Piezoelectric Device for the Targeted Diffusion of Active Material

Abstract

The invention relates to a refillable device (1) for spraying an active substance, comprising a reservoir (2) containing at least one active substance, said device (1) being equipped with a piezoelectric spraying mechanism (6). The invention also relates to the use of said device for spraying an active substance in a controlled manner from a distance in a desired direction. Said device is attached to the subject to be treated and can be used multi-directionally independently of the movements of the subject.

Claims

1. A refillable device for spraying an active substance, comprising: a. a removable reservoir containing a wick and at least one active substance, b. a nebulizing body containing a piezoelectric spraying mechanism, c. a seal ensuring the tightness between said reservoir and said nebulizing body, wherein said nebulizing body is equipped with an orientation system of the piezoelectric spraying mechanism.

2. The refillable device according to claim 1, wherein the piezoelectric spraying mechanism comprises a piezoelectric pad which is in contact with the active substance, said pad vibrating at a frequency of between 75 and 190 kHz, and is covered with a perforated membrane, of which the perforation dimensions are between 1 and 40 μm.

3. The refillable device according to claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric pad is in contact with a wick, the end of which is planar.

4. The refillable device according to claim 2, wherein the piezoelectric pad is in contact with a wick, the end of which is hemispherical.

5. The refillable device according to claim 1, wherein the active substance is an insecticidal, repellant, painkiller, antibacterial, antiseptic or soothing active substance.

6. A use of a refillable device for spraying an active substance according to claim 1, wherein the device is fixed to a support selected from a belt, a harness, a patch, or a bracelet, the support being suitable for being worn by a subject.

7. The use according to claim 6, wherein the device can be used multi-directionally and independently of the movements of the subject.

8. The use according to claim 6, wherein the device makes it possible to spray the active substance in a localized manner, on a target zone of the subject to be protected or to be treated.

9. The use according to claim 6, wherein the device equipped with a piezoelectric spraying mechanism makes it possible to spray the active substance in a controlled manner and from a distance.

10. The use according to claim 6, wherein the spraying targets a zone of the body of the subject to be treated or to be protected.

11. The refillable device according to claim 2, wherein the active substance is an insecticidal, repellant, painkiller, antibacterial, antiseptic or soothing active substance.

12. The refillable device according to claim 3, wherein the active substance is an insecticidal, repellant, painkiller, antibacterial, antiseptic or soothing active substance.

13. The refillable device according to claim 4, wherein the active substance is an insecticidal, repellant, painkiller, antibacterial, antiseptic or soothing active substance.

14. The use according to claim 7, wherein the device equipped with a piezoelectric spraying mechanism makes it possible to spray the active substance in a controlled manner and from a distance.

15. The use according to claim 8, wherein the device equipped with a piezoelectric spraying mechanism makes it possible to spray the active substance in a controlled manner and from a distance.

16. The use according to claim 7, wherein the spraying targets a zone of the body of the subject to be treated or to be protected.

17. The use according to claim 8, wherein the spraying targets a zone of the body of the subject to be treated or to be protected.

18. The use according to claim 9, wherein the spraying targets a zone of the body of the subject to be treated or to be protected.

Description

[0083] FIG. 1 to 6 show an example of a device according to the invention, without restricting the form thereof.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows an example of a complete device according to the invention, made up of two main parts, i.e. the body of the device which constitutes the nebulizing body (1) and the reservoir (2) fitted within the nebulizing body (1).

[0085] FIG. 2 shows the reservoir (2) made up of the cartridge (3) part containing the active substance or the composition comprising the active substance, within which a wick (4) having a planar end is fixed. A seal (5) makes it possible to ensure the tightness between the reservoir and the nebulizing body when the reservoir is positioned within the device.

[0086] FIG. 3 shows an alternative to the reservoir (2) made up of the cartridge (3) part containing the active substance or the composition comprising the active substance, within which another variant of the wick (4′), having a rounded, hemispherical end, is fixed.

[0087] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the reservoir together with the piezoelectric pad (6) in place, as it is arranged in the element of the nebulizing body.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows the case where the piezoelectric cell (6) is placed on a wick having a planar end (4).

[0089] FIG. 5 shows the case where the piezoelectric cell (6) is placed on a wick having a hemispherical end (4′), making it possible to orient the cell so as to direct the spraying in a selected direction.

[0090] FIG. 6 shows an enlargement of the orientation system for the piezoelectric pad when this is in contact with the active substance via a hemispherical wick. In this particular embodiment, the piezoelectric pad is set in a tilting system which makes it possible to select an orientation to give to the piezoelectric pad, thus directing the spraying in the desired direction. The tilting system is a ball joint system.

