Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45D—HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
  • A45D26/00—Hair-singeing apparatus; Apparatus for removing superfluous hair, e.g. tweezers
  • A45D26/0061—Hair-singeing apparatus; Apparatus for removing superfluous hair, e.g. tweezers with means for reducing pain during hair removal
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H9/00—Pneumatic or hydraulic massage
  • A61H9/005—Pneumatic massage
  • A61H9/0071—Pneumatic massage by localized pressure, e.g. air streams or jets

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device, intended to produce an analgesic effect as well as to a use of this device.
• Vibratory stimulation by the application of transcutaneous mechanical vibrations has been the subject of theoretical and applied medical studies for over 10 years, in particular by a team of researchers from the universities of Aix-Marseille I and II, who 'subject of several articles by M.-F. Tardy- Gervet et al. in different medical journals. According to this work, it appears that a majority proportion of people with chronic pain see this pain disappear, or at least their intensity decrease, in often significant proportions, following the application of transcutaneous mechanical vibrations.
• devices intended for body care such as devices for depilating human skin tissue
• devices of the mobile roller type in rotation around a shaft located on the longitudinal axis of the roller driven in rotation by a motor and comprising grippers formed by parallel blades side by side, movable and interposed in blades or fixed disks
• control means serving to move alternately the blades movable in translation in the longitudinal direction of the shaft, so as to clamp them against the blades or fixed discs to pinch the hairs to be pulled out then to move away from these blades or fixed discs, which makes it possible to pinch the hairs in the area of these blades adjacent to the skin, and then pluck them when this pinch area moves away from the skin following rotation of the roller.
• EP 0 467 733 thus describes an epilator of the aforementioned type comprising rotary brushes, the bristles of which may protrude slightly beyond the peripheral edge of the epilation discs. When rotating, these brushes repeatedly strike the skin, making it possible to observe a certain analgesic side effect although of limited scope.
• EP 0 493 849 relates to an epilator comprising a vibrating grid intended to exert on the skin forces of variable intensities, so as to reduce the pain of depilation.
• EP 0 671 136 has also proposed an epilator comprising a series of small brushes and a series of pins directly adjacent to one of the sides of the pinching blades, which in particular have a massage effect reducing the pain due to hair removal.
• DE 195 21 585 has proposed a depilator with rotary pliers comprising a series of radially movable weights, intended to apply mechanical pulses to the epidermis.
• WO 97/00032 describes an epilator comprising a device mounted outside the epilator housing and which therefore does not rotate with the pliers roller and comprising spikes movable alternately in longitudinal direction to effect a rapid repeating strike. the skin to reduce the pain of hair removal.
• WO 97/19613 relates to an epilator comprising a series of striking pins made of relatively hard elastomeric material, assembled in the form of a comb or a hand and mounted vibrating on the housing.
• Vibrating elements such as pads, rollers or pins cause friction on the skin which can, in some cases, produce irritation.
• the vibrating elements mask the mechanical devices which provide the hair removal, which is inconvenient for the user.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy, at least in part, the drawbacks of the above-mentioned solutions.
• the present invention firstly relates to a transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device, intended to produce an analgesic effect, comprising a source of gas drawn under pressure, at least one distribution nozzle, said jet drawn from said gas under pressure being directed against a skin surface through said dispensing nozzle at a frequency greater than 50 Hz.
• the jet of pressurized gas is directed against the skin surface to be treated through the dispensing nozzle at a frequency greater than 50 Hz.
• analgesic effect is a function of the frequency of the vibratory stimulation.
• the device according to the invention comprises a source of gas drawn under pressure consisting of a source of gas under pressure and means for establishing a periodic connection between this source of gas and the dispensing nozzle.
• the device according to the invention has a plurality of aligned distribution nozzles, thus making it possible to form a curtain made up of adjacent pulsed air jets.
• a curtain made up of adjacent pulsed air jets.
• the device according to the invention comprises means making it possible to maintain the dispensing nozzles at a predetermined or even adjustable distance from the skin surface.
• These means may include rollers or rollers mounted on adjustable articulated arms, which can roll on the skin surface.
• the device according to the invention comprises two concentric tubular elements fitted axially one inside the other, the external tubular element being rotatably mounted around the fixed internal tubular element, the latter being connected by one end to said source of pressurized gas while its wall is traversed by a series of distribution nozzles distributed longitudinally in a part of this internal tubular element intended to come opposite the skin area to be treated, the external tubular element having at least one lumen which, in at least one of the angular positions of this external tubular element coincides with the distribution nozzles of the internal tubular element, drive means being engaged with this external tubular element to rotate it around the internal tubular element, at an angular speed chosen for opening r and close said dispensing nozzles at the desired frequency.
