Apparatus and methods for media delivery

Abstract

An apparatus for delivering a medium to a user's skin is proposed. The apparatus includes an ultrasonic transducer and a coupling element, the ultrasonic transducer being arranged to generate a sound field to act on the skin. The coupling element is arranged to contact the user's skin and to position the ultrasonic transducer at a defined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin, where N0 is the boundary distance between the near and far fields of the sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer. Another apparatus and method for medium delivery are also described.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] In medical or aesthetic contexts, ultrasound can be used to enhance the application of media, such as creams or gels, to the skin of a user or recipient. This process is often referred to as “ultrasound-assisted penetration” or “ultrasound-assisted drug delivery.” Using ultrasound to non-invasively enhance the application of media can offer a variety of advantages, such as improved absorption, targeted delivery, increased efficacy, reduced amount of product used, and faster results.

[0002] To improve absorption, ultrasound generates micro-vibrations in the skin, which can help open pores and create temporary pathways, allowing the medium to penetrate more easily. This enhances the absorption of active ingredients in the product, leading to better therapeutic or cosmetic results. Furthermore, ultrasound can result in the precise application of the medium to the desired area, allowing for more targeted delivery. This is particularly useful in medical applications where specific skin conditions or injuries need to be treated without affecting surrounding tissue. Ultrasound-assisted application can further enhance the efficacy of certain topical medications or cosmetics by ensuring that a larger portion of the product reaches the intended skin layer or tissue. For the same reason, with enhanced absorption, less medium may be needed to achieve the desired effect, potentially reducing product waste and cost. Ultrasound use can increase the penetration of the medium into the skin, potentially leading to faster and more noticeable results, which is desirable in both medical and cosmetic contexts. Finally, ultrasound-assisted material delivery is a non-invasive technique, meaning it does not require needles or surgery. This makes it more comfortable for patients and users.

[0003] Conventional solutions on the market do not consider near-field and far-field properties in ultrasound delivery. Instead, known devices periodically deliver a transducer into direct contact with the skin while simultaneously applying a gel / cream before ultrasound application, which can lead to uneven or non-reproducible results during ultrasound application. The prior manual application of the ultrasound transmission medium between the transducer and skin is consumer-dependent and therefore can vary. Delivering near-field ultrasound to the skin also limits the intensity from the transducer to avoid causing any damage to the skin.

[0004] Therefore, it may be necessary to improve the application of ultrasound to the skin. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The aspects of this disclosure provide apparatus and methods for delivering a medium to a user's skin according to the independent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus for delivering a medium to a user's skin is provided, comprising an ultrasonic transducer arranged to generate an acoustic field to act on the skin, and a coupling element. The coupling element is arranged to position the ultrasonic transducer at a defined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin, where N0 is the boundary distance between the near and far fields of the acoustic field generated by the ultrasonic transducer. Optionally, the coupling element is arranged to contact the user's skin with the apparatus.

[0007] According to a second aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus for delivering a medium to a user's skin is provided, comprising an ultrasonic transducer and a coupling element, wherein the coupling element is arranged to position the ultrasonic transducer at a defined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin, wherein the coupling element includes a reservoir for retaining the coupling medium, and wherein an acoustic field generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the skin through the coupling medium. Optionally, the coupling element is arranged to contact the user's skin with the apparatus.

[0008] According to a third aspect of this disclosure, a method for delivering a medium to a user's skin is provided, comprising the steps of: positioning an ultrasonic transducer at a defined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the user's skin, and using the ultrasonic transducer to generate a sound field to act on the skin, wherein N0 is the boundary distance between the near field and far field of the sound field of the ultrasonic transducer.

[0009] "Arranging the ultrasonic transducer at a defined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin" means that the coupling element is configured (or includes properties) such that the sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer travels a distance N ≥ ≈ N0 before reaching the skin. Therefore, the coupling element can alternatively be called a spacer. For example, if the coupling element includes a reservoir for holding the coupling medium, the reservoir can be sized such that the sound field travels through the coupling medium in the reservoir by a distance N ≥ ≈ N0 before reaching the skin. The range of values ​​for N0 can depend on the properties of the coupling medium (e.g., viscosity).

