EP2269556A1

EP2269556A1 - Device for maintaining negative pressure under skin

Info

Publication number: EP2269556A1
Application number: EP09730874A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Masaki Nishioka
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-10
Filing date: 2009-04-10
Publication date: 2011-01-05
Also published as: JP5307124B2; WO2009125837A1; JPWO2009125837A1

Abstract

A very-simply-structured and easy-to-use device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which is capable of generating such negative pressure that speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin to allow activation of the cells. The device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin comprises a stuck part (10) to be stuck to the skin (S), and a holding part (20) which is placed on the skin (S) so as to from above cover the stuck part (10) stuck to the skin (S), thereby holding the stuck part (10) at a predetermined position. The stuck part (10) stuck to the skin (S) is lifted and held at the predetermined position by the holding part (20) to maintain the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S).

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which is capable of maintaining the state of the negative pressure under the skin generated by lifting the skin and speeding up the metabolism of the cells under the skin to allow activation of the cells.

Background Art

While no prior art technique has been known which maintains negative pressure under the skin by maintaining the state of the negative pressure under the skin generated by lifting the skin and speeding up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, there is a technique that generates negative pressure by exposing a selected area of the skin to a hermetically-sealed space and reducing the pressure in the hermetically-sealed space, as described in Patent Document 1.
That is, a gas-impermeable rigid housing is placed to cover the wound region of a patient and form a cavity between the housing and the skin, from within which oxygen is removed to produce a negative pressure by sealing the cavity and reducing the pressure of the cavity in an air-tight manner for the purpose of promoting healing of the wound region.
Also, in place of the rigid housing, a rubberized housing is used such that air is exhausted from the cavity by pressing this housing located in the position covering the wound region for the purpose of producing a negative pressure in the cavity and promoting healing of the wound region.
Furthermore, as another prior art technique, there is a medical apparatus generally called a cupping glass, cup and so forth. That is, a cup made of glass or the like is stuck to the skin to draw pus, bad blood and so forth. This makes it possible to produce a large negative pressure in the hermetically-sealed space sealed between the skin and the cup and substantially suck the skin in the cup.

