HAND-held device for local skin piercing

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a hand-held device for locally piercing skin. background

[0002] Such a handheld device is used to locally puncture human or animal skin, for example, to create a tattoo or for medical or cosmetic applications. For example, local puncture of the skin can be used to introduce a dye into the upper layers of the skin, for example, to create a tattoo or permanent makeup. However, the introduction of medical or cosmetic substances can also be intended.

[0003] Conventional handheld devices comprise a housing in which a drive device, for example an electric motor, is arranged. During operation, this drive force is transmitted via a coupling device to a piercing device in the housing, so that the piercing device is moved back and forth. The skin is usually punctured at the end of the forward movement, and the piercing needles of the piercing device used for this purpose are withdrawn from the skin again by means of the backward movement. At least in the extended position, the needle tips of the piercing needle(s) are arranged outside a front housing opening of the housing so that they can be inserted into the skin.The penetration depth into the skin depends, among other things, on the length by which the piercing needles protrude from the front housing opening and the length of the working stroke that the piercing needles perform when moving into the extended (front) position.

[0004] US 2018 / 0369553 A1 concerns a tattoo machine with removable, sterilizable parts.

[0005] US 8,522,647 B1 relates to an eccentric gear for a tattoo machine, wherein the throwing depth of the needle can be adjusted by the user by means of the eccentric gear.

[0006] US 2018 / 0369553 A1 relates to a pen-type microneedling device.

[0007] DE 103 43 590 A1 an attachment module for tattoo and permanent make-up (PMU) devices with a protective cover for single use.

[0008] DE 10 2005 058 767 A1 refers to a hygiene module which is used in the creation of tattoos or permanent make-up on the human body and which regulates the ink supply and generates minimal particles through the lifting movement of the needle system.

[0009] US 2013 / 0123825 A1 relates to a device for piercing organic tissue, in particular human or animal skin. Summary

[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a hand-held device for local skin piercing with improved operating characteristics.

[0011] To solve this problem, a handheld device for locally piercing skin is provided according to claim 1. Further embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

[0012] According to one aspect, a handheld device for locally piercing skin is provided, comprising: a housing; a drive device arranged in the housing and configured to provide a drive force; a piercing device arranged in the housing and having at least one piercing needle arranged on a needle carrier; and a coupling device arranged in the housing and connecting the drive device to the piercing device such that the drive force can be transmitted to the piercing device in order to repeatedly move the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle between a front and a rear position during operation.The coupling device has a lever mechanism which is configured to receive a drive stroke provided by the drive device via an input of the lever mechanism when transmitting the drive force on the drive side, to convert the drive stroke into a working stroke which is different from the drive stroke, and to deliver the working stroke to the lancing device via an output of the lever mechanism.

[0013] The lever mechanism provided in the coupling device allows the drive stroke provided on the drive side to be specifically modified to transfer the drive force from the drive device to the lancing device. The lever mechanism converts the drive stroke into a working stroke, which is different from the drive stroke. This allows a working stroke to be provided for the operation of the lancing device that is not limited to the drive stroke provided on the drive side. Depending on the desired design of the handheld device, the drive stroke provided on the drive side can be modified and converted into the working stroke for the specific application.

[0014] The lever mechanism can be configured to convert the drive stroke with a drive stroke length into the working stroke with a working stroke length that differs from the drive stroke length. In this embodiment, the drive stroke is extended with the aid of the lever mechanism, which, for example, allows for a greater needle projection of the piercing needle tips relative to the front housing opening, thereby optionally allowing a greater penetration depth during operation of the handheld device for localized skin piercing.

[0015] The working stroke can be greater than the drive stroke. Alternatively, the working stroke can be less than the drive stroke. This makes it possible to use a drive device in handheld devices that are intended to provide a working stroke during operation that is shorter or smaller than the drive stroke provided by the drive device.

[0016] In various applications, the lever mechanism can be used to reverse or invert the direction of movement of the original drive stroke for the working stroke.

[0017] The lever mechanism can be formed with at least two interacting levers. The at least two interacting levers can be pivotally mounted on a bearing component, for example, in a respective associated bearing. Limiting means are associated with the respective bearing, which limit the pivoting or rotational movement of the respective lever during operation of the lever mechanism during stroke conversion.

