EP1150638B1 - Mechanical massaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a mechanical massaging device for localised skin stimulation with similar effect to that obtained through the skin in acupuncture, comprising at least a punctiform stimulating means (4) associated with means (1) for maintaining the means (4) on the skin (P) by suction. The means (1, 4) are designed, through means generating a controlled variation in the vacuum, to enable alternately and automatically phases of localised stimulation of variable intensity, and phases of non-stimulation.

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanical massage device for performing cutaneous punctual stimulation effect similar to that obtained transcutaneously by acupuncture.

It is known that acupuncture is a medical discipline that consists of pricking specific points of the body along the meridians with specific needles in order to achieve stimulation for therapeutic purposes.

This very old discipline is subject to several regulations, some of which only allow its practice to qualified doctors, mainly because it is necessary to pierce the skin.

Therefore, some practitioners such as physiotherapists, for example, can no longer practice acupuncture while they used the therapeutic effects.

Already known devices used in the field of acupuncture, combining the penetration of a needle and a suction effect. This is the case of the one described in the document FR 2,589,727 which comprises a cup associated with a suction means, and intended to be applied to the skin at the location to be stitched by means of one or more transdermal dispersive needles. The purpose of this device is to create a depression around the point to be stitched by the acupuncture needle, at the same time that the needle can be implanted by the practitioner at the desired location and to the desired depth, and to obtain the concomitance of the effect of depression and the effect of the presence of needle.

It is also known from the document EP 0.667.139 an automatic device for penetrating needles at precise points, using a suction effect to control, by via a deformable chamber, the displacement of said needles.

These devices concern transcutaneous stimulation, they can not be used by therapists who do not have the right to pierce the skin.

Cutaneous stimulation devices are also known, comprising a stimulation element, magnetic or not, intended to remain in contact with the skin at a specific point, being maintained by means of a suction effect. Such devices are for example described in the documents US 5,904,700 and JP 10314271 it comprises a cup provided with a pointed element, also called a needle whose tip is flush with the contact plane of the opening of said cup with the skin, while a bulb opening into said cup makes it possible to create a depression in said cup .

Such devices have disadvantages, in particular in that they do not allow to control the quality of skin stimulation, which depends on the pressure exerted. It is of course possible that in the language the practitioner can learn to control the depression to achieve in the cup to get the desired stimulation, but it remains long and random.

On the other hand, it is recommended, in order to avoid the phenomenon of habituation which causes a rejection or an inhibition, to alternate stimulation phases with non-stimulation phases, but with the aforementioned devices, the non stimulation does not occur. can be achieved only by removal of said devices, which must therefore be replaced later.

In addition, these devices are traumatic for the skin on which it is often bruises, which is strongly accentuated by the impossibility of perfectly controlling the depression,

The object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks by proposing a mechanical massage device making it possible to perform cutaneous punctual stimulation of an effect similar to that obtained transcutaneously by acupuncture, and which can be used by practitioners who, because of the impossibility of using needles, can no longer use the benefits of acupuncture.

The mechanical massage device, making it possible to perform cutaneous punctual stimulation of an effect similar to that obtained transcutaneously by acupuncture, which is the subject of the present invention, comprises at least one punctual stimulation means placed in a cup, or rigid suction cup. applied to the skin via its rim which defines a contact plane, and associated with a suction means allowing, by suction effect, to maintain said cup on the skin and to generate a lifting of the skin for bringing it into contact with said point means, and it is essentially characterized in that said suction means comprises means for creating in a controlled manner a variation of the depression and, alternately and automatically, punctual stimulation phases variable intensity, and no phases.

The device according to the invention thus makes it possible to achieve point stimulation without perforation of the skin and without any risk for the patient since the pressure exerted by the punctual stimulation element is a function of the created depression, which is easy to tare. to a maximum.

According to an additional feature of the device according to the invention, the punctual stimulation means comprises a pointed element or the like which extends into the cup in the direction of the skin without crossing the plane of contact therewith.