Prior Art Literature

Patent Literature

Patent Document 1: PCT Published Japanese Translation No. 2007-509639

Summary of Invention

Of these conventional techniques, however, the technique utilizing the rigid housing cannot be used to produce a large negative pressure inside the skin since oxygen is removed from air in the cavity which is hermetically-sealed only to produce a negative pressure above the skin.
On the other hand, while the technique utilizing the rubberized housing reduces the pressure of air itself from the cavity between the housing and the skin, rather than removes oxygen from air, it can also not be used to produce a large negative pressure inside the skin.
Furthermore, in the case of the cupping glass, the duration of procedure is short, i.e., from several minutes to several tens minutes and so forth, for example, for the reason that high airtightness must be maintained between the skin and the cupping glass, and that the surface of the skin is strongly sucked from the outside of the skin. Even so, internal bleeding sometimes occurs under the skin, resulting in a red or purple scar.
The inventors of this application has developed the present invention after taking into consideration that there is no prior art technique used to generate a large negative pressure that speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin to allow activation of the cells without need for sucking the skin from the outside of the skin, and that there is no disadvantage even if such a large negative pressure is generated over a long time. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which is capable of generating such negative pressure that speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin to allow activation of the cells over a long time without disadvantages, and which has an extremely simple structure and can be easily used.
In order to accomplish the above object, the gist of the present invention resides in the following items. [1] A device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, comprises: a stuck part to be attached to the skin; and a holding part to be placed on the skin and operable to hold the stuck part in a predetermined position, wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part, which is being lifted with the skin attached thereto, in the predetermined position by the holding part.
[2] A device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, comprises: a stuck part to be attached to the skin; and a holding part placed on the skin to cover the stuck part attached to the skin from above, and operable to hold the stuck part in a predetermined position, wherein the stuck part includes an adhering surface for adhering to the skin, a supportee part to be supported by the holding part, wherein the holding part includes a supporter part which supports the supportee part of the stuck part and holds the stuck part in the predetermined position, and wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin is maintained by lifting the stuck part with the skin attached thereto, supporting the supportee part of the stuck part by the supporter part of the holding part to hold the stuck part in the predetermined position.
[3] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in [2], the stuck part includes a plate having the adhering surface on one side and the supportee part on the other side, wherein the holding part includes a lower portion to be placed on the skin, and an upper portion provided with a supporter part for supporting the supportee part of the stuck part, and wherein the stuck part attached to the skin is held in the predetermined position between the lower portion and the upper portion of the holding part.
[4] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in [2] or [3], the supportee part of the stuck part is provided with at least one engaging groove cut out on its side surface, wherein the supporter part of the holding part is provided with an engagement opening through which the supportee part can be passed, and wherein the supportee part and the engagement opening are provided in order that when the holding part and the stuck part passed through the engagement opening are relatively moved, the stuck part can be held in the predetermined position by engaging the engaging groove of the supportee part with the peripheral edge portion of the engagement opening of the holding part.
[5] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in any one of [2] through [4], the supportee part of the stuck part is extending in the form of a rod or a string, wherein the supporter part of the holding part is provided with a pass-through opening through which the supportee part can be passed, and wherein an stopper sized not to pass through the pass-through opening is provided to fasten and prevent the stuck part, which is lifted up, from returning by attaching the stopper to the supportee part passed through the pass-through opening.
[6] A device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, comprises: a stuck part to be attached to the skin; and a holding part to be placed on the skin and operable to hold the stuck part in a predetermined position, wherein the stuck part includes an adhering surface for adhering to the skin, and fixed to the holding part in order that the adhering surface is located between the upper portion and lower portion of the holding part, wherein the holding part has elasticity, and wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part, which is being lifted with the skin attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part.
[7] A device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, comprises: a stuck part to be attached to the skin; and a holding part operable to hold the stuck part which is attached to the skin in a predetermined position, wherein the stuck part is provided with an adhering surface at one end for adhering to the skin and a fixed part at the other end which is fixed to the upper portion of the holding part, wherein the adhering surface is located between the upper portion of the holding part and the lower portion to be placed on the skin, wherein the holding part has elasticity, and wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part, which is being lifted with the skin attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part.
[8] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in [7], the upper portion of the holding part fixed to the fixed part is shaped to protrude away from the lower portion.
[9] A device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin, comprises: a stuck part to be attached to the skin; and a holding part to be placed on the skin and operable to hold the stuck part in a predetermined position, wherein the holding part has elasticity, and wherein the stuck part comprises an adhering surface provided in the ceiling which is the surface of the upper portion of the holding part located opposite the skin when the holding part is placed on the skin S, and wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part, which is being lifted with the skin attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part.
[10] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in any one of [2] through [9], an adhesive is applied to the adhering surface of the stuck parts for adhering to the skin.
[11] In the device a for maintaining negative pressure under the skins recited in any one of [2] through [9], an adhesion tape is attached to the adhering surface of the stuck parts for adhering to the skin.
The above present invention operates as follows. When the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is used, the stuck part is attached to the target portion of the skin. The stuck part can be easily attached to the skin since an adhesive is applied to the adhering surface for adhering to the skin.
