SET OF NOSE-MODELLING INSTRUMENTS, PRODUCTION METHOD AND A METHOD FOR MODELLING THE NOSE

Abstract

An external modelling method, including applying to a nose of initial external shape F.sub.0, at least two modelling instruments I, to guide the growth of the nose cartilage and thus obtain a target final external nose shape F.sub.f when the individual has stopped growing, which differs from a natural external shape F.sub.n which would be obtained naturally in the absence of intervention. A set of modelling instruments is provided, the successive shapes of which are determined to represent an evolving succession of one or more target intermediate shapes F, from the initial external nose shape F.sub.0 through to the target final external shape F.sub.f. A method of producing the modelling instruments is provided, during which method, starting from the initial external nose shape F.sub.0, a target final shape F.sub.f and at least one target intermediate shape F are determined. The instruments corresponding to each target shape are manufactured.

Claims

1. A method for producing instruments for modelling the shape of the nose of an individual, said method comprising: based on an initial shape, representing the initial shape of an external surface of a region of the nose of said individual, called modelling region, as it exists at an initial time: determining a target final shape, representing the shape that it is sought to obtain at a final time, for said modelling region of the nose of said individual; determining at least one target intermediate shape, representing a shape that it is sought to obtain at an intermediate time situated between the initial time and the final time, for said modelling region of the nose of said individual; and producing, for each of said target shapes, at least one modelling instrument arranged in order to be applied and held in contact with the modelling region of the nose of said individual, in such a way as to form an obstacle to the cartilaginous growth of the nose of said individual; said modelling instrument including a contact surface having a stable shape that represents or corresponds complementarily to said target shape, thus forming a plurality of modelling instruments provided in order to be applied one after another on the face of said individual with a view to guiding the cartilaginous growth of their nose, method during which: the current external shape of the modelling region of the nose of the individual is recorded, thus providing the initial shape; based on said initial shape, the growth of the nose is extrapolated in order to elaborate a final shape, called natural shape, representing the shape that will be adopted by the modelling region at the final time in the absence of intervention; and based on said natural final shape (and possibly said initial shape) the target final shape is determined.

2. The method for producing instruments according to claim 1, characterized in that a mould or a 3D printer is used in order to produce at least the contact surface of at least one of said instruments.

3. The method for producing instruments according to claim 1, characterized in that the initial shape of the nose is recorded by photography (for example 3D) or radiography (for example 3D) or by moulding or a combination of all or some of these methods.

4. The method for producing instruments according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of extrapolation and/or determination of the target final shape comprises modifying a computerized three-dimensional image.

5. A method for aesthetic modelling of the external shape of the nose of an individual by applying on the face a modelling instrument including a contact surface having a stable determined shape depending on a target future external shape for said nose, comprising: producing a plurality of modelling instruments, the successive shapes of which are determined in order to represent a progressive succession of one or more target intermediate shapes from the initial external shape of the nose as recorded in a current state at the initial time up to the target final external shape of the nose, according to claim 1; and a regular and prolonged application of said instruments on the face of an individual who is growing, successively over time, and as the individual grows, thus making it possible to guide the cartilaginous growth of the modelling region until the target final shape is obtained, or a shape close thereto.

6. The modelling method according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one intermediate shape of the nose is modified depending on the intermediate results obtained at the intermediate times.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that a siliconized or silicone interface is applied between the modelling instrument and the nose.

8. A set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose of an individual whose cartilage is growing, in order to guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose, carried out according to a method according to claim 1, each instrument having respectively an outer surface and an inner surface called contact surface coming into contact with at least one modelling region of said nose, said set comprising at least: a final instrument, the contact surface of which has a shape representing or corresponding complementarily to a target final shape for the nose of said individual; and one or more intermediate instruments, the contact surface of which has a shape representing or corresponding complementarily to an intermediate shape between the initial shape and the target final shape for the nose of said individual.

9. The set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose according to claim 8, characterized in that the instruments are not adjustable.

10. The set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact surfaces of the instruments are arranged in order to extend along the bridge of the nose between the columella and the nasal root.

11. The set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose according to claim 8, characterized in that the instruments comprise an upper end for bearing on the forehead of the individual.

12. The set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose according to claim 8, characterized in that the instruments comprise an elastic positioning device around the cranium which bear at least on the occipital bone of the cranium.

