EP2853244A1

EP2853244A1 - Stimulation device comprising two coupling means connected by a loading member for placing tissue in traction or compression

Info

Publication number: EP2853244A1
Application number: EP20140186739
Authority: EP
Inventors: Virginio Mariani; Giulio Picozzi
Original assignee: Giudo Srl
Current assignee: Giudo Srl
Priority date: 2013-09-27
Filing date: 2014-09-29
Publication date: 2015-04-01
Anticipated expiration: 2034-09-29
Also published as: EP2853244B1; ITMI20131595A1; ES2586488T3

Abstract

An external stimulation device (1) for joint pain comprising two coupling means (20) suitable to be externally attached to the skin (1a) of a patient and a loading member (31, 32) suitable to structurally connect the coupling means (20) and to apply a force to them in a direction so as to move said coupling means (20) apart or closer together for traction or compression.

Description

The present invention relates to an external stimulation device for joint and similar pain as recited in the preamble of Claim 1.
As is known, an increasingly large number of people, including young people, suffer from rheumatism, joint or muscle pain, arthritis, back pain or other similar types of pain which make it difficult or even almost impossible for them to perform movements that would otherwise be natural and simple.
Several remedies have been developed to try to overcome or at least alleviate such problems by reducing the pain more quickly and for as long as possible. A first remedy known in the prior art consists of applying heat, for example using specific plasters or hot-water bottles, to relieve the pain in the affected area.
Another remedy consists of administering drugs: anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics and muscle relaxants or other medications that relax the muscles and prevent their painful contraction.
Lastly, important therapies for the treatment of joint pain are physical exercise which, especially if performed under the guidance of a physiotherapist, achieves good results in patients with chronic pain; and massage therapy, which is generally useful if performed by a trained therapist.
Despite the large number of solutions known in the prior art, the majority of these, such as the application of heat, for instance, are only effective in the short term in that, as soon as the heat wears off, the pain tends to return almost immediately.
Another drawback, specifically related to the application of heat and the use of drugs, is that such solutions are only effective for the treatment of pain in the initial stage, but are practically ineffective for treating chronic pain.
Another drawback, specifically related to massage therapy, is that it must only be performed by qualified therapists and is therefore extremely expensive.
An important drawback of massage therapy is the need to fix an appointment with an appropriately equipped centre, which means the massage cannot be performed exactly when needed, i.e. whenever the pain occurs.
Another drawback, with regard to physical exercise, lies in the fact that this activity must be practiced continuously and regularly and is therefore frequently not very effective due to lack of constancy.
In this situation the technical purpose of the present invention is to devise an external stimulation device for joint and similar pain able to substantially overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.
Within the sphere of said technical purpose one important aim of the invention is to provide an external stimulation device that can be used easily, simply and quickly.
Another important aim of the invention is to provide a stimulation device that can be used quickly whenever it is needed.
The technical purpose and specified aims are achieved with an external stimulation device for joint and similar pain as claimed in the appended Claim 1. Preferred embodiments are described in the dependent claims.
The characteristics and advantages of the invention are clearly evident from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows an external stimulation device;
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross-section of the external stimulation device;
Fig. 3 shows another external stimulation device according to the invention;
and
Fig. 4 presents a cross-section of the stimulation device shown in Fig. 3.

