WO2006077292A1

WO2006077292A1 - Method for massaging by suction and device for carrying out this method

Info

Publication number: WO2006077292A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/003226
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yves Marie Minguet
Original assignee: Multi-Well
Priority date: 2005-01-17
Filing date: 2005-12-21
Publication date: 2006-07-27
Also published as: FR2880799B1; FR2880799A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for massaging by suction, and to a device for carrying out this method, according to which, in a localized area of the human body, the skin is creased by sucking the skin with the aid of a massage head (1) connected to a suction source (5), and this skin crease is displaced over this localized area with the aid of the massage head whereby acting upon the epidermis and cutaneous tissues, and in which, simultaneous to the displacement of the massage head, at least one product having an aesthetic and/or relaxing action is applied to this localized area of the human body outside of the suction area with the aid of said massage head whereby this active product is caused to penetrate the skin by displacing the massage head.

Description

Vacuum massage method and apparatus for its implementation

The present invention relates to a new vacuum massage method and an apparatus for implementing this method, for performing local cutaneous treatments of the human body, by massages, and in particular cellulitic or dermalgic zones.

The technical field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of vacuum massage devices and the development of methods for carrying out such massages.

The object of the present invention is more particularly an apparatus and a massage method which allow, on the one hand, in a known manner, to form a fold of skin by localized aspiration of the skin onto a part of the human body and to move this fold gradually using a massage head connected to a suction device to mechanically reproduce the manual massage technique called "palpate-rolling" and, secondly, to associate with this massage a action of application and penetration of an active product having a non-therapeutic action on the massaged skin area, in order to combine the effects, particularly aesthetic effects, of this product with the effects provided by the de-massage massage.

In the prior art, there is known a large number of massage devices by depression which differ, for the majority, in the constitution and shape of their massage head.

However, these devices do not simultaneously allow the massage action, the application of an active product on the massaged skin area.

Such vacuum massage devices are described in particular in documents FR 2 792 524 A1, EP 0 224422 A1, FR 2 776 920 A1 and FR 2 659 851 A1.

Document WO 03/073975 A1 discloses a water affusion vacuum massage device comprising a massage head making it possible, simultaneously, to suction a skin pH by spraying the patient with water. water. In addition to water spraying, the massage head also comprises an active liquid reservoir for dispensing, via a nozzle, said active liquid at the height of the sliding rollers of the massage head.

If it allows the diffusion of active liquid simultaneously in massage, the device described in the document WO 03/073975 A1 has however important drawbacks which prevent a good application of the active liquid and obtaining its advantageous effects, in combination with the action of the massage.

Indeed, the active liquid being diffused at the level of the rollers inside the suction chamber, the latter is sucked directly into the chamber once diffused and only the residue adhering to the surface of the rollers is applied. on the skin.

In addition, the active liquid being diffused simultaneously with a spray of water with the massage head, it is diluted in the water sprayed and sucked with it, which further reduces the application and adhesion on the skin and therefore the penetration and effectiveness of the liquid.

The documents US 2 232 218 A and DE 100 26 219 A1 describe a scalp cleaning and massage device provided with a roller-free massage head in the suction zone and the diffusion orifices of which communicate with each other. directly, with the suction zone and the suction duct of the head. The absence of a roller disposed in the suction zone of the massage head does not provide a satisfactory palpating-rolling effect during the massage. In addition, the diffusion holes of the massage head communicating directly with the suction zone thereof, is detrimental to the product diffusion on the skin as with the device of WO 03/073975 A1.

The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, by proposing a new vacuum massage method and an apparatus for its implementation, this method and this apparatus allowing the simultaneous application and penetration of an active product. as well as depression massage of a localized area of the human body.

To achieve this objective, the present invention provides, in accordance with a first object, a vacuum massage method for essentially aesthetic and / or relaxing treatments, according to which, at a localized zone of the body, it is realized. human, a skin fold by suction of the skin using a massage head defining an area connected to a source of depression and moving said skin fold on said localized area with the aid of said head of massage, so as to urge the epidermis and cutaneous tissues, characterized in that, simultaneously with the displacement of the skin fold formed at said suction zone of said massage head, is applied to said localized area and is made penetrating into the skin outside said suction zone, at least one product having an aesthetic and / or relaxing action, using said massage head.

Such a method is particularly advantageous in that it allows both a better penetration of the product into the epidermis by its direct application in contact with the skin.

