FR3054957A1 - IONIZATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTION AGAINST MOSQUITO SITES - Google Patents

Abstract

The ionization device (100) is adapted to protect a subject against mosquito bites, the ionization device (100) comprising: - a receiving housing (1) configured to receive a mobile telephone device, and an ionizer (2) configured to ionize air, generate and emit an ion flux adapted to protect a subject from mosquito bites.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

054 957

57711

COURBEVOIE

©) Int Cl ⁸ : A 01 M29 / 00 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 11.08.16. © Applicant (s): BIOTECHNICS RESEARCH INSTI- (30) Priority: TUTE LIMITED— IE. ©) Inventor (s): NOTTON PHILIPPE. ©) Date of public availability of the request: 16.02.18 Bulletin 18/07. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): BIOTECHNICS RESEARCH INSTITUTE related: LIMITED. ©) Extension request (s): @) Agent (s): CABINET GERMAIN ET MAUREAU.

IONIZATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES.

The ionization device (100) is suitable for protecting a subject against mosquito bites, the ionization device (100) comprising:

- a reception housing (1) configured to receive a mobile telephone device, and

- an ionizer (2) configured to ionize air, generate and emit a flow of ions adapted to protect a subject from mosquito bites.

FR 3 054 957 - A1

The present invention relates to the field of prevention against mosquito bites and more specifically an ionization device suitable for protecting a subject against mosquito bites. The present invention also relates to a method of protection against bites and the use of an ionizer to protect a subject against mosquito bites.

Mosquitoes are vectors of infectious diseases and represent an important source of transmission of many viruses to humans, such as the Dengue virus, the Chikungunya virus or the 'Zika' virus, throughout the world. In many cases, there is no vaccine to prevent the disease, the only medical treatments available are symptomatic. The contamination of pregnant women is particularly problematic, when it comes to the Zika virus for example, the transmission of the virus to the fetus can cause serious abnormalities in brain development in children. The parasite that causes malaria is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, and 500 million clinical cases are seen worldwide each year.

These infectious diseases are transmitted by an infected mosquito during a blood meal, when it bites a person carrying the virus or the disease. The virus multiplies within the mosquito without harm to the insect. Then, during a next bite, the mosquito spills the virus into the blood of a new person. This new person can be the source of infection for other mosquitoes if they are bitten again.

So the only way to protect yourself from the transmission of these types of viruses to date is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Mosquitoes are less and less afraid of insecticides, which are also often toxic to humans.

Scientists have looked at how mosquitoes use their chemosensory systems to detect and locate human hosts. They have managed to show that mosquitoes have olfactory receptors which are very sensitive to human body odors, for example from secretion of skin pores, such as sweat, hormones, or carbon dioxide expelled during respiration, which attracts or repeats them.

Thus, one of the aims of the present invention consists in providing a device capable of disturbing the recognition of human body odors by mosquitoes.

To this end, the present invention provides an ionization device suitable for protecting a subject against mosquito bites, the ionization device comprising:

a reception housing configured to receive a mobile telephone device, and an ionizer configured to ionize air, generate and emit a flow of ions, comprising in particular negative ions, adapted to protect a subject from mosquito bites.

This ionization device makes it possible to bring together two elements which are very useful to humans, which consists of an ionizer making it possible to protect one or more people against mosquito bites and a receiving housing making it possible to receive a mobile telephone device. The hypothesis formulated to explain the unexpected protective effect obtained by the ionizer is that it works by ionization of the surrounding air by forming highly reactive ions. These ions interact with neighboring molecules and in particular the molecules responsible for human body odors by modifying their property. It follows that the mosquito olfactory detection system no longer perceives body odors and the human host is no longer detected, it becomes transparent to mosquitoes. Thus, mosquitoes are no longer attracted, which prevents bites on the subject.

Advantageously, the ionization device further comprises: an energy storage member configured to be charged and discharged, a central unit configured to manage the charging and discharging of the energy storage member, the ionizer being configured to emit an ion flow with a flow rate greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, preferably with a flow rate between 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s, and more preferably with a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s, and the central unit connecting the energy storage member and the ionizer so as to manage the supply of the ionizer.