Next, the holding part for holding the stuck part being attached to the skin is placed on the skin to hold the stuck part in a predetermined position by lifting up the stuck part which is being attached to the skin. By this configuration, under the skin which is lifted and pulled up, such a negative pressure is generated as to speed up the metabolism of the cells under the skin and allow activation of the cells, and the state of the negative pressure as generated can be maintained.
The adhering surface of the stuck part may be provided with an adhesive applied thereto or a double coated adhesive tape attached thereto. Such a stuck part includes a plate made of a synthetic resin and the like and having the adhering surface on one side and the supportee part on the other side. The supportee part is, for example, a rod-like member having an elliptical cross section which may be formed integrally with the plate, or formed separately from the plate and fixed to the supportee part attachment surface of the plate.
The holding part for supporting and holding this supportee part is shaped in the form of a circular truncated cone, like a plant pot, having a circular cross section. The lower portion forming an opening is the portion to be in contact with the skin when the holding part is placed on the skin from above to cover the stuck part attached to the skin, and the supportee part of the stuck part is supported by the supporter part formed in the upper portion which is located in the upper position when placed on the skin.
This supporter part is provided with the engagement opening which is similar to and the same or slightly large size than the cross section of the rod-like supportee part of the stuck part. In the case where the supportee part has an elliptical cross section as exemplified in the above, the engagement opening is shaped also elliptical.
When the stuck part is passed through the engagement opening, the direction of the major (or minor) axis of the ellipse of the engagement opening is substantially aligned with the direction of the major (or minor) axis of the ellipse of the supportee part. When the supportee part of the stuck part passed through the engagement opening is pulled up, the skin stuck to the stuck part is lifted up.
Next, the peripheral edge of the engagement opening drilled through the holding part is engaged with the engaging groove cut out on the side surface of the supportee part by rotating the holding part to relatively displace the engaging groove and the engagement opening after aligning the engaging groove with the engagement opening substantially in the same position, and thereby it is possible to hold the stuck part in the position (predetermined position) against the restoring force of the skin which is pulled up. By this configuration, it is possible to maintain the condition that the skin is pulled and lifted up.
When the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is detached from the skin, the adhering surface of the stuck part is peeled off from the skin by pulling the supportee part.
Incidentally, the supportee part may be formed as a rod-like member with no engaging groove cut out, or may be shaped in the form of a string. In this case, while the supportee part is passed through a pass-through opening drilled in a similar position as the engagement opening, the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin can be maintained in the same manner as described above by attaching a stopper to the supportee part which is being pulled to lift up the skin.
Also, the shape of the supportee part of the stuck part and the shape of the engagement opening of the holding part are not limited to those as described above such as an ellipse as long as the relationship therebetween is such that the shape of the engagement opening permits the supportee part to pass therethrough and that the peripheral edge of the engagement opening can be engaged with the engaging groove cut out on the supportee part when the holding part and the stuck part are relatively displaced for example by relatively rotating them with the supportee part being passed through the engagement opening.
Furthermore, while the shape of the plate of the stuck part is not limited to a true circle, but can be an ellipse or polygon, it is preferred that the shape of the plate is similar to the shape encircled by the side surface appearing in the cross section of the holding part.
Still further, in the case where the stuck part includes an adhering surface for adhering to the skin, and fixed to the holding part in order that the adhering surface is located between the upper portion and lower portion of the holding part, the adhering surface is made in contact with the skin by placing on the skin the lower portion of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin, and then pushing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in the direction that the adhering surface is facing.
Once the adhering surface comes in contact with the skin, the finger pushing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is released. After releasing the pushing force, the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is about to return the original state by the restoring force caused by the elasticity thereof. By this configuration, the skin stuck to the adhering surface is lifted up to the predetermined position by the adhering surface urged to return its original position, and thereby to maintain the state in which the negative pressure is generated under the skin being pulled up.
In the case where there are provided with an adhering surface at one end for adhering to the skin and a fixed part at the other end which is fixed to the upper portion of the holding part, the adhering surface can be attached to the skin by placing on the skin the lower portion of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin, and pushing the upper portion of the holding part against the skin.
Likewise, in the case where an adhering surface is provided in the ceiling which is the surface of the upper portion of the holding part located opposite the skin when the holding part is placed on the skin, the adhering surface can be attached to the skin by pushing the upper portion against the skin.
In accordance with the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present invention, the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin can be easily maintained by attaching the stuck part to the skin, lifting the stuck part to pull up the skin and generate negative pressure under the skin, and holding the stuck part by the holding part. It is possible to speed up the metabolism of the cells continuously receiving the negative pressure and allow activation of the cells under the skin, to which the negative pressure is applied, by maintaining the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin. By this configuration, it is possible to help freckles and the like appearing on the skin to disappear.
Also, since the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin consists only of the stuck part to be stuck to the skin and the holding part for holding this stuck part, the implementation can be very simple.
In accordance with the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present invention, it is not needed to form a hermetically-sealed space outside the skin and suck the skin by reducing the pressure in the hermetically-sealed space. This is kind to the skin and applicable anywhere on the skin, and can be continuously used over a long time so as to improve the effects of speeding up the metabolism of the cells and allowing activation of the cells.
Furthermore, in the case where the supportee part is provided with a plurality of engaging grooves, the degree of lifting up the skin can be appropriately selected such that the strength of the negative pressure can be suitably adjusted.