[0010] To improve the application of ultrasound to the skin, it may be beneficial to arrange the application of ultrasound to the skin in a reliable and repeatable manner. For example, it may be beneficial to always keep the ultrasound device at a set distance away from the skin, while allowing the ultrasound to pass through with little or no attenuation of the sound waves.

[0011] This disclosure provides a technical concept for maintaining a predetermined distance between an ultrasound transducer and the skin using an ultrasound-transmittable medium. Pressure can be used to hold the ultrasound-transmittable medium in place. This can be understood in a manner similar to a syringe having one or more openings or orifices or contact with the skin. Surface tension can hold the ultrasound-transmittable medium in place. The device may include mechanisms, such as one or more plunger-type elements, which can be arranged to expel the ultrasound-transmittable medium from one or more openings in a controlled manner. When the mechanism / plunger does not move, the ultrasound-transmittable medium can be held in place. When the mechanism / plunger moves, for example, slowly, the ultrasound-transmittable medium can be expelled onto the skin.

[0012] The device can follow the same principles as a syringe. It can have an internal volume containing an ultrasound-transmitting medium, and an opening, such as a small orifice, through which the device contacts the skin to be treated. The skin contacts the ultrasound-transmitting medium through the opening. The opening can be directly below the transducer, for example, aligned with the longitudinal axis of the device at a set distance, considering the longitudinal extension of the device.

[0013] The ultrasound-transmitting medium can be held within the internal volume of the device by surface tension along the opening. Simultaneously, the device is arranged such that the distance between the ultrasound transducer and the skin ensures that the ultrasound energy acting on the skin is in the far field of the ultrasound transducer.

[0014] The ultrasound generated by the transducer can be logically divided into two regions with different physical properties: the near field and the far field. The near field has a more variable sound field that varies with the generated pressure level, while the far field always has a more uniform pressure level and is more predictable. Contacting the far field with the skin helps produce consistent results, while contacting the near field with the skin may result in varying, inconsistent, and / or unpredictable ultrasound conditions during ultrasound application.

[0015] The ultrasound-transmitting medium is not limited to liquids; it can also consist of or contain materials used in cosmetic dermatology applications. Therefore, the ultrasound-transmitting medium can not only be provided for transmitting ultrasound waves, but can also consist of or contain materials intended for application to the skin. Thus, ultrasound waves can facilitate the skin's reception of materials contained within its internal volume.

[0016] Another embodiment could be a device that operates in a manner similar to a syringe. Like a plunger moving within the barrel of a syringe, the device, for discharging material held within the internal volume of the syringe / barrel through an opening at the other end of the plunger disposed outside the barrel, can have one or more movable plunger-like elements to adjust (in particular reduce) the internal volume of the device containing the ultrasound-transmittable medium. Thus, the internal volume can be reduced such that the ultrasound-transmittable medium contained within the internal volume is discharged toward the skin through the opening. In one example, viewed in the longitudinal extension of the device, the opening can be positioned at a predetermined distance directly below the transducer to maintain the ultrasound-transmittable medium between the transducer and the skin. The distance from the opening to the transducer, the size of the opening or orifice, and the back pressure maintaining a constant flow of liquid / gel from the orifice to the skin when the device is activated can be variable parameters, depending on the specific application, the type of ultrasound-transmittable medium, and the physical parameters of the ultrasound waves.

[0017] The coupling element configured to ensure that only the far field of the ultrasound waves generated by the ultrasound transducer interacts with the skin to enhance skin permeability can also be referred to as or embodied as an accessory. The accessory or coupling element can be removable and, in particular, interchangeable, allowing selection of a specific accessory / coupling element from a plurality of different accessories / coupling elements with different sets of physical properties. Therefore, a specific accessory / coupling element can be selected such that its set of physical properties is suited to or matched with specific application requirements. For example, changing the frequency of the generated ultrasound waves and / or changing the coupling medium to a coupling medium with different physical properties may result in a change in N0 for that particular application scenario. Therefore, by changing the accessory to provide different distances N between the ultrasound transducer and the skin surface, it can be beneficial to adapt the device to varying parameters.

