A portable heat therapy device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders

Abstract

This invention discloses a portable heat-based drug delivery device for treating temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), comprising: a main body with a placement cavity; a drug delivery component disposed within the placement cavity; and an ear hook connected to the side of the main body for suspension on the ear, such that the drug delivery component faces the TMD. The drug delivery component includes a medicine box, a sponge layer, and a graphene heating layer. The sponge layer is disposed between the medicine box and the graphene heating layer, and the medication in the medicine box is delivered through the sponge layer to the graphene heating layer facing the TMD. The graphene heating layer emits far-infrared waves when energized to promote blood circulation in the TMD region through thermal radiation, thereby enhancing the transdermal release of the medication. The drug delivery device provided by this invention improves local blood circulation in the TMD region through the thermal radiation of the graphene heating layer, increases skin permeability, and allows the medication to penetrate the skin and enter subcutaneous or muscle tissue.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of medical device technology and relates to a portable hot compress drug delivery device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders. Background Technology

[0002] In the field of oral and maxillofacial diseases, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) accounts for a very high incidence rate and has become one of the most common conditions. Its clinical manifestations are distinctive, primarily focusing on pain in the temporomandibular joint area. This pain varies in intensity; mild cases may cause slight discomfort during daily chewing and speaking, while severe cases can significantly impact a patient's normal eating and communication. Joint clicking during movement is also a common symptom, with varying sounds—sometimes crisp and short, sometimes dull and prolonged—causing considerable psychological burden on patients. Furthermore, mandibular movement disorders severely interfere with patients' quality of life, manifesting as limited mouth opening, inability to open the mouth wide enough for eating, difficulty closing the mouth, and even mandibular deviation. Moreover, these symptoms exhibit a periodic recurrence, fluctuating between relief and relapse, repeatedly tormenting patients.

[0003] Currently, the main treatments for temporomandibular joint disorders are joint physiotherapy and intra-articular injections, such as the portable temporomandibular joint ultrasound physiotherapy device disclosed in patent KR101643850B1. However, the existing joint physiotherapy devices have weak treatment effects. While intra-articular injections can effectively relieve temporomandibular diseases, this increases the frequency of patient visits and carries the risk of infection.

[0004] In summary, existing treatment methods all have limitations to varying degrees, making it difficult to meet patients' urgent needs for efficient, convenient, and safe treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ). Therefore, there is an urgent need to design a portable heat-based drug delivery device for treating TMJ, combining the advantages of precise drug delivery and portable treatment to fill the current technological gap and solve existing technical problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention provides a portable hot compress drug delivery device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders, comprising:

[0006] The main body is equipped with a placement cavity;

[0007] A drug delivery assembly is disposed within the placement cavity;

[0008] Ear hooks are attached to the side of the main body to hang on the ear, so that the drug delivery component faces the temporomandibular joint;

[0009] The drug delivery component includes a drug box, a sponge layer, and a graphene heating layer. The sponge layer is disposed between the drug box and the graphene heating layer. The drug solution in the drug box is delivered through the sponge layer to the graphene heating layer disposed towards the temporomandibular joint. The graphene heating layer emits far-infrared waves when energized to promote blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint area through thermal radiation, thereby enhancing the transdermal release of the drug solution.

[0010] In some embodiments, the graphene heating layer is a flexible graphene layer modified by polydopamine coating.

[0011] In some embodiments, the pillbox is provided with a drug delivery hole facing the sponge layer, and the number of the drug delivery holes is multiple, which are located in the central area of ​​the pillbox.

[0012] In some embodiments, a hydrogel layer is provided between the sponge layer and the graphene heating layer. The hydrogel material of the hydrogel layer (24) is mixed with the liquid medicine delivered by the sponge layer (22) and forms a three-dimensional network structure through physical cross-linking to disperse the liquid medicine in the three-dimensional network structure, so as to protect and slow down the release of the liquid medicine.

[0013] In some embodiments, the graphene heating layer is provided with multiple leakage holes that are evenly distributed.

[0014] In some embodiments, electrodes are disposed on both sides of the graphene heating layer to provide an electric field for the operation of the graphene heating layer.

