Garment for cell control

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an article of clothing intended to be worn by a user in such a way as to cover a part of that user's body.

[0002] Such an item of clothing can be used, in particular, for the prevention, detection, and / or treatment of certain diseases, especially cancers. This item of clothing can include underwear. PREVIOUS ART

[0003] Currently, there are few effective and proven methods for preventing certain diseases such as cancers, particularly breast, testicular, and colorectal cancer. Generally, prevention is limited to minimizing risk factors such as smoking, alcohol, UV radiation, and unhealthy diets. The disease is treated once it is diagnosed and detected, which often requires drastic measures that can be painful and particularly distressing for the patient.

[0004] It would be desirable to have a cancer prevention solution that is not very restrictive, easy to implement and as undisturbing as possible for the user.

[0005] Regarding cancer detection, particularly breast cancer, mammograms are generally recommended at regular intervals, for example, every year or two, for women of a certain age. Because mammograms can be painful, inconvenient, and unpleasant, not all women are willing to undergo them regularly. Furthermore, such an examination requires scheduling an appointment and traveling to the screening center, which presents an inconvenience that discourages some women from having this examination regularly.

[0006] If cancer develops shortly after an examination, a long period may pass before a follow-up examination is performed and the cancer is detected. However, it is well known that the earlier cancer is detected and treated, the greater the chances of a cure.

[0007] There is therefore a need for a non-invasive, painless and regularly usable means of detection for the detection of breast cancer in particular, but also other cancers.

[0008] When it comes to cancer treatment, particularly breast cancer, the methods are generally intensive and highly invasive. These methods include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and / or mastectomy. Targeted therapies also exist, but these are only suitable for certain specific types of cancer.

[0009] Because these therapies are administered in a hospital setting, patients must travel and are treated for a relatively short period with relatively high doses of medication. These high doses of medication cause side effects that can be significant and particularly unpleasant.

[0010] There is therefore a need for therapy that is as minimally invasive as possible, using smaller doses of therapeutic products, but spread over a longer period in order to minimize side effects.

[0011] The publications WO2018 / 060456A1, US 2013 / 317364 and US 2013 / 0023767 both describe an article of clothing made in the form of a bra and intended for the early detection of a breast tumor.

[0012] For this purpose, the bra includes a signal generator, for example ultrasound, and signal receivers. It also includes a device for processing the signals received by the receivers.

[0013] When the bra is worn by a user, the signal generator emits signals toward that user's breasts. These signals are scattered and reflected by the biological tissues of the breasts, and some of them are then picked up by the bra's receptors. The signals thus picked up are processed by the treatment device to determine if the user's breasts contain abnormal biological tissues such as tumors or cysts.

[0014] If such abnormal biological tissue is detected, an alarm is triggered to inform the user of the presence of such an abnormal element and to indicate that a medical consultation is recommended.

[0015] It is clear that the bras described in these documents are only useful and usable when abnormal tissue, such as a tumor or cyst, is present. Such a bra is useless for cancer prevention since, in the absence of abnormal tissue, it provides no information.

[0016] Similarly, this bra is also useless in the context of cancer treatment. Indeed, since the bra's function is solely to provide information in the event of the detection of abnormal tissue, it would be pointless if the presence of such abnormal tissue is already known.

[0017] US patent 2016 303402 describes a portable device designed to modulate the activity of human cells by applying ultrasound. This device is primarily used to modify the activity of a patient's cells, for example, to promote insulin secretion. It can also be used to treat brain tumors. However, this device is not intended for tumor prevention and cannot be used independently; in that the same device cannot be used to both detect and treat a tumor. Similarly, the device cannot be used to determine the absence of abnormal cells and switch to a preventative mode.

[0018] There is therefore a need for a piece of clothing that can be used not only to detect the existence of unhealthy cells, but also to prevent the appearance of such unhealthy cells and / or to treat these unhealthy cells after they have appeared. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Such a garment is described in the present invention.

