JP2017056037A - Ultraviolet light skin treatment protection tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protection tool capable of reducing a load applied to a patient and a doctor in performing ultraviolet light skin treatment, and protecting a healthy skin at a low cost.SOLUTION: A protection tool 10 is used for protecting a surrounding part of an affected part to which an ultraviolet light is radiated for performing skin treatment. The protection tool 10 comprises a curved surface shape along surfaces of the affected part and the surrounding part of the affected part, and is formed of a material which blocks the ultraviolet light used for the skin treatment. The protection tool 10 may comprise an opening 12 on a region corresponding to the affected part. The protection tool 10 may comprise a curved surface shape along at least a part of a face of the patient.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a medical protector, and more particularly to a protector used for ultraviolet skin treatment.

  UV treatment is used as a treatment method for various skin diseases. For example, for a wide range of skin diseases from inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis vulgaris, palmoplantar pustulosis, and atopic dermatitis to pigmented diseases such as vitiligo vulgaris, alopecia areata, and malignant tumors such as cutaneous malignant lymphoma, Treatment is performed by irradiating the affected area with long wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVA waves), medium wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVB waves) or the like with a predetermined energy amount.

  The history of UV treatment is old. However, in actual dermatological practice, it takes time for preparation and enforcement of treatment, so treatment is often not performed sufficiently. As one of the “hands-off”, there is “shading” that irradiates only the affected part with light and does not irradiate surrounding healthy skin. The reason why light shielding is necessary is to prevent dermatitis and skin cancer, which are side effects of ultraviolet rays. Skin symptoms may be irregularly spread over uneven parts of the surface of the body and may be seen in a number of ways, and it is difficult to irradiate only the symptom part of the skin and cover other parts. For example, even when covered with a cloth or the like, a gap may be left or it may be shifted during irradiation. Sometimes sunscreens called sunscreen agents are used, but they may be rashed by the ingredients, or may become uneven depending on how they are applied, resulting in insufficient protection. In this way, the protection of the surrounding skin during the currently widely used UV treatment is very laborious and may cause burns in some cases, so the necessary UV treatment may not be performed for the necessary patient .

  As described above, it was very troublesome to shield the surrounding healthy skin for ultraviolet treatment. For example, even if the periphery is covered with a cloth, the cloth may be displaced during irradiation. Moreover, when using a sunscreen agent, not only does it become uneven and does not play a role sufficiently, but it may also get a rash. In addition, since the irradiation time of ultraviolet rays in ultraviolet treatment is generally within several minutes, the time for shading may be longer. In general, ultraviolet treatment is often prolonged, and it is necessary to continue irradiation once or twice a week for several months to several years. Each time, it takes a lot of time and effort to shield the light from both the doctor and the patient, and if the light shielding is not appropriate, there is a risk of burns. Moreover, when using a sunscreen agent every time, the financial burden of a doctor and a patient is also large.

  The present invention has been made in view of these problems, and one of its exemplary purposes is to protect healthy skin at a safe and low cost while reducing the burden on doctors and patients in ultraviolet skin treatment. It is to provide protective equipment that can.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a protective device according to an aspect of the present invention is a protective device for protecting the periphery of an affected area where skin treatment is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays, and is provided along the affected area and the surface around the affected area. It has a curved shape and is formed of a material that shields ultraviolet rays used for skin treatment.

  According to this aspect, since the protective device has a curved surface shape along the affected part and the surface around the affected part, the protective device adheres to the skin just by applying the protective device during treatment, and there is no gap between the protective device and the skin. Therefore, the ultraviolet rays do not enter the gap, and the ultraviolet rays can be irradiated only on the irradiation target site. It can also be easily removed and reused for the next treatment. Since the protective device is formed of a material that shields ultraviolet rays, specifically, a material that absorbs or reflects ultraviolet rays, healthy skin covered by the protective device can be appropriately protected from ultraviolet irradiation.

  An ultraviolet transmission window may be provided in a region corresponding to the affected area.

  The ultraviolet transmissive window may be an opening.

  At least a part may be formed of a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light.

  The protective device may be formed of a resin material.

  It may include a curved shape along at least a portion of the patient's face.

  It may include a shape covering at least the patient's eye and the periphery thereof.

  A portion that covers the patient's eyes with a material that absorbs ultraviolet light and transmits visible light may be formed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the protective device which can protect healthy skin safely at low cost can be provided, reducing the burden of the doctor and patient in ultraviolet skin treatment.