[0018] The lever mechanism can be designed as a rigid lever mechanism between the input and the output. A rigid lever mechanism means, in particular, that elements or components of the lever mechanism, for example, the at least two interacting levers, are firmly connected to one another; for example, a distance between the respective bearings of the lever mechanism is consistently fixed during operation. Due to the fixed connection formed by the rigid lever mechanism, a (force) transmission characteristic formed by the lever mechanism between the input and the output can remain constant at all times during operation for moving the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle back and forth.

[0019] The needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle can be displaceable against a restoring force provided by a restoring device when displacing from the rear to the front position, and the restoring force can be configured to at least partially provide a total restoring force that is to be applied for displacing the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle from the front position to the rear position. After being displaced into the front position, which is an extended position with respect to the front housing opening for the piercing needle tip(s), the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle is displaced back into the rear position with the aid of the total restoring force.

[0020] This displacement between the front and rear positions is carried out repeatedly during operation at a repetition frequency so that the handheld device can be used to locally puncture skin multiple times. The restoring force optionally provided by the restoring device can, in one embodiment, fully correspond to the total restoring force. The restoring device can have one or more restoring elements, which are formed, for example, from one spring element or several spring elements. In this case, it can be provided that the spring elements are stretched when the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle is moved into the front position and thus develop the restoring force, which is then coupled to move the needle carrier back (retraction) onto this or another element of the moving parts, for example the piercing device.For example, the lever mechanism can also be configured to generate a proportional restoring force or a total restoring force, in particular based on the effect of a torque around the pivot point of one or more levers.

[0021] As an alternative to providing a reset device, the hand-held device can be designed free of such an (optionally supplementary) reset device, in such a way that, with the inclusion of the lever mechanism, a (in particular releasable) rigid (non-positive) coupling is formed between the drive device and the lancing device, so that - in addition to the drive force for shifting into the front position (compression force) - the return force for shifting from the front to the rear position is also provided directly by the drive device and is transmitted to the lancing device via the rigid (non-positive) connection (tensile force).

[0022] In the housing, a sealing membrane can seal off a front housing chamber from a rear housing chamber. The front housing chamber can open towards the front housing opening. The sealing membrane prevents, in particular, body fluid that can enter the front housing chamber through the front housing opening when the handheld device is used to locally puncture the skin from then also penetrating the rear housing chamber. The drive device can be at least partially accommodated in the rear housing chamber. The lancing device, in particular the needle carrier with the at least one lancing needle, can be at least partially arranged in the front housing chamber.

[0023] The return device can be formed with the sealing membrane in such a way that the return force is at least partially generated when one or more elastic membrane sections of the sealing membrane are stretched when the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle is moved from the rear to the front position. If the needle carrier with the at least one piercing needle is moved to the front position during operation, the elastic membrane sections of the sealing membrane stretch, so that the return or retraction force is provided by the sealing membrane itself.A coupling section of the sealing membrane is firmly connected, in particular non-slipping, to the needle carrier, either directly or indirectly via an intermediate component, so that the elastic membrane sections are stretched when moved into the front position and then the sealing membrane can couple its restoring force onto the needle carrier in order to support its displacement from the front to the rear position or to cause it alone.

[0024] The lever mechanism can be arranged in the rear housing space. In this way, the lever mechanism is sealed from the front housing space by means of the sealing membrane. The lever mechanism can be arranged at least partially in the front housing space.

[0025] The needle carrier of the lancing device can be connected directly to the output of the lever mechanism. Alternatively, an indirect connection or coupling between the needle carrier and the lever mechanism can be formed via an intermediate component associated with the needle carrier, for example, via one or more connecting components.

[0026] An output element, on which the output of the lever mechanism is formed, can be pivotably mounted in an associated receptacle on the needle carrier of the lancing device. For example, a lever section of one of the levers of the lever mechanism, extending substantially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the housing, can be pivotably received in the associated receptacle on the needle carrier.