[0015] In some embodiments, the drug delivery device further includes a temperature sensor disposed in a portion of the drug leakage hole in the graphene heating layer to measure the skin temperature of the treatment area.

[0016] In some embodiments, the liquid medicine in the medicine box (21) is a liquid medicine microsphere, which is prepared by mixing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics with polylactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and preparing the liquid medicine microsphere by emulsification and solvent evaporation.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ear hook is hinged to the main body via a connecting rod; one end of the connecting rod is provided with a ball portion, and the side of the main body is provided with a spherical groove; the ball portion of the connecting rod is spherically hinged in the spherical groove of the main body, and the other end of the connecting rod is connected to the ear hook.

[0018] In some embodiments, the ear hook is equipped with an adjustment rod, and the two ends of the adjustment rod are provided with threaded sections to connect the first ear hook part and the second ear hook part into one piece.

[0019] Beneficial effects of this invention:

[0020] This invention provides a portable heat therapy device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders. The device features a rationally designed graphene heating element that emits far-infrared wavelengths upon heating. Through thermal radiation, it improves local blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint, increases skin permeability, and promotes transdermal drug release. This allows the drug to penetrate the skin and enter subcutaneous or muscle tissue, effectively ensuring the therapeutic effect of temporomandibular joint disorders. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The advantages of the present invention will become clearer and more readily understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are merely illustrative and do not limit the invention, wherein:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a portable heat-applying drug delivery device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Corresponding component disassembly diagrams;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the main body of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the drug delivery assembly described in this invention;

[0026] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 Disassembly diagram of the corresponding drug delivery assembly;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a drug delivery device provided in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the drug delivery device of the present invention placed in a portable charging case;

[0029] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 Corresponding component disassembly diagrams;

[0030] Figure 9 This is a temperature control logic diagram corresponding to a drug delivery device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0032] The embodiments described herein are specific implementations of the present invention, used to illustrate the concept of the invention, and are illustrative and exemplary, and should not be construed as limiting the implementation or scope of the invention. In addition to the embodiments described herein, those skilled in the art can employ other obvious technical solutions based on the content disclosed in the claims and specification of this application. These technical solutions include those that make any obvious substitutions and modifications to the embodiments described herein.

[0033] The accompanying drawings in this specification are schematic diagrams to aid in illustrating the concept of the invention, and schematically show the shapes of the various parts and their interrelationships. Please note that, in order to clearly demonstrate the structure of the components in the embodiments of the invention, the drawings are not drawn to the same scale. The same reference numerals are used to indicate the same parts.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a portable heat-applying drug delivery device 100 for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the drug delivery devices 100 are configured in pairs and worn in the left and right ears. Figure 1 In this embodiment, the drug delivery device 100A is worn on the right ear, while the drug delivery device 100B worn on the left ear is slightly different from the drug delivery device 100A worn on the right ear.

[0035] Figure 1 In the middle, the drug delivery device 100A includes:

[0036] The main body 10 is provided with a placement cavity 11;

[0037] The drug delivery assembly 20 is disposed in the placement cavity 11;

[0038] Ear loop 30 is connected to the side of the main body 10 to hang on the ear, such that the drug delivery component 20 faces the temporomandibular joint;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a drug delivery assembly 20 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A sectional view of the drug-carrying assembly 20. The drug-carrying assembly 20 includes a medicine box 21, a sponge layer 22, and a graphene heating layer 23. The sponge layer 22 is disposed between the medicine box 21 and the graphene heating layer 23. The liquid medicine in the medicine box 21 is transported through the sponge layer 22 to the graphene heating layer 23, which is positioned towards the temporomandibular joint. The graphene heating layer 23 emits far-infrared waves when energized to promote blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint area through thermal radiation, thereby enhancing the transdermal release of the liquid medicine.

