WO1990001913A1

WO1990001913A1 - Compress for therapeutic or cosmetic treatment

Info

Publication number: WO1990001913A1
Application number: PCT/CH1989/000156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerd Gerhartl
Original assignee: Flawa Schweizer Verbandstoff- Und Wattefabriken Ag
Priority date: 1988-08-30
Filing date: 1989-08-29
Publication date: 1990-03-08
Also published as: EP0383886A1

Abstract

A compress comprises a sheath (2) with two flexible layers (3, 4) at least one of which is permeable to an activating liquid. The edges (5) of the layers (3, 4) are joined. The sheath (2) contains a material (1) which has a very low volume when dry and which swells appreciably under the action of the activating liquid. In addition, this activatable material is such that the weight of the compress in the application-ready state is virtually equal to the weight of the activating liquid. For treating a region of the body (K), the compress is first conditioned in the activating liquid and then placed on the region of the body. In the dry state, the compress is extremely light and thin. In the conditioned state, the weight of the compress is virtually equal to the weight of the actuating liquid it contains.

Description

Compress for therapeutic or cosmetic treatment

The present invention relates to a compress for the therapeutic or cosmetic treatment of a body region, with an active zone containing an activatable material, the said material having a small volume in the dry state and increasing its volume considerably under the action of an activating liquid , as well as a method of using this compress.

Comoros of this genus are already known and one of them is described in US Pat. No. 2,710,008. This compress contains a fabric covering which is almost flat before the compress is used and which consists of two layers connected to one another at its edges. The outer dimensions of this Komoresse are approximately 25 by 30 cm. The fabric cover is sewn through like a stop. There is about 30 grams of bentonite in each compartment of the fabric cover, which is the result of the stitch-like sewing. It is known that bentonite is a clay that can absorb 5-6 times its weight in water and thereby increase its volume tenfold. This known compress is used in water before it is used immersed, which means that bentonite absorbs water and swells. The water is kept in suspension in bentonite, which prevents it from running off or dripping from the water-swollen hate. The compress is advantageously also heated in the water, so that it can be used as a steam compress. This known compress has several disadvantages.

Bentonite, since it is clay, has a considerable weight. The compress of the specified size is therefore relatively heavy even when dry. If bentonite absorbs 5-6 times its weight in water, then the compress prepared for use is very heavy. If such a compress is attached to a side surface or to a surface of a body area lying underneath, then it may happen that the compress does not lie correctly on such surfaces because of its considerable weight. The insufficient contact with the skin of the body region affects the healing effect which is sought by the use of the compress.

As I said, the compresses are stitch-stitched. This is partly because bentonite, which is normally in the form of a powder, would not remain evenly distributed over the entire surface of the fabric cover if the dry compress is not on a flat or / and horizontally lying surface. The production of the known compress thus requires additional work, namely the above-mentioned stitch-like sewing of the covering.

If bentonite swells in the quadrilaterals formed by the sewing, then intersecting rows of pillows lying next to one another are formed, which in the area of the seams are formed by depressions or. Gutters are separated from each other. The surfaces of the cushions are curved, so that only the crests of these curvatures can rest and act on the area of the body to be treated. This reduces the effective surface area of the known compresses. In addition, air can circulate through the channels mentioned, which inhibits the warming-up of the area of the body to be treated.

There are also cases in which the compress is to be worn on a region of the body for a certain period of time. This is the case, for example, when a body region is to be treated with volatile substances, such as, for example, essential oils or alcohol. Such a treatment cannot be carried out with the previously known heavy compress, because it is practically impossible to apply such a heavy compress to the part of the body concerned over a longer period of time to be worn tightly.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate these and still further disadvantages of the previously known compresses.

This object is achieved according to the invention in the compress of the type mentioned at the outset, as defined in the characterizing part of claim 1.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows :

1 shows, in a vertical cross section, a first embodiment of the present compress, which is still in a state in which it is stored, transported, etc., FIG. 2 likewise shows the compress according to FIG. 1 in a vertical cross section after being treated with a liquid

3 in a vertical cross section a second embodiment of the present compress and

4 shows a top view of a further embodiment of the present compress.