[0020] The object of the invention is achieved by a garment intended to be worn by a user so as to cover a part of that user's body, this garment comprising a flexible garment element covering said part of the user's body, said garment further comprising an electrical signal generator and at least one transducer integral with said flexible garment element, said at least one transducer being arranged to convert said electrical signals from the electrical signal generator into ultrasound and to transmit the ultrasound generated by this transducer to said part of the user's body covered by this flexible garment element, this garment being characterized in that said at least one transducer is arranged to emit ultrasound having at least three different acoustic intensities within at least three distinct intensity ranges,one of said intensity ranges corresponding to a prevention mode intended to prevent the appearance of abnormal biological cells, another intensity range corresponding to a detection mode intended to detect such abnormal cells, and a third intensity range corresponding to a treatment mode intended to eliminate such abnormal cells and to treat the pathology, in that this garment comprises at least one receiver arranged to receive waves from said at least one transducer after reflection by said part of the user's body covered by said garment and to transform these waves into electrical signals, in that this garment comprises a communication module arranged to transmit these electrical signals to a processing unit arranged to extract information therefrom,in that this garment comprises a control receiver arranged to receive a control message dependent on said information extracted by the processing unit and to transmit this control message to said signal generator, this signal generator being arranged to activate said at least one transducer according to the content of the message received, the prevention mode being activated if no abnormal cells are detected when said at least one transducer is used in detection mode, the processing mode being activated if abnormal cells are detected when said at least one transducer is used in detection mode, and in that these modes of use are managed in a completely autonomous and automatic manner.

[0021] The garment of the invention enables the implementation of a method for preventing illnesses, particularly cancer, without disturbing or disrupting the user. This prevention can be carried out without any inconvenience or constraint for the user, especially at home or at any time during their daily life. This allows for prevention to be implemented over extended periods, unlike what would be possible, for example, if prevention had to take place in a specialized environment such as a hospital. Because of this extended duration, the prevention can be all the more effective.

[0022] The garment can be adapted to the type of prevention desired and to the part of the user's body that the individual wishes to target. This garment could include, for example, a bra, briefs, tights, a shirt, a tank top, a balaclava, or a hat.

[0023] The garment of the invention can also be used for the detection of abnormal cells. This detection can be carried out very regularly, for example once a day or once a week, without the wearer of the garment even realizing it, that is to say, without any discomfort or inconvenience for the user.

[0024] This daily, weekly, or other frequency-based detection allows for comparison of results obtained on a given day with results from previous checks, thus enabling monitoring of changes in the user's body area. This makes it possible to quickly detect any abnormal changes or developments and take appropriate action.

[0025] The garment can also be used for therapeutic purposes. In this case, it can be specially adapted to the user, their condition, and the areas the user wishes to treat.

[0026] Because the garment can be worn by the user in the same way as conventional clothing and presents no discomfort or restriction, it can be worn for extended periods throughout the day, typically several hours a day, every day. This allows for the administration of treatment at a significantly lower dosage than when the treatment is administered for a very short period, such as one hour per week, which would typically be the case in a hospital setting.

[0027] The side effects that can be induced by high doses of treatment can be reduced or even eliminated by applying lower doses for a longer period. The ability to use the device of the invention for much longer periods compared to conventional treatments opens the door to different treatments, and in particular to treatments that would have no effect or a very weak effect if applied for a short period. These treatments or therapies may potentially have no side effects or fewer side effects than conventional therapies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The present invention and its advantages will be better understood with reference to the accompanying figures and the detailed description of a particular embodiment, in which: there figure 1schematically illustrates a particular embodiment of a garment according to the invention; the figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of part of the garment. figure 1 ; there figure 3 represents a first method of using the garment of the invention; the figure 4 illustrates a second method of using the garment of the invention; the figure 5 is a variant of the embodiment illustrated by the figure 4 ; and the figure 6 represents a third mode of use of the article of clothing of the invention. METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION ADVANTAGEOUS

[0029] With reference to figures 1 and 2 The garment item 10 is represented as a bra. However, it could have other shapes depending on the intended use of this garment.

[0030] The garment includes a flexible garment element 11, generally made of fabric, designed to conform to the shape of the user's skin, to be close to the user's skin, and to cover a part of the user's body.

[0031] This garment 10 includes at least one ultrasonic wave emitter 12a, fixed to the flexible garment element 11. The garment also includes at least one receiver 12b of waves reflected by biological tissues of the wearer of the garment, these waves originating from the reflection of the ultrasonic waves emitted by said at least one emitter 12a.

[0032] In an advantageous embodiment, each transmitter 12a is formed of a transducer 12 whose function is to transform electrical signals into ultrasonic waves. Each receiver 12b is also formed of a transducer 12 whose function is to transform waves reflected by the user's biological tissues into electrical signals. These transducers may be physically the same elements acting alternately as transmitters and receivers, or be of the same type, some of them being used as transmitters and others as receivers, or be of different types, with transducers of one type being used as transmitters and transducers of another type being used as receivers.

