FR2500298A1 - METHOD FOR TREATING A CHOSEN PART OF THE HUMAN BODY, AND CORRESPONDING TREATMENT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

THE INVENTION RELATES TO THE TREATMENT, BY HOT OR BY COLD, OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE HUMAN BODY, BY MEANS OF A DEVICE PLAYING THE SAME ROLE AS A HOT OR COLD COMPRESS. THE DEVICE INCLUDES A WATERPROOF ENCLOSURE 10, CONSTITUTED BY TWO MEMBRANES WELDED TOGETHER ALONG THEIR EDGES, AND PERMANENTLY RETAINING A CERTAIN QUANTITY OF LIQUID AND AIR, SUCH AS THE ENVELOPE 10 REMAINS FLEXIBLE, AT LEAST AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE 'A LOCAL. ATTACHMENT MEANS, SUCH AS TWO STRAPS 70, 80 EXTENDING THE ENCLOSURE 10, MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO FIX IT AND HOLD IT IN PLACE AT THE SELECTED LOCATION. APPLICATION TO LOCAL THERMAL TREATMENTS OF VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BODY, IN PARTICULAR WOMEN'S BREASTS.

Description

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  A method for treating a selected part of the human body,

  and corresponding processing device.

  The present invention relates to a method for treating a selected part of the human body. The invention also relates to a device for treating a selected part of the human body, and in particular to a device comprising at least one envelope containing a fluid that can be heated or cooled selectively,

  to treat a chosen part of the human body.

  Various devices are known to treat

  including the human body, such as the devices

  by the following patents published in the United States of

  No. 2,237,971, dated April 8, 1941, in the name of Padelford; No. 2, 298,361, dated October 13, 1942, in the name of Freund; No. 2,477,883, dated August 2, 1949, in the name of Lefohn; No. 2.101.628, dated December 7th, 1937, in the name of Padelford; No. 1,964,655, dated June 26, 1934, in the name of Williamson; No. 1,126,601, dated January 26, 1915, in the name of Whitmarsh; and No. 2,783,807,

  dated March 5, 1957, on behalf of Duffield.

  These known devices can be considered

  have serious disadvantages, particularly as a result of their relatively complicated and therefore expensive

  especially for analog configuration devices

  lingerie, and taking into account the need for

  to fill them in and then empty them. This can be a problem if you do not have a

  liquid immediately ready for use. In the case of

  positive for breast treatment known from the patent

  vet in the name of Freund, it is a cumbersome and complicated system, consisting in fact of a special bra,

  which does not allow the breasts to be treated in a com-

  very satisfactory. This device, similar to a support

  The groove provided in the Freund patent does not provide a pleasing appearance, and does not allow the nipple to be kept out of the treated area. Other disadvantages of the devices

  known will emerge from the statement of the peculiarities of the

  as indicated below.

  The object of the invention is to provide a device

  of the kind defined above, and to avoid

  disadvantages that have just been exposed.

  According to the invention, the treatment device for a selected part of the human body is characterized in that it comprises: a) a sealed envelope, constituted by two membranes welded together by their edges; (b) a certain amount of liquid and air contained in

  said envelope, this liquid and this air presenting

  portions such that the envelope remains flexible, at least at the temperature of a room, this liquid being introduced into the envelope before the final and permanent closure of

  this, so as to produce a sealed device, close

  and filled permanently.

  Also according to the invention, the process for treating

  ter a woman's breast is characterized in that it comprises the following operating phases:

  a) a device is produced which comprises a housing

  a substantially conical shape, this envelope contains

  nant-a liquid permanently enclosed and sealed in the envelope; the device having an opening in its adjacent part of the apex of the cone, to allow the passage of the nipple of the breast on which the device is applied; b) the device is heated or cooled to a selected temperature;

  c) the apparatus thus cooled or re-applied is

  heated on the breast to be treated, leaving the nipple through the opening, and the device is maintained

place during a chosen period.

  According to another embodiment of the invention

  tion, the procedure for treating a woman's breast is

  in that it comprises the following operational phases

your:

  a) a device is produced which comprises a housing

  a substantially conical shape, this envelope contains

  a liquid permanently enclosed in the envelope and

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  tightly; the device having an opening

  in its adjacent part of the top of the cone, to allow

  be the passage of the breast nipple on which the device is applied; b) a shaping mandrel is provided, which has a conical outer surface adapted to be engaged in the conical envelope of the device, to enable the

  shaping the device by marrying it to the

  me of the mandrel, substantially identical to the shape of the breast to be treated; c) cooling or heating the device to a selected temperature, the device being for this purpose placed on the shaping mandrel;

  d) the device thus cooled or

  heated, taking it on the mandrel to apply it on

  the breast to be treated, allowing the nipple to pass through the

  envelope, and the device is maintained

place for a chosen period.

