FR2885059A1 - Cold fluid e.g. hydrofluorocarbon, applying device for e.g. warts treatment, has fluid container housed in aerosol, and fluid release activation units coupled to timer controlling time length for which fluid is released via discharge nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a fluid container which is housed in an aerosol in a device, that is in the form of a case, and units for activating the release of a fluid from the container through a discharge nozzle. The fluid release activation units are coupled to a timer (2) which controls the length of time for which the fluid is released. The timer is of mechanical type and has a toothed-wheel gear.

Description

DEVICE FOR APPLYING A FLUID TO A ZONE A

TREAT INCLUDING A TIMER

  The present invention relates to the field of delivering a fluid contained in an aerosol and maintained in a device in the form of a housing.

  The present invention relates more particularly to a device making it possible to control the ejection of the fluid at the outlet of said device and to limit its application to the only zone to be treated and to modulate its mode of action and time in a pre-defined manner. -depended according to the type of application to be processed.

  The device according to the invention is intended more particularly, but not exclusively, for all treatments of dermal infections such as warts, corns, growths, and brown spots or any local application on the skin, mucous membranes, tissues or any other part of the human or animal body, be it medical, technical, or cosmetic.

  The prior art already knows such fluid application devices.

  For example, US Pat. No. 5,098,428 discloses a cryosurgical instrument in contact with a liquefied refrigerant gas contained in a thermally insulated container. When the normal venting of the vessel is interrupted, the pressure of the liquefied refrigerant gas can be increased in the vessel by means of a balloon. This pressure causes the liquefied refrigerant gas to be projected through the nozzle until normal venting is restored. In addition, this instrument is very sensitive to the conditions of use (atmospheric pressure, temperature) and the remaining amount of liquefied gas which varies during successive uses. As a result, the characteristics of the projected gas vary from one use to another in terms of pressure, temperature and quantity.

  It is also proposed in US6296410 a device for administering a certain amount of a liquid refrigerant. This device comprises a container for containing the liquid refrigerant; a normally closed valve connected to said container; and actuating means for temporarily opening the valve, comprising positioning means for placing at least a portion of the delivery member in position so that the refrigerant leaving the valve can reach the valve element. 'administration. According to a first embodiment, the positioning means comprises a chamber which is connected to the valve and into which the refrigerant is introduced during the actuation of the valve, this chamber being designed to receive at least a part of the valve. element of administration. By its nature, this type of device does not allow to control the amount of gas projected and the duration of application of the gas, the time of use being extremely random and variable from one user to another and also in the same user.

  The delivery devices of the prior art therefore have several major disadvantages in that they do not allow precise control of the amount of fluid and the duration of application to an area to be treated.

  However, in the case of application of a cold fluid to an area of infected skin for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes, failure to comply with the dosage required in terms of dosages and application times helps to make the action of the inefficient fluid, or even illegitimately aggravate the 2885059 3 pathology to treat. It is in the nature of these applications to be repeatable identically. This necessarily implies being able to precisely control the amount of fluid projected and its duration of application on the area to be treated.

  The present invention intends to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a device for controlling the delivery of a fluid and to limit its application to a quantity and a predetermined duration.

  Such a device has the advantage of being able to be used safely by a user other than a person from the medical profession, the user having no direct control over the duration of application and the amount of fluid to be applied. on said area to be treated.

  To this end, the present invention relates to a device for applying a fluid to an area to be treated, of the type comprising a reserve of fluid in the form of an aerosol and means for triggering the release of the fluid from the reserve through an ejection nozzle, the present invention being remarkable, in its broadest sense, in that the means for triggering the release of the fluid are coupled to a timer controlling the release time of said fluid.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the timer is of mechanical type comprising a gears gear, which gear advantageously comprises at least two wheels: a first wheel controlling the starting and stopping of the timer; a second wheel controlling the release or stopping of the release of the fluid from the reserve to the ejection nozzle.