13. The set of modelling instruments to be applied on the nose according to claim 8, characterized in that the instruments are produced from resin.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent on reading the detailed description of embodiments which are in no way limitative, and from the following attached drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for aesthetic modelling of the external shape of the nose, according to the invention, via profile views of a face between an initial shape and a natural final shape on the one hand and a target final shape obtained by means of at least two modelling instruments on the other hand;

[0050] FIG. 2 corresponds to the procedure b in FIG. 1 and illustrates the effect of the application of the modelling instruments on the shape of the nose, during the growth of the individual;

[0051] FIG. 3a is a right side view of a modelling instrument, according to the invention;

[0052] FIG. 3b is a front view of a modelling instrument, according to the invention;

[0053] FIG. 4 is a profile view of a face, on which is placed an instrument for modelling the nose, the instrument being transparent;

[0054] FIG. 5 is a computerized three-dimensional image of a face showing in particular the nose in its initial shape;

[0055] FIG. 6 is a computerized three-dimensional image of the face shown in FIG. 5 showing the nose in an intermediate shape.

[0056] As these embodiments are in no way limitative, variants of the invention can be considered comprising only a selection of the characteristics described hereinafter, in isolation from the other characteristics described (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence comprising these other characteristics), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one, preferably functional, characteristic without structural details, and/or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the state of the prior art.

[0057] Firstly, a method for aesthetic modelling of the external shape of a nose 1 of an individual will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. According to the invention, the method consists of applying on the face of a growing individual, and more particularly to the nose thereof, at least two modelling instruments I.sub.i and I.sub.f (arrow b in FIGS. 1 and 2) so as to guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose and thus to obtain a target final external shape F.sub.f of the nose, when growth of the individual is complete, called time t.sub.f, which is different to a natural external shape F.sub.n that would obtain naturally in the absence of intervention (arrow a in FIG. 1).

[0058] The growing individual is an individual whose cartilaginous growth of the nose is ongoing, i.e. generally a child or an adolescent. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, during childhood or pre-adolescence, called time t.sub.0, it is frequent for the nose of an individual to have an external shape, called initial shape F.sub.0, giving an impression of visual harmony. However, during adolescence, the cartilaginous growth of the nose may result in a bump 1b appearing on the bridge 14 of the nose, typically due to excessive growth of the lateral cartilage and/or the septal cartilage. This bump is particularly visible in profile and is definitive. Once the growth of the individual is complete, the nose has a final external shape called natural shape F.sub.n, but which is no longer satisfactory with respect to the impression of visual harmony that it gives.

[0059] By modelling instrument I.sub.i is meant an item such as a splint or a mask covering at least the external surface of a region of the nose, called modelling region. In particular, the modelling instrument I.sub.i includes an inner contact surface S.sub.i having a stable determined shape and bears on the modelling region of the nose (FIGS. 2 and 4). FIG. 2 shows a contact line representing the progress of the contact surface during the course of the different instruments. The different contours shown correspond to the different modelling instruments (I.sub.1, I.sub.i, I.sub.i+1, I.sub.f) applied on the nasal bridge, the current one of which being shown by a solid line and the others by dashed lines.

[0060] Before applying the modelling instruments I.sub.i, the modelling method provides, at the time t.sub.0, for recording the current external shape of the modelling region of the nose of the individual, so as to obtain the initial shape F.sub.0 of the nose (FIG. 1), for example according to known methods (see FIG. 5, described below). Then, from this initial shape F.sub.0, the cartilaginous growth of the nose is extrapolated, in order to elaborate the final shape, called natural final shape F.sub.n, representing the shape that the modelling region of the nose will adopt in the absence of intervention. The target future shape F.sub.f is determined depending on the final shape, called natural shape F.sub.n, the initial shape F.sub.0 and the subjective assessment of the individual who wishes to improve the appearance of the external shape of their nose. Preferably, the target final shape of the nose is determined so as to find a compromise between the expected final shape, called natural shape, and the final shape desired by the individual, so that the target final shape can more easily be achieved. Moreover, at least one target intermediate external shape F.sub.i is determined, representing a shape that it is sought to obtain (or at least come close to, or progress towards) at an intermediate time t.sub.i situated between the initial time t.sub.0 and the final time t.sub.f. This makes it possible to progressively model the nasal region. Finally, the intermediate modelling instruments I.sub.i and the final modelling instrument I.sub.f are produced, each including an inner contact surface S.sub.i or S.sub.f corresponding complementarily to the intermediate shapes F.sub.i or the target future shape F.sub.f. The modelling instruments can be produced simultaneously, or as the growth of the individual progresses.