[0040] Furthermore, the graphene heating layer 23 is a flexible graphene layer, which is modified by polydopamine coating. Specifically,

[0041] Sheet-shaped graphene is immersed in an alkaline solution of dopamine, and dopamine monomers are polymerized into polydopamine through a non-enzymatic polymerization reaction. Among them, the functional groups such as catechol and amino groups in the molecular structure of polydopamine interact with carbon atoms on the graphene surface through π-π stacking and hydrogen bonding, thus polymerizing polydopamine on the surface of the graphene heating element to obtain a flexible graphene layer.

[0042] Furthermore, polydopamine has good biocompatibility and elasticity, allowing it to adhere closely to the skin while safely transmitting the far-infrared waves emitted by the graphene heating layer 23 to the skin to promote blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint region through thermal radiation.

[0043] Furthermore, the medicine box 21 is equipped with a medicine guiding hole 22a, such as Figure 4 As shown, the drug delivery hole 22a is positioned facing the sponge layer 22, and there are multiple drug delivery holes 22a, which are located in the central area of ​​the medicine box 21. Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, there is a pair of drug delivery holes 22a to transport the liquid medicine in the medicine box 21 toward the outer layer.

[0044] Since the graphene heating layer 23 of this application needs to be permeated with drugs, several drug leakage holes 23a are formed on the graphene heating layer 23 so that the drugs can be permeated into the skin through the drug leakage holes 23a.

[0045] In this invention, a laser drilling method can be used to create leakage holes 23a in the graphene heating layer 23. Specifically, by utilizing the high power density and good spatial correlation provided by a pulsed laser, high-density energy is concentrated and compressed together and irradiated onto the surface of the prepared graphene heating layer 23. The material rapidly melts and vaporizes after the high-energy impact, thereby forming the leakage holes 23a.

[0046] Figure 5 In the graphene heating layer 23, there are multiple leakage holes 23a, which are roughly uniformly distributed on the surface of the graphene heating layer 23.

[0047] In this invention, a hydrogel layer 24 is disposed between the sponge layer 22 and the graphene heating layer 23, such as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the hydrogel layer 24 is mixed with the celecoxib-PLGA microspheres in the sponge layer 22. Through physical cross-linking, the hydrogel material forms a three-dimensional network structure to disperse the drug microspheres in the three-dimensional network structure, thereby protecting and slowing down the release of the drug.

[0048] Furthermore, a sponge layer 22 is disposed on the hydrogel layer 24, so that the celecoxib-PLGA microspheres can be uniformly adsorbed in the sponge layer 22. Therefore, they can penetrate into the hydrogel 24 relatively uniformly, so that the drug is evenly distributed throughout the treatment site.

[0049] To generate heat in the graphene heating layer 23, a power source is required. In this invention, electrodes are disposed on both sides of the graphene heating layer 23 to provide an electric field for its operation. When the graphene heating layer 23 is heated by electricity, it emits far-infrared wavelengths. Through thermal radiation, this improves local blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint, increases skin permeability, and promotes the transdermal release of drugs, allowing the drugs to penetrate the skin and enter subcutaneous or muscle tissue.

[0050] To prevent the skin from overheating due to the heat radiation from the graphene heating layer 23, which could cause discomfort during treatment, the drug delivery device also includes a temperature sensor 40, which is disposed in a portion of the drug leakage hole 23a of the graphene heating layer 23 to measure the skin temperature of the treatment area.

[0051] In this invention, the signal line of the temperature sensor 40 is embedded in the hydrogel layer 24 and connected to the microprocessor to transmit the measurement results to the microprocessor.

[0052] The temperature sensor 40 is preferably an infrared digital temperature sensor, which continuously detects the skin temperature at the treatment site and feeds the temperature back to the microprocessor in real time to control the current output of the graphene heating layer 23, preventing the local skin temperature from being too high or too low, and achieving safe and continuous treatment.

[0053] The temperature sensor 40 is located in the drug leakage hole 23a, and it is kept in a very close distance from the graphene heating layer 23 and the skin. That is, the temperature sensor 40 can accurately monitor the skin temperature of the treatment site in real time without contact, and transmit the detection results to the microcomputer chip in real time through the circuit.