Thus, the ionization device works very simply and can be recharged from the mains.

Preferably, the ionization device comprises an autonomous energy member, configured to supply the storage member, the ionizer and / or the mobile telephone device when the latter is disposed in the receiving housing, the member of autonomous energy preferably being electrically connected to the central unit.

Thus, this autonomous energy organ makes it possible to recharge the energy storage organ or the telephone in order to extend the duration of autonomy. The electrical connection can be made by integrated circuit, by radio frequencies and preferably by wire.

According to one possibility, the autonomous energy organ comprises at least one battery. The battery power source can itself come from the electricity distribution network.

According to one arrangement, the autonomous energy organ comprises at least one photovoltaic cell.

In this case, the photovoltaic cell is advantageously arranged on the back of the receiving housing of the mobile telephone device. Thus, the photovoltaic cell can be exposed to solar radiation while the mobile telephone device is received in the reception housing so as to recharge its internal battery.

Preferably, the ionization device is portable, it is thus compact and can be used in many circumstances to prevent mosquito bites. It is possible to hold the ionization device in your hand, to hold it in your pocket, to put it close to you during sleep, etc. It is also easy to move with it, in your bag , as you would with a mobile phone alone, to protect yourself from mosquitoes outside and inside and to charge or use your mobile phone at the same time.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a protection method for protecting a subject against mosquito bites, the protection method comprising:

- the admission of air into an ionizer,

- the ionization of air to generate and emit a flow of ions, and

- exposing the subject to said ion flow so that the subject is protected from mosquito bites.

According to the same hypotheses as those mentioned above, the emission of an ion flux coming from the ionization of the air prevents mosquito bites.

Table 1 below summarizes the experimental results of tests carried out on several subjects and which illustrate the effect of the ionization device. These tests were carried out under the conditions of the “La Cage” test defined by the World Health Organization and adopted as referenced by the countries of the European Community to measure the effectiveness of the products against mosquito bites.

The experiments include the supply of a cubic enclosure 40 cm side, the walls of which are formed of a very fine veil, of the mosquito net type, making it possible to keep 50 female mosquitoes on an empty stomach for 24 hours. This enclosure has a sealed opening allowing the introduction of an arm of a subject who is then subjected to mosquito bites for a maximum duration of 10 min. The principle of the experiments is identical to that of the Cage, it consists in testing the reaction of mosquitoes without and in the presence of the ionizer in operation on several men and women of different origins, chosen to represent a large age group, different skin colors, skins of different natures (normal skin, oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, etc.). The conditions for carrying out the experiments are as follows: a temperature of 22 ° C with an amplitude of +/- 4 ^e C, a pressure of 1013 hPa +/- 70hPa and a hygrometry varying from 70 to 80%.

As can be seen from the results indexed in Table 1, in the absence of the ionizer all subjects were bitten between 7 and 10 times in the space of 10 min. In the presence of the operating ionizer, none of the subjects was bitten after a period of 10 min.

The official Cage test was then carried out with a larger number of subjects: no mosquito bite was observed in the presence of the ionizer operating in the cage. The official report compiling these results is being drafted at the time of filing this request.

This test having been carried out under more drastic conditions than those encountered in reality, in which female mosquitoes are not kept on an empty stomach and are rarely present with such a high density, it constitutes significant proof of the effectiveness of the method of protection against insect bites using the ionizer according to the invention.

Table 1:

Topics Sex Age Origin No. of bites without the ionization device No. of bites with the ionization device in operation Topic 1 M 58 America Central 8 0 Subject 2 M 28 North Africa 7 0 Subject 3 IVI 27 North Africa 7 0 Topic 4 M 47 France 8 0 Topic 5 F 54 France 10 0

Advantageously, the ionizer emits an ion flow having a flow rate greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, and preferably a flow rate comprising 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s. In fact, these flow ranges are effective so that the ions react with a large number of odorous molecules produced by the human host and make the latter transparent to mosquitoes. In addition, these ranges allow the ionizer to function well, while avoiding the production of ozone beyond the very strict regulations in force to date, especially in France which is around 0.05 ppm.