In addition, this method is much simpler and cheaper to implement than water affusion processes insofar as on the one hand it does not require the use of specific care table, and on the other hand the product is not diluted in the water and largely evacuated with it, nor inhaled by the device during the massage, which in addition clogs the massage head and the suction lines.

This method also makes it possible to perfectly control the diffusion of active liquid on the skin, by choosing during the session the diffusion periods and the periods of massage alone when sufficient product is applied to the skin. Finally, the diffusion of the product in contact with the skin concomitantly allows the diffusion of the fragrance thereof, which promotes the well-being and relaxation of the person massaged.

According to a preferred characteristic of the process according to the invention, the active product is diffused on the skin through the massage head by nebulization. Here is meant by nebulization that the liquid is pressurized and vaporized in the form of fine droplets mixed with air that are projected directly into contact with the skin through the massage head.

The advantage of nebulization is that it makes it possible to better control the quantity of product diffused during the treatment. Indeed, if the product is applied in liquid form, it tends to flow on the skin despite the penetration action provided by the massage, which sometimes results in dirt from the table care and especially the wasted product. In addition, the feeling of flow of the product is for the patient more unpleasant. Conversely, the nebulization of the product allows the attachment of a limited amount of it on the skin, which is then regularly spread with the help of the massage head, without flow or greasy effect on the skin, while facilitating the sliding of the head.

According to another preferred characteristic of the process of the invention, it is advantageous to vary the flow rate of the nebulized active product as a function of the area of the body to be treated.

Indeed, it is possible to apply a particular product according to the area of the massed body. Each product having a particular viscosity and concentration, it is valuable to be able to control the flow, and therefore the amount of product diffused to avoid wasting or overexposure of a skin area to the product applied to said area during the massage. The variation, see the stop of the flow of active product during the massage thus allows to massage only the required zones, with the quantity of product required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum massage apparatus for the proper implementation of the advantageous method of the invention.

This apparatus, in a manner known from the prior art, comprises a massage head enabling suction of a skin fold by application of said massage head to a localized area of the human body. This massage head comprises a housing, internally delimiting a vacuum chamber connected to a vacuum source via first connection means, and a sliding sole, integral with said housing and defining an opening constituting a suction zone communicating. with said depression chamber. Also in a known manner, said head comprises, where appropriate, at least one support roller extending transversely in said opening defined by said sole and whose ends form rotational axes supported by guide means formed on the side walls. of said vacuum chamber.

The apparatus according to the invention is more particularly characterized in that it comprises a reservoir containing an active product connected via second connection means to said massage head; and in that said sliding sole comprises diffusion orifices of said active product in contact with the skin, outside said suction zone, and communicating with said reservoir via said second connecting means, said diffusion orifices and said vacuum chamber of the housing being independent of the sole and without communication between them.

Thus, the vacuum massage apparatus according to the invention advantageously makes it possible, simultaneously with the massage by depression, to apply to the skin an active product having an aesthetic and / or relaxing action in a regular and homogeneous manner, and to penetrate the it is at the level of the massaged zone, without this product being sucked as soon as it is diffused inside the vacuum chamber of the massage head and so that its penetration is hindered and at the very least limited.

According to a preferred feature of the apparatus according to the invention, it comprises means for nebulizing the active product in said tank.

Advantageously, these nebulizing means comprise means for pressurizing the product inside said reservoir.

In order to allow a good diffusion and application of the active product on the skin during the massage, the sliding sole of the massage head of the apparatus according to the invention comprises at least four diffusion orifices of said active product, regularly distributed over the sliding surface of said sole, and preferably between six and twelve orifices.

In addition, according to another preferred feature, said sliding sole internally comprises a diffusion chamber communicating with each of said diffusion holes of said soleplate and with said reservoir so as to allow homogeneous diffusion of said active product through said orifice. said sole.

Other features of the invention appear on reading the detailed description given below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of nonlimiting examples, a preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, for the implementation of the method according to the invention.

- Figure 1 shows, schematically, the vacuum massage apparatus according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows a sectional view along the transverse axis II-II of the massage head of the apparatus according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows a sectional view along the longitudinal axis III-III of the massage head of the massage apparatus, according to the invention;

- Figure 4 shows a bottom view of the massage head of the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 illustrates the massager according to the invention, in a preferred embodiment. This first comprises a massage head 1 consisting of a housing 2 and a sliding sole 3.