  Advantageously, said first wheel is actuated by said triggering means by means of a lever arm, said lever arm being articulated so as to move from a lowered position on said first wheel to a raised position, and vice versa.

  Advantageously, the timer comprises first operating stop means carried by the lever arm, and intended to act on said first gear. According to a particular configuration of the invention, said stop means consist of a lug disposed at one end of said arm, said lug being configured to be housed in a lumen formed in said first wheel when said lever arm is in position. lowered position.

  Advantageously, the first wheel comprises second stop means carried by the first wheel, said second stop means being intended to supply said first stop means carried by the lever arm. We will speak later of means of safety stop. These means are intended to block the operation of the timer when the application time of said fluid is elapsed and independently of any action of the user on said device. The timer comprising such safety stop means thus has the advantage of avoiding any excess application of the fluid in the event of a continuous or prolonged activation of the fluid release means resulting in the maintenance in the raised position of the arm forming a lever.

  According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the safety stop means consist of a lug sized to come into contact with the lever arm when said lever arm is in the raised position.

  Advantageously, the first wheel is driven by a traction spring surrounding a third wheel, said third wheel being in contact with the second wheel so that, when the lever arm is in the raised position, said first wheel is driven by the traction exerted by the spring on said third wheel.

  The second wheel has the function of controlling the release or stopping of the release of the fluid by means of a release arm. To do this, the free end of said arm carries means capable of actuating the opening or closing of the ejection nozzle.

  The invention will be better understood from the description, given purely for explanatory purposes, of one embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures: FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the timer allowing the delivery of the fluid by the delivery device of the invention according to a specified duration and quantity, said timer being stopped; Figure 2 illustrates a top view of the timer of Figure 1, said timer being operated; FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the ejection nozzle of the device for applying a fluid according to the invention; FIG. 4 illustrates a partial view of the device for applying a fluid according to the invention, and the associated push-button.

  The following description relates to a device allowing the application of a defined quantity of a fluid to a skin area to be treated according to a determined duration of application, in order to treat dermal infections.

  In one embodiment, the fluid has a boiling temperature of less than or equal to -20 ° C. and a latent heat of vaporization of less than or equal to 200 kJ / kg. The particular combination of these two characteristics for the fluid makes it possible to obtain an optimal efficiency for the cryoprocessings or cryoapplications considered. Indeed, the boiling temperature makes it possible to obtain the necessary cold, and, the relative weakness of the latent heat of vaporization, a rapid evaporation which induces a good transmission of the cold without risking a flow of fluid outside the zone. 'application. Therefore, the use of the fluid according to the invention provides a dry and intense cold, while limiting the aggressiveness of the treatment on the application area. In an exemplary embodiment, the fluid is a type 152A HFC which has a boiling point of -24 C and a latent heat of vaporization equal to 160 kJ / kg.

  The quantity and duration of application of said fluid are defined according to the use for which said device is intended. In the case of a treatment of warts, the necessary cold being intense, the zone is localized on 3 to 10 millimeters in diameter and preferably of the order of 6 millimeters and the fluid will be advantageously ejected during at least one second on said area. When it comes to treating brown spots, the necessary cold being less intense, the area is located on 0.5 to 2 centimeters and preferably of the order of 1.5 centimeters, and the fluid will advantageously ejected for at least one second on said zone.

  The invention allows a pre-adjustment of the duration of application depending on the type of action desired on the skin and the type of problem to be solved. Thus, the level of effect requested is different for each problem, the pre-setting offers the user a guarantee and efficiency far superior to an individual estimate. Indeed, it is through numerous tests multiplied over many clinical cases that these pre-adjustments are established.

  As regards the application of the fluid to the single zone to be treated, this is obtained by the construction of said device, and more particularly by the shape and configuration of the ejection part (ejection nozzle) of said device.