Brief Description of Drawings

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a perspective view for showing the holding part of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin shown in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a perspective view for showing the stuck part of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin shown in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a plan view for illustrating the stuck part which is held by the holding part of the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin shown in Fig. 1.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 shows pictures of tissue slices after negative pressure is generated and maintained under the skin for 14 days by the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with the present invention, in which (a) shows the tissue of the portion to which the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is applied, and (b) shows the tissue of the skin in the vicinity of the portion to which the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is applied.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 shows pictures of expanded views of the same tissue slices as (a) and (b) of Fig. 5.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 shows pictures of expanded views of the same tissue slices as (a) and (b) of Fig. 5 with a larger enlargement factor than Fig. 6.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of a similar type of the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with the second embodiment.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a front view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is a plan view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin shown in Fig. 10.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a bottom view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 10.

Best Mode For Carrying Out The Invention

In what follows, a variety of preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to drawings. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention for showing the way of practically using the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin. Fig. 2 is a perspective view for showing the holding part 20 of the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view for showing the stuck part 10 of the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view for illustrating the stuck part 10 which is held by the holding part 20 of the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 1.
As shown in Fig. 1 through Fig. 3, the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin consists generally of two parts. That is, it consists of a stuck part 10 to be stuck to the skin S, and a holding part 20 to be placed on the skin S in order to cover the stuck part 10 stuck to the skin S such that the stuck part 10 is held in a predetermined position.
The stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 may be made of a material which has a certain rigidity, for example, a synthetic resin such as a plastic, a metal or the like. This stuck part 10 consists of a circular plate 11 to be stuck to the skin S, and a supportee part 12 which is supported by the holding part 20.
The plate 11 has an adhering surface 11a on one surface which is used to adhere to the skin S, and a supportee part attachment surface 11b on the other surface having a center from which the supportee part 12 is extending in the form of a rod having an elliptical cross section. An adhesive, not shown in the figure, is applied to the adhering surface 11a which can be attached to the skin S with the adhesive. Alternatively, also not shown in the figure, a double coated adhesive tape having adhesive surfaces on both sides may be attached to the adhering surface 11a in place of the adhesive applied to the adhering surface 11a.
The supportee part 12 may be integrally formed with the plate 11, or may be formed separately from the plate 11 and fixed to the supportee part attachment surface 11b of the plate 11. Engaging grooves 12a are cut out on the side surface of the supportee part 12 with even intervals in the longitudinal direction of the supportee part 12. These engaging grooves 12a are formed to be most deep in the positions through which the major axis of the elliptical cross section of the supportee part 12 is extending, such that each groove can be engaged with an engagement opening 23a which is provided through the holding part 20 and will be explained next. While the engaging groove 12a is provided in a plurality of positions of the side surface along the extending direction of the supportee part 12 in the case of the example shown in the figure, it is sufficient if part the engaging groove 12a is formed in at least one position of the side surface of the supportee part 12.
In the case of the example shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the holding part 20 serving to support the stuck part 10 in a predetermined position is shaped in the form of a circular truncated cone, like a plant pot, with its inner space which is encircled by a side surface portion 24 and has a circular cross section. This holding part 20 is used to be placed on the skin S such that the lower portion 21 forming an opening is oriented downward from above to cover the stuck part 10 attached to the skin S as illustrated in the figure.
The side surface portion 24 is extending from the lower portion 21 to an upper portion 22 which is formed in a flat round shape with a center portion where a supporter part 23 is provided to support the supportee part 12. While the diameter of the plate 11 of the stuck part 10 is smaller than the diameter of the opening of the lower portion 21 of the holding part 20 and greater than the diameter of the upper portion 22 in the case of the example shown in the figure, the diameter of the plate 11 can be smaller than the diameter of the upper portion 22. On the other hand, the length of the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 is greater than the height of the holding part 20 from the lower portion 21 to the upper portion 22.
The engagement opening 23a is drilled through the supporter part 23 in the form of an ellipse. This engagement opening 23a is provided for the purpose of supporting the stuck part 10 through engagement with the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 at the peripheral edge, and shaped in the form of the ellipse which is similar to and the same or slightly large size than the elliptical cross section of the supportee part 12.