[0054] In this invention, the medicine box 21 contains drug-infused microspheres, which are prepared by mixing a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) with a polylactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer (PLGA) through emulsification and solvent evaporation. In one specific embodiment, the drug-infused microspheres are celecoxib-PLGA microspheres, and the preparation process includes the following steps: First, PLGA (100 mg) is dissolved in 5 mL of dichloromethane and stirred for 2 hours until completely dissolved. Then, celecoxib (10-20% w / w) is added and sonicated for 30 minutes to ensure uniform drug dispersion. Next, a polyvinyl alcohol solution (2% w / v) is prepared, heated and stirred at 80°C until clear, and then cooled to room temperature. Subsequently, the organic phase is slowly poured into the aqueous phase (volume ratio 1:3), and emulsified using a high-speed homogenizer for 5 minutes to form an O / W emulsion. The emulsion is then transferred to a magnetic stirrer and stirred at 500 rpm for 4-6 hours to ensure complete evaporation of the dichloromethane. Then, the microspheres were centrifuged at 10,000 rpm for 15 minutes, the supernatant was discarded, and the microspheres were washed three times with cold water to ensure the removal of residual polyvinyl alcohol, yielding wet microspheres. The wet microspheres were then sieved to obtain a uniform particle size distribution. Finally, the microsphere precipitate was resuspended in a 5% mannitol solution, pre-frozen, and then freeze-dried under vacuum for 24 hours to obtain celecoxib-PLGA microspheres. Celecoxib is encapsulated in a dense matrix formed by PLGA. Initially, only a small amount of surface-adsorbed drug is rapidly released (burst release). Subsequent drug release requires diffusion through the microsphere pores or release during PLGA degradation, thus prolonging the release cycle and facilitating long-term delivery of the drug delivery device to produce a therapeutic effect.

[0055] Understandably, the drug delivery device 100 also includes a microprocessor, which is located inside the main body 10. The microprocessor is circuitically connected to the temperature sensor 40 and the graphene heating layer 23, and adjusts the current output in real time based on the measured temperature to control the output power of the graphene heating layer 23, thereby achieving precise control of the treatment. Figure 9 As shown.

[0056] Meanwhile, the drug delivery device 100 has a built-in alarm function; if the skin temperature remains excessively high, it will automatically sound an alarm and shut off the power. The microprocessor is an ARM microprocessor, consisting of an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a control unit, registers, and a bus. Through pre-designed control logic, temperature control instructions, power control instructions, current output instructions, and so on, are stored in the instruction register to achieve intelligent control.

[0057] The drug delivery device 100 is also equipped with a power supply, which is a rechargeable secondary battery for convenient recharging and multiple uses. The power supply is connected to the circuitry of the microprocessor, temperature sensor 40, and graphene heating layer 23. The power supply has a first charging port, which is connected to the second charging port 203 in the portable charging case 200. Figure 8 (As shown) Connect and charge.

[0058] Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the ear hook 30 is hinged to the main body 10 via a connecting rod 50; one end of the connecting rod 50 is provided with a ball portion 51, such as... Figure 2 As shown, a spherical groove 12 is provided on the side of the main body 10, such as... Figure 3 As shown, the ball portion 51 of the connecting rod 50 is ball-hinged in the spherical groove 12 of the main body 10, and the other end of the connecting rod 50 is connected to the ear hook 30 to facilitate adjustment of the ear hook 30 for easy wearing. Because of the ear hook configuration, although the drug delivery devices 100 are configured in pairs, they can be used individually, allowing users to select the drug delivery device on one side and effectively fix the drug delivery device at the temporomandibular joint position on the corresponding side.

[0059] As an embodiment of the present invention, the ear hook 30 is equipped with an adjustment rod 30a, such as Figure 6 As shown, the adjusting rod 30a has threaded sections at both ends to connect the first ear hook part 31 and the second ear hook part 32 of the ear hook 30 into one unit. That is, the length of the ear hook 30 can be adjusted by adjusting the adjusting rod 31, thereby improving the applicability of the drug delivery device 100.