[0061] According to the invention, the modelling method provides for at least one intermediate modelling instrument I.sub.i and one final modelling instrument I.sub.f. Each of the intermediate modelling instruments I.sub.i includes a contact surface S.sub.i having a stable determined shape depending on the target future external shape F.sub.f giving the impression of visual harmony so as to avoid the final external shape called natural shape F.sub.n when growth of the individual is complete. The final modelling instrument I.sub.f includes a contact surface S.sub.f corresponding to the target future external shape F.sub.f.

[0062] According to the invention, and with reference to FIG. 2, a succession of modelling instruments I.sub.i is applied, the successive shapes of which are determined in order to represent a progressive succession of one or more target intermediate shapes F.sub.i from the initial external shape F.sub.0 of the nose as recorded in a current state (during childhood or adolescence) at the initial time to and up to the target final external shape F.sub.f of the nose when growth is complete. The succession of instruments makes it possible to progressively guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose. FIG. 2 shows, in particular the view on the left, a superimposition of contact lines corresponding to the modelling instruments, in particular the modelling instrument I.sub.1 at the start of the modelling process, then above an intermediate modelling instrument I.sub.i and again above a final modelling instrument I.sub.f corresponding to the last instrument applied in order to obtain the target final shape F.sub.f, showing different modelling instruments that will be applied on the modelling region of the nose. Clearly, the number of successive instruments may vary, for example depending on the individuals or the procedures utilized.

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, the modelling instruments I.sub.i must be applied regularly to the face of the individual during the course of growth and for extended periods, as for orthodontic devices. It is preferable to apply the instruments for several hours per day, in particular at night, or per week, so as to form an obstacle to the cartilaginous growth of the nose and thus to guide it. Each modelling instrument I.sub.i constitutes a sort of stop which the growing cartilage cannot easily pass. FIG. 2, in particular the middle view, shows the effect, viewed in profile, of the intermediate instruments I.sub.i and I.sub.i+1 on the bridge 14 of the nose. The shape of the nose which will be obtained is thus very close to that of the instrument, and thus can easily be assessed and determined. Of course, the purpose of the modelling instrument is not to prevent cartilaginous growth, but to guide it in the shape of the instrument. Once the intermediate shape F.sub.i of the nose is obtained, or close thereto, the following modelling instrument I.sub.i+1 is applied and so on (suggested by the dashed line in FIG. 2). The modelling instruments I.sub.i are applied successively over time, for example every three months, and as the individual grows, thus making it possible to guide the cartilaginous growth of the modelling region of the nose until the target final shape F.sub.f is obtained, or close thereto, by means of the last modelling instrument I.sub.f. The modelling method does not envisage a limited number of intermediate instruments.

[0064] So as to make the application of the instrument more comfortable and to avoid difficulties with skin hygiene, a siliconized interface is applied between the modelling instrument and the nose.

[0065] Depending on the intermediate results obtained at the intermediate times, for example in the case of a mismatch between the target intermediate shapes of the instruments and the actual external shape of the nose, it is possible to modify the future target final external shape and/or the target intermediate shapes. New intermediate modelling instruments can then be produced, replacing the intermediate instruments initially provided.

[0066] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a set of modelling instruments will now be described, to be applied on the nose 1 of an individual whose cartilage is growing, in order to guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose. Each modelling instrument I.sub.i has an outer surface S.sub.e and an inner surface called contact surface S.sub.i coming into contact with at least one modelling region of the nose. As described above, the set of instruments comprises: [0067] a final instrument I.sub.f, the contact surface of which has a shape representing or corresponding complementarily to a target final shape F.sub.f for the nose of said individual, and [0068] one or more intermediate instruments I.sub.i, the contact surface S.sub.i of which has a shape representing or corresponding complementarily to an intermediate shape F.sub.i between the initial shape F.sub.0 and the target final shape F.sub.f for the nose 1 of said individual (FIG. 2).

[0069] The modelling instruments I.sub.i, I.sub.f differ from one another at least by an inner contact surface having a different shape in order to allow a determined shape to be given to the nose after successive application of the different instruments over time and as the individual grows. FIG. 2 shows in particular a contact line corresponding to each modelling instrument (I.sub.1, I.sub.i, I.sub.i+1, I.sub.f) applied on the nasal bridge.

[0070] With reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4, the modelling instruments I.sub.i extend along the nasal bridge between the nasal columella 15 and the nasal root 16, so that they can be placed on the external surface of the nose, and more particularly above the cartilaginous parts of the nose. For example, the instrument can bear on the nasal bridge 14, and on the nasal columella 15 by one end 5 of the instrument, making it possible to exert an upward restraint.