Because of this, even if the supportee part 12 is passed through the engagement opening 23a, the engagement opening 23a and the engaging groove 12a cannot be engaged with each other. However, the engagement opening 23a and the engaging groove 12a can be engaged as illustrated in Fig. 4 by aligning the engagement opening 23a and the engaging groove 12a in a position where engagement can be made, and relatively rotating the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20.
In this way, the stuck part 10 can be held in the position (predetermined position) by passing the supportee part 12 through the engagement opening 23a and engaging the engaging groove 12a and the engagement opening 23a together.
Next, the first embodiment will be explained in operation. When the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is used, a sheet covering the adhering surface 11a of the stuck part 10 is first removed to expose the adhesive or adhering surface of the double coated adhesive tape, and then the stuck part 10 is attached to the target portion of the skin S. In the case where the adhering surface 11a has been provided with neither adhesive applied thereto nor double coated adhesive tape attached thereto, a separate double coated adhesive tape is accompanied to be attached to the adhering surface 11a such that the separate double coated adhesive tape is attached to the adhering surface 11a each time before the stuck part 10 is attached to the skin S.
Next, the holding part 20 is placed from above on the skin S in order to cover stuck part 10 attached to the skin S. In doing so, when the holding part 20 is placed, the engaging groove 12 and the engagement opening 23a are aligned with each other such that the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 is passed through the engagement opening 23a of the holding part 20.
When the skin S is covered with the holding part 20 in this way, the tip portion of the supportee part 12 is projected from the engagement opening 23a. The skin S attached to the stuck part 10 can be lifted up by handling the tip portion of the supportee part 12 projecting through the engagement opening 23a in order to further pull out the supportee part 12 from the engagement opening 23a and lift the skin S attached to the stuck part 10. When the skin S is lifted to a desired predetermined position, the relative position between the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 is finely adjusted in order that the engaging groove 12a of the supportee part 12 and the engagement opening 23a of the holding part 20 can engage with each other.
In this condition, the engaging groove 12a and the engagement opening 23a do not engage because the direction of the major (or minor) axis of the ellipse of the engagement opening 23a is substantially aligned with the direction of the major (or minor) axis of the ellipse of the supportee part 12. The engaging groove 12a and the engagement opening 23a can be engaged by adjusting the relative position between the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 such that engagement becomes possible, and then relatively rotating the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 until the engaging groove 12a and the engagement opening 23a are surely engaged.
The stuck part 10 can therefore be held in the predetermined position after engaging the engaging groove 12a with the peripheral portion of the engagement opening 23a, even if releasing the hand from the stuck part 10, against the restoring force of the skin S which is lifted up. Incidentally, when the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 are relatively rotated, it is desired to rotate the holding part 20 rather than the stuck part 10. This operation substantially eliminates the possibility that the stuck part 10 is peeled off from the skin S during rotation.
By this configuration, a negative pressure is generated and maintained under the skin S which is lifted up, and this state is maintained. Under the skin in the negative pressure being maintained in this way, as illustrated in Fig. 5 through Fig. 7, it was found that the cellular state was changed.
When the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is detached from the skin S, the adhering surface 11a of the stuck part 10 can be peeled off from the skin S by pulling the supportee part 12, relatively rotating the stuck part 10 and the holding part 20 to release the engagement therebetween, and removing the holding part 20. Alternatively, the adhering surface 11a of the stuck part 10 can be peeled off from the skin S by pulling the supportee part 12, while twisting the supportee part 12 with the holding part 20 as it is.
Fig. 5 through Fig. 7 are pictures taken by attaching, to the dorsal tail skin of a mouse, the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin according to the present invention, maintaining a negative pressure under the skin for 14 days, harvesting the skin and the tissue under the skin, and HE staining the tissue slices. The length of scale bars shown in the lower left of these drawings is 100 µm respectively.
Fig. 5(a) shows the tissue of the portion to which the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is applied, and Fig. 5(b) shows the tissue of the skin in the vicinity of the portion to which the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is applied. Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 7(a) are expanded views of Fig. 5 (a) respectively. Fig. 6(b) and Fig. 7(b) are expanded views of Fig. 5(b) respectively.
The harvested tissue slices were evaluated with respect to the thickness, the formation of vaccination marks and the number of blood vessels. As a result, as apparent from Fig. 5 through Fig. 7, it was confirmed that the subcutaneous fat and muscle layers increased in thickness with subcutaneous fat fibrosis.
As has been discussed above, in accordance with the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present invention, the state of the negative pressure under the skin can be maintained to speed up the metabolism of the cells under the skin and allow activation of the cells, and thereby it is possible to help freckles and the like appearing on the skin to disappear.
Also, since the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present invention consists only of the stuck part 10 to be stuck to the skin and the holding part 20 for holding this stuck part 10, the implementation can be very simple.
