that extends from the upper surface of the platform with the inner flat face of the distributor element.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein the viscous fluid is a liquid soap.

23. A training kit to teach and learn breast self-examination techniques for early detection of breast cancer which allows its use at home, provides means to perform self-examination in a real way, facilitates the formation of a self-palpation habit, wherein the kit comprises a training device, comprising a container flexible body refillable with a viscous fluid, a support and transfer platform connected to the flexible body to define an inner chamber, means for simulating at least one type of detectable abnormal tissue within the container flexible body; a fluid distributor element directly on the user's skin coming from the chamber and transfer means arranged on the platform that allow the transfer of said fluid from the chamber to the distributor element; and a package containing the device that includes information with instructions for use, information on how to fill the flexible body on palpation training with the device and instructions on how to perform the self-palpation examination on the user's own breasts.

24. The training kit according to claim 23, wherein the package comprises an inner face where the information is arranged, and wherein the vertical edges of the packaging are of the type folded in bellows.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)

27. The training kit according to claim 23, wherein the package comprises graphic information in the form of a fillable table or a calendar; and wherein said packaging is made of cardboard laminated with a waterproof film.

28. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] In order to carry out the objectives, the disclosure may be performed as in the illustration of the accompanying drawings; however, the drawings are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of the disclosure, and may acquire multiple embodiments as long as they are under a common inventive concept. Thus, a detailed description of the disclosure will be carried out together with the Figures that are an integral part of this presentation, where:

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a sectional front elevation of the entire device.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a top isometric view of the device.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a sectional elevation of the flexible body of the device.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a sectional elevation of the detail of the device closure element.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows a sectional elevation of the detail of one embodiment of the device closure element.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a sectional elevation of the device platform.

[0057] FIG. 7 shows a sectional elevation of the device platform joined to the flexible body.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows a sectional front elevation of the device where the simulating means of a tumor can be seen.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows an upper isometric view of the device with another type of means to simulate abnormal tissue.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows a sectional front elevation of the joint between the platform and the viscous fluid distributor element.

[0061] FIG. 11 shows a sectional front elevation of the device incorporating the fluid transfer means.

[0062] FIG. 12 shows an ambient perspective showing the use of the device as a training tool.

[0063] FIG. 13 shows a set perspective showing the use of the device as a tool to apply and distribute a viscous fluid on the skin of the breast before performing a breast self-examination.

[0064] FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the kit including the device and the packaging in closed state.

[0065] FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of the packaging in the open unfolded state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] The disclosure relates to a device for training and direct practice of breast self-examination techniques for early detection of breast cancer which allows its use at home, provides means to perform self-examination in a real way and facilitates the formation of a self-examination habit.

[0067] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the device (1) comprises a container flexible body (10) refillable with a viscous fluid; a support and transfer platform (20) connected to the flexible body (10) to define an inner chamber (11) where the viscous fluid is contained; means for simulating (30) at least one type of detectable abnormal tissue within the container flexible body (10); a distributor element (40) of the fluid directly on the user's skin coming from the chamber (11); and transfer means (50) arranged on the platform (20) that allow the transfer of said fluid from the chamber (11) to the distributor element (40).

[0068] As seen in FIG. 2, the container flexible body (10) has the shape and size of a breast with an anti-leak closure element (14) that simulates the shape of a nipple.

[0069] Now, taking FIG. 3 as a reference, the flexible body (10) is formed by a semi-spherical membrane (12), with an upper circular access opening (13) for filling the inner chamber (11) with viscous fluid. It comprises a lower edge (15) with an interior perimeter projection (16) in a flat ring shape. This container flexible body (10) is made of silicone elastomer with characteristics of high elasticity and resistance.

[0070] As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 4, the anti-leak closure element (14) comprises a central stem area (141) with a diameter greater than the circular opening (13) for access to the flexible body (10), a rounded lower projection (142) with a diameter even larger than the stem (141), and an upper projection (143) in a rounded disk shape with a diameter greater than the diameter of the lower projection (142). It is made of harder material than the flexible container (10) but is equally elastomeric.

[0071] In an alternative embodiment, as exemplified in FIG. 5, the upper projection (143) of the anti-leak closure element (14) is slightly curved downwards, describing a curved truncated cone shape while the lower projection (142) also describes a convex curvature at least on its upper face (144).