[0018] This ensures that all parts of the skin experience the same field, and in particular the same field parameters, to provide more uniform and reproducible results. Providing a defined distance from the transducer to the skin via a coupling medium ensures reproducible acoustic field interaction with the skin on each use. Potentially, applying ultrasound in the far field could allow for the use of higher intensities that would otherwise cause damage if the transducer were in direct contact with the skin. This disclosure provides direct coupling via an ultrasound-transmittable medium between the skin and the transducer with minimal sound pressure level attenuation.

[0019] To avoid air bubbles from entering the device, or rather the reservoir, during the stage of bringing the device into contact with the skin, an increased pressure within the reservoir can be provided, for example, by using a plunger-type element which can also be used to reduce the volume of the reservoir. In other words, to prevent air cavities from being trapped in the reservoir when the device is brought into contact with the skin, a backpressure or pressure buildup within the device (especially within the reservoir 14) can be provided, for example, from a (refillable) reservoir 14 to push the ultrasound-transmissible medium 15 out of the opening, for example, at a set flow rate. In cases where the ultrasound-transmissible medium within the reservoir of the device contains a cosmetic active substance for skin delivery, such a mechanism for discharging the ultrasound-transmissible medium from the device / opening can be further beneficial. Thus, the ultrasound-transmissible medium can be applied to the skin surface at a set flow rate while the ultrasonic waves interact with the skin to promote the interaction between the ultrasound-transmissible medium and the skin.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, N can be approximately (≈) N0 or N can be equal to (=) N0. N0 can be the value at which the near field transitions to the far field and can thus be defined by the physical properties of the coupling medium and the ultrasonic waves.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distance N0 can be calculated by the equation ; where N0 is the boundary distance / transition point between the near field and the far field; D is the diameter of the ultrasonic transducer of the circular transducer; λ is the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves; f is the frequency of the ultrasonic waves; v is the speed of the ultrasonic waves in the medium.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the distance N0 can be calculated by the equation ); where N0 is the boundary distance / transition point between the near field and the far field; a, b are the side lengths of the ultrasonic transducer of the rectangular transducer, where a < b; λ is the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves; f is the frequency of the ultrasonic waves; v is the speed of the ultrasonic waves in the medium.

[0023] Since N0 is the distance at which the near field of ultrasonic transmission enters the far field, N0 is simultaneously the minimum distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the skin surface to achieve the application of far-field ultrasonic waves to the skin. Distances less than N0, especially significantly smaller distances, can only achieve ultrasonic waves in the near field. Therefore, N0 can be adopted when determining the size of the device.

[0024] The provided equations for calculating N0 allow for determining the physical properties or dimensions of the device (e.g., the housing) required to ensure the application of ultrasonic waves in the far field. Additionally, by specifying the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves or the frequency of the ultrasonic waves and the speed of the ultrasonic waves in a particular ultrasound-transmissible medium, the device can be adapted to a range of media to be used.

[0025] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the coupling element may include a reservoir for holding the coupling medium, and the sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer may be transmitted to the skin through the coupling medium.

[0026] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the coupling medium may be a medium to be applied to the user's skin.

[0027] Therefore, a reservoir corresponding to the internal volume can be located between the ultrasound transducer and the skin. A coupling medium / ultrasound-transmissible medium can be contained within the reservoir, particularly by completely filling it, so that it provides a transmission path from the ultrasound transducer to the skin surface, which is essentially entirely through the coupling medium. The transmission of ultrasound waves can therefore be directly affected by the physical properties of the coupling medium. The reservoir can be filled and / or refilled by the user, ensuring sufficient coupling medium within the reservoir for ultrasound transmission. A user-refillable reservoir can further allow the user to select a specific coupling medium for a particular intended application. For example, in cases where the coupling medium includes a substance intended to penetrate the skin using the device, the user can select a specific coupling medium containing the desired substance, thus determining the product to be applied to the skin surface.

[0028] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the coupling medium may be a medium comprising at least one of the following: an ultrasonically transmissible medium, a non-solid medium, a liquid medium, an aqueous medium, a water-based fluid, an oil-based fluid, a water-based liquid medium, an oil-based liquid medium, an aqueous gel, and an oil-based gel.