Preferably, as shown in the figures, the housing 2 is of suitable shape to facilitate the gripping and manipulation of the massage head by an operator. In addition, the sliding sole 3 is advantageously made or coated with a plastic material with a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon in the present embodiment.

The housing 2, which is made for example of a plastic material, such as

Plexiglas internally delimits a suction chamber 4 communicating with a vacuum source 5 via a junction member 2 _X of the housing equipped with a conduit 6 for connection to said vacuum source.

The sliding sole 3 is mounted reversibly on the outer walls of the lower part 2 ₂ of the housing when it is seen in its position of use, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.

For this purpose, said sliding sole 3 is constituted by a ring having an annular flat bearing surface 3j defining a bearing plane P of the massage head 1, on the skin, this bearing face 3 being bordered. on this periphery of vertical wall 3 ₂ whose inner surface 3 ₂₁ comprises a female thread complementary to a male thread formed on the outer surface of said walls of the lower portion 2 ₂ of the housing. The sliding sole also defines, "inside" thereof an opening 7 opening on the bearing surface 3, the sole and the suction chamber 4, which is opening on the part lower case 2.

The opening 7 is preferably of the same surface as the passage section SP of said vacuum chamber to allow good suction of the skin during the application of the head on the body of a patient.

In addition, to promote the formation of a double fold of skin and improve the massage head, a roll 8 of cylindrical or ovoid shape is mounted on the inner walls A ₁ of the vacuum chamber 4, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the massage head, directed along the axis III-III in FIG. 2, thereby delimiting two half openings I _x , I ₂ , at the inlet of the suction chamber 4, each said half opening allowing the formation of a fold of skin under the effect of depression of the air, when the massage head 1 is applied to the skin.

The roller 8, like the sliding sole 3, is removable from the massage head 1.

For this purpose, it is advantageously constituted by a cylinder closed at each of its ends by a flange from which extends a stud 8 ₁₅ S ₂ , constituting an axis of rotation of the cylinder, each stud being mounted in guide notches 9, 10, formed on said inner walls 4 ₁ of the vacuum chamber.

Thus, when unscrewing the sliding sole 3 to separate it from the housing

2, it is possible to manually remove the roller 8 of the notches 9, 10, which facilitates the cleaning and replacement of all the components of the massage head 1.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, said guide notches 9, 10 are directly arranged in the housing 2.

Of course, it can be envisaged that these guide slots are constituted by attached means such as rings mounted inside the housing and / or the sliding sole, so that the withdrawal of said sole allows to clear the pins 8 ₁₅ 8 ₂ of the roll of such rings. The depth of the notches 9, 10, as well as the dimensions of the roller can be variable, as well as the position thereof in the opening 7 of the sliding sole.

However, it will be preferred, as shown in Figure 3, a median positioning of the roller in the opening 7, the depth of the notches 9, 10 or the diameter of the roller being such that, once mounted on the massage head, the outer casing of the roller at its largest diameter, exceeds the bearing plane P defined by the bearing face 3] of the sliding sole of about 1.5 mm.

This slight excess improves the pinching effect and the displacement of skin folds formed under the effect of depression in the massage head to improve the mobilization of cutaneous tissue in the area massaged.

The massage apparatus according to the invention allows the application of active products simultaneously to massage by depression.

For this purpose, the apparatus comprises a reservoir 11 of product with aesthetic or relaxing action, for example connected to the massage head 1, via a supply duct 12 connected to said head by a nozzle 13 inserted in a bore 14 formed through a side wall of the housing 2, substantially to the right of the annular bearing surface 2> ^ of the sliding sole when it is screwed on the housing.

Said tip 13 can be mounted in force in the bore or screwed into it, in which case the bore has an internal thread.

Advantageously, said active product reservoir is independent of the massage head, which limits the size of the latter and facilitate its handling.

This tank 11 may be, depending on the case, rechargeable, or consumable.

In this second case, the reservoir may be in the form of a bottle or a cartridge that can be inserted into the massage device or in the form of a flexible bag containing the active product.

Preferably, said active products are in liquid or gaseous form in order to allow easy diffusion in small amounts to the skin in a homogeneous and regular manner that does not prevent or impede the sliding of the massage head. We can consider spreading any type of product, but we particularly prefer to use relaxing products (ointments, essential oils) and where appropriate having an aesthetic action (hydration, wrinkle correction) and relaxing (ointments, essential oils). You can also simply spread scented products.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, the active product, in this case a liquid, is diffused through the massage head, in nebulized form. To do this, the apparatus according to the invention advantageously comprises means for nebulizing said active liquid.