It is a figure which shows typically the face protective device which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the use condition of a protector typically. It is a figure which shows typically the protector before an opening part is provided. It is a figure which shows typically the protector with which the mark for providing an opening part was attached | subjected. It is a figure which shows typically the protective equipment which concerns on a modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the description, the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated descriptions are omitted as appropriate.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a face protector 10 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a use state of the protective device 10, and shows a cross-sectional shape of the protective device 10. The protector 10 is a medical instrument for protecting the periphery of an affected area that is treated by irradiating ultraviolet rays. The target of UV treatment is, for example, a wide range of types from inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis vulgaris, palmoplantar pustulosis, and atopic dermatitis to pigmented diseases such as vitiligo vulgaris, malignant tumors such as alopecia areata and cutaneous malignant lymphoma Examples include skin diseases. In addition, it is not necessary to limit to the skin diseases mentioned in the example, and all skin diseases for which ultraviolet treatment is performed are targeted. The affected area where such skin diseases occur is treated by irradiating ultraviolet rays such as long wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVA waves), medium wavelength ultraviolet rays (UVB waves), narrow band UVB, and excimer light with a predetermined energy amount. Made.

  The protector 10 has a curved surface shape along the surface of the affected area and the periphery of the affected area in a range where light shielding is necessary. For example, the face protector 10 shown in FIG. 1 has a shape corresponding to the unevenness of the face of the patient 20 and has a shape like a face mask. The protective device 10 preferably has a shape that is as close as possible to the skin to be protected, and preferably has a shape that allows at least the stump portion of the protective device 10 to be in close contact with the skin and prevent ultraviolet rays from entering through the gap. . The protective device 10 has an opening 12 in a region corresponding to an affected part to be subjected to ultraviolet treatment. For example, when the affected part 22 is present on the left cheek of the patient 20 as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 12 is provided in a region corresponding to the left cheek as shown in FIG. The opening 12 can also be referred to as an “ultraviolet ray transmitting window” for transmitting ultraviolet rays.

  The protective device 10 is formed of a material that shields ultraviolet rays used for skin treatment, and is formed of a material that reflects or absorbs ultraviolet rays. The protective device 10 needs to be made of a material having a certain amount of ultraviolet light shielding property so that healthy skin can be protected from ultraviolet rays to be irradiated. The protective device 10 is preferably made of a material that shields ultraviolet rays while transmitting visible light. In other words, it is desirable to be formed of a material that is transparent to visible light and that allows the affected area to be observed from outside the protector 10. The protective device 10 is more preferably transparent to visible light, but is not necessarily transparent, and may be a translucent material or a colored translucent member. Good.

  In ultraviolet treatment, a certain wavelength of ultraviolet rays may be used. In one example, since ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 308 nm are selectively used, it is desirable to use a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays with a wavelength of 308 nm and is transparent to visible light as the protective device 10. Examples of such materials include resin materials such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), and polyarylate. In particular, PET is widely used as a material for PET bottles, and the protective device 10 can be manufactured at low cost by using PET.

  A material that transmits ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 308 nm may be used as the base material of the protective device 10. For example, an acrylic resin such as polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA) may be used as the base material of the protective device 10. In this case, the transmittance of ultraviolet rays can be lowered by mixing a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays with an acrylic resin. By using an acrylic resin as the base material, it is possible to reduce the influence of the protective device 10 being deteriorated by irradiation with ultraviolet rays used for treatment.

  The material used as the protective device 10 is preferably selected according to the wavelength of ultraviolet rays used for treatment. PET is suitable as a material for using UVB waves of 290 nm to 320 nm, narrow band UVB, and excimer light because it suitably absorbs ultraviolet light having a wavelength shorter than 320 nm. PC is suitable as a material when ultraviolet rays having a wavelength of 280 nm or less are used. In addition, by using a polyarylate resin capable of blocking wavelengths of 360 nm or shorter, it is possible to block light in a partial range of UVA waves of 320 nm to 400 nm. In addition, when using the wavelength range (340 nm-400 nm) of UVA1, you may use the material which shields both visible light and ultraviolet light.

  The protective device 10 is preferably molded for each patient based on the affected area of the patient and the three-dimensional shape around the affected area. For example, the three-dimensional shape of the patient's face is measured, three-dimensional shape data of the protector 10 is created based on the three-dimensional data, and the protector 10 is formed based on the three-dimensional shape data. The protector 10 may be formed using a three-dimensional modeling technique such as a so-called 3D printer, or may be formed using a technique such as pressing or cutting.

