Care device

Abstract

A care device (2) for medical or cosmetic applications comprises a base unit (4) which includes an electrical control / supply unit (6), a suction device (8), and a collection container (10), a motor handpiece (12) which forms a receptacle (20) between a suction end (16) and a connection end (18) in which an electric motor (22) is held for driving a tool holder (26) arranged at the suction end (16), on which a tool (24) can be received, and a hose (28) via which the connection end (18) of the motor handpiece (12) can be fluidically connected to the base unit (4). The care device (2) is provided to have a cleaning mode device (40) for activating a cleaning mode by means of which a predetermined suction power of the suction device (8) can be set and a cleaning information output (44) can be activated simultaneously.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a care device for medical or cosmetic applications for medical foot care (podiatry), cosmetic foot care (pedicure), cosmetic hand care (manicure), and / or nail design according to the preamble of claim 1. The care device comprises a base unit with an electrical control / power supply unit, a suction device, and a collection container. Furthermore, the care device includes a motor handpiece that forms a receptacle between a suction end and a connection end. This receptacle houses an electric motor for driving a tool holder located at the suction end, into which a tool can be inserted or otherwise attached. A flexible hose is also provided through which the connection end of the motor handpiece can be fluidically connected to the base unit or its collection container.In addition, an electrical conductor can be incorporated into the hose, through which the electric motor can be connected to the electrical control / supply unit of the base unit in order to supply and control it with power.

[0002] When using such care devices, particles, particularly skin and horn particles from feet or hands, or from toenails or fingernails, are drawn in through the suction nozzle and transported to the collection container. These particles are then removed by the rotating tool during medical or cosmetic treatment. Over time, some of these particles can accumulate in the motor handpiece or in the hose. To prevent these accumulated particles from falling out of the suction nozzle when the suction device is switched off or at the beginning of a use, the care device should be cleaned regularly, especially on the inside of the motor handpiece and the hose.

[0003] DE 10 2012 005 178 B4 describes a medical or cosmetic processing device, which can be used, for example, for foot care, with a handpiece on which a rotary tool can be driven and an extraction flow can simultaneously be generated via a vent. In a cleaning mode in which the rotary tool is removed, a sealing element is used to seal the vent, so that a cleaning airflow can be generated via a tool holder for the rotary tool.

[0004] A disadvantage of the known processing device is that the cleaning mode is relatively cumbersome due to the required sealing element, and sufficient cleaning cannot be achieved in certain areas of the motor handpiece and / or the hose.

[0005] The object of the invention is to avoid the aforementioned disadvantages in a generic care device and to achieve simple and thorough cleaning of the motor handpiece and the hose.

[0006] This problem is solved by a cleaning device with the features of claim 1. The cleaning device includes a cleaning mode device by means of which a cleaning mode can be activated. For this purpose, a predetermined suction power or speed of the suction device can be set by means of the cleaning mode device, in particular an increased suction power or speed compared to normal operation, and a cleaning information output can be activated simultaneously. This sets an operating state at the cleaning device, or at its suction device, that is also suitable for the intended cleaning of embedded particles. At the same time, by activating the cleaning information output, information about the cleaning mode can be displayed, such as its status or duration, or about the handling of the cleaning device during the cleaning mode.The information provided is tailored to a predetermined cleaning process and may, in particular, contain information for optimized cleaning by a user.

[0007] Advantageously, the cleaning information output features an optical display located on the base unit, making the relevant information available to the consumer in a convenient and easily perceptible form.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, an animation can be generated on the optical display in order to present the information in a particularly easy-to-understand form. The animation can, in particular, consist of at least two images displayed in a temporal sequence to create the impression of movement.

[0009] Furthermore, it is advantageous if the cleaning mode device also allows the drive of the tool holder to be stopped or deactivated, thus preventing injuries and damage from the rotating tool holder in cleaning mode, especially when the tool is still in place.

[0010] Advantageously, the predetermined suction capacity of the suction device, which is increased compared to normal operating conditions, exhibits a negative pressure of at least 60 mbar, preferably more than 100 mbar. This allows a relatively strong suction flow to be generated, ensuring the most thorough possible cleaning of the motor handpiece and hose.