Furthermore, in accordance with the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present invention, it is not needed to form a hermetically-sealed space outside the skin and suck the skin by reducing the pressure in the hermetically-sealed space. This is kind to the skin and applicable anywhere on the skin, and can be continuously used over a long time so as to improve and elongate the effects of speeding up the metabolism of the cells and allowing activation of the cells.
Still further, in the case where the supportee part 12 is provided with a plurality of engaging grooves 12a having different heights, the degree of lifting up the skin can be appropriately selected such that the strength of the negative pressure can be suitably adjusted.
Incidentally, having described the embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiment and that the present invention encompasses various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the plate 11 of the stuck part 10 is round, and the holding part 20 is shaped like a plant pot with a round space encircled by the side surface portion 24 appearing in the cross section of the holding part 20. However, these shapes are not limited thereto but may be an ellipse or polygon.
Also, while it is preferred that the shape of the space encircled by the side surface portion 24 appearing in the cross section of the holding part 20 is similar to the shape of the plate 11, these shapes need not necessarily be similar.
Furthermore, the cross section shape of the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 and the shape of the engagement opening 23a of the holding part 20 need not necessarily be elliptical but may be triangular, quadrangular or polygonal. Namely, any shapes can be employed as long as the relationship between the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 and the engagement opening 23a of the holding part 20 is such that the shape of the engagement opening 23a permits the supportee part 12 to pass therethrough and that the peripheral edge of the engagement opening 23a can be engaged with the engaging groove 12a cut out on the supportee part 12 when relatively rotating the holding part 20 and the stuck part 10 with the supportee part 12 being passed through the engagement opening 23a.
Furthermore, the engaging grooves 12a cut out in the longitudinal direction of the supportee part 12 need not necessarily be cut out with even intervals, but may be cut out with decreasing intervals as approaching the tip portion of the supportee part 12 from the plate 11.
Also, the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 may be formed as a rod-like member with no engaging groove 12a cut out, or extending in the form of a string. In this case, while a pass-through opening is drilled in a similar position as the engagement opening 23a such that the supportee part 12 can be passed through this pass-through opening which is not limited to the shape corresponding to the cross section of the supportee part 12, the lifted stuck part 10 can be prevented from being pulled down and returned by the skin by using a stopper which is sized in order not to pass through the pass-through opening and attached to the supportee part 12 projecting from the holding part 20 through the pass-through opening.
Alternatively, a male screw is formed on the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 and screwed into the pass-through opening of the holding part 20.
Also, the supportee part 12 of the stuck part 10 may be a plurality of string-like members extending from the supportee part attachment surface 11b. In this case, the string-like members may be passed through openings which are drilled through the upper portion 22 of the holding part 20 and are of the same number as the string-like members. The stuck part 10 which is lifted can be prevented from returning and maintained in an appropriate position, by simply tying the string-like members or using stoppers to be engaged with the upper portion 22.
Furthermore, the plate 11 of the stuck part 10 may be replaced with a suction disk made of a silicon-containing material such as silicone rubber, a natural rubber, a flexible synthetic resin or the like. In this case, an adhesive may be applied to the surface of the suction disk to be in contact with the skin, or an adhesion tape is attached to this surface.
Also, while the upper portion 22 of the holding part 20 is illustrated as a flat portion in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the upper portion 22 may be provided with a slope elevated toward the engagement opening 23a at the center. Furthermore, if the supportee part attachment surface 11b of the plate 11 of the stuck part 10 is sloped to substantially conform to the slope, the stuck part 10 can be suitably fitted when the stuck part 10 is lifted up.
Fig. 8 is a perspective view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. Incidentally, like reference numbers are given to similar elements as in the first embodiment, and redundant explanation is omitted.
The device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with the present embodiment includes a stuck part 10 fixed to the holding part 20A, which is made of an elastic material. For example, a variety of synthetic resins can be used as a material for forming the holding part 20A as long as a restoring force is generated in the material when deforming the material under application of force. Alternatively, a silicon-containing material such as silicone rubber or a natural rubber can be used as long as it effectively generates such a restoring force. This elastic restoring force makes it possible to lift and maintain the stuck part 10 to a predetermined position with the skin S being attached to the stuck part 10. The holding part 20A may be made of a material which has elasticity and can be easily shaped.
As illustrated in Fig. 8, there is no opening at the upper portion 22A of the holding part 20A corresponding to the engagement opening 23a of the device 1 for maintaining negative pressure under the skin in accordance with the first embodiment. A fixed part 12A is provided as a rod-like member which is elongated appropriately at a right angle inside the holding part 20A from the upper portion 22A serving as the ceiling of this holding part 20A when used.
The circular plate 11 is provided at one end of this fixed part 12A in the same manner as in the first embodiment. This plate 11 is provided with an adhering surface opposite the surface in which the fixed part 12A is fixed. This adhering surfàce is located between the lower portion 21 and the upper portion 22A of the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin.