[0027] The housing can be constructed in several parts with detachable housing sections. The housing sections can include disposable and / or reusable modules. Disposable modules are designed for single use and are replaced after the handheld device for skin piercing has been used. Reusable modules, on the other hand, are used multiple times.

[0028] The mutually detachable housing parts can each accommodate one or more of the functional components or devices of the handset. If two housing parts each have a functional component or device of the handset, coupling means can be provided that couple the two functional components when the housing parts are connected and decouple them when the housing parts are separated or detached. This can, for example, relate to a coupling means for connecting the drive device in one housing part to a functional component in another housing part that absorbs the drive movement or the drive force. The coupling means can, for example, have a plug-in, clamp-on, and / or screw connection for coupling.

[0029] A handpiece can be formed with a rear housing part in which the drive device is arranged, and a front housing part can be formed with an interchangeable skin piercing module in which the piercing device is arranged. The handpiece is gripped by the user with the fingers during operation of the handset in order to guide the handset and can be designed as a reusable module. The rear housing part can in turn comprise one or more partial housing elements. The interchangeable skin piercing module with the piercing device can be designed as a disposable module so that it can be exchangeably attached to another housing part, in particular the rear housing part. In one embodiment, a housing interior of the interchangeable skin piercing module is part of the front housing space, which is sealed off from the rear housing space by means of the sealing membrane.

[0030] The lever mechanism can be arranged at least partially in the skin piercing module.

[0031] The rear housing part can be a handle with a drive device of an electric toothbrush. The handle comprises the drive device and is designed to be detachably coupled to an attachment with a brush device, so that—in addition to the skin piercing device—an electric toothbrush is provided. In this way, an article can be provided which comprises the handle with the drive device of an electric toothbrush, as well as a skin piercing interchangeable module and a brush (interchangeable) module with the brush device, each of which can be detachably coupled to the handle with the drive device, such that the drive force or movement provided by the drive device can be coupled to the respectively coupled module.

[0032] The lever mechanism can be located in the front housing part. The lever mechanism can be located in the skin-puncture module. Alternatively, the lever mechanism can be located in a coupling module that can be releasably connected to the handle of the electric toothbrush. The lancing device can then be located in the skin-puncture module, which is releasably attached to the coupling module.

[0033] The handset can have an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a needle protrusion or needle projection, i.e., a projection or protrusion of the needle tips relative to a front housing edge or a front housing opening through which the piercing needles move when moved to the front (extended) position. In the adjustment mechanism, a housing part on the front module housing can be adjustable relative to the needle carrier and thus to the piercing needles.For example, after coupling the skin piercing exchange module to the handpiece, the housing part can be connected (coupled to) a sleeve that is adjustable or displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the housing in the region of a rear housing section, such that adjusting or displacing the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the housing, for example by rotating the sleeve along a threaded bearing of the sleeve on the rear housing part, changes the relative position of the housing part in relation to the needle carrier with the piercing needles and thus in relation to the needle tips, so that a needle projection or needle protrusion of the needle tips relative to the front housing edge is adjusted.

[0034] In one embodiment, a piercing needle tip of the at least one piercing needle is arranged to protrude beyond a front housing opening, at least in the front position. Alternatively, the piercing needle tip can be arranged behind the front housing opening in both the front and rear positions, with the piercing needle tip being arranged closer to the front housing opening in the front position than in the rear position, optionally in the region of the front housing opening. Description of implementation examples

[0035] Further embodiments are explained below with reference to the figures of a drawing. Herein: Fig. 1 a schematic perspective view of a hand-held device for local skin piercing; Fig. 2 a schematic perspective view of a skin piercing module; Fig. 3 a schematic perspective view of the skin piercing module from Fig. 2in section; Fig. 4 a further schematic perspective view of the skin piercing module from Fig. 2 in section; Fig. 5 a schematic perspective view of another skin piercing module; Fig. 6 a schematic perspective view of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5 partly in section; Fig. 7 a further schematic perspective view of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5 , with piercing needles being further retracted; Fig. 8 a further schematic perspective view of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5 in section; Fig. 9 a schematic perspective view of elements of the other skin piercing module in Fig. 5 ; Fig. 10 a further schematic perspective view of elements of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5 in section; Fig. 11 a schematic perspective view of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5, wherein the piercing needles are arranged in an intermediate position; Fig. 12 a schematic perspective view of the other skin piercing module from Fig. 5 in section, with the piercing needles arranged in an extended (front) position; Fig. 13 a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a hand-held device for locally piercing a skin with a handle of an electric toothbrush; Fig. 14 a schematic perspective partial view of the hand-held device from Fig. 13 and Fig. 15 a schematic perspective partial view of the handset from Fig. 13 .