The present compress has an active zone 1 which contains an activatable material. This material shows in dry state, a small volume on and under the action of an active fluid increases its volume considerably, namely at least ten times. This activatable material is also such that the weight of the compress when it is ready for use is practically determined only by the weight of the activating liquid. This means that the weight of the activatable material alone is low, and this weight is or should be so small that it is practically negligible compared to the weight of the activating liquid.

The activatable material can be, for example, carboxymethyl cellulose or a polyacrylate. The activatable material can be in the form of powder, fibers or flakes or a film or paper. A woven or non-woven fabric can be formed from fibers. If the activatable material is in the form of a cohesive structure, which can be the case, for example, in the case of the film or in the case of the fabric or nonwoven, then the active zone 1 comprising this material can be applied directly, i.e. without any covering of the active zone 1, can be used (not shown). The activating liquid can be water or it can at least contain water.

In embodiments of the present invention, which in the are enclosed, a cover 2 is provided for the active zone 1. This cover 2 comprises at least one relatively tear-resistant and at the same time flexible layer which is advantageously made of a woven or non-woven fabric, a perforated plastic film or a material with a foam-like structure.

In the simplest embodiment (not shown), this sleeve has a single layer, the activatable material being attached to at least one side of this layer. In this embodiment of the compress, the tear-resistant layer thus also serves as a carrier for the material of the active zone 1. This carrier layer can, for example, be made of polyethylene foam. It has been known that the polyethylene foam produced by the device in question is sufficiently sterile to be able to use it for such medical purposes. Such a compress can be used in such a way that the active zone 1 of the compress is placed directly on the area of the body concerned. When the tear-resistant layer thereby on the r from Körperbezi ^"sc" he is active zone, then this situation can also serve as the outer shell of the compress.

1, the casing 2 has two layers 3 and 4 which are essentially flat and run practically parallel to one another. The edge portions 5 of these layers 3 and 4 are together connected. The connection of the edges 5 of the casing 2 lying on one another is advantageously carried out by welding, gluing, sewing or by embossing. The depressions 6 in the edge regions 5 of the layers 3 and 4 indicate the action of the corresponding tools on the outside of these layer edges 5. The material of the active zone 1 is located between the sheath layers 3 and 4. This material 1 not only has a low weight but also a small volume. Consequently, the activatable material 1, in the not yet conditioned state, forms a thin layer which covers the parallel course of the layers 3 and. hardly influenced.

If all edges 5 of the casing layers 3 and 4 are firmly connected to one another, then the activatable material of the active zone 1, if it is still dry, can be in a pourable state. At least one of the layers 3 and 4 of the casing 2 must be permeable to the activating liquid.

1 and 2, a symmetrically formed compress is shown. This means that the structure of the sheath layers 3 and 4 is practically the same and that the material of the active zone 1 is located between such layers 3 and 4. In this symmetrical embodiment of the compress, it is essentially the same as to which of the layers 3 and 4 is placed on the body region K to be treated. Layers 3 and 4 can also be foam from the already mentioned Polyäth. Another and also very suitable material for layers 3 and 4 is a nonwoven, in particular a mixed nonwoven, which contains, for example, 70% viscose fibers, 20% polyester fibers, optionally provided with a pigment dye, and 10% acrylic binder.

The compress is applied in such a way that it is first conditioned. This conditioning takes place with the aid of an activating liquid with which the compress is wetted. This wetting can be done by immersing the compress in the activating liquid. The activatable material 1 swells under the action of the activating liquid. This material 1 forms a gel and it absorbs a considerable amount of the activating liquid. Thanks to the swollen material, the volume of the active zone 1 increases several times, as is shown schematically in FIG. 2. Only after the material of the active zone 1 has swollen is the compress placed on the area of the body K to be treated. If required, the compress is attached to the intended body site in a known manner, for example using a gauze bandage. The compress remains on the body site for a period of time provided for the treatment. It may be advisable to carry out the compress asymmetrically. One layer 3 of such a compress is intended to be placed on a body region K, while the other layer 4 or the region of this layer is designed such that it can serve another purpose. The covering layer 3 intended to rest on the body region K to be treated is advantageously made of a nonwoven. The other, rearward and facing away from the body region K layer 4 of the shell 2 can be made of a heat-insulating material, such as a foam and / or a film. The already mentioned polyethylene foam can be used as foam. The film can be a plastic film, a metal film or a metallized plastic film. This film can advantageously be perforated so that it is breathable. The averted layer 4 holds back the heat present in the active zone 1 or reflects this heat back to the body region K, which can result in improved treatment of the body region.