[0029] The appropriate coupling medium allows for the preferred transmission of ultrasound waves. In particular, the wavelength of the ultrasound waves, or the frequency and speed of the ultrasound waves in the medium, allows the device to be designed as a fairly compact device that can be easily operated by the user. Furthermore, the appropriate coupling medium allows for the incorporation of substances intended for application to the skin surface into itself and / or the medium itself can be used for application to the skin surface.

[0030] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupling element may include a distal end, wherein the distal end may be adapted to be arranged adjacent to the skin of a user of the device, and wherein the distal end may include at least one opening arranged to apply a coupling medium held in a reservoir to the skin.

[0031] An opening providing contact with the skin allows the ultrasound-transmitting medium to come into direct contact with the skin. Therefore, the ultrasound energy transmitted within the ultrasound-transmitting medium can act on the medium itself, facilitating its application to the skin surface. For example, ultrasound waves transmitted through the ultrasound-transmitting medium can act to provide localized forces on the molecules of the medium. This allows the ultrasound-transmitting medium to transmit the forces of molecules located near the skin surface to the skin, thereby achieving the application of the medium to the skin surface.

[0032] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic transducer can be arranged to generate a sound field in the direction of at least one opening.

[0033] The appropriate arrangement allows for a simplified device construction because it facilitates contact between the ultrasonic transducer and the ultrasonic transmission medium, as well as the propagation of ultrasonic waves through the ultrasonic transmission medium toward the opening. Furthermore, it allows for the selection of a wide variety of ultrasonic transducers, as such an orientation allows for the use of transmitters exhibiting omnidirectional, hemispherical, or further focused emission modes, with the focus in the direction of the opening.

[0034] According to embodiments of this disclosure, at least one opening can be aligned with the ultrasonic transducer along the longitudinal axis of the device.

[0035] The appropriate arrangement can provide optimal transmission of ultrasound waves from the ultrasound-transmitting medium to the skin surface because the opening can present its maximum diameter to the incoming ultrasound waves emitted from the ultrasound transducer. In other words, the plane with the opening can be substantially parallel to the incoming ultrasound waves.

[0036] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the size of at least one opening can be designed to retain the coupling medium in the reservoir by its surface tension when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating a sound field.

[0037] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one opening may include a mesh element to retain the coupling medium in a reservoir when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating an acoustic field.

[0038] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, at least one opening may include a medium-permeable element to retain the coupling medium in a reservoir when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating an acoustic field.

[0039] Therefore, it prevents the medium from leaving the reservoir when the device is not in operation. In other words, it prevents the medium from leaking out of the device. In particular, the mesh element or media-permeable element can allow for an increase in the effective diameter of the opening while preventing accidental leakage of the medium to the outside. The increase in the effective diameter of the opening, in turn, allows for more efficient transmission of ultrasound waves to the skin surface and / or application of ultrasound-transmittable media to the skin surface.

[0040] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the device may further include a movable element, wherein the movable element may be arranged to controllably reduce the volume of the reservoir in order to discharge the coupling medium from the at least one opening.

[0041] Here, the device may include a syringe function that allows coupling medium to be controlledly discharged from the internal volume of the reservoir to the outside of the device through at least one opening to apply an ultrasound-transmittable medium to the skin surface. By controlling the rate of volume reduction, the amount of ultrasound-transmittable medium applied to the skin can be adapted to the operation of the device. Furthermore, the amount of ultrasound-transmittable medium applied to the skin can be adapted to the medium itself, its physical properties, such as viscosity, or the amount of active material within the ultrasound-transmittable medium to be applied to the skin surface. For example, the amount of ultrasound-transmittable medium containing 10% active material applied to the skin surface may only need to be half the amount of ultrasound-transmittable medium containing 5% active material. The device may be arranged to receive instructions regarding such properties of the ultrasound-transmittable medium. Alternatively or additionally, the device may be arranged to receive instructions from a user regarding the recommended amount or volume of medium to be applied over a defined time period. The variation in the amount or volume of the applied medium over time may also depend on, or be adapted to, the physical properties of the generated ultrasound waves.