  The protector 10 is preferably made so that the shape of the inner surface 10a of the protector 10 matches the surface shape of the affected area of the patient and the area around the affected area. It is desirable that at least the cut end portion of the protective device is in close contact with the skin so that ultraviolet rays do not enter through the gap. The protective device 10 is preferably formed such that the thickness t between the inner surface 10a and the outer surface 10b is uniform throughout. The thickness t of the protector 10 is, for example, about 0.01 mm to 10 mm, and more specifically about 1 mm to 3 mm. Note that the thickness of the protective device 10 may not be constant as long as sufficient light shielding is possible.

  When making it according to the facial shape of the patient 20, the protector 10 having a shape that covers the eye 24, the forehead 25, the nose 26, the mouth 27, the chin 28, and the like of the patient 20 is formed. The protective device 10 may be formed so as to cover the neck 29 and the like. Further, a breathing hole 10d may be provided near the nose 26 or the mouth 27.

  The protector 10 desirably includes a shape capable of covering the eye 24 of the patient 20 and the periphery thereof, and preferably includes the eye protection unit 14 that covers the eye 24. Ultraviolet rays used for treatment can affect the healthy skin around the affected area, but the effect on the eye is particularly large. By providing the eye protection part 14, the eye 24 of the patient 20 can be suitably protected from the ultraviolet rays used for treatment. If the eye protection unit 14 is formed of the same material that transmits visible light as the protective device 10, the patient 20 can visually recognize the outside scenery through the eye protection unit 14. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the anxiety of the patient 20 that may occur when the surroundings cannot be seen or heard when the protector 10 is worn.

  The protector 10 may further include a fixture for fixing the protector 10 to the head of the patient 20 so that the position of the opening 12 and the position of the affected part 22 do not shift. This fixing tool may be a fixing band or the like inserted through a fixing hole provided in the peripheral portion of the protective device 10. Alternatively, a material having elasticity such as rubber may be used as the material of the protective device 10 so that the protective device 10 is less likely to be displaced by friction when the protective device 10 is attached to the affected area. Instead of using an elastic material as the material of the protective device 10, the protective device 10 may be a material that is not easily deformed, and a rubber-like member that prevents slipping may be provided on a part of the protective device 10.

Next, how to use the protective device 10 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the protective device 10 before the opening 12 is provided. The protective device 10 is molded in a state where the opening 12 is not provided based on the facial shape of the patient 20. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the protector 10 with the mark 16 for providing the opening 12. 3 is attached to the face of the patient 20 as shown in FIG. The doctor places a mark 16 on an area corresponding to the affected part 22 of the patient 20 from above the protective device 10. The mark 16 is attached by a marker such as a water-based pen, for example.

  After removing the protective device 10 from the patient 20, the opening 12 is formed in a region corresponding to the mark 16. Thereby, the protective device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is completed. The opening 12 is formed by, for example, cutting a part of the protective device 10 using a knife or removing a part of the protective device 10 while melting it using a heated soldering iron or the like. Therefore, it is desirable that the protective device 10 be formed of a material that can be additionally processed after a doctor's diagnosis.

  The protective device 10 provided with the opening 12 is attached to the face of the patient 20 as shown in FIG. 2, and ultraviolet rays UV used for treatment are irradiated from above the protective device 10. As a result, the ultraviolet ray UV is irradiated to the affected part 22 through the opening 12, and the other areas around the affected part are protected from the ultraviolet ray irradiation by the protector 10. After the ultraviolet irradiation, the protective device 10 is removed from the face of the affected part 22. The protective device 10 is repeatedly used in the ultraviolet treatment for the affected part 22.

  According to the present embodiment, since UV treatment is performed using the protector 10, it is necessary to uniformly apply a protective cream for UV protection around the affected area before the UV irradiation, and to remove the protective cream after the irradiation. Disappears. Therefore, the time for applying and removing the cream can be saved, and the time required for treatment can be shortened. Moreover, since the protective device 10 once produced can be used repeatedly, the cost concerning a treatment can be reduced compared with the case where a protective cream is used. Thereby, the burden concerning a doctor and a patient's treatment can be reduced.

  Moreover, when the protective cream cannot be applied uniformly, there is a possibility that skin damage may be caused by ultraviolet irradiation. Even when covering with a cloth and shielding the ultraviolet rays, it is difficult to accurately cover the irregular skin symptom part, and a gap is formed between the skin and the cloth, and the light enters. If the cloth slips during irradiation, skin damage such as burns may occur. On the other hand, according to this protective device, since the irradiation site can be accurately specified without being shifted during irradiation, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of skin damage due to ultraviolet irradiation, and to improve the safety of ultraviolet treatment. Can be increased.