According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the tip of the punctual stimulation means is, according to the type of massage to be performed and the size of the plane of contact with the skin, disposed at a variable distance from said plane of contact.

The distance between the pointed end of the punctual stimulation means is a function of the surface of the contact plane and the value of the depression created. During the depression, the skin comes to meet the punctual means of stimulation, we can then talk about the realization of a "Reverse Punctual Massage".

According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the cup is made of a transparent material.

Transparency allows better positioning on the meridian point that has been previously identified, and preferably marked.

According to another additional feature of the device according to the invention, the punctual stimulation means consists of a silicone cone.

According to a particular embodiment of the device according to the invention, the rim of the cup is lined with an O-ring intended to come into contact with the skin and which delimits the depression zone.

The O-ring ensures a perfect adhesion on the skin even if it is particularly hairy, moreover, it avoids the formation of pronounced bruise.

According to a particular application of the device according to the invention, several cups are arranged in a set to correspond to a location of the body.

According to an additional feature of the particular application of the device according to the invention, the cups are movable relative to each other.

According to another additional feature of the particular application of the device according to the invention, the set of cups is in the form of a mask applicable to the face.

The advantages and characteristics of the device according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

• La figure 1 représente une vue schématique en perspective et en éclaté d'un élément du dispositif selon l'invention.
• La figure 2 représente une vue schématique en coupe selon un plan médian du même élément.
• La figure 3 représente une vue schématique en coupe selon un plan médian du même élément lors de son utilisation.

In the attached drawing:

• The figure 1 represents a schematic perspective and exploded view of an element of the device according to the invention.
• The figure 2 is a schematic sectional view along a median plane of the same element.
• The figure 3 represents a schematic sectional view along a median plane of the same element during its use.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2 , one can see an element of the device according to the invention, and more specifically a means applicable to the skin which consists of a suction cup 1.

This suction cup 1 comprises a body 2 of tubular shape, one end of which is closed by a bottom 20 pierced centrally by an orifice 21 which opens into an outer tubular nozzle 22, while the other end has an outer collar 23 whose edge extreme plane 24 is hollowed out with a peripheral groove 25 intended for receive an O-ring 3 which, when in place, extends beyond the flat edge 24.

On the other hand, the body 2 is intended to internally receive a part 4 having a disk-shaped portion 40 of a diameter allowing it to be engaged without play in the body 2 against the bottom 20, and a conical portion 41 protruding centrally from a face of the portion 40, and whose dimensions are such that its tip 42 which occupies an axial position does not exceed the plane defined by the outer edge of the seal 3.

Moreover, as is visible on the figure 2 , the piece 4 is pierced with a channel 43 comprising two sections, a section 44 pierced axially in the disc portion 40 and which opens to the right of the orifice 21 and therefore of the tubular nozzle 22, and a section 45 pierced in bias in the conical portion 41 and which opens into the sloping portion thereof.

The tubular endpiece 22 is connected to a suction means, not shown, via a connecting means 5, in this case a flexible tube.

As can be seen on the figure 2 , the suction cup 1 is placed on the skin P at a chosen location at the junction of the acupuncture point that it is desired to stimulate and which has been previously identified and marked, the point 42 being placed opposite this point,

Note that in order to facilitate the introduction of the suction cup 1, the body 2 is preferably made of a transparent material.

Maintaining the suction cup at the desired location is achieved by creating a slight depression in the body 2, the O-ring 3 sealing.

Referring now to the figure 3 , we can see a sucker 1 in use. A suction A in the connection means 5 creates a depression in the body 2 which generates a lifting of the skin P, which comes into contact with the conical portion 41, and more precisely of the tip 42 which thus provides a punctual stimulation whose neurocutaneous reflex effect is similar to that that produces a needle.

The quality of the punctual stimulation may vary according to the depression exerted and the duration of the stimulation and the pressure exerted by the tip 42. Thus, the result is optimal by programming a succession of punctual stimulation phases for each of which the duration and / or or depression vary.