[0042] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the device can be arranged to discharge the coupling medium from at least one opening through the generated sound field.

[0043] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, an ultrasonic transducer may be arranged to generate cavitation in the region of at least one opening via the generated sound field.

[0044] The propagation of ultrasound within an ultrasound-transmitting medium can cause the medium to exit through at least one opening. For example, ultrasound can excite molecules in the ultrasound-transmitting medium, which then react by increasing localized motion, potentially leading to the exit of the medium through at least one opening. It is conceivable that this exit could be combined with exit through a controlled reduction in the volume of a reservoir as described above.

[0045] In particular, cavitation occurring in the region of at least one opening can facilitate the discharge of the medium from the internal volume of the reservoir to the user's skin, thereby applying the ultrasonically transmissible medium to the user's skin.

[0046] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, the coupling element may be arranged to change the distance N to adapt the distance N to at least one characteristic of the generated sound wave / sound field and / or the coupling medium, and / or the ultrasonic transducer may be arranged to adapt at least one characteristic of the generated sound wave / sound field to the coupling medium and / or the distance N, wherein the at least one characteristic may be one of the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, and the velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the coupling medium.

[0047] For example, the distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the opening can be changed by altering the length of the coupling element, specifically depending on one or more physical properties of the ultrasonic wave and / or the coupling medium. For instance, in cases where the coupling element is at least two cylindrical or tubular elements, with one element at least partially disposed within the other, the length can be changed by moving one of the cylindrical or tubular elements relative to the other cylindrical or tubular element. Alternatively or additionally, the position of the ultrasonic transducer within the internal volume of the reservoir can be altered. For example, the ultrasonic transducer can be moved closer to or further away from the opening, thereby adapting the effective distance between the ultrasonic transducer and the opening to one or more physical properties of the ultrasonic wave and / or the coupling medium.

[0048] According to embodiments of this disclosure, N0 can be in the range of 1 mm to 100 mm and / or the frequency f can be in the range of 20 kHz to 10 MHz and / or the diameter D can be in the range of 1 cm to 10 cm and / or the intensity of the sound field can be in the range of 0.01 to 10 W / cm. 2 Within a certain range. Specifically, N0 can be in the range of 10 mm to 90 mm, more specifically, N0 can be in the range of 20 mm to 80 mm, more specifically, N0 can be in the range of 30 mm to 75 mm, more specifically, N0 can be in the range of 40 mm to 70 mm, more specifically, N0 can be in the range of 50 mm to 65 mm, and more specifically, N0 can be about 60 mm or in the range of about 60 mm. Furthermore, specifically, the intensity of the sound field can be 0.01 W / cm². 2 Up to 8 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.02 W / cm². 2 Up to 5 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.03 W / cm². 2 Up to 3 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.04 W / cm². 2 Up to 1 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.04 W / cm². 2 Up to 0.5 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.045 W / cm². 2 Up to 0.01 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.05 W / cm². 2 Up to 0.08 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the sound field intensity can be as low as 0.055 W / cm².2 Up to 0.06 W / cm 2 Within this range, and more specifically, the intensity of the sound field can be or is approximately 0.058 W / cm². 2 .

[0049] According to embodiments of this disclosure, the generated sound field can generate cavitation in the skin region.

[0050] Inducing cavitation in areas of the skin or skin surface allows for preferred interaction with the skin, or in other words, preferred interaction between the skin, the transmitted ultrasound energy, and / or the coupling medium / ultrasound-transmitting medium. Particularly where the ultrasound-transmitting medium includes other substances designed to interact with or be applied to the skin / skin surface, cavitation can allow for the local introduction or provision of increased energy levels. Inducing cavitation while ensuring the ultrasound transducer is sufficiently distanced from the skin allows for the generation or use of increased levels of ultrasound energy, while ensuring the skin surface is not damaged, irritated, or otherwise negatively affected. Attached Figure Description

[0051] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0052] Figure 2 Another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure is shown.

[0053] Figure 3 An exemplary application scenario of an apparatus for media delivery according to this disclosure is shown.