These means consist, for example, as represented in FIG. 1, in a cannulated plunger 15, one end of which plunges into the active liquid inside the reservoir 11 and the other end is connected to pressurizing means 16, such as a mechanical or electric compressor or a bottle of compressed ak. Advantageously, these pressurizing means will be included in the massage apparatus.

During the operation of the apparatus, two sets of elements thus operate simultaneously and independently of one another to produce two distinct and complementary actions through the massage head 1.

The pressurizing means 16 inject air under pressure into the active liquid inside the tank 11 via the plunger 15, thereby causing the active liquid to be bubbled and the formation of fine droplets of nebulized liquid which, under the pressure of the e, are expelled from the reservoir to the massage head 1 via the supply conduit 12 and the tip 13 of said massage head.

At the same time, an aspiration is created in the vacuum chamber 4 via the vacuum source 5 connected to said chamber via the connecting duct 6 thereby causing a suction effect on the surface of the skin at contact of the sliding sole 3 and thus the formation of two small folds of skin in each half-opening l _λ , I ₂ , on either side of the roller 8 of the massage head.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the nebulized active liquid is diffused through the sliding sole 3 simultaneously with the suction. Referring to Figure 4, the sole 3 comprises, preferably through its annular support face 3 ₁₃ a plurality of orifices 17 for the diffusion of the nebulized active liquid.

The number of orifices 17 may be variable; indeed, it is correlated to the size of the massage head. However, the tests carried out made it possible to realize that a number of orifices of between 4 and 12 makes it possible to obtain an active liquid diffusion and a satisfactory penetration thereof during the vacuum massage.

In addition, to promote a uniform distribution of the active liquid through all the orifices 17, the latter communicate inside said sliding soleplate with a diffusion chamber 18 in which opens the bore 14 receiving the nozzle 13 for connection to the reservoir 11 of active liquid.

Thus, said active liquid in nebulized form is distributed under the pressure of the fluid evenly in the diffusion chamber 18, which thus feeds each of the liquid diffusion orifices 17 through the sliding soleplate allowing a homogeneous application of the liquid on the entire contact surface between the massage head and the skin, and this, always outside the vacuum chamber, which avoids the aspiration of the active liquid before penetration into the skin.

In the embodiment described here, said diffusion chamber 18 is constituted by a crown-shaped recess formed between the sliding sole 3 and the lower part 2 ₂ of the casing, the outer edge of said lower part of the casing being advantageously machined or molded so as to form a shoulder or a fillet 19, such that when said sliding sole 3 is screwed to the casing 2, said recess constituting the diffusion chamber is formed between said lower part of the casing and the inner walls 3 ₂₁ of said sliding sole.

Alternatively, said diffusion chamber may be formed by an annular groove machined over the entire surface of the lower part of the housing preferably, to the right of the bore 14 and orifices 17 of the sole, or by a groove formed in the sole herself. According to a preferred variant of the invention not shown in the figures, the massage apparatus further comprises heating means and / or means for cooling the active liquid applied to the massager to create, during the diffusion of the active product, an action of vasodilatation and / or vasoconstriction of the cutaneous tissues of the massaged zone.

Such heating or cooling means may be associated with the active product reservoir so as to directly heat / cool said product in the tank.

However, it will be preferred, especially in the case of using interchangeable tanks, that these heating / cooling means are located in the apparatus upstream of said tank to heat or cool not the liquid directly but the pressurized air injected from the pressurizing means 16 into said liquid, this hot or cold air, allowing the nebulization of the active liquid and the diffusion thereof through the orifices 17 of the sole 3 of the massage head to heat or cool the active liquid itself as well as the area of the treated epidermis and thus, to create the effects of vasoconstriction or vasodilatation.

It is thus possible upstream of the active product tank thermal convectors between which passes the pressurized air pipe leading to the tank, these convectors to heat the air before it enters the active product. To obtain vasoconstrictor effects, it is also possible to envisage the use of refrigerated products in refrigerators, or to cool the air by mixing liquid air (or nitrogen) with the air injected into the reservoir for nebulize the active product.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the massage apparatus also comprises means for regulating the air pressure injected into said active liquid reservoir and, if need be, means for controlling the flow of nebulized active liquid. diffused at the level of the massage head according to the parameters of the massage and in particular of the area of the massed body and the desired effects. Such regulating means may for example be of the manual or slave flow regulator type. Such means for regulating the air pressure and the flow rate of the diffused active liquid may be of any type known to those skilled in the art and in particular constituted by manometers, flowmeters and other manual or electro-controlled valves.