  The device (1) for applying the fluid according to the invention is of the type comprising a fluid reserve in the form of an aerosol, which fluid is released through an ejection nozzle under the action of a press button (40). ) shown in Figure 4. An example of configuration and operation of an ejection nozzle according to the invention will be described in detail below.

  Said device (1) is remarkable in that the push-button (40) is coupled with a timer for controlling the duration of release of the fluid, and therefore the duration of application of said fluid to the area to be treated.

  Figures 1 and 2 illustrate a perspective view of the timer (2) constituting said device (1) according to the invention, said timer (2) being respectively stopped and in operation.

  Said timer (2), of mechanical type, comprises a gears gear, among which: - a first wheel (3) activating the start and stop of the timer. This wheel will be named later cycle wheel.

  - A second wheel (4), subsequently called a cam wheel, actuating the release or stop the release of the fluid by the ejection nozzle.

  The cycle wheel (3) is connected to the pushbutton (40) via a lever arm (7) pivotally mounted about a pivot axis AA1 so as to pass from a lowered position on said wheel cycle (3) at a raised position, and vice versa.

  Advantageously, the lever arm (7) comprises stop means for holding the cycle wheel (3) stopped. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the stop means consist of a lug (8) disposed at the end of said arm (7), which lug (8) is configured to lodge in a light (9) formed in the cycle wheel (3).

  Thus, when said lever arm (7) is in the lowered position and the lug (8) inserted in the slot (9) of the cycle wheel (3), the cycle wheel (3) is kept at a standstill.

  The cam wheel (4), in turn, actuates the release or the stop of the release of the fluid via a release arm (10). To do this, said release arm (10) has an end secured to the cam wheel (4), the other end being provided with a magnetic field, actuating the opening or closing of the ejection nozzle.

  The actuation of the opening and closing of said nozzle will be described later.

  The operation of the timer (2) of said device (1) is as follows.

  The lever arm (7), when held in the lowered position, blocks the cycle wheel (3) by means of the lug (8) of said lever arm (7), said lug being housed in the light (9) of the cycle wheel (3). The timer (2) is then in the off state, all the gears being held in a locked position.

  Actuation of the presser button (40) activates the pivoting of said lever arm (7) which moves from its lowered position on said cycle wheel (3) to a raised position, so that said pin (8) of said lever arm ( 7) is moved out of the light (9).

  No longer held by said lever arm (7), the cycle wheel (3) is then driven by a drive wheel (5) by means of a tension spring (not shown). To do this, said spring, fixed by one of its ends to the cycle wheel (3), is mounted wound around said drive wheel (5). The spring is advantageously wound so as to have an energy allowing the delivery of at least ten doses of fluid, or ten treatments, a complete turn performed by the cycle wheel (3) corresponding to the delivery of a dose of fluid.

  In the same way, the drive wheel (5), set in motion by the action of said spring, cascades the other wheels constituting the timer (2).

  Advantageously, said cycle wheel (3) is in contact, via an escape wheel (6) and a pinion (11) mounted on the axle of the exhaust wheel (6). , with a metal piece (12) able to oscillate in response to a biasing of the cycle wheel (3). The oscillation frequency of said metal part is related to the shape and mass of the metal part itself, but also to the shape of the escape wheel (shape and number of teeth). The metal piece (12) is intended to act on the speed of the timer (2).

  Meanwhile, driven by the drive wheel (5), the cam wheel (4) actuates by means of the cam (13) on said cam wheel (4) the release arm (10) of said fluid to open and then closing the ejection nozzle of said device (1).

  The race of the timer (2) then ends either by an automatic repositioning of the lug (8) of the lever arm (7) in the slot (9) of said cycle wheel (3) (in which case the user has actuated and released the push-button before the end of a treatment cycle), either by the contact of a lug formed on the wheel against the lever arm (7) (in which case the user exerts a continuous action on the push-button).