[0054] Figure 4 Another exemplary application scenario of the apparatus for media delivery according to this disclosure is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0055] Now for reference Figure 1 This illustrates an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure.

[0056] It is only depicted schematically. Figure 1 The device 10 is used for media delivery. The device 10 includes an electromechanical portion 11 that houses the electrical, electronic, and / or mechanical components of the device 10; however, in... Figure 1 Not shown in further detail. Device 10 includes an ultrasonic transducer 12, which in this embodiment is partially arranged within a reservoir or internal volume 14. It is also conceivable that the ultrasonic transducer 12 is only adjacent to a boundary or wall of the reservoir 14. The reservoir 14 includes a coupling medium in the form of an ultrasonically transmittable medium 15. Figure 1In the illustrated embodiment, the ultrasonic transmissible medium 15 substantially completely fills the reservoir 14. The ultrasonic transducer 12 is secured to the appropriate location of the device housing (e.g., electromechanical part 11) by retaining structures (including, for example, mechanical snaps).

[0057] The reservoir 14 includes an opening or aperture 16 at which it opens to the outside of the device 10. The opening 16 is the manner in which the ultrasonically transmissible medium 15 exits the reservoir 14 and thus the device 10. The ultrasonic transducer 12 is arranged to emit ultrasonic waves from its lower side 12a, waves that are not... Figure 1 The distance N-18 between the lower side 12a from which the ultrasound wave is emitted and the opening 16 is depicted as a black arrow. From Figure 1 As can be seen, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is arranged such that the region from which it emits ultrasonic waves (i.e., its lower side 12a) is opposite to the opening 16. In other words, the ultrasonic transducer 12 is adapted to emit ultrasonic waves in the direction of the opening 16.

[0058] The ultrasonic transducer 12 may have a frequency in the range of 20 kHz to 10 MHz and may be embedded within the device 10. The storage device 14 can be considered as a coupling element that provides offset between the ultrasonic transducer 12 / its lower side 12a and the opening 16. It can be seen that the offset corresponds to the distance N 18.

[0059] As described above, the reservoir 14 may be filled with an ultrasonically transmittable medium 15, which may be a fluid, such as water or other desired or suitable liquid or fluid. Alternatively or additionally, the reservoir 14 may also be filled with a gel or cream or other medium capable of transmitting ultrasonic energy or waves.

[0060] Figure 1 Not shown, device 10 is intended to contact the skin in the area of ​​opening 16, which can be a circular hole, a mesh, or any other suitable element that allows the transmission or propagation of ultrasound and / or ultrasound-transmittable medium 15. The size of opening 16 can be selected to be large enough to cover a sufficiently large skin area to deliver ultrasound energy and / or ultrasound-transmittable medium 15, but simultaneously small enough to ensure the influence of surface tension on ultrasound-transmittable medium 15 and / or to ensure that ultrasound-transmittable medium does not leak. The size of opening 16 can vary depending on the ultrasound-transmittable medium 15 used in device 10. An effective opening 16 can be made larger by using elements such as a mesh comprising multiple holes, thereby enabling the coverage of a larger skin surface area while still preventing leakage.

[0061] For example, Figure 1The reservoir 14 is cylindrical in shape, but can have any suitable or feasible shape or cross-section, such as conical, rectangular, etc. The reservoir 14 / coupling element ensures that the ultrasonic transducer 12 is positioned at a predetermined distance N>=N0 from the opening 16, ensuring that the skin area arranged near the opening 16 is located in or at the boundary of the ultrasonic waves generated by the ultrasonic transducer 12. The far field provides a more predictable wave in terms of the generated pressure. It also ensures that the ultrasonic transducer 12 is reliably coupled to the skin, as ultrasonic waves in the near field may not reliably transmit their energy, or at least most of it, to the skin. The transducer 12 can be unfocused or focused above the aperture or grid. An unfocused transducer can be a transducer with an ultrasonic generating element shaped as a planar or flat ceramic. A focused transducer can have a set radius of curvature to focus the sound field at a point at a defined distance (e.g., 50 mm) in front of the transducer. Alternatively, a focusing transducer can also be an unfocused transducer, which also includes an acoustic lens in front of the transducer to focus the sound field at a defined distance in front of the transducer.

