AU596607B2 - Means for increasing and stabilizing the skin temperature - Google Patents

Description

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COMMONWEA1,TH- OF AUSTRALIA 9 o7 PATENTS ACT 1952.69 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

C13SS I t. Class Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: 61361196 0 on 0 0 0 0 0 a4 0 Related Art: o 0 0 4 Accepted: Published: This do zUmvit,' colnt nn til.

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Name of Applicant: o a.

o Mdjess of Applicant: 0 0 b o0 0 4 Actt~al inventor: a a 06 0 jdjdfess for Service; LACOTHERM AG Kronenstrasse 191, CH-9427 Wolfhalden, Switzerland ARNO W. LATZKE, RALF LATZKE and GERT LATZKE EDWD. WATERS SONS, 50 QUEEN STREET, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: MEANS FOR INCREASING AND STABILIZING THE SKIN TENPERATLRE The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing It known to US 1 MEANS FOR INCREASING AND STABILIZING THE SKIN TEMPERATURE The present invention relates to a device for increasing and stabilizing the skin temperature which are useful for relieving pain in muscles and joints, superficial effusions of blood, swellings, strains, contusions and tennis arm.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION From U.S. Patent Specification No. 4,489,711 there have been known magnetic plasters consisting of flexible, skin-compatible, permanently magnetizable and magnet..zed films of synthetic materials which films are either self-adhesive or can be attached to the skin by means of skin-compatible self-adhesive plasters.

Said magnetic plasters preferably are alternatingly positively and negatively magnetized, the positive and negative poli. being spaced apart from each other at a distance from 3 to 15 mm, and preferably from 4 to 10 mm. Said magnetic plasters, besides other effects, cause the blood circulation to be increased and the temperature to be increased in the immediate vicinity of the magnetic fields.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the invention to increase the effectiveness and to facilitate and render more convenient the use of said magnetic plasters.

It has now been found that said object can be attained by a device consisting of a foam layer comprising closed pores and being from 0.8 to 5 mm in thickness; 1 i a flexible heat-conducting metal layer a foam layer comprising closed pores and being from 0.8 to 5 mm in thickness; and one or more strips made of alternatingly positively and negatively permanently magnetized films of synthetic materials embedded in the foam layer as well as optionally a self-adhesive porous textile layer I The resulting device ::an be durably attachable no the skin either I 1 by using skin-compatible self-adhesive plasters or tapes or by S means of Velcro strip fasteners and bandages.

S «f It has been found that the heat generated by the magnetic fields is excellently stored, re-distributed and, thus, altogether increased by the other constituents of the new device.

At the same time the device causes the increased skin temperature to be stabilized.

a9 t *4 1 Since many pains, cramps and convulsive disorders are due S to an insufficient or irregular blood flow in the outer skin and o Q C the underlying parts of the body., in many cases an alleviation or even healing can be accomplished by uniform action of heat. The treatments with infrared radiation, warming bottles, heating pads, hot packs and cataplasms always involve considerable inconvenience and, for this and other reasons, cannot be readily carried out everywhere and at all times.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The combination of the heat-insulating foam layer the heat-conducting, flexible metal layer and the further heat-insulating foam layer with closed pores already by -2itself causes the body heat to be stored and re-distributed.

This combination also results in an increase in durability, whereby the device according to the invention will also become more long-wearing and will not be torn or broken as easily as will foam layers alone or magnetized synthetic films which are now commercially available. The devices according to the invention are not only heat-insulating, but they also act as a humidity barrier. Thus, underneath the device according to the invention there is also some accumulation of moisture. Moist I: heat is known to be therapeutically effective. The insulating effect of the layers and together is substantially f t higher than that of conventional insulating materials. This t f effect is due to the fact that a good heat conductor is combined with good heat insulators. This combination of layers of conductors and insulators has so far not been contemplated by the irtisan, since for achieving a good heat insulation only heat insulators have been used, while heat-condrctive materials have been avoided. Thus, the combination according to the invention not only results in a good heat storage, but also a good heat distribution over the area to be treated. Simultaneously the 6 o skin temperature is further increased by the action of the magnetic fields so that altogether temperature increases that so far have not been observed can be effected over extended periods of time.

