Abstract
An improved curette for removing tissue samples and delivering liquid and anti-pathogen to the treated area is presented. Curette has a soft and squeezable reservoir-handle, allowing for easy maneuvering around the crevices of the treated area. The handle is filled with liquid and attached to a scraping end, that is connected to the handle via hollow tube. The scraping end of the curette is made of a metal or a hard plastic and could be coated in anti-pathogen material. The liquid delivery mechanism allows placing liquid directly to the treated area. The method of scraping debris and medication delivery is particularly useful for a treatment of the toenail fungus. Main portions of the curette could be detachable, allowing for the easy reservoir replacement and for the use of multiple scraping utensils. Similarly, the device could be manufactured for a single use when all parts are molded together.
Claims
1. A compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area comprising: a squeezable container having an opening; a scraping utensil having a first end and a second end; said second end of the scraping utensil shaped for scraping; a burrow connecting said second end to the first end; said second end of the scraping utensil being attached at said opening of the squeezable container.
2. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said squeezable container is made from a polymer material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, polyurethane, Natural polyisoprene, Synthetic polyisoprene, Polybutadiene, Chloroprene rubber, polychloroprene, Neoprene, Baypren, Butyl rubber, Halogenated butyl rubbers, Styrene-butadiene Rubber, Nitrile rubber, Hydrogenated Nitrile Rubbers, EPM (ethylene propylene rubber) and EPDM rubber (ethylene propylene diene rubber), Epichlorohydrin rubber, Polyacrylic rubber, Silicone rubber, Fluorosilicone Rubber, Fluoroelastomers, Perfluoroelastomers, Polyether block amides, Chlorosulfonated polyethylene, Ethylene-vinyl acetate.
3. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said scraping utensil is made of polymer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, nylon, Teflon.
4. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said scraping utensil is made of metal.
5. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said second end of said scraping utensil is coated with anti-pathogen compound selected from the group consisting of copper-titanium nitride, titanium-hafnium, titanium-chromium, titanium nitride-hafnium nitride, titanium nitride-zirconium nitride, titanium nitride-chromium nitride and titanium dioxide or a mixture thereof.
6. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said scraping utensil is detachable from said squeezable container.
7. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said scraping utensil is permanently attached to the said squeezable container.
8. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said squeezable container is filled with a medicated solution.
9. The compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area of claim 1, wherein said squeezable container is filled with a cosmeceutical solution.
10. A method for scraping tissue samples with a compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a compound curette for scraping and delivering liquid to a scraped area, and fitted with squeezable container filled with a solution; (b) scraping tissue with a scraping utensil of said compound curette; (c) applying pressure to said squeezable container to cause said solution to travel to a scraping end of the scraping utensil; and (d) applying said solution to the scraped tissue.
11. A method of claim 6, wherein said method is used for a treatment of toenail ailments.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a prospective view of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system according to the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a different angle of a prospective view of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system according to the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a prospective view of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system with a scraping end detached from a soft squeezable end;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a different angle view of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system with a scraping end detached from a soft squeezable end;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a blown-up view of a scraping end from the point of attachment to a squeezable end, and collection of differently shaped scraping utensils;
[0032] FIG. 6 is a prospective view of application of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system for treatment of toenail fungus;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more illustrative embodiments presented in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, a curette with anti-pathogen coating and liquid delivery system includes a soft and squeezable handle 1 made out of a polymer plastic or rubber-like material and hollow inside. The depicted soft and squeezable handle is shaped like a tube to fit comfortably in the palm of the user's hand. The shape of a squeezable handle is not limited to a presented tube, and could be designed in any size or shape for a comfortable use by a treating practitioner. The squeezable handle 1 is attached to a scraping implement (also referred as “scraping end”, or “scraping utensil”), consisting of a solid and hollow tube 2 and a scraping scoop 3. Scraping implement is usually made out of the hard material like metal or hard plastic, and preferably coated with the pathogen inhibiting material selected but not limited to the following: silver, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel, selenium, or compound metals such as copper-containing titanium nitride films, titanium-hafnium, titanium, plus chromium, titanium nitride plus hafnium nitride, titanium nitride plus zirconium nitride, titanium nitride plus chromium nitride or titanium dioxide or the mixture thereof. Scraping implement could be made entirely out of a pathogen inhibiting material. The soft and squeezable handle is hollow inside and is usually filled with a medicated or cleaning liquid. The tube 2 of the scraping end of the curette is also hollow inside, allowing for the medicated or cleaning liquid to freely travel from the soft and squeezable handle to the scraping scoop or implement 3.
[0036] FIG. 2 demonstrates the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system from a different point of view. This view is presented for a better understanding of the present invention.