• This embodiment by nested tubes is relatively simple and economical to produce to produce a curtain of several air jets. He is in Besides easy to choose the frequency of the pulsed air jet (s), as well as the duration of the pulse. Indeed, the frequency can be chosen by the speed of rotation of the outer tube and by the number of lights distributed angularly on the wall of this tube. The pulse duration can be chosen by the angular dimension of the light (s) as well as by the speed of rotation of the external tube.
• the stimulation device comprises a pulsed air generator.
• This embodiment has the advantage of a simpler and more compact construction, the various elements of the pulsed air generator being able, but not necessarily, to be integrated in the same housing.
• This variant also has the advantage of easy handling of such a device.
• the stimulation device comprises a generator of pressurized air jet comprising a cylinder whose end wall is crossed by at least one nozzle for dispensing said jet and an air intake orifice whose opening and closing are controlled by a valve, a piston being slidably mounted between two limit positions inside this cylinder, this piston being kinematically integral with a drive member to pass it from one to the other of its limit positions and vice versa at a frequency and at a speed chosen as a function of the pulse frequency of said air jet capable of producing the desired analgesic effect.
• the essential advantage of this device lies in its simplicity and the small number of parts that compose it, making its manufacture and assembly easy, leading to an inexpensive device to produce.
• Another advantage of this device is its low volume and reliability, requiring no maintenance.
• the piston is connected to a rotary drive member by a connecting rod-crankshaft system.
• the part of the piston located within the cylinder is slightly conical oriented towards the crankshaft and the piston forms with the connecting rod a one-piece assembly.
• This simplified construction method makes it possible to reduce construction costs.
• pistons are kinematically integral with a crankshaft, each of these pistons with the cylinder in which it is slidably mounted constituting a generator of forced air.
• the nozzle and the valve form a single insert of an elastic polymer material.
• This characteristic makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and to simplify manufacturing.
• the part forming the nozzle and the valve preferably comprises a frustoconical part, coaxial with this nozzle, the large base of which is adjacent to a cylindrical portion, also coaxial with this nozzle, but of smaller diameter than that of this large base, the opposite end of this cylindrical portion being adjacent to said valve eccentric with respect to said nozzle, the axial length of this cylindrical portion corresponding to the thickness of the end wall of said cylinder traversed by said nozzle, this wall being crossed by an opening whose diameter corresponds substantially to that of said cylindrical portion.
• the transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device comprises a pump body, one end wall of which is crossed by at least one delivery valve in connection with a nozzle for distributing said jet and an air suction valve, the opening and closing are controlled by a core mounted sliding between two limit positions in a bore inside the pump body, the seal between the core and the bore being ensured by a deformable membrane, this core being kinematically integral with a member drive to move it from one of its limit positions to the other and vice versa at a frequency and at a speed chosen according to the pulse frequency of said air jet capable of producing the analgesic effect longed for.
• This variant has the advantage of remarkable simplicity and compactness, which allows its manufacture at a lower cost.
• said core is kinematically connected to a rotary drive member by an eccentric.
• the transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device is used in combination with a transcutaneous electrical stimulation device.
• This embodiment produces an analgesic effect much greater than that of the use of a vibratory stimulation device only with pulsed air or of a stimulation device only electric, as mentioned in the studies referenced above.
• the electrical stimulation device comprises at least one electrode in contact with or directed towards the area of skin to be treated.
• the present invention also relates to the use of this device with a device for removing hair from the human body, with an electric razor, or with a device for massage and / or skin suction.
• this device also has the advantage of not impeding the visibility of the user of the skin area treated by the epilator, the electric razor or the massage device. since the dispensing nozzle or nozzles intended to distribute the jet of pulsed air generating the skin stimulation can be located at a certain distance from the skin area to be treated, which makes it possible to arrange them outside the field of vision of the person using the device.
• the device according to the invention for example when it is used independently of any other device, for the sole treatment of pain, it may be advantageous to have several pairs of tubular elements fitted one into the other, arranged side by side.