Since optimum magnetic effects are observed where the synthetic films have been alternatingly positively and negatively magnetized at distances of from 4 to 10 mm and have a magnetic field strength of from 100 to 2,000 Gauss, said synthetic films are preferred.

-3- Optimum results are obtained using distances of from 4 to 6 mm and field strengths of from 250 to 1,200 Gauss. With films previously commercially available, higher field strengths are attainable only by increasing the film thickness accordingly.

However, this woul6 render the devices altogether more rigid.

Such more rigid devices, although acceptable in veterinary medicine, more specifically in the treatment of horses, are not acceptable for human treatment.

00000 0 0 o 0 o A particularly good compatibility and effiency is 000 o0o observed if the surface of the synthetic film which faces the o°0 skin is coated with a gold foil. The results suggest that said 0 0o o gold foil causes an additional reflection of heat and thereby further enhances the effect provided by the device according to the invention.

o oa 0? 0 As the metal layer an aluminum foil i'is proven to be o,0aa practical. Such foil is inexpensive, stable and readily processable.

0 The films made of synthetic materials are embedded in the foam layer by compressing the corresponding parts of the foam layer with application of heat whereby permanent recesses for the sythetic film strips are formed. It is possible to bond the synthetic film by means of an adhesive to the compressed foam material. However, particularly preferred is an embodiment wherein a self-adhesive textile layer: is present which keeps the magnetized films in place in the recesses of the foam layer -4- The device according to the invention is attached to the human skin, or to the skin or pelt of animals, in a per se known manner either by using skin-compatible self-adhesive plasters or tapes or by means of Velcro strip fasteners and bandages.

Especially where a Velcro strip fasteners and bandages are employed, the device according to the invention and the bandages can be separately cleaned and re-used in a hygienic 00000 state. They may even be laundered with soap or washing agents at 0# o I0O temperatures up to 60 0

C.

ooo o 0 090 p o 0 0 The foam layers having closed pores are odorless and even 0 0 oO upon an extended period of use do not form any nutrient substrate 00 for fungi, etc.. Thus, the device according to the invention in all respects meets present-day hygienic standards. If they are o °o attached by using self-adhesive plasters, they may be continued o0 to'be worn also when a bath or shower is to be taken. On the other hand, means attached to the skin by a Velcro strip fastener and bandage are readily removable and may readily be re-applied.

o In case of particular sensitivity of a person to moisture or to the person's own sweat the lower surface of the foam layer may be provided with naps so that moisture may more readily escape by way of the grooves between them. A similar effect will be accomplished in the case that the entire means are provided with perforations at some regular distances. The heat loss as occurring thereby is small as compared to the desired effect of removal of moisture.

In the following Examples and in the accompanying drawings, there are shown typical embodiments of the device according 1 I :0 0 frt t e t 0 0 A 4.

4. 0 4.4.( to the invention. In all of the Figures, the reference numerals have the following meanings: 1: a foam layer having closed pores which foam layer is preferably made of polyethylene; 2: a flexible, heat-conducting metal layer, which is preferably present in the form of an aluminum foil; 3: another foam layer having closed pores which foam layer is preferably made of polyethylene; 4: strip-shaped synthetic films having been alternatingly positively and negatively magnetized; a self-adhesive porous textile layer; and 6: a self-adhesive plaster.

The Drawings Fig. 1 is a top plan view of device according to the invention containing a circular magnetized synthetic film in its center and two approximately rectangular magnetized synthetic films at the left and right sides thereof, The synthetic films have been magnetized either in the form of parallel straight strips or in the form of concentrical rings (circular magnetization) Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of device according to Fig. 1 along the line A-B.

Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show another embodiment of the device according to the present invention designed for veterinary purposes, namely for the treatment of horses, while said device preferably can be put into place on the skin of the horse by device of a Velcro strip fastener and a bandage.