Of course, depending on the different attraction exerted according to the human host considered, due to a more or less significant production of substances attractive to the mosquito, and the sensitivity of the mosquito considered (depending on the species, certain mosquitoes can detect human hosts up to 50 m), the ion flow is adapted within the range considered for optimal efficiency for each subject.

According to one arrangement, the outlet opening of the ion flux of the ionizer is spaced apart by a distance D less than or equal to 3 m from the subject. Under these conditions, the subject receives an ion flow with a minimum flow rate which is greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s.

It is possible to increase the ion flow rate of the ionizer and allows further spacing of the subject's ionizer. However, this increase in flow must be carried out in compliance with the authorized ozone production threshold.

Preferably, the ionizer emits an ion flow with a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s and the outlet port of the ion flux of the ionizer is spaced by a distance D less than or equal to 1 m from the subject.

Advantageously, the ionizer used is portable and is carried by the subject, in particular around the neck, in a garment or an accessory on the subject.

According to one possibility, the ionizer has dimensions less than 6 cm long for a thickness less than 3 cm.

Of course an ionizer can have larger dimensions, in particular if it is intended to emit a very large protective ion flux, for example to protect a volume delimited by a large part.

Advantageously, the ionizer is arranged in the ionization device as previously described. Its small size allows it to be taken with you at all times, including accompanied by the mobile phone placed in the reception housing, and possibly an autonomous charging unit.

According to an alternative implementation, the ionizer is arranged in a lighting device. The lighting device advantageously works with LED type bulbs. It is then possible to light a room open to the outside while protecting people against mosquito bites. In the same way, it is possible to light an outdoor space while benefiting from protection against mosquito bites

Advantageously, the ionizer is fixed in an orientable manner on the lighting device so as to allow the orientation of the flow of emitted ions, in particular towards a subject. For optimal protection, the orientation is chosen so that the subject receives at least a flow rate greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s.

According to another implementation alternative, the ionizer is placed in a fan extending the path of the flow of ions generated by the ionizer in a given direction. Thus, the scope of the protection provided by the ionizer is increased.

According to a third aspect, the invention proposes a use of an ionizer to protect a subject against mosquito bites, this use comprising putting the ionizer into operation for the emission of a flow of ions coming from the ionization of air, and exposing the subject to the flow of ions so that the subject is protected from mosquito bites.

Preferably, the ionizer emits an ion flow having a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s and the outlet port of the ion flux of the ionizer is spaced apart by a distance D less than or equal to 1 m from the subject.

According to an alternative implementation, the ionizer is arranged in the ionization device as previously described.

According to another alternative, the ionizer is placed in a fan extending the path of the flow of ions generated by the ionizer in a given direction.

According to another implementation variant, the ionizer is arranged in a lighting device. This variant allows the lighting function which attracts mosquitoes to be combined in the same household object with the function of protection against mosquito bites.

Other aspects, aims and advantages of the present invention will appear better on reading the following description of different embodiments thereof, given by way of nonlimiting examples and made with reference to the accompanying drawings. The figures do not necessarily respect the scale of all the elements represented so as to improve their readability. In the following description, for the sake of simplification, identical, similar or equivalent elements of the various embodiments bear the same reference numbers.

- Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of an ionization device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of an ionization device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of an ionization device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 4 shows a schematic view of the protection method according to one embodiment of the invention.

- Figure 5 shows a schematic view of the method of use according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an ionization device 100 comprising a reception housing 1, configured to receive a mobile telephone device (not illustrated), and an ionizer 2 (represented in dotted lines) configured to emit a flow of ions from the ionization of air. According to the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1, the ionization device 100 is formed of a rigid plastic material integrating the ionizer 2, a central unit 3 and an energy storage member 4 (shown in dotted lines). The ionizer 2 is configured to emit an ion flow with a flow greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s via an outlet orifice 5 of the through ion flow making it possible to project a flow of ions towards the outside of the ionization device 100. According to another arrangement not illustrated, the ionizer 2 is configured to emit a flow of ions with a flow rate between 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s, and more preferably to emit a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s.

The energy storage member 4 is configured to be charged and discharged and supplies the ionizer 2. Also illustrated in FIG. 1, the central unit 3 is configured to manage the charging and discharging of the storage member energy 4. It connects the energy storage member 4 and the ionizer 2 so as to manage the supply of power to the ionizer 2.