Indeed, the variation of depression between two phases of punctual stimulation avoids the phenomenon of habituation which causes a project or an inhibition, in acupuncture the practitioner prevents this inconvenience by turning the needles.

A device according to the invention preferably comprises several suckers 1 in order to simultaneously stimulate several points. The suction means, not shown, thus comprises several mouths for the connection of the annexing means 5. The suction means may be in the form of a housing comprising a control panel which essentially comprises a control manometer.

All the acupuncture points do not require the same pressure, and to vary the pressure exerted by the tip 42 it is possible to modulate the depression, which however has the disadvantage of a complex management. Also, there are provided suckers 1 which differ in the distance between the tip 42 of the contact plane with the skin P, which allows to vary the pressure exerted by the tip 42 while maintaining the same depression.

In order to allow an easy implementation, the device according to the invention can incorporate several programs, which are function of a treatment to be performed. In addition, each program can incorporate an initial phase of low suction for the introduction of the suction cups 1, and a final phase of end suction causing the automatic detaching of the suction cups.

Note that in order to facilitate its implementation, the device according to the invention, essentially the suction means, is either integrated with an inspection table, or mounted on a mobile carriage adapted to be moved from a table from auscultation to another,

• repérage des points à stimuler et marquage au crayon dermographique,
• positionnement du patient en décubitus latéral,
• sélection des ventouses adaptées aux stimulations à réaliser,
• mise en fonctionnement de l'aspiration,
• positionnement des ventouses,
• lancement du programme de stimulation,
• fin du programme, l'aspiration est stoppée, les ventouses se détachent.

A stimulation session using the device according to the invention can proceed as follows:

• identification of the points to be stimulated and marking with a dermographic pencil,
• positioning the patient in lateral decubitus,
• selection of suction cups adapted to the stimulations to be performed,
• operation of the suction,
• positioning of the suction cups,
• launch of the stimulation program,
• end of the program, the suction is stopped, the suction cups come off.

The device according to the invention is usable by practitioners who, because of the regulations, can no longer use needles as means of action for treatments concerning microcinculatory blockages. It is also usable, since its implementation is very accessible, by other practitioners, who must however have been trained in the discipline.

Advantageously, it is possible to gather a plurality of suction cups into an assembly that can be applied to the body at a particular location, this assembly being capable of some breakage of the suction cups relative to each other, to achieve an adjustment.

Such an arrangement finds particular application in the field of stimulation and massage of the face, the suction cups being assembled in a mask, and disposed at the right regions including the points to be stimulated, the mobility of the suction cups to refine the positioning .

Claims (9)

1. Mechanical massaging device, permitting to perform a punctual skin stimulation with an effect similar to that achieved transcutaneously by acupuncture, including at least punctual stimulating means (4) arranged in a cup (1), or rigid suction cup, capable of being applied on the skin through its rim defining a plane of contact, and associated with suction means permitting, through a suction effect, to maintain said cup on the skin (P) and to generate a lifting of the skin (P) in order to bring it into contact with said punctual means (4), wherein said sucking means includes means permitting to controllably create a variation of the negative pressure and, in alternation and automatically, of the phases of punctual stimulation with variable intensity, and of the phases of non-stimulation.
2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the punctual stimulation means (4) comprises a sharp element (41) or the like, which extends in the cup (1) in the direction of the skin (P) without passing through the plane of contact with the latter.
3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the tip (42) of the punctual stimulation means (4) is arranged, depending on the type of massage to be performed and the size of the plane of contact with the skin, at a variable distance from said plane of contact.
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cup (1) is made of transparent material.
5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the punctual stimulation means (4) consists of a cone made of silicone (41).
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rim of the cup (1) is provided with an O-ring (3) aimed at entering into contact with the skin (P) and that delimits the area of negative pressure.
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein several cups (1) are arranged into a unit so as to correspond to a spot of the body.
8. Device according to claim 7, wherein the cups (1) are movable with respect to each other.
9. Device according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein the unit of cups (1) is in the form of a mask applicable onto the face.

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