With reference to said drawings, reference numeral 1 globally denotes the external stimulation device according to the invention.
It is suitable for use to treat joint pain, muscle pain (for example, back pain) by placing a portion of the body in traction or compression, preferably in traction.
The external stimulation device 1 comprises two hooks 20 suitable to be attached to the skin 1a arranged an appropriate distance apart; and a loading member 30 suitable to structurally connect the two hooks 20 and to apply a force of traction or compression to the hooks 20 and, thus, to the portion of body placed between said hooks 20.
Each hook 20 is advantageously suitable to be integrally and externally attached to the skin 1 a, that is to say to be attached to the skin 1 a by gluing, by creating a vacuum or by means of another similar method of attachment to the skin without penetrating said skin 1a. In particular, it is suitable to be attached to the skin 1 a by creating a vacuum.
The hook 20 comprises a shell, appropriately coloured and made of a transparent preferably polymeric material, defining an internal volume 21 suitable to be placed under vacuum and an opening 22 of said volume 21 suitable to come into contact with the skin 1a so as to hermetically seal the internal volume 21 and, thus, permit the creation of a vacuum in said volume 21 and, therefore, the attachment of the hook 20 to the skin 1 a.
To create the vacuum in the volume 21, the hook 20 may comprise a valve 23 suitable to permit a pump to draw air out of the internal volume 21 and create a vacuum in said volume 21. Alternatively, the vacuum can be created by heating the hook 20 and, thus, the air inside it so that, when it cools, the pressure falls to create such vacuum.
Alternatively, the hooks 20 comprise a plate, made of a polymeric material, and comprising a gluing surface 20a suitable to be externally attached to the skin 1a (Figs. 3 and 4).
Structurally connected to the two hooks 20, the external stimulation device 1 is provided with a loading member 30 suitable to apply a force to the hooks 20 in a direction so as to move them apart or closer together thus placing the external stimulation device 1 in traction or compression.
Preferably, the member 30 is suitable to apply a force to the hooks 20 to move them apart and thus place the external stimulation device 1 in traction.
The loading member 30, illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises two coupling elements 31 each of which is integral with a hook 20; and at least one tensioning apparatus 32 connecting said coupling elements 31 and suitable to generate said force to move the hooks 20 apart; and two hinges 33 suitable to permit the elements 31 and, thus, the hooks 20 to rotate idly with respect to the apparatus 32 about axes of rotation that are substantially parallel in relation to one another and to the skin 1 a.
Preferably, the loading member 30 comprises two tensioning apparatuses 32 arranged in proximity to the ends of the hinges 33.
Each tensioning apparatus 32 comprises a first duct 32a which is hollow and integrally joined to one of the hinges 33; a second duct 32b suitable to be at least partially housed inside the first duct 32a and to slide with respect to said duct to define an axis of sliding that is practically perpendicular with respect to the axes of rotation and which lies on the positioning plane of said axes of rotation; and a presser 32c suitable to generate force on the ducts 32a and 32b in a direction so as to move them apart; and means to stop the relative sliding between the ducts 32a and 32b.
The presser 32c comprises a spring (Fig. 2), preferably a compression spring, arranged in the internal housing delimited by the ducts 32a and 32b and suitable to vary in length as a function of the reciprocal sliding between the ducts 32a and 32b and, thus of the distance between the hooks 20 so as to generate a reciprocal force on the ducts 32a and 32b and, as a consequence, on the hooks 20 to move them apart thus placing the external stimulation device in traction or compression.
Alternatively, the presser 32c is suitable to place the device 1 in traction and, thus, to generate the force on the ducts 32a and 32b to move them apart in response to a change in the pressure of a fluid (air, oil, etc.) appropriately enclosed within the internal housing defined by the ducts 32a and 32b.
It therefore comprises a control valve suitable to permit a pump equipped with a pressure gauge to be connected to the tensioning apparatus 32 and, in particular, to said internal housing to pressurise the fluid inside the internal housing. In particular, this control valve permits the pressure inside the first duct 32a to be increased so as to apply said reciprocal force to the ducts 32a and 32b to move them apart.
Additionally, the tensioning apparatus 32 may comprise a telescopic rod 32d housed inside the ducts 32a and 32b, joining the two hinges 33 and around which the spring is wound; and a slider 32e suitable to slide along the telescopic rod 32d and arranged between the second duct 32b and the spring 32c so as to control the compression/expansion of the spring, the presser 32c, as a function of the relative motion between the ducts 32a and 32b.
According to a further alternative embodiment, each apparatus 32 may comprise an elastically flexible tube joining the hooks 20, a valve suitable to permit a pump equipped with a pressure gauge to change the pressure inside the tube so as to alter its flexion and, thus, generate a force on the hooks 20 to move them apart or closer together and, thus, place the device 1 in traction or compression.
According to another alternative embodiment, the tensioning apparatus 32 may comprise a sheet 32f (Figs. 3 and 4) made of a polymeric material, attached to the coupling elements 31 via the hinges 33 and which is able to elastically bend so as to place the hooks 20 and, thus, the portion of skin 1 a between them in traction.
The stopping means, which are not illustrated in the drawing, comprise at least a seat obtained in the first duct 32a and at least a flexible tooth protruding from the second duct 32b so as to engage with said seat to prevent a relative motion between the ducts 32a and 32b.
The functioning of an external stimulation device, described above in a structural sense, is as follows.
First one of the hooks 20 is externally attached to the skin 1 a.
In detail, the operator presses the opening 22 of the hooks 20 against the skin 1 a so as to substantially hermetically seal the internal volume 21 and, keeping the hook pressed against the skin 1a, connects a pump to the valve 23 and, thus, draws air out of the internal volume 21 lowering the pressure in the volume 21 so that the hook 20 is attached to the skin by means of a vacuum. Alternatively the hook is attached to the skin by gluing.
Next the operator pre-loads the tensioning apparatus 32, in particular by placing it in compression or traction. This is done by sliding the ducts 32a and 32b in relation to one another and thus by compressing the spring, or by arching or bending the sheet 22f or by inserting pressurised air or by means of fluid-dynamic pistons, electric actuators or other means.
Lastly, the operator repeats the operations described above to externally attach the second hook 20 to the skin 1a keeping the tensioning apparatus pre-loaded. Once the external stimulation device 1 has been attached to the skin, the spring, or the presser 32c, applies a force to the ducts 32a and 32b and, thus, to the hooks 20 so as to move said hooks 20 apart and thus place the external stimulation device 1 and, as a consequence, the portion of the skin between the hooks 20, in traction.
The invention achieves some important advantages.
A first advantage lies in the fact that the external stimulation device is simple to use.
As is clear from the description of its functioning, the external stimulation device 1 can be applied to the portion of the body to be treated by means of simple operations that can be performed quickly.
Another advantage regards the possibility of adjusting the force applied to the portion of the body simply and quickly using the presser 32c and, in particular, by changing the compression of the spring or the pressure inside the internal seat defined by the ducts 32a and 32b.
A further advantage, owing to said ease of use and application, lies in the fact that the external stimulation device 1 can easily be used by anybody and does not therefore require the presence of a trained therapist.
Another advantage therefore lies in the reduced cost of using the device 1.
Modifications and variations may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. All the elements as described and claimed herein may be reciprocally mutually coupled and/or replaced with equivalent elements and the scope of the invention includes all other details, materials, shapes and dimensions.

