WO2009057173A1

WO2009057173A1 - Device for localized transfer of a filler

Info

Publication number: WO2009057173A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000770
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ezio Tedoldi
Original assignee: M & T S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-11-02
Filing date: 2007-11-02
Publication date: 2009-05-07

Abstract

A device for localized transfer of a filler comprises: an ampoule (1) for containing the filler; a dispenser (2), having connecting means (20) with the ampoule (1) and delivering means (21) of the filler which are suitable for contact with a skin portion (4) to be treated, inside which there is an electrode (22) in contact with an outer terminal (23); a current generator (3), connected by a first wire (31) to the outer terminal (23) and by a second wire (32) to a counter electrode (33) located on a second skin portion (4') of the patient, so as to create an electric circuit in which a current circulates which dilates the pores of the skin portion (4) to be treated, allowing absorption of the filler delivered on it.

Description

Device for localized transfer of a filler

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for localized transfer of a filler, without the use of needles.

Cosmetic surgery and microsurgery procedures, which can often be carried out on an outpatient basis, are increasingly widespread. Many such procedures consist of injecting substances which "fill" subcutaneous zones, mainly localized on the face, so as to give the people who have these procedures done a more youthful or in any case more attractive appearance: such substances are genericaUy called "fillers". Fillers are intended for use in localized treatments, typically for example the correction of wrinkles or for making lips bigger. Fillers may be of natural origin or synthetic: the former are obtained from animal and human tissue; the latter are made in a laboratory. The most widely used filler is hyaluronic acid.

Although not considered fillers, and despite the fact they operate in a substantially different way, botulin and similar products of synthesis are also used in these types of procedures.

Background Art

At present, all techniques used to transfer fillers and botulin substances under the skin involve the use of syringes which, as sold, are usually supplied with an ampoule for the various types of treatment.

This is mainly due to the fact that the molecular mass of the fillers normally used is around several million Daltons, whilst in contrast the pores of the skin can naturally absorb a molecular mass not greater than several thousand Daltons. Moreover, this type of treatment is precisely localized and the filler must be transferred into a quite restricted zone. However, the methods for performing these procedures have several disadvantages: first, many patients have a negative psychological perception of the use of needles, which, consciously and unconsciously, create stress reactions that may also compromise the success of the treatment to which patients are subjected. The substances injected are often perceived to be foreign bodies, even by the patient's own immune system, which tends to expel them, reducing the period of effectiveness of the treatment received and obliging the surgeon to cany out procedures close together in terms of time. The use of needles in any event causes micro-lesions which result in bleeding, formation of haematomas, swelling, all phenomena which lengthen convalescence times and at least immediately cause an aesthetic effect which is the opposite of that required. The risk that substances injected in this way may enter the bloodstream is relatively high, and their toxicity may harm the patient's body.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages. This aim is achieved thanks to a device with which the filler is transferred under the skin of a patient without using needles.

The main advantage of the present invention is basically the fact that the patient does not suffer any kind of trauma: neither psychological, linked to seeing and the use of needles, nor physical, linked to micro-lesions from injections and the relative consequences.

Moreover, substances absorbed in this way are better accepted by the immune system, meaning that the effect of the procedure is longer lasting. Finally, the possibility that such substances may enter the bloodstream is practically eliminated, thus avoiding any risk linked to their potential toxicity.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further advantages and features of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment without limiting the scope of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a front assembly view of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a component of the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of the component of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross-section according to IV - IV of the component of Figure

3;

Figure 5 is a cross-section according to V - V of the component of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a front view of a second component of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

As the accompanying drawings show, the invention relates to a device for localized transfer of a filler, without the use of needles.

The device (11) comprises an ampoule (1) for containing the filler, a dispenser (2), having connecting means (20) with the ampoule (1) and delivering means (21) of the filler which are suitable for contact with a skin portion (4) to be treated, inside which there is an electrode (22) in contact with an outer terminal

(23), and a current generator (3), connected by a first wire (31) to the outer terminal (23) and by a second wire (32) to a counter electrode (33) located on a second skin portion (4') of the patient.

In this way, an electric circuit is created, in which a current circulates which dilates the pores of the skin portion (4) to be treated, allowing absorption of the filler there delivered.

Although with the appropriate precautions, linked to the high toxicity of the substances handled, the device (11) described above could be used for the localized transfer of substances containing botulin or similar products of synthesis, also used in the same type of cosmetic surgery procedures, but not defined as fillers.

As shown in the embodiment in the accompanying drawings, the device (11) can be rendered more effective by making the electrode (22) and the delivering means (21) in separate bodies: in this way, a chamber (24) is created, which, when the device (11) is used, is occupied only by the filler and becomes the site of an electric field which polarizes the filler molecules, promoting their absorption.

The ampoule (1) should also comprise controlled release means (10) of the filler, so as to dose its distribution and its absorption by the skin portion (4) to be treated.

In this type of procedure, the filler must usually be transferred under the skin portion (4) involved in a time of between ten and twenty minutes to guarantee a satisfactory lasting result. The controlled release means (10) may be made in various ways: they may comprise a manually operated plunger, in which case the person performing the procedure must be particularly precise and expert in controlling its operation, or they may comprise a pre-calibrated mechanism, which does not need to be directly controlled by the doctor. Without in any way limiting the scope of the invention, such types of mechanisms may be made with an electric micro-motor associated with a mechanical delivering system acting on the ampoule (1), or even with suitably programmed pneumatic release means.

Given the smallness of the skin portion (4) on which these types of treatments are usually carried out, the delivering means (21) comprise a surface (210) for contact with the skin portion (4) to be treated which is quite small and in any case measures less than 1 cm², so that filler transfer is limited to it.

The invention described above may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements. Obviously, in practice modifications and/or improvements are possible, all covered by the claims herein.

Claims

1. A device for localized transfer of a filler, comprising an ampoule (1) for containing the filler, characterized in that it comprises a dispenser (2), having connecting means (20) with the ampoule (1) and filler delivering means (21) suitable for contact with a skin portion (4) to be treated, inside which there is an electrode (22) in contact with an outer terminal (23); and a current generator (3), connected by a first wire (31) to the outer terminal (23) and by a second wire (32) to a counter electrode (33) located on a second skin portion of the patient (4'), so as to create an electric circuit, in which a current circulates which dilates the pores of the skin portion (4) to be treated, allowing absorption of the filler there delivered.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrode (22) and the delivering means (21) are made in separate bodies, so as to forme a chamber (24) occupied only by the filler and becoming site of an electric field which polarizes the filler molecules, promoting their absorption by the skin portion (4) treated.

3. The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ampoule (1) comprises filler controlled release means (10), so as to dose its distribution and its absorption by the skin portion (4) to be treated.

4. The device according to claim 3, characterised in that the controlled release means (10) comprise a manually operated plunger.

5. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the controlled release means (10) comprise a pre-calibrated mechanism.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the delivering means (21) comprise a contact surface (210) with the skin portion (4) to be treated measuring less than 1 cm² , so that the intervention is suitably localized.