• the device according to the invention will be used with a depilatory device comprising a roller movable in rotation around a shaft situated on the longitudinal axis of the roller driven in rotation by a motor and comprising at least one row of pliers, formed of a first series of parallel blades side by side, mobile and interposed in a second series of discs or fixed blades, as well as control means for alternately moving the mobile blades in contact with the fixed blades, so as to tighten them against the blades or fixed discs to pinch the hairs to be pulled out and then move away from these blades or fixed discs.
• the means for periodically connecting the source of gas with the skin surface to be treated through the dispensing nozzle are kinematically integral with the drive motor of the roller of the hair removal device.
• the drive motor of said roller also serves as a drive member for said piston or pistons of the vibratory stimulation device.
• the drive motor for the epilating roller also serves as a drive member for the sliding core in the bore of the pump body.
• FIG. 1 is a side view with partial section of a depilatory device comprising a device according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line II-II in FIG. 1, in which only the embodiment of the transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device is shown,
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to the previous one, along the line III - III in FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 is a side view with partial section of a depilatory device comprising a device according to a first variant of the second embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line IV-IV of FIG. 4,
• FIG. 6 is a partial enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 5,
• FIG. 7 is a side view with partial section of a depilatory device comprising a device according to a second variant of the second embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VV in FIG. 7.
• FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for depilating human skin tissue to which a transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device has been associated.
• the hair removal device to which this device has been added corresponds to that described in FR 97 00224, the content of which forms part of this description by virtue of this quotation and to which reference may be made for more detail.
• this epilator is only an example of use of the device according to the invention, but that the latter is not limited to this epilator or even to epilators in general since it is apparent for those skilled in the art can use this same device with other devices intended for personal care such as electric razors or massage and / or suction devices, such as those used for the treatment of cellulite, by example.
• the present invention is not limited to the use of this device in combination with an apparatus intended for personal care of the aforementioned type, but on the contrary also extends to the use of this device alone for the treatment of pain, in particular of chronic pain due to rheumatism, osteoarthritis, tendinitis, muscle pain or the like, the applications of the analgesic effect due to the application of transcutaneous vibratory stimulation being given for example in Rev. Neurol. (Paris), 1993, 149, 3, 177-185 (M.-F. Tardy-Gervet et al), as well as in Can. J. Neurol. Sci. 1991; 18: 113-119 (Reuxs Guieu et al) or also in Kinesitherapy Scientific N ° 333 April 1994 (M.-F. Tardy-Gervet et al).
• FIG. 1 is illustrated in particular a depilation head comprising a rotary drum 1 provided with a central shaft 2 movable in rotation in a cradle 3 and a cage mounted coaxially on the tree which it surrounds, this cage being formed by two lateral flanges 4, 5 holding between them four rods 6.
• the left flange 4 is integral with a pinion 7 engaged with a train reduction gear 8 driven by a pinion 9 secured to the output shaft of a drive motor 10.
• each pair of alternating blades 11, 12 forming a tweezer comprises a movable blade 11 capable of deviating from a fixed blade 12, alternately to apply against it.
• the actuation of the movable blade 11 to cause the opening and closing of these clamps will not be described here, the reader being able, if desired, to refer to the document FR 97 00224 mentioned above.
• This briefly described hair removal device is associated with a transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device, intended to produce an analgesic effect in order to reduce the pain caused by hair removal.
• this transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device comprises two tubular elements 13, 14 fitted axially one inside the other.
• the internal tubular element 13 is held in two branches 15a, 15b of a support stirrup 15 secured to the frame B carrying the depilation mechanism, its longitudinal axis being parallel and extending laterally to that of the central shaft 2 of the rotary drum 1.
• the external tubular element 14 is rotatably mounted around the internal tubular element 13 and is integral with a pinion 16 engaged with a gear 17 meshing with the pinion 7 of the rotary drum 1.
• One end of the internal tubular element 13 is closed, while the other is connected to a source of pressurized air S by a supply duct 18.
• the nozzles of this internal tubular element 13 are crossed by distributions 19 which are, in this example, aligned along the same generatrix of this internal tubular element 13, located opposite the skin surface to be treated.
• the dispensing nozzles are formed by a cylindrical bore.
• the external tubular element 14 has at least one lumen 20, which can be constituted by a longitudinal slot whose width is chosen, depending on the speed of rotation of the external tubular element 14 and the desired duration of opening of the dispensing nozzles 19.
• the position of the tubes 13, 14 relative to the drum 1 is chosen so as not to interfere with the visibility of the area to be depilated.
• the depilatory appliance is a hand appliance
• the source of pressurized air S is not located on the appliance itself, so as not to increase its weight and its volume, but to a certain distance.