[0036] Fig. 1shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a handheld device 1 for localized skin piercing. The handheld device 1 comprises a housing 2 with a front and a rear housing part 3, 4, which are detachably connected to one another in the exemplary embodiment shown. The rear housing part 4 provides a handle 4a, which the user grips with his or her fingers during operation.

[0037] The Fig. 2 to 4 show schematic perspective views of an exchangeable skin piercing module (skin piercing module) 20, which in the handset 1 from Fig. 1 with the front housing component 3.

[0038] A lancing device 22 is arranged in a module housing 21, in which lancing needles 24 are arranged on a needle carrier 23. The needle carrier 23 is connected to a module-side coupling device 25 such that, during operation, a drive force provided via a coupling component 26 by a drive device in the housing 2 is transmitted to the needle carrier 23, so that the needle carrier 23, with the lancing needles 24 arranged thereon, is moved forward and backward in the longitudinal direction of the housing between a front and a rear position. Fig. 3 shows the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 in the rear position, in which needle tips 27 of the piercing needles 24 are behind a front housing opening 28 (cf. Fig. 2 ) (retracted position). To puncture the skin, the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 is moved to a forward position (cf. Fig. 12below), in which the needle tips 27 protrude beyond the front housing opening 28, in particular with respect to a front housing edge 29.

[0039] The needle carrier 23 is guided in the module housing 21 during the forward and backward movement during operation. A spring element 30 ensures that a housing sleeve 31 with a cap 31a is pressed against a base of a module receptacle on the handpiece 4a after docking and regardless of the setting of a needle projection of the piercing needle tip 27 with respect to the front housing opening 28 or the front housing edge 29.

[0040] After coupling the skin piercing module 20 to the handpiece, a housing part 21a on the module housing 21 is provided in the region of a rear housing section 21b with a sleeve 4b that is adjustable or displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 (cf. Fig. 1) in such a way that an adjustment or displacement of the sleeve in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2, for example by rotating the sleeve 4b along a threaded bearing of the sleeve 4b on the rear housing part 4, changes the relative position of the housing part 21a with respect to the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 and thus with respect to the needle tips 27, so that in this way a needle projection or needle protrusion of the needle tips 27 relative to the front housing edge 29 is adjusted.

[0041] The housing part 21a abuts against a circumferential projection 21c on the module housing 21, which forms a stop for the housing part 21a.

[0042] In the embodiment shown, the displacement into the front position towards the front housing opening 28 takes place against a restoring force of a sealing membrane 40, which is stretched in the process (cf. Fig. 4). The sealing membrane 40 is then part of a restoring device, which provides a restoring force and simultaneously seals a front housing space 41 (front with respect to the sealing membrane 40 in the housing of the handset) from a rear housing space 42 (rear with respect to the sealing membrane 40 in the housing of the handset, in the direction of the drive device). With respect to the module housing 21, the sealing membrane 40 also divides it into a front and a rear housing space within the module housing 21.

[0043] The sealing membrane made of an elastic material then also contributes to the return movement of the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 into the rear (retracted) position according to Fig. 3after the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 has previously been moved into the forward position. In this way, during operation, the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24, in response to the coupled drive force, performs a back-and-forth movement in the longitudinal direction of the housing 2 at a repetition frequency that can be varied, for example, with the aid of an electric motor of the drive device.

