KR20080012433A - Callus removal apparatus and method by cavitation - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus and method of removing a hardened skin using cavitation is provided to remove the hardened skin by generating bubbles in cracked portions of a foot and then irradiating supersonic waves onto the cracks to induce cavitation. A dissolved gas contained in a liquid stored in a container is removed, and then an object disposed in the liquid is irradiated with supersonic waves to induce cavitation on the object. The dissolved gas contained in the liquid is reduced by raising a temperature of the liquid. A target temperature of the liquid is in the range of 36 deg.C to 40 deg.C. The object is pre-treated by increasing a surface area contacting between the object and the liquid.

Description

Callus removal apparatus and method by cavitation

1 is a flowchart illustrating a callus removal method using cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2A to 2D are diagrams showing in detail how the micro-streaming phenomenon accompanying the cavitation phenomenon removes callus.

FIG. 3 is a view showing in detail how asymmetric bubble collapse, which is another phenomenon accompanying cavitation, removes callus.

Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a callus removal device using cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 shows the appearance of the cavitation phenomenon by the ultrasonic wave is projected on the object (foot) in the callus removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: ultrasonic generator 120: dissolved gas control unit

130: temperature control unit 140: sensor unit 145: ultrasonic sensor

150: central control unit 160: power amplifier

170: transducer

The present invention relates to a callus removal method, and more particularly, to a callus removal method using cavitation.

Callus is dead cells that are located in the outermost layers of the skin. It's called dead cells, but it does what you need to protect your skin from external irritation and prevent evaporation of moisture. However, if too much dead skin is accumulated and hardens, it becomes callus. The callus part has little moisture and the color looks dark due to the dry, layered dead skin. The reason why the keratin thickens or calluses is due to pathological reasons and external physical pressure.

Pathological reasons include atopic dermatitis, a senile known as snake skin, and athlete's foot thickening. In this case, the cure causes the dead skin problem. External pressure develops on the elbows, knees, ankles, toes, and heel. Elbows often occur when the arm is frequently put on a desk or work table. Knees are rubbed on the floor by mopping. In addition, the astragalus is caused by sitting postures, such as sitting on both sides of the leg and twisting for a long time, and the toes and heels are caused by tight shoes. If you have calluses on your double ankle and feet, there is one more thing to look for. If sitting is a problem, callus of the foot is a problem, but it can also stress the spine or legs.

If your shoes are calluses, no matter how good your foot care is, they won't go away unless you change your shoes. Since shoes affect both the beauty and health of your feet, choosing the right shoes for your feet is important. In particular, women often have to wear high heels, which causes weight to be concentrated on the toes, causing calluses on the toes, especially the thumb and little toe. In severe cases, the heel is cracked, bleeding, and bacterial infection is well left, so it is difficult to leave.

Conventional callus removal methods include a method of using a solvent, a method of using a polishing machine, or a laser surgery method using a laser. However, these methods have problems in terms of risk and cost. That is, problems such as wounds that occur when other parts other than callus are removed, and cost problems when continuous treatment is desired in the case of laser surgery.

A first object of the present invention for solving the above problems is to provide a method for removing calluses using a cavitation phenomenon.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide a callus removal device using a cavitation phenomenon.

A method of removing callus according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object is to reduce the dissolved gas in the liquid contained in the container and to cause the cavitation phenomenon by projecting ultrasonic waves to the object located in the liquid. Include. Dissolved gas in the liquid contained in the vessel can be reduced by raising the temperature of the liquid. The target temperature value of the liquid may be 36 degrees to 40 degrees.

The callus removal method may further include pretreating the object. Pretreatment of the object may increase the surface area of the object in contact with the liquid. The ultrasonic waves projected onto the preprocessed object may be continuous ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves projected onto the preprocessed object may be pulse ultrasonic waves.

The liquid may be water. The liquid may be water containing additives.

An apparatus for removing callus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an ultrasonic wave generator for generating ultrasonic waves causing a cavitation phenomenon to an object contained in a liquid in a container, a dissolved gas controller for controlling an amount of dissolved gas in the liquid, and the liquid. A central control unit for controlling the temperature of the control unit, a sensor unit for sensing the temperature of the dissolved gas and the liquid in the liquid and the central control unit for controlling the ultrasonic generator, the dissolved gas control unit and the temperature control unit based on the sensing result It includes. The ultrasonic generator includes a power amplifier for amplifying the ultrasonic wave generation signal provided from the central controller and a transducer for generating the ultrasonic wave in response to an output signal of the power amplifier. The ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer may be continuous ultrasonic waves. The ultrasonic waves generated by the transducer may be pulse ultrasonic waves. The dissolved gas control unit may be configured as a circulation pump. The dissolved gas control unit may be configured as a degassing pump. The outlet of the degassing pump can be divided into two.

The sensor unit may include an ultrasonic sensor for sensing the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic generator and the reflected ultrasonic waves.