According to a variant not illustrated, the device 100 is made of a material different from plastic and in particular of a metallic material.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ionization device 100 is portable, its dimensions in particular allow it to be held in the hand or in a pocket of a user. The device 100 comprises an on-off type switch 6 allowing the management of the switching on and off of the ionizer 2. In addition, according to an arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1, the ionization device 100 comprises two charge status LEDs 7,7 ', indicating the charge status of the ionizer 2; a first LED 7 lighting up with a specific color operates when the ionizer 2 needs to be recharged and the second LED 7 'lighting up with another determined color when the ionizer 2 is fully charged. According to another arrangement not illustrated, the ionization device 100 comprises a single charge state LED 7 which lights up when the battery of the ionizer 2 is practically discharged in order to warn the user. According to yet another arrangement not illustrated, the ionization device 100 does not include charge state LEDs.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the reception housing 1 of the ionization device 100 is configured to receive a mobile telephone device and protect it in the event of an impact. To facilitate the insertion of the latter into the receiving housing 1, the device 100 is designed in two parts A, B configured to snap together. According to a variant not illustrated, the device 100 comprises a portion integrating the ionizer made of a rigid plastic material and a portion made of flexible plastic material facilitating the insertion and removal of the mobile telephone device and its insertion.

FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment which differs from the previous one in that the ionization device 100 comprises an autonomous energy device 8, configured to supply the storage device, the ionizer 2 and / or the mobile telephone device when inserted into the receiving housing 1, through the central unit 3.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the autonomous energy unit 8 comprises a battery. In yet another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 3, the autonomous energy member 8 comprises photovoltaic cells arranged on the back of the receiving housing 1 so as to be able to be exposed to light rays.

According to the second aspect of the invention, Figure 4 schematically illustrates the implementation of a method of protecting a subject against mosquito bites. The method comprises the steps of admitting air into an ionizer 2, for example via an intake orifice 9, ionizing the air to generate and emit a flow of ions (shown in dotted lines) from the outlet and the subject's exposure to said ion flow to be protected from mosquito bites. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the ionizer 2 is portable and is worn around the neck of the subject S by means of a cord 11 of adjustable length. According to a variant not illustrated, the subject S carries the ionizer 2 in a pocket or in an accessory, such as a bag so that he can take it everywhere with him and use it at any time. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 4, the outlet orifice 5 of the ion flow is spaced apart by a distance D of less than one meter from the subject and the ionizer 2 is adjusted to emit an ion flow d '' about 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s. According to an arrangement not visible in FIG. 4, the ionizer 2 comprises a variator device configured to vary the flow of ions between 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s according to the conditions under which is the subject (environment with low probability of bites, high density of surrounding mosquitoes, etc.).

According to another variant not illustrated, the outlet orifice 5 of the ion flow is spaced by a distance D from the subject greater than previously, while remaining less than 3 m, and the ionizer 2 emits a flow of ions chosen between ions ion flow greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, so as to effectively protect the subject from mosquito bites.

According to another possibility, not illustrated, the protection method is implemented by placing an ionizer 2 in the ionization device 100 as previously described. According to yet another variant not illustrated, the protection method is implemented by placing an ionizer 2 in a fan.

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The assembly being configured so that the fan projects the flow of ions at a greater distance than that obtained without a fan. This mode of implementation is particularly advantageous when it is desired to protect a moving subject in a large room or several subjects at the same time.

FIG. 5 illustrates a use of an ionizer 2 according to another embodiment of the invention. The ionizer 2 is this time placed in a lighting device 12. It is turned on by a switch (not visible) located under the base 13 of the lighting device 12 for an emission of ions through the outlet orifice 5 located at its top. The ionizer 2 is configured to allow the exposure of at least one subject to an ion flow greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, such as 1.3 million / cm3 / s. Advantageously, the lighting device 12 operates with LEDs, so as to limit the temperature increase and the energy consumption. According to a variant not illustrated, the ionizer 2 is arranged in the base of a lighting device 12.