• the supply conduit 18 connecting this source S to the internal tubular element 13 can be combined with the electrical supply wire so as to form a mixed supply cord of electricity and air.
• dispensing nozzles 19 it is conceivable to give a certain inclination to the dispensing nozzles 19, for example, by turning the internal tube 13 in the support bracket 15 so as to direct the air jets drawn from the depilation zone.
• dispensing nozzles 19 whose inclinations relative to the axis of the internal tubular element 13 are not the same, to cover a wider skin area.
• the arms 15a, 15b are adjustable in height along slides, now keeping the gear 17 engaged with the pinion 7.
• transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device described here can be used independently of any other device for body care, for the treatment of chronic pain in particular. It can also be combined with another device used for body care, as already mentioned above.
• FIG. 4 A first variant of the second embodiment of the device is shown in Figure 4.
• the transcutaneous vibrational stimulation device according to the invention is therefore mounted on a housing B of an epilator of which only the epilation head comprising a rotary epilation drum 1 provided with two series of alternate cruciform blades 11, 12 is shown, to allow the respective positions of the active organs of the epilator and of the transcutaneous vibratory stimulation device to be located.
• This device comprises a drive motor 10, the output shaft of which is formed by a crankshaft 21 comprising, in this example, two eccentric cylindrical parts 21a, 21b, on each of which one end of a connecting rod 22,23 is mounted pivoting around the axes of the cylinders 21a, 21b.
• a connecting rod 22,23 In the other ends of these connecting rods 22, 23 are embedded the respective rear ends of two pistons 24,25, the front ends of which are engaged in two respective bores 26,27.
• the piston bodies are slightly conical so as to allow them a slight pivoting during their translation within their bores allowing the connecting rods to follow the circular movement of the eccentric parts of the crankshaft.
• each bore 26, 27 is crossed by two openings 28 and 29.
• the openings 28 are inlet openings, while the openings 29 are coaxial with distribution nozzles 19.
• These distribution nozzles 19 are not formed directly in the bottom of the bores 26, 27, but in two inserts 30, one of which is illustrated separately on a larger scale in FIG. 6.
• This insert 30 is injected or molded from a silicone elastomer or EPDM. It comprises a frustoconical segment 30a coaxial with the nozzle 19, followed by a cylindrical segment 30b, also coaxial with the nozzle 19. The diameter of this cylindrical segment 30b is substantially equal to the diameter of the openings 29, while the axial length of this cylindrical segment 30b corresponds to the thickness of the bottom of the bores 26,27. A flexible tongue 30c follows the cylindrical segment 30b. This flexible tab 30c is of circular shape, its diameter corresponding to that of the bores 26.27.
• the engine 10 By rotating the crankshaft 21, the engine 10 causes the displacement of the two pistons 24,25 according to an alternating movement in their respective bores 26,27. Since the positions of the two cylindrical parts 21a, 21b of the crankshaft 21 are offset by 180 ° from each other around the axis of rotation of the crankshaft 21, the pistons 24,25 move in phase opposition. When a piston 24,25 moves away from the flexible tongue 30c adjacent to the bottom of a bore 26,27, it creates a depression inside the corresponding bore. Since the diameter of the nozzle 19 does not allow a sufficient air flow for the bore to be filled at the desired operating frequency, the vacuum created by the retraction of the piston 24, respectively 25 causes the bending of the flexible tongue 30c which clears the intake opening 28 and allows the air to return with sufficient flow.
• this device is placed on the upstream side of the housing B of the epilator relative to its direction of movement, so as to treat the portion of skin located upstream of the area to be epilated in order to reduce its sensitivity just before subjecting it to depilation.
• the frustoconical parts 30a through which the nozzles 19 pass are located at a certain distance from the surface P of skin to be treated, not masking this surface from the user's visual field.
• the stroke of the pistons 24, respectively 25 is 8 mm, the diameter of the bore being 7 mm and that of the nozzle 19 of the order of 0.5 mm.
• the rotation speed of the drive motor 4 is 6000 rpm which gives a frequency of each air jet of 100Hz. Since these jets are phase shifted by half a period and are directed against two adjacent portions of the skin, the frequency on the area of skin to be treated is 200Hz.
• the pressure inside the cylinders 26, 27 when the pistons expel the aspirated air is 5.10 3 Pa (50 mB) and the pressure of the jet on the skin is 5.10 4 Pa (5 g / mm 2 ).