  Indeed, in the event that the user would perform a continuous action on the snap (40), thus maintaining in the raised position the end of said lever arm (7), and therefore the timer (2) in a permanent operating state until the release of the pressure on the push-button (40), the timer (2) advantageously comprises secondary safety stop means (not shown). Said safety stop means are carried by the cycle wheel (3). More specifically, said safety stop means consist of a lug formed on the face of the cycle wheel (3) which is intended to come into contact with said lever arm (7) when the cycle wheel has made a complete revolution. Said lug is disposed on said wheel 2885059 11 cycle (3) and is dimensioned so that when said lever arm (7) is held in the raised position, said lug abuts against the latter.

  Thus, whatever the use that is made of said device (1), the latter is such that a single dose can not be applied to the area to be treated when a first pressure (continuous or not) on the press button (40) has been performed, said dose being applied until the delivery of the predetermined quantity and time of fluid has been completed.

  FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the ejection nozzle (22) equipping the device (1) for applying a fluid according to the invention.

  Said nozzle (22) is constituted by a hollow body in which is housed an envelope (23) defining a cavity (25) intended to receive the fluid from a reserve (not shown) through a conduit (24) . Advantageously, the upper part of said envelope (23) is formed by a cover (28).

  Said nozzle (22) comprises a conduit (26) passing through the body of said nozzle (22) and the envelope (23) housed in said nozzle (22).

  Advantageously, said duct (26) is provided with a tubular ferrule (29), one end of said ferrule (29) opening a few millimeters into the cavity (25), the other end opening onto the head (27). ) ejecting said nozzle (22). Said ferrule (29) has an inner diameter of 0.1 millimeter to 0.8 millimeter and preferably of the order of 0.3 millimeter, and a length of 3 to 9 millimeters and preferably of the order of 6 millimeters. By its dimensions, said ferrule (29) ensures the flow of the jet and contributes, with the shape of the head (27) of ejection of said nozzle (22), to the shape of the jet of the fluid. Thus, when the area of the ejection head 2885059 12 (27) located around and near the outlet port of the ferrule (29) is convex in shape, the fluid jet is thin, and when it is concave in shape, the jet of fluid is wide. It is thus possible, by acting on the shape of the head (27) of ejection of said nozzle (22) and on the inner diameter of said ferrule (29) to adapt the shape of the jet to the infection to be treated. It should be noted that by jet term, is meant a gas / liquid mixture.

  A drawer (30) is slidably mounted in the cavity (5) formed by the envelope (23). More particularly, said slide (30) is configured to slide from a position closing the end of the ferrule (29) (or conduit 26) opening into said cavity (25) (shutter position) to a position leaving the end of said ferrule (29) open to the fluid, and vice versa. Closing said ferrule (29) is provided by an elastomeric tip (31) disposed on the underside of said slide (30) in contact with said ferrule (29) so as to seal.

  The sliding of said drawer (30) is performed under the action of a magnetic field controlled by the timer described above, said drawer (30) being made at least partly of a magnetic material. The establishment of said drawer (30) in the closed position is obtained by means of a spring (32) disposed partially around said drawer (30).

  Thus, when said device (1) is in the non-operating state, the end piece (31) of elastomer of said drawer (30) is pressed onto the end of the ferrule (29) opening into said cavity (25) at means of said spring (32). The fluid from the reserve is then maintained in the spacing formed between the casing (23) and said drawer (30).

  2885059 13 Under the action of the magnetic field disposed above the cover (28), the slide (30) is moved from its closed position to its open position, to allow evacuation by the ferrule ( 29) fluid held prisoner between the casing (23) and the drawer (30). The movement of said drawer (30) is stopped by the cover (28).

  When the magnet is removed, or placed at a sufficient distance from said cover (28), the spring (32) pushes the drawer (30) towards the ferrule (29) until it obturates again the orifice of the ferrule (29) by the tip (31) made of elastomer of said drawer (32).

  Said device (1) is further provided with a protective cap (33).