Claims

An external stimulation device (1) for joint and similar pain characterized in that it comprises two hooks (20) suitable to be externally attached to the skin (1 a); and a loading member (30) suitable to structurally connect said hooks (20) and to apply a force to said hooks (20) in a direction so as to move said hooks (20) apart or closer together thus placing said external stimulation device (1) in traction or compression.
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said loading member (30) is suitable to place said stimulation device (1) in traction.
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said loading member (30) comprises at least one tensioning apparatus (32) comprising a first duct (32a) which is hollow and integrally joined to one of said hooks (20); a second duct (32b) suitable to be at least partially housed inside said first duct (32a) defining an internal housing; and a presser (32c) suitable to generate a reciprocal movement force on said ducts (32a, 32b).
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said presser (32c) comprises a compression spring suitable to vary in length as a function of the distance between said hooks (20).
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said presser (32c) comprises a control valve suitable to permit the pressure inside said internal housing to be changed.
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said at least one tensioning apparatus (32) comprises a sheet (32f) which is able to bend as a function of the distance between said hooks (20).
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said loading member (30) comprises hinges (33) suitable to permit said hooks (20) to rotate with respect to said at least one tensioning apparatus (32).
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said hook (20) is suitable to be attached to said skin (1 a) by creating a vacuum.
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in the preceding claim, wherein said hooks (20) comprise an internal volume (21) suitable to be placed under vacuum and an opening (22) of said internal volume (21) suitable to come into contact with said skin (1a) so as to hermetically seal said internal volume (21) to permit the creation of a vacuum in said internal volume (21).
The external stimulation device (1) as claimed in one or more of claims 1-5, wherein said hook (20) is suitable to be attached to said skin (1 a) by gluing.