I~

i -6r Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a further embodiment of device according to the invention analogous to Fig. 1. Said device contain six elongated synthetic films with rounded corners which have been magnetized with parallel straight strips in the cross direction. From the Figure it will be seen that the device is attached to the skin by use of a self-adhesive plaster or tapes which extends beyond the device at the full circumference thereof and, thus, can be adhered to the skin. In addition, the S•foam layer carries an adhering or laminated layer made of a to SL0: Nylon fabric in loop-like weaving (Borsched Nylon) which ensures a good adhesion to be obtained for Velcro strip fasteners, on the S one hand, and self-adhesive plasters or tapes, on the other hand.

Fig. 6 shows another embodiment of the device according to the present invention designed for veterinary use which device Saltogether comprise ten elongated rounded-off synthetic films.

It t II tFig. 7 shows on diminished scale a pad-like embodiment of 0I the device according to the invention with fourteen elongated and S rounded-off synthetic films. The backside of the pad preferably 0 4 is napped. The edges are provided with a textile ribbon. This embodiment may be used especially by a person when sitting or lying, on chairs, vehicle seats and in bed and need not be durably attached to the skin by aids such as self-adhesive Splasters, Velcro strip fasteners or bandages.

It is possible to completely or partially replace the permanently magnetized synthetic films having strip-shaped magnetic elements of alternating positive and negative magnetiC directions with orientatedly arranged, permanently axially magnetized synthetic films or orientatedly arranged permanently magnetized ferrite cores, if magnetic fields are created thereby which have sufficient strength and are able to permeate into the skin to a sufficient depth so that a significant activation of the blood and the metabolism are effected.

However, preferred are the strip-shaped synthetic films having been alternatingly positively and negatively permanently magnetized with parallel straight strips or concentrical rings spaced apart at distances of from 3 to 15 mm, and preferably from 4 to 10 mm.

0 The foam layers and consist, for example, of a polyethylene foam having closed pores and being 3 mm in thickness and having a volume weight of 30 kg/m 3 The aluminium foil has a thickness of 30 For use in the treatment of horses, a polyethylene foam 5 mm in thickness and having a volume weight of 50 kg/m 3 is preferred. As the self-adhesive porous textile layers there may be used, especially, the products "Curafix" of the firm Lohmann and "Fixomoll-Stretch" of the firm Beiersdorf

AG.

Another advantage of the device according to the invention is that it can also be shaped into elongated bandages or larger areas such as to be suitable for covering larger areas of the skin without being perceived as being as rigid and inconvenient as conventional magnetic plasters of ciomparably large dimensions.

A further advantage is that the device according to the invention is substantially less expensive than conventional magnetic plasters, since a significantly smaller amount of the relatively expensive magnetic film is required to cover the skin area to be treated.

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Claims (7)

1. A device for increasing and stabilizing the skin temperature which comprises: a first foam layer comprising closed pores and being from 0.8 to 5mm in thickness; a flexible heat-conducting metal layer underlying said first foam layer; a second foam layer comrising closed pores and being from 0.8 to 5mm in thickness underlying said metal layer; and O one or more strips made of alternatingly 44 0 ,o9 positively and negatively permanently o'c magnetized films of synthetic material embedded in said second foam layer wherein the magnetic films are spaced apart at distances of from 4 to 10mmand have a magnetic field strength of from 100 to 2,000 Gauss. *a o

2. The device of claim 1 which further comprises an :O adhesive porous textile layer underlying said second foam layer.

S3. The device of claim 1 which further comprises skin-compatible self-adhesive plasters or tape or Velcro strip fasteners and bandages for durable attachment to skin,

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the surface ot the magnetic films facing the skin is coated with a gold foil.

The device of claim 1, wherein the heat-conducting y metal layer is an aluminum foil. mw.w -WI

6. mw=*-s\according to claim 1 wherein the heat-conducting metal layer is an aluminum foil.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is formed in the shapc of a pad. DATED this 29th day of June, 1989 LACOTHERM AG I a t I It t I I tall at at $4 I 1 *a a a St a SI SI a I 5$1& WATERMARK PATENT TRADEMARK ATTORNEYS, 50 Queen Street MELBOURNE. VIC. 3000 4a0$ o 9* at a o IS at it LCG/JMW:LN (6.32) 0$ a a II~ at~ Y K