[0091] FIG. 7 shows the orientation system of the piezoelectric pad, and in particular the detail of the mechanism of the ball joint type (7) made up of a fixed part (8) and a movable part (8′) that is set in said fixed part (8).

[0092] The present invention is illustrated by means of the following non-exhaustive and non-limiting examples.

EXAMPLE 1: EXAMPLE OF OPERATION OF A DEVICE ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION, FIXED TO A MOSQUITO REPELLANT BRACELET

[0093] A prototype of a device for diffusion of a mosquito repellant active material has been made. [0094] The nebulizer mechanism is a piezoelectric pad. The device is made up of the assembly comprising: [0095] a hemispherical housing made of polypropylene having a diameter of 4 cm and a height of 2 cm, [0096] an alcohol solution comprising an essential oil of lavandin which represents 5% by mass, contained in a cylindrical reservoir made of polypropylene and having a volume of 3 ml (diameter 3 cm, height 0.44 cm), the reservoir being provided with an outlet nozzle, [0097] a piezoelectric ceramic (PZT4 SMMOD10F190, Steminc) which is in contact with the solution and makes it possible for said solution to be nebulized. The piezoelectric pad of toroidal shape (16 mm outside diameter, 3 mm height) is covered by a perforated membrane (perforation dimensions 3-20 μm over a zone of 7 mm in diameter). The pad vibrates at a frequency of between 110 and 190 kHz, [0098] an electronic control card making it possible to manually activate the piezoelectric pad by means of a push button which makes it possible to activate the spraying, located in the center of the hemisphere of the housing, [0099] a battery supplying the device (29×19×5 mm), of 3.7 V, 300 mA and 1.11 Wh power, [0100] a filling opening located on the housing and provided with a flexible silicone stopper in order to allow for filling of the reservoir with active substance liquid, [0101] a connector provided with a USB port allowing for recharging of the battery, [0102] the assembly of the device which has just been described being fixed to a nylon bracelet provided with a closure means of the hook-and-loop type, such as “Velcro” or “scratch” for example.

[0103] Said device is designed such that, at the outlet of the nozzle, a mist of active material is formed, which diffuses around the subject and thus protects the subject against mosquito bites. The card of the electronic circuit has been programmed in order to allow the activation of the pad for 15 seconds, for a nebulized volume of approximately 55 μL. The autonomous nature of the battery makes it possible to trigger approximately 150 activations before complete recharge.

EXAMPLE 2: SOOTHING ACTIVE SUBSTANCE DIFFUSION DEVICE

[0104] A prototype of a device for diffusion of a composition that is soothing for humans, in order to reduce stress, has been made. The device is made up of the assembly comprising: [0105] a housing in the form of a slab of 4 cm width, 3.5 cm height and 1.5 cm depth, on which a protrusion is present in order to receive therein the piezoelectric pad, as well as a groove inside which a seal can be received. [0106] an solution based on essential oil of valerian, mandarin and chamomile having soothing properties (⅓, ⅓, ⅓), diluted in ethanol at a level of 10%, contained in a cylindrical reservoir made of glass and having a volume of 1.5 ml (diameter 1.1 cm, height 3 cm), the reservoir being provided with an outlet nozzle, [0107] a cellulose wick of 6 mm diameter and 3.5 cm height, having a hemispherically shaped end, the role of which is to convey the mixture of essential oils from the reservoir towards the piezoelectric pad, [0108] a nitrile rubber O-ring of 11 mm, making it possible to ensure the tightness between the reservoir and the hemispherical housing, [0109] a piezoelectric ceramic (PZT4 SMMOD10F190, Steminc) which is in contact with the solution and makes it possible for said solution to be nebulized via the hemispherical wick. The piezoelectric pad of toroidal shape (16 mm outside diameter, 3 mm height) is covered by a perforated membrane (perforation dimensions 1-10 μm over a zone of 4 mm in diameter). The pad vibrates at a frequency of 110 kHz, [0110] an electronic control card making it possible to manually activate the piezoelectric pad by means of a long-distance control using a remote control which makes it possible to activate the spraying, located in the center of the hemisphere of the housing, [0111] a battery supplying the device (29×19×5 mm), of 3.7 V, 300 mA and 1.11 Wh power, [0112] a connector provided with a USB port allowing for recharging of the battery, [0113] the assembly of the device which has just been described being fixed to a nylon bracelet provided with a closure means of the loop type.

[0114] Said device is designed and placed on the arm of a person who can adapt the orientation thereof towards the ORL sphere into an orientation such that a mist of active material forms at the nozzle outlet, which mist is directed towards the ORL sphere of the subject. The card of the electronic circuit has been programmed in order to allow the activation of the pad for 10 seconds, for a nebulized volume of approximately 38 μL. The autonomous nature of the battery makes it possible to trigger approximately 200 activations before complete recharge.