  According to yet another embodiment of the invention,

  vention, the method of treating a female breast is characterized in that it keeps in place the device on the breast to be treated by means of a bra type current. Other features and advantages of the invention

  will again emerge from the description of some modes of

  realization, presented below as examples not

  restrictive, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in the-

  which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention for treating a selected part of the human body; Figure 2 is a side view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of another embodiment of the device according to the invention for treating the face of a human being; Figure 4 is a side view of the device of Figure 3;

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  Figure 5 represents yet another way of realizing

  of the device according to the invention for treating

  a woman's breast, this figure also showing a man-

  drin shaping the treatment device; Fig. 6 is an end view of the treatment device of Fig. 5 taken along line 6-6 with the shaping mandrel removed; FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another shaping mandrel of the treatment device,

  as an alternative to the mandrel of FIG.

  In the embodiment of Figure 1, the device 10 comprises a sealed envelope, consisting of two membranes 30 and 40 welded together along their edges 50 and 51. The envelope 20 (as also all

  the envelopes of the other embodiments described above.

  after) contains a selected quantity of liquid 60 and air 60a, in such proportions that the envelope 20 remains flexible, at least at the current temperature of a room. The liquid 60 is introduced into the casing 20 before the final and permanent welding of the casing 20, so as to produce a permanently tight device 10

  and filled permanently. Although this is not essential

  however, the liquid 60 preferably consists of water, which can be easily heated or cooled,

  at the same time as the device, before applying this

  ci on the part of the body to be treated.

  The device of FIG.

  two extensions 70 and 80, which extend outwards

  on both sides of the envelope 20, to allow to fix it and thus the device 10 on a selected part of the body to be treated. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the extensions 70 and 80 comprise membranes 30 and 40 which are joined and connected together across their opposite faces and inside the periphery of their edges, so as to form a strap of fixation. As a result, the welded seam of the envelope 20 includes edge seals 50a and 51a. The device comprises a retaining loop 81, fixed by appropriate known means

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  at the free end of the extension 80, to cooperate with

  the free end 71 of the other extension 70.

  The membranes 30 and 40 can be made from any suitable flexible material, such as a plastics material, able to withstand specific hot and cold temperatures, without cracking or undergoing

  other kinds of damage. We prefer to use

  this a known plastic material, of a suitable kind, because

  such material makes it easy to assemble two pieces of

  these to each other, for example by hot welding, for

  make a solid welded joint between these two parts.

  As is the case for all devices

  according to the invention, it is obvious that it is possible to use

  the device that has just been described to treat,

  besides the human body, the body of an animal for example.

  In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the processing device is constructed in the same manner as the device of FIG. 1, as has just been described in detail. As in the case of

  Figure 1, can be achieved using two membranes.

  30a and 40a, which are welded together as already indicated,

  to obtain the envelope 20a which has the contour parti-

  shown in the figure, to constitute a face mask, provided with two openings 90 allowing

  the person wearing the mask to see through this one.

  The extensions 70a and 80a constituting fastening straps can be formed, as has been shown,

  corresponding parts of the membranes 30a and 40a,

  in some places within the periphery of their welded edges, for example

  connecting lines 70b and 80b arranged in the relative area

  widened straps, which can simplify

manufacture of the device.

  We will now describe another mode of

  Device 100, shown in Figures 5 and 6, and provided for the treatment of a woman's breast. As for the embodiments described above, the device 100 can be made from two

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  membranes 30b and 40b welded together in an appropriate manner

  required to form a welded envelope 20b of conical shape, the inner face 101 is shaped to substantially match the profile of a woman's breast. The device 100 has, on the side of the apex of the cone, an opening of sufficient diameter for the passage of the nipple of the breast on which the device is placed, so as not to expose the nipple to the treatment practiced on the breast, as 1 explains further. If necessary, to facilitate

  making the device 100, the membrane 30b can

  for example, to provide a welded connection edge 102. This enables the device 100 of conical shape to be produced from a certain number of developable membranes, of suitable shapes, interconnected by their welded edges 103, 104, 105 and 106 , besides the welded edge 102

already mentioned.