To avoid epidermal trauma due to the suction effects of the skin provided by the suction through the massage head, the sliding sole 3 has, on the inner side to said half openings I _x , I ₂ and the external side to the sole towards the walls thereof, rounding of connection to the annular bearing surface 3j.

These roundings promote the sliding of the massage head even on non-flat portions of the skin and the unfolding of the folds of said skin through the half openings 7 _{] 5} I ₂

In another alternative embodiment, the holes 17 may not be drilled directly through the front annular bearing 3, the sole of sliding but on the contrary, through the side walls ₂ 3 thereof, so to mist the active liquid at the periphery of the massage head.

According to this same principle, it is also possible to consider the replacement of said orifices 17 by one or more spray nozzles attached to the housing and connected by conduits to the active liquid reservoir.

Thus, the massage apparatus according to the invention makes it possible to associate simultaneously with the massage by depression and the application and the penetration of active products to improve and complete the effects of the massage, all the elements constituting the apparatus being in addition easily removable for easy cleaning and replacement after each use thereby allowing perfect hygiene of the device and treatment.

The present invention is not limited to the examples described and represented in the present patent application and various modifications can be made without departing from their scope, in particular in the shape and dimensions of the massage head and the diffusion orifices of the active products. , for example.

Claims

A vacuum massage apparatus comprising a massage head (1), comprising a housing (2) internally defining a vacuum chamber (4) connected to a vacuum source (5) via first connection means ( 2 ₁₅ 6), and a sliding sole (3), integral with said housing and defining an opening constituting a suction zone (7) communicating with said vacuum chamber, so as to allow the suction of a fold of skin by applying said massage head to a localized area of the human body, said massage head further including, if appropriate, at least one support roller (8) extending transversely in said suction zone (7) delimited by said sole and whose ends form axes of rotation (8 ₁₅ S ^) supported by guide means (9, 10) formed on the side walls (A ₁ ) of said vacuum chamber, characterized in that:

said apparatus comprises a reservoir (11) containing an active product connected via second connection means (12, 13, 14) to said massage head; and - said sliding sole comprises diffusion orifices (17) of said active product in contact with the skin, outside said suction zone, and communicating with said reservoir via said second connecting means, said diffusion ports of the sole and said vacuum chamber of the housing being independent and without communication between them.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises nebulization means (15, 16) of the active product.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said nebulizing means comprise pressurizing means (15) of the product inside said reservoir.

4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises means for heating and / or cooling said active product before diffusion.

5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it further comprises means for adjusting the pressure and / or the air flow inside. said reservoir and means for adjusting the diffusion rate of said active product through said orifices of the sole.

6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sliding sole comprises at least four diffusion holes (17) of said active product, regularly distributed through the bearing face (3). ^ of said sole, and preferably between six and twelve orifices.

7. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said sliding sole internally comprises a diffusion chamber (18) communicating with each of said diffusion holes of said sole and with said reservoir so as to allow a homogeneous diffusion of said liquid loaded with active ingredients through said orifices (17) of said soleplate.

8. A method of depression massage for the aesthetic and / or relaxing treatment of a localized area of the human body using an apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a skin fold is produced by suction of the skin by means of a massage head (1) connected to a source of depression (5), said massage head delimiting a suction zone (7), and moving said skin fold on said localized area of the human body with the aid of said massage head so as to urge the epidermis and the cutaneous tissues, characterized in that, simultaneously with the displacement of said massage head, is applied to said localized zone of the human body, outside said suction zone, at least one product having an aesthetic and / or relaxing action with the aid of said massage head, and said active product is penetrated into the skin by displacement of said massage head; .

9. The method of claim 8, characterized in that the active product is diffused on the skin by nebulization of said product through the massage head.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the flow rate of the nebulized active product is varied according to the area of the body to be treated.

11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the active product is heated before nebulization and diffusion, using the massage head, so as to create a vasodilating effect massaged skin tissue.

12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the active product is cooled before nebulization and diffusion to create a vasoconstrictor effect massaged skin tissue.