[0011] Furthermore, the aforementioned problem is solved by a method for cleaning a care device in one of the aforementioned embodiments, in which, during cleaning mode, the suction device is operated with the predetermined suction power and cleaning information is simultaneously output. This establishes a suitable suction flow for cleaning and simultaneously outputs information that includes, in particular, instructions for handling the care device that are adapted to this suction flow, in order to enable optimized cleaning by the user.

[0012] It is advantageous if the cleaning information is presented in the form of an animation to make it particularly easy to understand.

[0013] Advantageously, the animation shows an animated hand movement performed alongside a visual model of the motor handpiece. This allows the user to easily understand how to operate the device. In particular, it can demonstrate to the user that the suction end of the motor handpiece must be manually closed and opened repeatedly. This creates a predetermined suction flow, which then abruptly releases a vacuum in the intake and tubing. This generates pressure surges that more effectively loosen and remove particles, dust cakes in the collection container, and plugs in the tubing that have become lodged along the flow path.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the cleaning method, the cleaning mode is automatically terminated after a predetermined cleaning duration in order to make the maintenance device available for a new application as soon as possible after sufficient cleaning.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous to deactivate the drive of the tool holder in cleaning mode to avoid injuries and damage caused by the rotating tool holder, especially when a tool is still inserted.

[0016] It should be noted that all the features of the object according to the invention described above are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

[0017] The figures illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the invention. They show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a care device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a top view of the care device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a view of a touch-sensitive display of the care device Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 a longitudinal section view of a motor handpiece of the care device according to Fig. 1.

[0018] The Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a care device 2 for the medical and / or cosmetic treatment of feet, in particular by removing skin particles. For this purpose, the care device 2 has a base unit 4 in which an electrical control / supply unit 6, a suction device 8, and a collection container 10 are housed. The control / supply unit 6 has, for example, an integrated power supply and a control unit. Alternatively, the power supply can also be arranged outside the base unit 4. Furthermore, the control / supply unit 6 has a display D that is at least partially touch-sensitive for inputting control instructions and outputting information. The suction device 8 is essentially formed by a blower, by means of which a negative pressure can be created in the collection container 10, thereby generating a suction flow S directed towards it.

[0019] Furthermore, the care device 2 has a motor handpiece 12 with a handpiece housing 14. The handpiece housing 14 extends between a suction end 16 and a connection end 18 and forms a receptacle 20. An electric motor 22 is housed in the receptacle 20, which serves to drive a tool 24 that can be interchangeably attached to a tool holder 26 provided at the suction end 16.

[0020] The connecting end 18 of the motor handpiece 12 is fluidically connected via a hose 28 to the suction device 8 of the base unit 4 via the collection container 10 with respect to the generated suction flow S. In addition, a cable-like electrical conductor 30 is contained in the hose 28, which connects the electric motor 22 to the electrical control / supply unit 6 of the base unit 4.

[0021] As from Fig. As can be seen from Figure 3, the display D features an on / off switch 32 and / or a speed controller 34 as a touch-sensitive virtual input interface for switching on, off, and adjusting the control / supply unit 6. Alternatively, both input interfaces can also be implemented using analog buttons or switches or controllers.

[0022] Additionally, a cleaning mode device 40 is provided on the display D. This device has an activation button 42, which is exemplified as a touch-sensitive virtual on / off button. Alternatively, the activation button 42 can also be a mechanical button or switch. Furthermore, the cleaning mode device 40 has a cleaning information output 44, which can preferably be displayed as an optical display 46 on the display D.

[0023] The operating principle of care device 2 is as follows: By pressing the on / off switch 32, the care device 2 can be switched on to perform a medical or cosmetic treatment on a foot. Using the speed controller 34, the speed of the suction device 8 can be adjusted via the control / supply unit 6 to set the desired suction power for generating an aspiration flow S, as described in Fig. Figure 4 shows this intake flow S enters the intake 20 of the handpiece housing 14 via the intake end 16, where it flows along a flow path past the electric motor 22 to the connection end 18 and further into the hose 28.