[0044] According to Fig. 4In the interchangeable skin piercing model 20, a lever mechanism 32 is provided as a component of a module-side part of the coupling device, with which the drive force is transmitted to the needle carrier 23. In the illustrated embodiment, this lever mechanism is formed with a first lever 33 and a second lever 34, each pivotably mounted on a bearing component 35. The bearing component 35 has limiting means 36, which are assigned to the first and second levers 33, 34 and limit their pivoting movement during operation. With the aid of the lever mechanism 32, a drive stroke, which is transmitted via the coupling component 26 to an input 37 of the lever mechanism 32, is converted into a working stroke, which is transmitted from the lever mechanism via an output 38 to the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24, wherein the working stroke is different from the drive stroke coupled to the lever mechanism 32, for example having an increased or reduced stroke length.In this way, it is possible to convert or implement the drive stroke received from the drive device into a working stroke specifically transmitted to the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24, which then determines the path (stroke) traveled by the piercing needles 24, in particular their needle tips 27, during operation. For example, the stroke conversion can influence the projection of the piercing needle tips 27 relative to the front housing edge 29, and thus the penetration depth when locally piercing the skin using the handheld device 1.

[0045] In the illustrated example of the lever mechanism 32, it is designed to increase the stroke, meaning that the decoupled working stroke is greater than the coupled drive stroke. The stroke length is increased. In alternative designs, the stroke length can remain the same or be shortened using the lever mechanism 32.

[0046] In the embodiment shown, the restoring force provided by the sealing membrane 40 optionally supplements the lever mechanism 32 at least when moving back the lancing device.

[0047] Fig. 5 to 12 show schematic representations for an embodiment of another needle piercing module 50. For the same features, the Fig. 5 to 12 the same reference numerals as in the Fig. 2 to 4 used.

[0048] In the Fig. 5 to 12 is a respectively set needle projection or needle overhang which the needle tips 27 assume in relation to the front housing edge 29 when the piercing device is moved into the front position (cf. Fig. 12 ), based on a set distance A (see for example Fig. 5 to 7 ).

[0049] For this purpose, a housing part 51 is coupled to the handpiece 4a by means of the sleeve 4b formed thereon (cf. Fig. 1) relative to the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24 and thus adjustable or displaceable in relation to the needle tips 27. Here, Fig. 5 (as well as Fig. 12 ) for the other needle piercing module 50 a position of the needle tips 27 with a set maximum needle protrusion or needle projection (minimal distance A). Fig. 11 shows a sectional view of the other needle piercing module 50 in the Fig. 5 shown position.

[0050] Fig. 7 shows a minimal needle protrusion or needle projection, with the piercing needles 24 retracted in the rear position. Fig. 6 , 8 to 10 show different sectional views of the other needle piercing module 50 with the Fig. 7 shown position.

[0051] If the other needle piercing module 50 is used for the introduction of a substance during local piercing of the skin, it is possible to introduce the substance to be introduced via a module opening 52, so that it can reach the punctured skin, particularly due to capillary forces along the piercing needles 24. In the embodiment of the needle piercing module 20 in the Fig. 2 to 4 the substance, for example a dye or a cosmetic / medicinal agent, can be applied in the area of ​​the front housing opening 28.

[0052] According to Fig. 9 A module tip 60 is detachably arranged on the module housing 21. The module tip 60 can be arranged in a unit with the piercing needles 24 or the needle carrier 23 (with piercing needles 24) detachably from the module housing 21.

[0053] While the piercing needles 24 are particularly in the Fig. 6 to 10 shown in a rear (retracted) position, Fig. 5an intermediate position in which the piercing needle tips 27 are visible through the front housing opening 28 (see also Fig. 11 ). Fig. 12 Finally, it shows the piercing needles 24 in a forward (extended) position (maximum needle protrusion or needle projection), in which the piercing needle tips 27 protrude beyond the front housing opening 28 as well as the front housing edge 29. This creates a needle projection, which is characterized by a needle length by which the piercing needles 24 protrude beyond the front housing edge 29.

[0054] The examples in the Fig. 5 to 12 the lever mechanism 32 is designed to increase the stroke.

[0055] Fig. 13shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a hand-held device 70, in which an attached needle-piercing module 71 is detachably arranged on a handpiece 72, which is formed by a handpiece of an electric toothbrush with a drive device accommodated therein. Fig. 14 and 15 each show a schematic perspective partial view of the handset from Fig. 13 For identical characteristics, the Fig. 13 to 15 the same reference numerals as in the Fig. 1 to 12 used.