  According to the present embodiment, since the protector 10 is transparent to visible light, the position of the mark 16 is determined while accurately observing the position of the affected part 22 from above the protector 10 when attaching the mark 16. be able to. That is, it can be prevented that the position of the mark 16 is shifted from the position of the affected part 22 and an opening is provided at a position corresponding to a normal site or an opening is not provided at a position corresponding to the affected part. Therefore, according to this Embodiment, since the protective device 10 which has the opening part 12 matched correctly with the position of the affected part 22 can be formed, the safety | security and therapeutic effect of ultraviolet treatment can be improved.

  In the above, this invention was demonstrated based on the Example. It is understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes are possible, and various modifications are possible, and such modifications are within the scope of the present invention. It is a place.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the protective device 10 is formed of a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays while transmitting visible light has been described. In the modified example, as long as the material can block ultraviolet rays, the material may not have a property of transmitting visible light, and may be a material that is not transparent to visible light. In this case, the eye protection unit 14 may use a material that partially shields ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light, so that the patient can check the surrounding situation when the protector 10 is worn.

  In above-mentioned embodiment, after shape | molding the protective device 10 without the opening part 12, the usage which provided the mark 16 through a doctor's examination and provided the opening part 12 was shown. In the modified example, when measuring the three-dimensional shape of the patient's face, the position of the affected part, eyes, nose, mouth, ear, etc. is specified, and the protective equipment is formed using the three-dimensional data including the position of the opening. May be. In this case, you may shape | mold the protective equipment 10 with which the opening part 12 is equipped beforehand using three-dimensional data.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically illustrating a protector 10 according to a modification. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the entire circumference of the opening 12 provided at the position corresponding to the affected part 22 is surrounded by the material forming the protective device 10 has been described. As a modified example of the opening 12, a notch 18 formed by removing the member of the protective device 10 from the outer periphery of the protective device 10 to a position corresponding to the affected part 22 may be provided. When such a notch 18 is provided, an opening that penetrates a part of the protective device 10 may not be provided. In addition, when an affected part exists in several positions, you may provide an opening and a notch in several positions of the protective device 10. FIG.

  In above-mentioned embodiment, it showed about the protector 10 for protecting the patient's 20 face. In the modified example, the above-described protective device may be used to protect the periphery of the affected part, such as a patient's arm, back, abdomen, leg, or any part of the body surface. In this case, it is desirable to form and use a protector having a shape corresponding to the affected area to be protected and the shape around the affected area.

  In the above-described embodiment, the protective device capable of selectively irradiating only the affected part with ultraviolet rays by providing the opening at the position of the affected part has been shown. That is, the case where an opening is provided as an “ultraviolet ray transmitting window” provided in a region corresponding to the affected part is shown. In a modified example, a material that transmits ultraviolet rays may be provided as the “ultraviolet transmission window”. In this case, instead of providing the opening, only the region corresponding to the affected part may be made of a material that selectively transmits ultraviolet rays. An example of such a material is a fluorine-based resin. In particular, an amorphous fluororesin can be used as a material transparent to both ultraviolet rays and visible light. By configuring the “ultraviolet ray transmitting window” with a material that transmits ultraviolet rays instead of providing the opening, the strength of the protective device can be increased.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Protective device, 12 ... Opening part, 20 ... Patient, 22 ... Affected part, 24 ... Eye.

Claims (8)

A protective device for protecting the periphery of an affected area where skin treatment is performed by irradiating ultraviolet rays,
A protective device having a curved surface shape along an affected area and a surface around the affected area, and formed of a material for shielding ultraviolet rays used for skin treatment.   The protective device according to claim 1, wherein an ultraviolet transmissive window is provided in a region corresponding to the affected part.   The protective device according to claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet transmissive window is an opening.   The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part is formed of a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light.   It forms with a resin material, The protector as described in any one of Claim 1 to 4 characterized by the above-mentioned.   The protective device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a curved surface shape along at least a part of the patient's face.   The protective device according to claim 6, comprising a shape that covers at least a patient's eye and a peripheral portion thereof.   The protective device according to claim 7, wherein a portion that covers the eyes of a patient is formed of a material that absorbs ultraviolet rays and transmits visible light.

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