The holding part 20A may be provided with a thickened portion (not shown in the figure) which is extending along the side surface toward the lower portion 21 from the peripheral edge portion of the upper portion 22A. This thickened portion is effective to improve the strength of the holding part 20A and increase the restoring force.
Incidentally, the upper portion 22A of the holding part 20A need not necessarily be flat as illustrated in Fig. 8, but may be of a shape as part of a sphere such as a hemisphere, a shape which is obtained by intersecting an oval sphere with a plane perpendicular to the major axis thereof, or any other shape with the upper portion of the holding part protruding away from the lower portion. The distance between the adhering surface and the skin can be larger to generate a larger restoring force.
Next, the second embodiment will be explained in operation. With reference to Fig. 9, the interaction between the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin and the skin will be explained in accordance with the present embodiment. As shown in Fig. 9, the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin includes the holding part 20A having an upper portion, as an example, of a shape which is obtained by intersecting an oval sphere with a plane perpendicular to the major axis thereof as described above, rather than the planer shape.
As shown in Fig. 9, the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin includes the holding part 20A having an upper portion as an example of a shape which is obtained by intersecting an oval sphere with a plane perpendicular to the major axis thereof as described above, rather than the planer shape.
In Fig. 9, (a) shows the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin placed on the skin S, (b) shows the upper portion of the holding part 20A which is pushed down in order that the adhering surface of the plate 11 is attached to the skin S, and (c) shows the holding part 20A which is lifting up the skin S to a predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity thereof when releasing the force of pushing the upper portion of the holding part 20A after the skin S is attached to the adhering surface of the plate 11.
When using the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin, a sheet covering the adhering surface is first removed to expose the adhesive or the adhering surface of a double coated adhesive tape, and then the holding part 20A of the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is placed on the skin S as illustrated in (a).
Next, as illustrated in (b), the adhering surface is urged against the skin S by pressing the upper portion of the holding part 20A of the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin with a finger or the like. Namely, since the device 1A for maintaining negative pressure under the skin has elasticity, the upper portion has to be pressed against the restoring force caused by the elasticity. The adhering surface of the plate 11 can be attached to the skin S in this way.
After attaching the adhering surface of the plate 11 to the skin S, next, the finger pressing the upper portion of the holding part 20A is released. The holding part 20A which was pressed against the restoring force is then about to return the state as shown in (a). Because of this, the skin S is lifted up as shown in (c) and maintained in its lifted condition. A negative pressure is generated under the lifted skin S in this condition.
The plate 11 attached to the skin S as shown in (c) can be removed from the skin S by pulling the plate 11, while twisting the holding part 20A, in order to detach the plate 11, which is fixed to the holding part 20A through the fixed part 12A, from the skin S.
In conjunction with the drawings, the present embodiment has been explained with the holding part 20A and the plate 11 of the stuck part 10 of the same shapes as in the first embodiment, and explained with the upper portion of a different shape. However, the holding part 20A and the plate 11 are not limited to those as illustrated in the drawings, but can be formed of various shapes such as has been described for the first embodiment.
Next, the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the third embodiment will be explained. Fig. 10 is a front view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the third embodiment, Fig. 11 is a plan view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a bottom view for showing the device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of Fig. 10.
The device 1B for maintaining negative pressure under the skin of the present embodiment consists of a stuck part 10B to be stuck to the skin S, and a holding part 20B to be placed on the skin S such that the stuck part 10B is held in a predetermined position in the same manner as those of the first and second embodiments, but differs from the first and second embodiments in that the stuck part 10B comprises an adhering surface provided in the ceiling 25 which is the surface of the upper portion 22B of the holding part 20B located opposite the skin when the holding part 20B is placed on the skin S. Namely, it mainly features the configuration without the supportee part 12 and the fixed part 12A as used in the above embodiments. The device 1B for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as illustrated appears to resemble a helmet having a hemispheric profile with its lower portion 21B which is placed on the skin and whose diameter is increased outward to some extent in the same manner as the brim of a hat. By this configuration, it is possible to stabilize the state when pushing the upper portion 22B toward the skin and when lifting and maintaining the stuck part 10B attached to the skin S to a predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part 20B. The device 1B for maintaining negative pressure under the skin is not limited to that illustrated the drawings, but may be formed in the shape of an ellipse or polygon rather than a round shape in a plan view as seen from above or below.
Incidentally, the operation and usage of the present embodiment is the same as in the second embodiment, and therefore no redundant description is repeated. Since the stuck parts and adhesives used in the above embodiments respectively are used in direct contact with the skin, these are selected in order not to trigger allergies when used.