[0060] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the drug delivery device 100 of the present invention placed in a portable charging case 200. The portable charging case 200 includes a case body 210 and a case lid 220, as shown below. Figure 8 As shown, a rechargeable battery is provided in the box body 210. At the same time, a second charging terminal 203 is provided inside the box body 210. The first charging terminal of the drug delivery device 100 is arranged opposite to the second charging terminal 203 to facilitate charging of the drug delivery device 100.

[0061] Furthermore, the side of the box 210 is provided with a first charging port 201 and a second charging port 202 to facilitate connection to an external power source, thereby charging the drug delivery device 100 in the portable charging box 200.

[0062] This invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Anyone can derive other products in various forms under the guidance of this invention. However, regardless of any changes in shape or structure, any technical solution that is the same as or similar to this application falls within the protection scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A portable device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders, characterized in that, include: A drug delivery device (100) is configured in pairs and worn on the left and right ears; the drug delivery device (100) is equipped with a power source, which is a secondary battery and has a first charging terminal; The charging box (200) includes a box body (210) and a box cover (220). A rechargeable battery is provided in the box body (210). A second charging terminal (203) is provided inside the box body (210). The first charging terminal and the second charging terminal (203) of the drug delivery device (100) are arranged opposite to each other to facilitate charging of the drug delivery device (100). Each of the drug delivery devices (100) includes a main body (10), a drug delivery assembly (20), and an ear loop (30). The main body (10) is provided with a placement cavity (11); A drug delivery assembly (20) is disposed in the placement cavity (11); Ear hook (30) is attached to the side of the main body (10) to hang on the ear, such that the drug delivery component (20) faces the temporomandibular joint; The drug delivery component (20) includes a drug box (21), a sponge layer (22), and a graphene heating layer (23). The sponge layer (22) is disposed between the drug box (21) and the graphene heating layer (23). The drug liquid in the drug box (21) is transported through the sponge layer (22) to the graphene heating layer (23) disposed towards the temporomandibular joint. The graphene heating layer (23) is powered on to emit far-infrared waves to promote blood circulation in the temporomandibular joint area through thermal radiation and enhance the transdermal release of the drug liquid. The medicine in the medicine box (21) is a medicine microsphere, which is prepared by mixing non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs with polylactic acid-glycolic acid copolymer and emulsifying and evaporating solvents. The graphene heating layer (23) is a flexible graphene layer, which is modified by polydopamine coating; the graphene heating layer (23) is provided with multiple leakage holes (23a) that are evenly distributed. A hydrogel layer (24) is provided between the sponge layer (22) and the graphene heating layer (23). The hydrogel material of the hydrogel layer (24) is mixed with the drug solution delivered by the sponge layer (22) and forms a three-dimensional network structure through physical cross-linking to disperse the drug solution in the three-dimensional network structure, so as to protect and slow down the release of the drug solution. It also includes a temperature sensor (40) disposed in a portion of the drug leakage hole (23a) of the graphene heating layer (23) to measure the skin temperature of the treatment area; The microprocessor is located inside the main body (10). The microprocessor is connected to the temperature sensor (40) and the graphene heating layer (23) circuit. The current output is adjusted in real time by measuring the temperature to control the output power of the graphene heating layer (23).

2. The portable device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that, The medicine box (21) is provided with a medicine guiding hole (22a) facing the sponge layer (22), and there are multiple medicine guiding holes (22a) located in the central area of ​​the medicine box (21).

3. The portable device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that, Electrodes are arranged on both sides of the graphene heating layer (23) to provide an electric field for the operation of the graphene heating layer (23).

4. The portable device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ear hook (30) is hinged to the main body (10) via a connecting rod (50); one end of the connecting rod (50) is provided with a ball part (51), and the side of the main body (10) is provided with a spherical groove (12); the ball part (51) of the connecting rod (50) is spherically hinged in the spherical groove (12) of the main body (10), and the other end of the connecting rod (50) is connected to the ear hook (30).

5. The portable device for treating temporomandibular joint disorders according to claim 1, characterized in that, The ear hook (30) is equipped with an adjusting rod (30a), and the two ends of the adjusting rod (30a) are provided with threaded sections to connect the first ear hook part (31) and the second ear hook part (32) of the ear hook (30) into one piece.

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