[0024] Simultaneously, the tool holder 26, to which the tool 24 is attached, is driven by the electric motor 22. During treatment, particles, particularly skin and nail particles, are removed using this tool. These particles are drawn in by the suction flow S at the suction end 16 and conveyed to the collection container 10 via the motor handpiece 12 and the hose 28. After completion of the application, the treatment device 2 can then be switched off again by pressing the on / off switch 32.

[0025] During such an application, particles can become lodged, particularly on the motor handpiece 12 and in the hose 28, which cannot be captured or removed by the intake flow S generated during operation.

[0026] To prevent these particles from falling out of the suction end 16, particularly before or during the start of a new application, cleaning can be performed between applications. For this purpose, the activation button 42 of the cleaning mode device 40 is pressed, thereby activating a cleaning mode of the maintenance device 2. In this mode, the control / supply unit 6 sets a predetermined speed or a relatively high predetermined suction power of the suction device 8, which is higher than the speed used in normal operation and results in a vacuum of at least 60 mbar, preferably more than 100 mbar.

[0027] Simultaneously, in this cleaning mode, the cleaning information output 44 is activated via the control / supply unit 6, generating an animation 48 on its optical display 46. The animation 48 consists of an animated movement of a depicted hand H, which is repeatedly applied to and removed from a depicted suction end E of an optical model of the motor handpiece M.

[0028] In cleaning mode, this provides the user with the information to repeatedly close and release the suction end 16 of the motor handpiece 12 in order to generate recurring flow pulses with the help of the predetermined suction power of the suction device 8, which is increased in particular compared to the application operation. These pulses help to better detach accumulated particles from the motor handpiece 12 and the hose so that they can be transported away via the flow path, and also, for example, to better remove dust cakes in the area of ​​the collection container.

[0029] The control / supply unit 6 is designed to deactivate the electric motor 22 in cleaning mode in order to prevent injuries or damage caused by the rotating tool holder 26 or a tool 24 attached to it.

[0030] Furthermore, it is provided that the control / supply unit 6 automatically ends the cleaning mode after a predetermined time, such as 5 to 30 seconds, in order to make the care device 2 available again for medical or cosmetic use after sufficient cleaning.

[0031] It should be noted that all the elements and features described above of the various embodiments of the object according to the invention are interchangeable or combinable with each other, provided that such an exchange or combination is not excluded for technical reasons.

Claims

[1] Care device (2) for medical or cosmetic applications with a base unit (4) comprising an electrical control / supply unit (6), a suction device (8) and a collection container (10), a motor handpiece (12) which forms a receptacle (20) between a suction end (16) and a connection end (18), in which an electric motor (22) is held for driving a tool receptacle (26) arranged at the suction end (16), on which a tool (24) can be received, and a hose (28) via which the connecting end (18) of the motor handpiece (12) can be connected to the base unit (4) in terms of flow, characterized by , that the care device (2) has a cleaning mode device (40) for activating a cleaning mode by means of which a predetermined suction power of the suction device (8) can be set and a cleaning information output (44) can be activated at the same time. [2] Care device according to claim 1, characterized by , that the cleaning information output (44) has an optical display (46) arranged on the base unit (4). [3] Care device according to claim 2, characterized by , that an animation (48) can be generated on the optical display (46). [4] Care device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that the drive of the tool holder (26) can also be deactivated by means of the cleaning mode device (40). [5] Care device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the predetermined suction capacity of the suction device (8) has a negative pressure of at least 60 mbar, preferably more than 100 mbar. [6] Method for cleaning a care device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by, that in cleaning mode the suction device (8) is operated with the predetermined suction power and cleaning information is output simultaneously. [7] Cleaning method according to claim 6, characterized by , that the cleaning information is displayed in the form of an animation (48). [8] Cleaning method according to one of claims 7, characterized by , that the animation (48) represents a movement of a displayed hand (H) being performed adjacent to an optical model of the motor handpiece (M). [9] Cleaning method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized by that the cleaning mode ends automatically after a predetermined cleaning duration. [10] Cleaning method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized by , that in cleaning mode the drive of the tool holder (26) is additionally deactivated.

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