[0056] The lever mechanism 32 is formed with the first and second levers 33, 34, which are arranged in a crossed configuration. The first and second levers 33, 34 are pivotally mounted on the module housing by means of a respective bearing 73, 74. The drive stroke is initiated via a coupling component 75 on the lever mechanism 32. The converted working stroke is then transmitted to the needle carrier 23. In this way, the drive force provided by the handle of the electric toothbrush is transmitted to the needle carrier 23 with the piercing needles 24, whereby the stroke conversion or conversion takes place.

[0057] An adjustment element 76, which in the example shown is formed with a rotating element, is configured to adjust a needle projection or needle protrusion for the piercing needles 24 relative to the front housing opening 28 by rotating the rotating element. For this purpose, the rotating element cooperates with an eccentric mechanism (not shown) such that a position of a sleeve component 77, on which the front housing opening 28 is formed, relative to the piercing needle tips 27 can be changed in the extended (front) position of the piercing needles 24.

[0058] The features disclosed in the above description, the claims and the drawings may be important for the realization of the various embodiments both individually and in any combination.

Claims

1. A hand-held device for locally piercing skin, with: - a housing (2); - a drive device, which is disposed in the housing (2) and is configured to provide a driving force; - a piercing device (22), which is disposed in the housing (2) and has at least one piercing needle (24) disposed on a needle carrier (23); and - a coupling device, which is disposed in the housing (2) and which connects the drive device to the piercing device (22) such that the driving force can be transmitted to the piercing device (22) in order to move the needle carrier (23) with the at least one piercing needle (24) repeatedly between a forward and a rearward position during operation; wherein the coupling device has a lever mechanism (32) which is configured to receive a driving stroke provided by the drive device via an input of the lever mechanism (32) on the drive side when the driving force is transmitted, to convert the driving stroke into a working stroke which is different from the driving stroke, and to deliver the working stroke to the piercing device (22) via an output of the lever mechanism (32), wherein the housing (2) is constructed in multiple pieces with housing parts which can be detached from one another, wherein a handpiece is formed with a rear housing part in which the drive device is disposed, and an interchangeable skin piercing module is formed with a front housing part in which the piercing device (22) is disposed, characterized in that the rear housing part is a handpiece with a drive unit of an electric toothbrush.

2. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lever mechanism (32) is configured to convert the driving stroke with a driving stroke length into the working stroke with a working stroke length which is different from the driving stroke length.

3. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the working stroke length is greater than the driving stroke length.

4. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the working stroke length is smaller than the driving stroke length.

5. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever mechanism (32) is formed with at least two interacting levers (33, 34).

6. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the input and the output, the lever mechanism (32) is constructed as a rigid lever mechanism (32).

7. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that during displacement from the rearward position into the forward position, the needle carrier (23) with the at least one piercing needle (24) is displaceable against a restoring force provided by a restoring device, and the restoring force is configured to at least partially provide a total restoring force which is to be applied for a displacement of the needle carrier (23) with the at least one piercing needle (24) from the forward position into the rearward position.

8. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealing membrane in the housing (2) separates a front housing chamber from a rear housing chamber in a sealing manner.

9. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the restoring device is formed with the sealing membrane such that the restoring force is developed when elastic membrane sections of the sealing membrane are stretched during the displacement of the needle carrier (23) with the at least one piercing needle (24) from the rearward position into the forward position.

10. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that the lever mechanism (32) is disposed in the rear housing chamber.

11. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the needle carrier (23) of the piercing device (22) is directly connected to the output of the lever mechanism (32).

12. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that an output element, at which the output of the lever mechanism (32) is formed, is pivotally mounted in an associated receptacle on the needle carrier (23) of the piercing device (22).

13. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lever mechanism is disposed in the interchangeable skin piercing module.

14. The hand-held device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lever mechanism is disposed in a coupling module which can be detachably connected to the handpiece of the electric toothbrush.

15. The hand-held device as claimed in at least one of the preceding claims, insofar as not dependent on claim 10, characterized in that the lever mechanism (32) is disposed in the front housing part.