  The invention provides a mandrel 110 (FIG. 5) for

  the formatting of the device 100. The mandrel 110 presents

  an outer surface 111 of conical shape, and adapted to

  come to marry internally the conical shape of the enve-

  loppe 20b, an end 112 of the mandrel then making

  protruding out of the opening at the end of the

  veloppe 20b. Thus, the external conical surface 111 of the man-

  drin marries the internal surface 101 of the device 100,

  in order to ensure the corresponding formatting of the

  20b, substantially in the conical shape of the outer surface 111. The assembly constituted by the shaping mandrel 110 and the device 100 may for example be placed beforehand in a refrigerator, to be cooled to a chosen temperature , then extracted, in order to apply the device to a breast, as explained below. The shaping mandrel 110 may be of any suitable type, including the inflatable type as shown in FIG. 5. To do this, the mandrel 110 may be made in the same manner as for the devices described above. , that is to say from a plastic sheet material, to obtain an envelope that is inflated to the air, in order to give it the shape

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  conical shown in the figure. An air inflation valve 113 of a suitable type is provided at the base of the

  mandrel 110, to allow the injection of air into the

  veloppe, and to hold back or let out the air. A clear advantage of this inflatable mandrel is to have a

  less space for transport and storage.

  FIG. 7 shows a variant LiQa that can be used in place of the mandrel

  Form 110 which has been described above. The mandrel llOa com-

  carries a bearing edge 110b serving as a base, and is

  in the form of a rigid structure that can be

  made of molded plastic material. To facilitate the manufacture

  cation, it is possible to delete part llOc

  sine summit, and shown in broken lines in Figure 7. We see that this embodiment of Figure 7 is a support on which we can place the

  device 100, for example before cooling this device

tif.

  From the above description, we see that

  the invention proposes various devices that can be used

  for the treatment of various selected parts of the human body, which devices can be selectively reheated or cooled, before being applied to the

  body and held on it for a chosen duration.

  The benefits resulting from the use of hot and cold compresses applied to various parts of the body are well known. For example, in the case of a woman who

  breastfeeding, it is sometimes desirable to modify the visco-

  breast milk, and / or increase or

  to suppress the flow of milk. This can be achieved quickly

  and conveniently through the breast treatment device provided by the invention. Devices that comply with

  invention are simple, inexpensive to make, and of

  easy to use because they can be used without having to fill them with a liquid, then empty them. In addition, these devices are very convenient to use, as has been seen in particular for the device provided for the treatment of breasts. Indeed, the treatment device

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  breasts according to the invention may for example be cooled first to a selected temperature, then applied to the breast to be treated by leaving the nipple out through the opening provided on the device, which is then held in place during a duration chosen by means of a normal soutiengorge. It is therefore particularly convenient,

  since there is no need to acquire and

  special bra. In addition, the person who wears

  the treatment device according to the invention

  naked to take advantage of the aspect that his support

normal throat.

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Claims (11)

  Treatment device for a selected part of the human body, characterized in that it comprises in combination:   (a) a watertight envelope consisting of two membra-   welded together by their edges; b) a certain amount of liquid and air contained in said envelope, this liquid and this air having proportions such that the envelope remains flexible, at least at the temperature of a room; this liquid being introduced into the envelope before the final and permanent closing thereof, so as to produce a sealed, closed device and Fermanente filled.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the sealed envelope has a substantially   I5 tapered, and has a suitable internal surface   to marry the shape of a woman's breast; this device pre-   further sensing an opening disposed on the side of the top of the cone, and of sufficient diameter to allow the passage   breast nipple on which the device is applied.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is associated with a shaping mandrel having a substantially conical outer surface adapted to be engaged in the conical envelope of the device; the outer conical surface of the mandrel then being able to fit the inner surface of the envelope to ensure the shaping thereof, substantially in the conical shape of this external surface.   4. Device according to claim 3, characterized   in that the mandrel has a valve, and is inflatable.   5. Device according to one of claims 1, 2   or 3, characterized in that the liquid is water.   6. Device according to one of claims 1,   2 or 3, characterized in that the membranes are constituted   a flexible sheet of plastic material.   7. Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the membranes extend outwardly with respect to their portion constituting the envelope, and on both sides thereof, so as to provide means for fixing said watertight envelope on a chosen part of the human body to treat.   io 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized   in that the envelope has the form of a face mask,   having two openings to see through.   9. Method for implementing a device   according to claims 7 to 8, characterized in that   comprises the following operating phases a) there is provided a device which comprises a casing of substantially conical shape, this envelope containing a liquid sealed in perauanence and in a sealed manner in the casing; the device having an opening in its part adjacent to the top of the cone, for   allow the passage of the nipple of the breast on which the   It is called to be applied; b) heating or cooling as appropriate, the   device at the chosen temperature for applcation.   10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that a shaping mandrel is provided, which has an outer surface conque adapted to be engaged in the conical envelope of the device, to allow the shaping of the device, in making it conform to the shape of the mandrel, substantially identical to the shape of the breast to be treated; and heating or cooling the device on the mandrel formatting.   11. Method according to one of claims 9 and 10,   characterized in that the device is held in place   for the application, to the core of a normal bra.