[0037] FIG. 3 demonstrates the embodiment of the improved curette with soft and squeezable handle 1 being detached from the solid end with a scraping utensil. Such ability to detach allows to refill the squeezable handle with a new liquid, and also allows to switch the scraping utensil to a differently designed scraping utensil, allowing for the easy execution of variable tasks. The soft and squeezable handle 1 could be fitted with protruded end 4, designed to fit into the opening 5 of the detachable solid end with a scraping utensil. The protruded end 4 could be secured into the opening 5 by means of a thread or any other latching or clasping mechanism. The soft and squeezable handle demonstrated in the depicted embodiment of the invention is shaped in form of a reservoir, similar to a toothpaste tube. One end of the reservoir is sealed, while the other, protruded end 4 has an opening for the liquid delivery. The present invention is not limited to a presented detachable embodiment. The compound curette could be manufactured as a single unit, when the soft handle is permanently attached to a scraping utensil.
[0038] FIG. 4 demonstrates an alternative angle view of the soft and squeezable handle and the detached solid end with a scraping utensil. From this prospective, it could be seen that protruding portion of the soft and squeezable handle has an opening 6, allowing the liquid to be pushed out of the soft and squeezable handle.
[0039] A blown-up view of the solid end with a scraping implement could be seen in the middle of the FIG. 5. From the depicted prospective, it could be seen that the solid end's wider opening is designed to fit a protrusion of the soft and squeezable handle. The scraping utensil 3 is connected to the wider opening 5 by means of a tube, with a burrow 7, allowing the liquid to travel from the soft and squeezable handle to the scraping implement 3. Surrounding the blown-up view of the solid end are different embodiments of the scraping implement. Present invention is not meant to be limited only to a toenail treatment. Nevertheless, all of the designs presented have an opening at the top and a smooth bottom. Scoops 8 and 10 are similar and differ mainly in the size of the opening of the cup. Detachable scraping implement 9 ends with a cone-shaped cup, attached to a shaft at the bottom portion. Such implement could be effective in the treatment of common warts. Duct-like design of the implement 11 allows for a deeper penetration and could be very useful in the nail treatment. The scraping end's scoop may be made in form of an O-ring, instead of a cup. Such design would allow for easy rinsing and disposing of the used liquid and debris collected during the treatment. All of the scraping implements according to a present invention are made from either a hard metal, selected from, but not limited to stainless steel, iron, aluminum, silver, copper, zinc, cobalt, nickel and selenium, or a hard polymer material, selected from, but not limited to polypropylene, polyacrylonitrile, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, nylon, Teflon. The base material could be coated with a material that demonstrated a pathogen inhibition. Such coating, combined with a delivery of the medication to the locus of the infection makes the current invention significantly more efficient than previously described curettes.
[0040] The compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system is intended, among other things, to treat onychomycosis or other nail ailments by removing keratin debris, fungi, and other undesirable materials that may have accumulated in the affected area. The anti-pathogen coating helps to stop or slow the dangerous pathogen proliferation. This feature is greatly important in cosmetic and surgical treatment. Usually, the same curette is used to treat all nails of the patient, requiring frequent sterilization while working from toe to toe. The anti-pathogen coating serves as an additional safeguard, denying the spread of the fungus from an affected nail to a healthy one. A convenient liquid delivery system, manipulated by a simple squeeze of a palm or fingers, allows treating the infection in a previously unreachable area.
[0041] FIG. 6 depicts the intended use, when the practitioner holds the soft and squeezable handle and maneuvers the solid end with scraping implement between the nail and the nail bed of the selected toe or finger. The curette's scraping end is oriented to face upward toward the nail, applying light pressure upward. The curette cup is used to scrape off and scoop away any keratin debris, fungi, and other undesirable materials that may have accumulated in this space. The curette bowl is sometimes rotated in order to facilitate this removal process. As the bowl fills with accumulated debris, it is retracted and emptied. When the procedure is finished, any debris clinging to the curette with layered anti-pathogen protection is mechanically removed by the practitioner or staff, and the curette is sterilized using any of the standard methodologies. While scraping under the affected toe, practitioner may apply pressure on the soft and squeezable handle, sending the medicated or cleaning liquid towards the scraping end of the curette. Such dual function of the suggested invention allows to achieve cleaning and treatment of the affected area in one move, without interruption, reducing the sometimes-unpleasant procedure's duration. The softness of the handle allows the practitioner to have a better grip on the instrument, achieving better maneuverability, and improving the precision of the performed procedure.
[0042] FIG. 7 provides a view of an alternative embodiment of the compound curette with soft handle and liquid delivery system according to the present invention. The squeezable handle is made in a spherical shape that would fit entirely in the palm of the user's hand. Such rendition allows for a very easy directional manipulation of the scraping end that is presented on FIG. 7 in shape of an O-ring.
[0043] Figures provide preferred embodiment of the invention. However, the invention is not limited to the disclosed configuration. The liquid delivery system could be more complex, allowing for the measured delivery of prescription medication.
[0044] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the sprit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims are desired to be protected.