[0072] On the other hand, the aforementioned support and transfer platform (20), as illustrated in FIG. 6, comprises a solid body formed by an upper surface (21) parallel to a lower surface (22) and an outer mantle (23) with means to retain the flexible body. Where said means for retaining the flexible body comprise a perimeter groove (24) made around the entire perimeter of the mantle (23).

[0073] As shown in FIG. 7, the perimeter groove (24) of the platform (20) comprises a depth which matches the width and thickness of the inner perimeter projection (16) of the container flexible body (10) where said projection (16) is inserted into the groove (24). The means for retaining the flexible body also include an outer perimeter seal ring (25) which has a stepped inner face (26) that abuts outside the mantle (23) of the platform (20) and retains the lower edge (15) of the flexible body (10) with the inner projection (16) inserted into the groove (24).

[0074] Taking FIG. 8 as a reference, the aforementioned means to simulate (30) a type of abnormal tissue comprise at least one smaller body with a shape and size similar to a tumor (31) made of a harder and firmer material than the material of the container flexible body (10); it has a preferably semi-spheroidal shape with an irregular surface and is fixedly located on the upper surface (21) of the platform (20).

[0075] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the means to simulate (30) a type of abnormal tissue may also comprise at least one smaller body with a shape and size similar to a cyst (32) or benign tumor made of a material similar to that of the flexible container body, preferably spheroidal in shape with soft walls and is found loosely inside the chamber (11) of the container flexible body (10).

[0076] Now, with respect to the aforementioned viscous fluid distributor element (40), as shown in FIG. 10, it comprises a body of absorbent and spongy material, preferably cylindrical in shape and not very high with a flat outer face (41) of rounded edge (42) and an inner flat face (43) with a straight edge (44). It is joined by its inner flat face (43) to the lower surface (22) of the platform (20) and has a diameter that matches the diameter of the platform (20). Being this distributor element (40), preferably a soft sponge.

[0077] With reference to FIG. 11, the transfer means (50) that allow the transfer of the viscous fluid from the chamber (11) to the distributor element (40) comprise at least one through opening (51) that extends from the upper surface (21) to the lower surface (22) of the platform (20) to arrive at the inner flat face (43) of the distributor element (40). The viscous fluid is preferably liquid soap.

[0078] Once the flexible body (10) is filled with the viscous fluid, as for example, filled with liquid soap directly from its container through the opening of the flexible body, the user can hold the device (1) in one of her hands, as illustrated in FIG. 12, while with the other hand she performs the palpation training on said flexible body (10) pressing with his fingers until she can distinguish the presence of a tumor inside it.

[0079] While the training is being carried out, the same pressure of the fingers on the flexible body (10) generates that a discreet amount of fluid (soap) has been transferred to the distributor element (40), so that once the session of training is finished, the user can spread the fluid on her own breast, as illustrated in FIG. 13, where the same flexible body (10) can be used as a support element that is comfortably adapted to the concavity of the hand while that the platform (20) gives the necessary rigidity to handle the device (1) and press it slightly to generate foam in the distributor element (40).

[0080] As shown in FIG. 14, the disclosure also includes a training kit (60) to teach and learn breast self-examination techniques for early detection of breast cancer, which allows its use at home, provides means to perform self-examination itself in a real way, facilitates the formation of a self-examination habit. It comprises the training device (1′) described above, which is formed by a container flexible body that can be filled with a viscous fluid, a support and transfer platform connected to the flexible body to define an interior chamber, means to simulate at least one type of abnormal tissue detectable inside the container flexible body; a fluid distributor element directly on the user's skin coming from the chamber and transfer means arranged on the platform that allow the transfer of said fluid from the chamber to the distributor element; and also includes a package (61) containing the device (1′) that includes information with instructions for use, information on how to fill the flexible body (10′) on palpation training with the device (1′) and instructions on how to perform the self-palpation exam on the user's own breasts.

[0081] In reference to FIG. 15, the packaging (61) comprises an inner face (62) where the information is placed; it allows to be opened and unfolded safely without breaking its faces thanks to the fact that the vertical edges (63) of the packaging are of the type folded in bellows. The packaging 61 may also comprise graphic information in the form of a fillable table or calendar and is preferably made of cardboard laminated with a waterproof film.