Explanation of Reference

S: skin
1, 1A, 1B: device for maintaining negative pressure under the skin
10, 10B: stuck part
11: plate
11a: adhering surface
11b: supportee part attachment surface
12: supportee part
12a: engaging groove
12A: fixed part
20, 20A, 20B: holding part
21, 21B: lower portion
22, 22A, 22B: upper portion
23: supporter part
23a: engagement opening
24: side surface portion
25: ceiling face

Claims

A device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin (S) and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin (S), comprising:
a stuck part (10) to be attached to the skin (S); and a holding part (20) to be placed on the skin (S) and operable to hold the stuck part (10) in a predetermined position,

wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S) is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part (10), which is being lifted with the skin (S) attached thereto, in the predetermined position by the holding part (20).
A device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin (S) and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin (S), comprising:
a stuck part (10) to be attached to the skin (S); and a holding part (20) placed on the skin (S) to cover the stuck part (10) attached to the skin (S) from above, and operable to hold the stuck part (10) in a predetermined position,

wherein the stuck part (10) includes an adhering surface for adhering to the skin (S), a supportee part (12) to be supported by the holding part (20),

wherein the holding part (20) includes a supporter part (23) which supports the supportee part (12) of the stuck part (10) and holds the stuck part (10) in the predetermined position, and

wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S) is maintained by lifting the stuck part (10) with the skin (S) attached thereto, supporting the supportee part (12) of the stuck part (10) by the supporter part (23) of the holding part (20) to hold the stuck part (10) in the predetermined position.
The device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the stuck part (10) includes a plate (11) having the adhering surface on one side and the supportee part (12) on the other side,
wherein the holding part (20) includes a lower portion (21) to be placed on the skin (S), and an upper portion (22) provided with a supporter part (23) for supporting the supportee part (12) of the stuck part (10), and
wherein the stuck part (10) attached to the skin (S) is held in the predetermined position between the lower portion (21) and the upper portion (22) of the holding part (20).
The device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in claim 2 or 3,
wherein the supportee part (12) of the stuck part (10) is provided with at least one engaging groove (12a) cut out on its side surface,
wherein the supporter part (23) of the holding part (20) is provided with an engagement opening (23a) through which the supportee part (12) can be passed, and
wherein the supportee part (12) and the engagement opening (23a) are provided in order that when the holding part (20) and the stuck part (10) passed through the engagement opening (23a) are relatively moved, the stuck part (10) can be held in the predetermined position by engaging the engaging groove (12a) of the supportee part (12) with the peripheral edge portion of the engagement opening (23a) of the holding part (20).
The device (1) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in any one of claims 2 through 4
wherein the supportee part (12) of the stuck part (10) is extending in the form of a rod or a string,
wherein the supporter part (23) of the holding part (20) is provided with a pass-through opening through which the supportee part (12) can be passed, and
wherein an stopper sized not to pass through the pass-through opening is provided to fasten and prevent the stuck part (10), which is lifted up, from returning by attaching the stopper to the supportee part (12) passed through the pass-through opening.
A device (1A) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin (S) and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin (S), comprising:
a stuck part (10) to be attached to the skin (S); and a holding part (20A) to be placed on the skin (S) and operable to hold the stuck part (10) in a predetermined position,

wherein the stuck part (10) includes an adhering surface for adhering to the skin (S), and fixed to the holding part (20A) in order that the adhering surface is located between the upper portion (22A) and lower portion (21) of the holding part (20A),

wherein the holding part (20A) has elasticity, and

wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S) is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part (10), which is being lifted with the skin (S) attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part (20A).
A device (1A) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin (S) and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin (S), comprising:
a stuck part (10) to be attached to the skin (S); and a holding part (20A) operable to hold the stuck part (10) which is attached to the skin (S) in a predetermined position,

wherein the stuck part (10) is provided with an adhering surface at one end for adhering to the skin (S) and a fixed part (12A) at the other end which is fixed to the upper portion (22A) of the holding part (20A),

wherein the adhering surface is located between the upper portion (22A) of the holding part (20A) and the lower portion (21) to be placed on the skin,

wherein the holding part (20A) has elasticity, and

wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S) is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part (10), which is being lifted with the skin (S) attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part (20A).
The device (1A) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in claim 7, wherein the upper portion (22A) of the holding part (20A) fixed to the fixed part (12A) is shaped to protrude away from the lower portion (21).
A device (1B) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin which maintains the state of the negative pressure generated under the skin (S) and speeds up the metabolism of the cells under the skin (S), comprising:
a stuck part (10B) to be attached to the skin (S); and a holding part (20B) to be placed on the skin (S) and operable to hold the stuck part (10B) in a predetermined position,

wherein the holding part (20B) has elasticity, and

wherein the stuck part (10B) comprises an adhering surface provided in the ceiling (25) which is the surface of the upper portion (22B) of the holding part (20B) located opposite the skin when the holding part (20B) is placed on the skin S, and

wherein the state of the negative pressure generated under the lifted skin (S) is maintained by holding the state of the stuck part (10B), which is being lifted with the skin (S) attached to the adhering surface, in the predetermined position by the restoring force caused by the elasticity of the holding part (20B).
The device (1, 1A, 1B) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in any one of claims 2 through 9 wherein an adhesive is applied to the adhering surface of the stuck parts (10, 10B) for adhering to the skin (S).
The device (1, 1A, 1B) for maintaining negative pressure under the skin as claimed in any one of claims 2 through 9 wherein an adhesion tape is attached to the adhering surface of the stuck parts (10, 10B) for adhering to the skin (S).