• the flow rate of each nozzle is approximately 1.8 l / min.
• the thickness of the tongue 30c is 1 mm, the diameter of the cylindrical part 30b is of the order of 2 mm.
• the axial length of the frustoconical part 30a is 4 mm and the diameter of the base of this frustoconical part is 2.8 mm.
• the device according to the invention is not limited to the example described.
• the number of nozzles can be adapted to the extent of the surface to be treated.
• the drive motor 10 can be omitted, the crankshaft 21 then being connected by a gear transmission providing an appropriate reduction gear, to the motor (not shown) serving to drive the rotary epilation drum 1 and disposed inside the housing B.
• the pulsed air generator consists of a diaphragm pump, the pulsations being obtained by the reciprocating movement of some of its components.
• the device shown in Figure 7 consists of a housing B which can be held in the hand and comprising a motor 10 actuating a rotary roller 1 carrying series of pliers 11,12, as well as its opening and clamp closure.
• the movement of the motor 10 is transmitted to the roller 1 by a reduction gear train consisting of toothed wheels such as 31,32,33,34.
• a diaphragm pump is arranged in the vicinity of the rotary roller 1, preferably housed inside the housing B.
• the pump comprises a pump body 35 having a bore 36 in which is slidably mounted a core 37 driven in a reciprocating movement between two limit positions inside the bore 36.
• the seal between the core 37 and the bore 36 is ensured by a deformable membrane 38 integral with both the body 35 and the core 37.
• the core 37 is actuated in its reciprocating movement by an eccentric 39 driven in rotation by the motor 10.
• the pump body 35 also comprises at least one suction opening closed by a suction valve 41b. It also comprises at least one delivery opening in relation to respective distribution nozzles 19, the delivery opening being closed by a delivery valve 41a.
• 41a, 41b are preferably made of a flexible material.
• the nozzle (s) 19 are preferably tubes of small diameter arranged laterally to the rotary roller 1, at the front of the latter relative to its direction of movement and a little set back so as not to mask the area to depilate.
• the nozzle (s) 19 can be arranged perpendicular to the skin P or inclined with respect to the latter. If several nozzles 19 are used, they can be positioned one beside the other or facing each other with respect to the axis of the roller 1.
• the pump described is preferably arranged in the housing B of the epilating device so that it occupies the least possible space.
• the sliding movement of the core 37 is perpendicular to the direction air outlet through the nozzle 19.
• Other ways of positioning the pump relative to the housing B can be envisaged with the arrangement of the respective connecting pieces between the axis of the eccentric 39 and the head of the core 37.
• other means of driving the reciprocating movement of the core 37 as mechanical as they are electromagnetic.
• the stroke of the core 37 inside the bore 36 is 2 mm.
• the pressure inside the bore 36, before the expulsion of the air through the nozzle 19 is 2400 Pa, the energy which is transmitted to the skin being 20 mJ by pulsation.
• the air speed at the outlet of the nozzle 19 is 60 m / s.
• the rotational speed of the motor and the gear train are calculated so as to obtain an air jet frequency greater than 50 Hz.
• the vibratory stimulation device described in the variants presented is used in combination with a transcutaneous nerve electrical stimulation device.
• This electrical stimulation device comprises at least one stimulation electrode in contact with the skin or producing discharges when the electrode is directed towards the skin, at a predetermined distance from the latter.
• the electrodes can be placed in contact with the blades or pliers 11, 12, on a metal part of the housing B, or they can also be supported by brushes inserted along the generator of the rotary roller 1, between the depilatory blades 11, 12 .
• An intermittent voltage is applied between at least two electrodes, positive and negative, the discharges generated in the area of skin to be treated P acting in combination with the jet of pulsed air produced by a stimulation device according to the invention. The analgesic effect felt in this case is improved.
• one or more electrodes can be placed in contact with the skin, this variant being more suitable for a massage or shaving device which are moved relative to the skin in contact with the latter.
• the invention finds its application in the technical field of personal care devices and more particularly in that of consumer devices.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Percussion Or Vibration Massage (AREA)

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Citations (9)

• 1998
  • 1998-07-31 FR FR9810022A patent/FR2775591B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-03-03 ES ES99937858T patent/ES2176011T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-03-03 WO PCT/FR1999/000481 patent/WO1999044463A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 1999-03-03 EP EP99937858A patent/EP1059861B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-03-03 AU AU32578/99A patent/AU3257899A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (10)

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