With respect to the embodiments of the present invention disclosed in the text, specific structural to functional descriptions are merely illustrated for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present invention, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in various forms and It should not be construed as limited to the embodiments described in.

As the inventive concept allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the text. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to the specific disclosed form, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "having" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof that is described, and that one or more other features or numbers are present. It should be understood that it does not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

On the other hand, when an embodiment is otherwise implemented, a function or operation specified in a specific block may occur out of the order specified in the flowchart. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be performed substantially simultaneously, and the blocks may be performed upside down depending on the function or operation involved.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for the same elements in the drawings, and duplicate descriptions of the same elements are omitted.

Before giving a detailed description of the present invention, the cavitation will be described.

Cavitation is a generic term for the action of bubbles in a fluid. When ultrasonic waves enter a bubble existing in a solution, various interesting phenomena such as oscillation and collapsing occur in the bubble.

When cavitation occurs, the local energy density increases rapidly, resulting in various physical phenomena. These phenomena include asymmetric bubble collapsing and microstreaming. These phenomena are caused by the release of high energy in very limited areas in an instant. For example, in asymmetric bubble collapse, jet streaming is instantaneously formed.

These phenomena can occur even when the public swims. That is, bubbles are naturally formed on the skin's epidermis during swimming and burst by the movement of the body. This is because people do not feel this phenomenon because it is very local and the frequency of the phenomenon is small. In general, 50 ° C water is the only way to get a whole body burn, but in more than 100 ° C dry sauna for a while there is no problem at all, which is similar to the principle of the difference in the frequency of irritation in the skin due to the difference in density.

The above-mentioned cavitation can also be used to remove the epidermis of a specific area. The main principle is the asymmetric bubble collapse and the microstreaming caused by the bubble oscillation. This is also referred to as histotripsy compared to lithotripsy (lithotripsy).

1 is a flowchart illustrating a callus removal method using cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the method for removing calluses using cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention is to reduce the dissolved gas in the liquid contained in the container (S10), pre-processing the object located in the liquid (S20) And projecting ultrasonic waves to the pretreated object located in the liquid (S30). In some embodiments, the liquid may be water or water containing additives (salts).

Some prerequisites are needed to guide and control cavitation using ultrasound.

First, the amount of air dissolved in the water used should be reduced (S10). This is because air is a factor in mitigating the impact of cavitation. This requires a process to reduce the amount of air using a circulation pump. The amount of air dissolved in water can also be reduced by raising the temperature of the liquid. The target value of the temperature of the liquid is suitably 36 to 40 degrees similar to the body temperature.

Second, in order for cavitation to occur easily, bubbles must be present at the desired location, which occurs naturally when the callus is severe. When the calluses get worse, the skin cracks, and when the skin (especially the feet) is submerged in water, air is trapped in the cracks, forming bubbles naturally. If this is not the case, by using a sharply protruding roller, etc., it is possible to artificially make a part where air can be trapped in the callus before putting the skin into the water (S20).

After the ultrasound is projected to continuously cause cavitation, callus is removed (S30).

2A to 2D are diagrams showing in detail how the micro-streaming phenomenon accompanying the cavitation phenomenon removes callus.

2A to 2D, when bubbles bubble to the wall and oscillate, a very strong shear stress (hundreds of N / m2) is applied within a very small area (hundreds of μm near the wall and bubble) to generate micro streaming phenomenon. cause. This can remove callus as if the hard-flowing ravine carved out the stone. Unlike cascades, this phenomenon occurs locally, as described above, and can be removed to callus by adjusting it repeatedly. Important parameters at this time include the frequency of sound waves, the intensity and pressure of the sound waves, the size of bubbles, and the amount of dissolved gas dissolved in water.

FIG. 3 is a view showing in detail how asymmetric bubble collapse, which is another phenomenon accompanying cavitation, removes callus.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a strong ultrasonic wave is projected while the bubble is attached to the wall, the bubble collapses asymmetrically, which is called asymmetric bubble collapse. At this time, if a strong force is applied to the bubble is crushed in the shape as shown in Figure 3, the jet streaming is formed inward. The speed of this jet streaming is determined by the given sound waves, bubble size, and the surrounding environment. The highest speed measured so far is 156 m / s, which is very high. Such jet streaming allows etching to metal. However, this jet streaming phenomenon is also very localized, and in order to remove callus, it must be controlled repeatedly.

The ultrasound projected onto the pretreated object (foot or hand) may be continuous ultrasound or pulsed ultrasound.

Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram showing a callus removal device using cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 4, the callus removal device using the cavitation according to an embodiment of the present invention is an ultrasonic wave generation unit 110, dissolved gas control unit 120, temperature control unit 130, sensor unit 140 and The central control unit 150 is included. The ultrasonic wave generator 110 includes a power amplifier 160 and a transducer 170.