[0071] Moreover, the instrument includes an upper end 6 for bearing on the forehead of the individual and making it possible to position the modelling instrument with respect to the nose, but without acting on the bony face. Preferentially, with reference to FIG. 3b, the upper end 6 comprises two lobes 6a, 6b provided in order to bear on either side of the nasal bone.

[0072] Preferably, the modelling instrument comprises an elastic positioning device 4 around the cranium that bears on the occipital bone of the cranium in order to hold the modelling instrument I.sub.i with sufficient pressure on the nose of the individual so that the instrument forms a stop for the cartilaginous growth. With reference to FIG. 3a, the positioning device has elastic straps or elastic headbands 4 that are fixed to the outer surface S.sub.e of the modelling instrument and encircle the cranium of the individual. According to a particular embodiment (not shown), the instrument comprises an occipital cleat arranged to be placed by its structural form close to the occiput of the cranium and allowing the elastic straps to be passed through the cleat.

[0073] With reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4, the modelling instruments comprise fastening systems 3 on the outer surface S.sub.e of the instrument for attaching the elastic positioning device. According to a first example embodiment, the fastening systems 3 comprise cylindrical studs around which the elastic headbands can be attached. According to a second example embodiment, the cover of the instrument has holes for attaching the elastic headbands thereto.

[0074] A method for producing modelling instruments for shaping the nose 1 of an individual will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. As described above with the modelling method, it is necessary to apply at least one intermediate modelling instrument I.sub.i in order to model the region of the nose undergoing cartilaginous growth so as to obtain target intermediate shapes F.sub.i and a final modelling instrument I.sub.f a short time before growth is complete or on completion of growth, in order to obtain the final external shape F.sub.f of the nose. Firstly, with reference to FIG. 5, it is necessary to record the current external shape of the modelling region of the nose 1 of the individual at a time called initial time t.sub.0 so as to obtain the initial shape F.sub.0. Several methods are possible to record the initial shape F.sub.0 of the nose. For example, the face is photographed using the method called 3D photography. 3D radiography can also be used. Provision is also made to mould the face so as to obtain a physical imprint. Finally, provision is made to use a combination of some or all of these methods. According to a preferred embodiment, the face of the individual and more particularly the initial shape of the nose are digitized so as to obtain a computerized three-dimensional image of the nose that can be viewed on a computer (FIG. 5). A method is known for example from the document US 2006/0097422 A1 making it possible to obtain a three-dimensional image of a surface of a part of a body, and to manipulate said image so as to obtain a desired shape or profile.

[0075] For example, in a similar way to document US 2006/0097422 A1, based on the computerized image of the initial shape of the nose, this image is manipulated in order to extrapolate the cartilaginous growth of the nose, by means of image processing software. The initial three-dimensional image is modified so as to obtain a three-dimensional image of the final shape, called natural shape. It is thus possible to show the progress of the growth of the nose and the final shape, called natural shape F.sub.n, representing the shape that the nose or the modelling region of the nose would adopt when growth is complete in the absence of intervention.

[0076] Depending on the initial shape and the assessed natural final shape, the target final shape F.sub.f is extrapolated or determined using image processing software, by modifying the initial computerized three-dimensional image manually or in an automated manner. Once the target final shape is defined, at least one intermediate shape F.sub.i of the nose is determined by computerized means, representing a shape that it is sought to obtain at an intermediate time situated between the initial time and the final time so as to progressively guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose between the initial shape and the target final shape. FIG. 6 shows an example of an intermediate shape of the nose. The surface shown in grey is the external surface of the nose and corresponds to a target intermediate shape F.sub.i which it is sought to obtain at an intermediate time. Determining this surface also makes it possible to define the inner surface called contact surface S.sub.i of the modelling instrument, as the contact surface of the intermediate instrument is complementary to the external surface of the nose at the intermediate time in question.

[0077] For each of said target shapes, at least one modelling instrument I.sub.i is produced, arranged in order to be applied and held in contact with the modelling region of the nose of said individual, so as to guide the cartilaginous growth of the nose of said individual. The modelling instruments I.sub.i are produced such that they include a contact surface S.sub.i having a stable shape, i.e. they have sufficient rigidity so that each instrument represents or corresponds to said target shape complementarily, and keeps this shape sufficiently well once applied, in order to act on the nose.

[0078] Provision can thus be made for as many modelling instruments as necessary, in order to apply them one after another on the face of said individual with a view to guiding the cartilaginous growth of their nose.

[0079] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous adjustments can be made to these examples without exceeding the scope of the invention.