Another possibility for the formation of the asymmetrical compress is shown in FIG. 3. This compress has an additional layer 7 made of a material which is heat-insulating and advantageously also breathable. This additional layer 7 can be made of a foam or from a metallized plastic film and is located between the layer 1 with the activatable material and the back heat. layer 4 of the sheath 2 facing away from the body region to be treated. The additional layer 7 lies largely on the inside of the rear layer 4 of the sheath 2 and extends to the edge regions 5, where it has bent edge parts 8 .

The compress described is suitable for the treatment of a body region, for example by heat or cold. During the heat treatment, the still dry compress can be placed in hot water so that it receives the heat energy required for the heat treatment of a part of the body. In cold treatment, water containing ice cubes is used to swell the activatable material. However, the present compress can also be used to treat a body area with ethereal substances. For example, an essential oil or alcohol can be used as volatile active ingredients. These active ingredients can be mixed with the activatable material and / or the activating liquid, the compress can be sprayed with such active ingredients, etc. It is understood that the present compress can be treated with heat as well as with the active ingredients mentioned fabrics allowed.

The amount of material that can be activated in the active zone 1 is selected so that the cover layers 3 and 4 of the compress in the tioned state of this largest part run practically parallel to one another. Since the sleeves 3 and 4 are flexible and since the conditioned material of the active zone 1 is in the form of gel, the compress can easily adapt to the shape of the area of the body to be treated and lie on it extensively and at the same time comfortably.

In the embodiments of the present compress described so far, the dimensions of approximately 25 cm by 30 cm already mentioned in the introduction have been assumed. However, there may be cases for which such a compress is too large. For such cases, the compress can be designed as shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows this further embodiment of the compress in a top view, only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 4. Similar to the compress according to FIGS. 2 and 3, this compress has a cover 2 with two layers, of which only the upper cover layer 4 can be seen in FIG. 4. The edges 5 of the sleeve layers are connected to one another in the manner already described. Crosspieces 8 and 9 extend between mutually opposite edges 5 of the cover 2. These crosspieces 8 and 9 are formed by connecting the opposite parts of the cover layers 3 and 4 in the areas of the compress lying between the edges 5 of the cover . This connection can be achieved, for example, by welding together. In a simple design of this compress, there is only one set, advantageously webs 8 or 9 running parallel to one another (not shown). In Fig. 4 two sets of the webs 8 and 9 are shown which cross. The spaces zwi¬ rule those portions of the casing sheets 3 and 4, which are bounded by the webs 8 and 9, respectively, are filled with the activatable material ^', so that pads are available from the active trollable material 1 represented by the webs 8 or 9 are separated from each other. The webs 8 and 9 are so wide that a cut, for example with scissors, can be made through the respective web 8 or 9 without getting into the space containing the activatable material 1. In this way, sections of a size that best correspond to the respective application can be separated from a large compress.

The present compress is also suitable to be placed on poorly healing and oozing wounds. In such cases the liquid wound excretions represent the activating liquid which causes the material 1 to form gel. In the area surrounding the wound, a climate then forms between the dressing and the skin, which promotes healing of the wound. The material 1 can also be activated by therapeutically active liquids, such as, for example through a physiological saline solution. Such liquids can be applied to the compress before it is placed on the wound and / or only afterwards. You can spray the back of the compress with a therapeutically active liquid, for example.

The activatable material 1 can contain, for example, 80% carboxymethyl cellulose, 12% groundwood and 8% water (water of water or crystal water). In other applications it can be advantageous if the activatable material contains 60% polyacrylic soda, 20% carboxymethyl cellulose, 12% wood pulp and 8% water.

The capacity of the activatable material having the last specified composition at 20 degrees Celsius is as follows:

Tap water 25g per 1g of material after 5 min;

- ^» - 30g each 1g -" - 20 min;

0.8 salt solution 12g each 1g - "- 5 min;

1.5 - "- 9g each 1g -" - 5 min.