  Said protective cap (33) is intended to establish a sufficient distance between the area to be treated (skin) and the cold fluid outlet. Said protective tip (33) also aims to prevent contact of the head (27) ejection nozzle (22) with the infected area to be treated. In fact, it is imperative to avoid spreading contagions on the parties by any contact that could lead to a renewal of the pathologies that are supposed to be treated or to develop other pathologies by indirect effect. For this purpose, said protective tip (33) advantageously has a height of between 10 and 20 millimeters.

  Moreover, in order to release the gas pressure due to the ejection of the fluid, the wall of said protective cap (33) is provided with one or more openings. Said openings are preferably located in the lower quarter of the length of said nozzle (33), or at least in the last third of the length of said nozzle (33). The number of said openings will be chosen so that the speed of the fluid at the openings is negligible compared to the ejection speed of the cold fluid.

  Advantageously, said protective tip (33) is transparent to facilitate its positioning around the area to be treated.

  Moreover, in order to respect the shape of the jet at the outlet of the ejection nozzle (22), said protective tip (33) is of frustoconical shape open towards the zone to be treated.

  In an advantageous configuration of the invention, said device (1) further comprises a cap (34) which is fixed on the free end of said protective cap (33).

  Said cap (34) is intended to limit the area on which the fluid is applied. To do this, said lid (34) comprises an orifice (35) which, when said lid (34) is fixed to the end of said protective tip (33), is disposed in the axis of ejection of said fluid. For the treatment of warts, said orifice (35) has a diameter of 5 to 10 millimeters and preferably of the order of 6 millimeters. For the treatment of brown spots, it advantageously has a diameter of 10 to 20 millimeters and preferably of the order of 15 millimeters.

  Advantageously, said lid (34) is transparent to facilitate the positioning of the orifice (35) facing the area to be treated.

  The invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that the skilled person is able to realize different variants of the invention without departing from the scope of the patent.

Claims (10)

  1. Device (1) for applying a fluid to an area to be treated, of the type comprising a reserve of fluid contained in an aerosol and maintained in a device in the form of a housing and means for triggering the release of the fluid from the reserving through an ejection nozzle (22), characterized in that said means for triggering the release of the fluid are coupled to a timer (2) controlling the duration of release of said fluid.   2. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to claim 1, characterized in that the timer (2) is of mechanical type comprising a gears gear.   3. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the timer (2) consists of a gears gear, said gear comprising at least two wheels, a first wheel (3) controlling the start and stop of the timer (2), and a second wheel (4) controlling the release or stopping of the release of the fluid from the supply to the nozzle (22).   4. Device (1) for applying a fluid, according to claim 3, characterized in that said first wheel (3) is actuated by said triggering means by means of a lever arm (7), said lever arm (7) being hinged to move from a lowered position on said first wheel (3) to a raised position, and vice versa.   2885059 16 5. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to claim 4, characterized in that the timer (2) comprises first operating stop means carried by the lever arm (7), and acting on said first gear.   6. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said first stop means consist of a lug arranged (8) at one end of said arm (7), said lug (8) being configured to lodge in a lumen (9) formed in said first wheel (3) when said lever arm (7) is in the lowered position.   7. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the timer further comprises second stop means carried by the first wheel (3), said second stop means being adapted to supply said first stop means carried by the lever arm (7).   8. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said second stop means consist of a lug sized to come into contact with the lever arm (7) when the latter is in position. raised position.   9. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the first wheel (3) is driven by a tension spring surrounding a third wheel (5), said third wheel (5) being in contact with the second wheel (4) so that, when the lever arm (7) is in the raised position, said first wheel 2885059 17 (3) is driven by the force exerted by the spring on said third wheel (5).   10. Device (1) for applying a fluid according to any one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the second wheel (4) controls the release or stop the release of the fluid by means of a release arm (10), the free end of said arm carrying means adapted to actuate the opening or closing of the ejection nozzle.