The ultrasonic generator 110 generates ultrasonic waves projected onto an object (foot or hand, etc.) contained in the liquid in the container. The power amplifier 160 amplifies and provides the ultrasound generated signal provided from the central control unit 150 to the transducer 170. The transducer 170 projects continuous ultrasound waves or pulsed ultrasound waves on the hands or feet according to the output signal of the power amplifier 160. Ultrasound is projected onto the object in order to generate strong cavitation and to maintain it repeatedly. In general, when cavitation occurs, bubble groups are formed again around the cavitation, so that the cavitation can be repeatedly maintained by continuously emitting ultrasonic waves. If necessary, the projected ultrasound removes calluses on the hands or feet by the aforementioned microstreaming phenomenon or asymmetric bubble collapse.

The dissolved gas controller 120 adjusts the dissolved gas in the liquid according to the dissolved gas control signal provided from the central controller 150. Since there is a limit to raising the temperature of the liquid, it is necessary to reduce the dissolved gas in the liquid. Dissolved gas control unit 120 may be configured as a circulation pump or degassing pump. A degassing pump is a device similar to a normal circulation pump, but with a very small inlet at the filter part, allowing a very large pressure at that point to achieve a gradient. Thus, the dissolved gas is formed into very large bubbles, and when returned to water, it rises to the surface of the surface by buoyancy and is released into the air. If it is necessary to add more bubbles to the targeted epidermis, the bubble can be recharged by sending the degassing pump output around the targeted epidermis while the ultrasound pauses. In this case, the outlet of the degassing pump can be divided into two and discharged to a position which normally does not interfere with the ultrasonic waves, and if necessary, only the outlet of the desired side can be opened to refill the bubbles.

The temperature controller 130 maintains the temperature of the liquid at 36 degrees to 40 degrees to be similar to the human body temperature according to the temperature control signal provided from the central controller 150.

The sensor unit 140 senses the temperature of the dissolved gas and the liquid in the liquid and transmits the result to the central controller 150. The sensor unit 140 may include an ultrasonic sensor 145. The ultrasonic sensor 145 detects the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic generator 110 and the reflected ultrasonic waves, and monitors the cavitation to provide information on the intensity of the cavitation phenomenon. To the central control unit.

The central control apparatus controls the ultrasonic wave generator 110, the dissolved gas controller 120, the temperature controller 130, and the ultrasonic wave generator 110 based on the sensing result. The sensing result includes information about the strength of the dissolved gas amount cavitation in the liquid temperature liquid. The central controller again controls the temperature controller 130, the dissolved gas controller 120, and the ultrasonic wave generator 110 based on this information.

Figure 5 shows the appearance of the cavitation phenomenon by the ultrasonic wave is projected on the object (foot) in the callus removal device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The callus removal device of FIG. 5 can also be used as a substitute for the foot bath.

Referring to FIG. 5, when an object (foot) enters the callus removing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, bubbles are generated in the cracks of the feet, and when ultrasonic waves are projected thereto, cavitation occurs to remove the callus. It is obvious that these calluses will of course be removed better by repeating them several times.

As described above, the callus removal method and apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention may remove the callus by using a cavitation phenomenon by projecting an ultrasonic wave.

Although described with reference to the embodiments above, those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be variously modified and changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Could be.

Claims (19)

Reducing the dissolved gas in the liquid contained in the vessel; And And causing cavitation by projecting ultrasonic waves onto the object located in the liquid. The method of claim 1, wherein the dissolved gas in the liquid contained in the container is reduced by raising the temperature of the liquid. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the target temperature value of the liquid is 36 degrees to 40 degrees. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of pretreating the object. The method of claim 4, wherein the pretreatment of the object increases the surface area of the object in contact with the liquid. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the ultrasonic waves projected onto the pretreated object are continuous ultrasonic waves. 5. The callus removal method according to claim 4, wherein the ultrasonic waves projected onto the pretreated object are pulse ultrasonic waves. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid is water containing an additive. An ultrasonic wave generator for generating ultrasonic waves that cause cavitation to the object contained in the liquid in the container; Dissolved gas adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid; A temperature controller for controlling the temperature of the liquid; A sensor unit for sensing the amount of dissolved gas in the liquid and the temperature of the liquid; And And a central controller configured to control the ultrasonic wave generator, the dissolved gas controller, and the temperature controller based on the sensing result. The method of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic wave generator, A power amplifier for amplifying the ultrasonic signal generated from the central control unit; And And a transducer for generating the ultrasonic wave in response to the output signal of the power amplifier. 12. The callus removal device of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic waves produced by the transducer are continuous ultrasonic waves. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ultrasonic wave generated by the transducer is pulse ultrasonic wave. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the dissolved gas control unit comprises a circulation pump. 11. The callus removal device of claim 10, wherein the dissolved gas control unit comprises a degassing pump. 16. The callus removal device of claim 15, wherein the outlet of the degassing pump is divided into two. 11. The callus removal device of claim 10, wherein said liquid is water. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the liquid further comprises an additive in the water. The callus removing apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor unit comprises an ultrasonic sensor configured to sense ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic wave generator and reflected ultrasonic waves.

Images