As long as the water content in the gel-forming material 1 is below 26%, the gel is dimensionally stable. If the water content exceeds this limit, the activatable material becomes viscous. These two states of the activatable material can be used in the present compress to achieve the desired effects thereof.

If the compress is intended for cold use, the activatable material can contain comfrey powder (sy phytum officinalis radix). This active ingredient reacts with water or tea and the active ingredient is released to the body site to be treated continuously and over a longer period of time.

If the compress is intended for hot use, the activatable material can contain a mixture consisting of arnica powder and salvia oil (arnica montana fluid., Salvia officinalis oleum). Such an activatable material 1 quilts in hot water or tea and the active ingredient is continuously released and applied over a longer period of time when the compress is applied to the body part to be treated.

The compress does not necessarily have to be flat. It can have simple curvatures or it can even have a special spatial configuration so that it can be used, for example, as a face mask.

The present compress can be used with advantage in the following cases: uetschungen case of symptoms of rheumatoid een form circle, inflammation, bruises, ^Q, bruising, swelling, called Zerrun¬, sprains, dislocations, muscle soreness, Muskelverspan¬ calculations, muscle cramps, migraine, headache, toothache, pain Hals¬, back pain, lumbago, stomach and intestinal complaints, biliary and liver pain, menstrual cramps, insect bites, itching, burns, nasal cavity complaints and to lower fever (calf crunch).

In the cosmetic field, the compress can be used as a face mask, peeling compress or for depilation of the body.

Under certain circumstances, all features of the present compress can be considered essential to the invention.

Claims

1. Compress for the therapeutic or cosmetic treatment of a body region, with an active zone containing an activatable material, the said material having a small volume in the dry state and increasing its volume considerably under the action of an activating liquid, thereby characterized that the activatable material (1) is also such that the weight of the compress when it is ready for use is practically given only by the weight of the activating liquid.

2. Compress according to claim 1, characterized in that the activatable material Carboxymeth Lee l lulose or also contains a polyacrylate and that this material can be in powder, fiber, film, paper or flake form.

3. Compress according to claim 1, characterized in that an active ingredient is provided which is effective during the application of the compress on a body region (K), which active ingredient can be, for example, an essential oil or alcohol.

4. Compress according to claim 3, characterized in that the activatable material ⁽ 1) and / or the activating liquid contain the active ingredient.

5. Compress according to claim 1, characterized in that the activatable material ⁽ 1) is in a shell (2) which is designed such that it is permeable to the activating liquid.

6. Compress according to claim 5, characterized in that the cover (2) has at least one layer (3 or 4) which is practically flat before the wetting of the activatable material (1) and that this layer as a fabric, fleece, perforated plastic film or a foam layer can be executed.

7. Compress according to claim 5, characterized in that the sheath (2) has at least two layers (3, 4) which are essentially flat before the activatable material is wetted, that these layers run practically parallel to one another, that between these layers there is the activatable material (1) and that the edges (5) of said layers (3, 4) are connected to one another, advantageously by welding, gluing, sewing or by embossing.

8. Compress according to claim 7, in which one of the layers is intended for application to a body region, characterized in that net that the other layer (4) of the sheath (2) is made of a heat-insulating material, such as a foam or a metalized and advantageously perforated plastic film.

9. Compress according to claim 7, in which one of the layers is intended for application to a body region, characterized in that between the layer (1) with the activatable material and the other layer (4) of the cover ( 2) there is a layer (7) made of a material which is thermally insulating and advantageously also breathable, this additional layer (7) being made of a foam or a metallized plastic film.

10. Compress according to claim 1, characterized in that the activating liquid is water or at least ent ent water.

11. Compress according to claim 1, characterized in that the activatable material (1) is in sheet form.

12. The method of using the compress according to claim 1, characterized in that the compress is wetted with an activating liquid and that the compress is held on this area of the body (K) for a period of time which is necessary for the treatment of the body _s is provided.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the compress, only after the material of the active zone (1) is swollen, is placed on the body region (K) to be treated or that the gel-forming material (1) of the compress is applied by a body's fluid is activated.

14, The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the compress for the treatment of a body region s (K) by poor ozw. Cold or / and volatile substances are used.