Thus, the ionization device 100 of the invention provides an inexpensive solution, making it possible to protect a mobile telephone device while integrating an ionizer 2 capable of generating ions with a rate such that the subject is protected from mosquito bites . The protection method, like the use of the ionizer 2, is also easy to implement and the ionizer 2 can be arranged to operate in association with many objects of daily life, portable or forming part of the indoor and outdoor furniture.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of examples but that it includes all the technical equivalents and variants of the means described as well as their combinations.

Claims (19)

1. Ionization device (100) suitable for protecting a subject against mosquito bites, the ionization device (100) comprising: a reception housing (1) configured to receive a mobile telephone device, and an ionizer (2) configured to ionize air, generate and emit an ion flow adapted to protect a subject from mosquito bites. 2. Ionization device (100) according to claim 1, further comprising: an energy storage member (4) configured to be charged and discharged, a central unit (3) configured to manage the charging and discharging of the energy storage member (4), in which the ionizer ( 2) is configured to emit an ion flow with a flow rate greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, preferably with a flow rate between 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s, and more preferably with a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s, and in which the central unit (3) connects the energy storage member (4) and the ionizer (2) so as to manage the power supply of the ionizer (2). 3. Ionization device (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, comprising an autonomous energy member (8), configured to supply the storage member, the ionizer (2) and / or the device mobile telephony when the latter is disposed in the receiving housing (1), the autonomous energy member (8) preferably being electrically connected to the central unit (3). 4. Ionization device (100) according to claim (3), wherein the autonomous energy member (8) comprises at least one battery. 5. Ionization device (100) according to one of claims 3 or 4, wherein the autonomous energy member (8) comprises at least one photovoltaic cell. 6. Ionization device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the ionization device (100) is portable. 7. Protective method for protecting a subject against mosquito bites, the protective method comprising: - the admission of air into an ionizer (2), - the ionization of air to generate and emit a flow of ions, and - exposing the subject to said ion flow so that the subject is protected from mosquito bites. 8. The protection method as claimed in claim 7, in which the ionizer {2} emits a flow of ions having a flow rate greater than or equal to 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s, and preferably a flow rate of between 500,000 ions / cm ³ / s and 3 million ions / cm ³ / s. 9. Protection method according to one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the outlet orifice (5) of the ion flow of the ionizer (2) is spaced by a distance (D) less than or equal to 3 m from the subject. 10. Protection method according to one of claims 7 to 9, in which the ionizer (2) emits a flow of ions with a flow rate of approximately 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s and in which the the outlet orifice (5) of the ion flow from the ionizer 2 is spaced by a distance (D) less than or equal to 1 m from the subject. 11. Method for protecting a subject according to one of claims 7 to 10, in which the ionizer (2) is portable and in which the ionizer (2) is carried by the subject, in particular around the neck, in a piece of clothing or an accessory on the subject. 12. Protection method according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the ionizer 2 is arranged in the ionization device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 13. Protection method according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the ionizer (2) is arranged in a lighting device (12). 14. Protection method according to one of claims 7 to 11, wherein the ionizer (2) is arranged in a fan extending the path of the ion flow generated by the ionizer (2) in a given direction. 15. Use of an ionizer (2) to protect a subject against mosquito bites, comprising activating the ionizer (2) for the emission of a flow of ions from the ionization of air, and the subject's exposure to 5 ion flows so that the subject is protected from mosquito bites. 16. Use of an ionizer (2) according to claim 15, wherein the ionizer (2) emits a flow of ions having a flow rate of about 1.3 million ions / cm ³ / s and the outlet port (5) of the ion flow from the ionizer (2) is spaced apart 10 distance (D) less than or equal to 1 m from the subject. 17. Use of an ionizer (2) according to one of claims 15 or 16, in which the ionizer (2) is arranged in the ionization device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6. 18. Use of an ionizer (2) according to one of claims 15 or 16, wherein the ionizer (2) is arranged in a fan extending the path of the flow of ions generated by the ionizer (2) in a given direction. 19. Use of an ionizer (2) according to one of claims 15 or 16, in which the ionizer (2) is arranged in a lighting device (12). > ^? 0 _S , i j ¹ Oo, / / Λ s: δ 6 2/3 3/3