[0062] Now for reference Figure 2 This illustrates another exemplary embodiment of an apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure.

[0063] Figure 2 The embodiments generally correspond to Figure 1 Examples of implementations. Besides... Figure 1 In addition, Figure 2 Examples of the embodiments include a plunger-type element 20, in Figure 2 They are arranged, by way of example, on the opposite side of the ultrasonic transducer 12. Figure 2 The plunger-type element 20 depicted may be a standalone element, or it may actually be a single element that operates uniformly on the side of the ultrasonic transducer 12 or at least partially surrounds the ultrasonic transducer 12. Typically, the device 10 for media delivery 10 according to this disclosure may include any suitable arrangement of one or more plunger-type elements 20 adapted to controllably reduce the internal volume of the reservoir 14.

[0064] Figure 2 The plunger-type element 20 in the device 10 is exemplarily moved downward toward the end or side of the device 10 where the opening 16 is arranged. This reduces the internal volume of the reservoir 14, allowing the ultrasonically transmittable medium 15 to be discharged from the opening 16, as indicated by arrow 24. In other words, the device 10 is arranged to discharge the ultrasonically transmittable medium 15 from the opening 16 while the ultrasonic transducer 12 can generate ultrasonic waves. Therefore, the discharged ultrasonically transmittable medium 15 can be applied to or act on the skin surface of the user of the device 10, as shown in the following figures.

[0065] Now for reference Figure 3This illustrates an exemplary application scenario of an apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure.

[0066] Figure 3 Again Figure 1 The embodiments depicted herein. However, Figure 3 and Figure 4 Examples of exemplary application scenarios can also be used. Figure 2 This is achieved through device 10.

[0067] exist Figure 3 In this arrangement, the lower end of the device 10 is positioned to contact the user's skin 32. In other words, the opening 16 of the device 10 is positioned near the skin surface of the skin 32, such that ultrasonic waves 30 emitted from the ultrasonic transducer 12 (particularly from its lower end 12a) are transmitted to the skin surface via the ultrasonic transmission medium 15 while passing through the opening 16. The ultrasonic transmission medium 15 also contacts the surface of the user's skin 32 through the opening 16, allowing the ultrasonic waves 30 to propagate directly from the ultrasonic transducer 12 to the skin 32 via the ultrasonic transmission medium 15. The ultrasonic waves 30 reaching the skin 32 can provide the desired effect to the skin 32, particularly to the surface of the skin 32, and / or facilitate the application of the ultrasonic transmission medium 15 to the surface of the skin 32.

[0068] The distance between the ultrasonic transducer 12 and the opening 16, and therefore the distance between the transducer 12 and the skin surface of the skin 32, is again distance N-18, as depicted by the black arrow. Therefore, the ultrasonic wave 30 operates in the far field of the ultrasonic wave emitted by the ultrasonic transducer 12, or at the boundary between the near and far fields.

[0069] Now for reference Figure 4 This illustrates another exemplary application scenario of the apparatus for media delivery according to the present disclosure.

[0070] generally, Figure 4 Application scenarios corresponding to Figure 3 The application scenario differs in that the device 10 is arranged and operated to induce cavitation 40 within the ultrasound-transmitting medium 15 in the area of ​​the opening 16. Cavitation 40 can occur only at the point where the ultrasound-transmitting medium 15 is in direct contact with the user's skin, and the ultrasound waves 30 can be directly focused onto that point / opening 16 / skin 32 in the area of ​​the opening 16.

[0071] Setting the distance between the ultrasound transducer 12 and the skin 32 to the far field or the boundary distance between the near and far fields allows the transducer to operate with a higher amplitude and intensity than a transducer in direct skin contact. In the case of direct contact, cavitation may not even be achieved, otherwise ultrasound transducer contact with the skin may cause skin damage, irritation, or other adverse effects.

Claims

1. A device for delivering a medium to a user's skin, comprising: An ultrasonic transducer, arranged to generate a sound field to act on the skin, and Coupling element, The coupling element is arranged to position the ultrasound transducer at a predetermined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin, and Where N0 is the boundary distance between the near field and far field of the sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, Where N≈N0 or N=N0.

3. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The distance N0 is calculated using the following equation: Where N0 is the boundary distance / transition point between the near field and the far field; D is the diameter of the circular ultrasonic transducer; λ is the wavelength of ultrasound. f is the frequency of the ultrasound wave; v is the speed of the ultrasonic wave in the medium.

4. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The distance N0 is calculated using the following equation: ） in, N0 is the boundary distance / transition point between the near field and the far field; a and b are the side lengths of the ultrasonic transducer in the rectangular transducer, where a <b; λ is the wavelength of ultrasound. f is the frequency of the ultrasound wave; v is the speed of the ultrasonic wave in the medium.

5. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, The coupling element includes a storage device for holding the coupling medium, and The sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the skin through the coupling medium.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, The coupling medium is the medium to be delivered to the user's skin.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 and 6, in, The coupling medium is a medium from the group consisting of at least one of the following: ultrasonically transmissible media, non-solid media, liquid media, aqueous media, water-based fluids, oil-based fluids, water-based liquid media, oil-based liquid media, water-based gels, and oil-based gels.

8. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7, in, The coupling element includes a distal end, The distal end is adapted to be placed on the skin of a user adjacent to the device, and The distal end includes at least one opening, the at least one opening being arranged to apply a coupling medium held in the reservoir to the skin.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, in, The ultrasonic transducer is arranged to generate a sound field in the direction of the at least one opening, and / or The at least one opening is aligned with the ultrasonic transducer along the longitudinal axis of the device.

10. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 and 9, The size of the at least one opening is designed to retain the coupling medium in the reservoir by its surface tension when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating an acoustic field, and / or The at least one of the openings includes a mesh element to retain the coupling medium in the reservoir when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating an acoustic field, and / or The at least one opening includes a medium-permeable element to retain the coupling medium in the reservoir when the ultrasonic transducer is not generating an acoustic field.

11. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10, further comprising: Movable components The movable element is arranged to controllably reduce the volume of the reservoir for discharging the coupling medium from the at least one opening.

12. The apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 10, in, The device is arranged to discharge the coupling medium from the at least one opening through the generated sound field.

13. The apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 12, in, The ultrasonic transducer is arranged to generate cavitation in the region of the at least one opening via the generated sound field.

14. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The coupling element is arranged to vary the distance N so that the distance N adapts to at least one characteristic of the generated sound field and / or the coupling medium, and / or The ultrasonic transducer is arranged such that at least one characteristic of the generated sound field is adapted to the coupling medium and / or the distance N; The at least one of the following characteristics is the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave, the frequency of the ultrasonic wave, and the velocity of the ultrasonic wave in the coupling medium.

15. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, Where N0 is in the range of 1 mm to 60 mm; and / or The frequency f is in the range of 20 kHz to 10 MHz; and / or The diameter D is in the range of 1 cm to 10 cm; and / or The intensity of the sound field is said to be between 0.01 and 10 W / cm². 2 Within the range.

16. An apparatus for delivering a medium to a user's skin, comprising: Ultrasonic transducers, and Coupling element, The coupling element is arranged to position the ultrasound transducer at a predetermined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the skin. The coupling element includes a storage device for holding the coupling medium, and The sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the skin through the coupling medium.

17. A method for delivering a medium to a user's skin, comprising the steps of: An ultrasonic transducer is positioned at a predetermined distance N ≥ ≈ N0 from the user's skin, and a sound field is generated using the ultrasonic transducer to act on the skin. Where N0 is the boundary distance between the near field and far field of the ultrasonic transducer's acoustic field.

18. The method according to claim 17, The sound field generated by the ultrasonic transducer is transmitted to the skin through the coupling medium.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, in, The coupling medium is a medium to be applied to the user's skin, which is from the group consisting of at least one of the following: ultrasound-transmissible media, non-solid media, liquid media, aqueous media, water-based fluids, oil-based fluids, water-based liquid media, oil-based liquid media, water-based gels, and oil-based gels.

20. The method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, Cavitation is generated in the region of the skin via the generated sound field.

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