[0033] These transducers 12 are preferably elements with a relatively small dimension and are made in such a way as to be as little inconvenient as possible for the user.

[0034] In the practical case where the garment is a bra, it consists of two cups 13, each supporting at least one transducer 12. In the example illustrated by the figure 1 Each cup supports four transducers 12 placed in different locations within the cups. These transducers may have a curved shape and / or be flexible, so as to best adapt to the shape of the bra and not be bothersome to the person wearing it.

[0035] The garment of the invention includes an electrical signal generator 14 connected to the transducers 12. This signal generator 14 can be held by the flexible garment element 11 or, conversely, be positioned next to this flexible element. In the illustrated embodiment, the electrical signal generator 14 is positioned on the flexible garment element 11, between the two cups 13.

[0036] This signal generator 14 is responsible for activating or not the various transducers 12, according to modalities described in more detail below.

[0037] The transducers 12 are designed to receive electrical signals from the signal generator 14 and to convert these electrical signals into ultrasound. In this embodiment, the transducers act as emitters. The generated ultrasound can have different frequencies, amplitudes, powers, or acoustic intensities, among other characteristics. It is possible to have all the transducers emit ultrasound with the same characteristics or, conversely, to have them emit ultrasound with different physical characteristics.

[0038] The electrical signal generator 14 can be designed to be adjustable so as to modify at least some characteristics of the waves generated by the transducers, under the control of the generator.

[0039] According to one specific embodiment, the ultrasound used can have a frequency between 600 kHz and 7 MHz and an acoustic intensity varying from 0.01 to more than 10 W / cm² depending on the chosen mode of use.

[0040] In one specific embodiment, the 12 transducers are made of piezoelectric elements with a resonant frequency of approximately 2 MHz. They are made of PZT (Lead Zirconate Titanium) and measure 5 x 5 mm with a thickness of 1 mm. Each cap contains 512 piezoelectric transducers, enabling the detection of cell clusters smaller than or close to 1 mm in diameter. This size corresponds to an early stage of cancer cell clustering.

[0041] Once the ultrasound waves are generated by the transducers or piezoelectric elements, they must be transmitted into the human body. The acoustic impedance of the human body and the transducers is 1.5 MRayl and 35 MRayl, respectively. This impedance difference makes ultrasound transmission between the two media very inefficient. With typical acoustic impedance values ​​for both media, the transmission coefficient is less than 0.1%, meaning that a large portion of the ultrasound waves is lost at the interface. A matching layer between the transducers and the skin is advantageously used to match the impedance.

[0042] An impedance matching layer with an impedance of about 10 MRayl is optimal in a three-layer system, namely the transducers, the impedance matching element and the user's skin.

[0043] As with a conventional ultrasound, it is possible to apply impedance matching gel directly to the user's skin. However, this solution is not ideal for clothing due to ease of use and the need to clean the gel afterward. Nevertheless, this solution can still be used in practice.

[0044] A preferred solution is the use of a solid, flexible 20-ohm impedance matching element that can be placed inside the garment, as illustrated by the figure 2 .

[0045] In a practical embodiment for fabricating an impedance matching element, two methods were implemented. The first involves creating a PEG (poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate) hydrogel with adjustable properties to achieve an impedance of approximately 10 MRayl. To obtain a flexible hydrogel with a diameter of approximately 20 cm and a thickness of 5 mm, the following concentrations were used: PEGDA700 (12.5 g, 700 g.mol⁻¹); H₂O (37.5 g); and 500 µL of a photoinitiator (2-Hydroxy-2-methylproplophenone, 97%), with a curing time of 30 minutes under UV light after nitrogen degassing.

[0046] The second method tested uses silicone. To obtain a solid gel, the silicone must be placed in a polymer network. To do this, a PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) gel was made with a silicone elastomer (35 g) and a silicone elastomer crosslink (3.5 g), cured for 10 h at 70 °C after degassing under vacuum.

[0047] A support material is attached to the electrode opposite the PDMS gel to prevent excessive transducer vibration. Reducing excessive vibration means the transducer generates ultrasonic waves with a shorter pulse length, improving axial resolution in the images. However, a trade-off between axial resolution and sensitivity, which is related to the output voltage, must be made. Axial resolution determines spatial resolution, while sensitivity determines the noise level in the final image.

[0048] The garment 10 of the invention includes a command receiver 15, which may be integrated into the electrical signal generator 14 or separate from it. This command receiver 15 is configured to receive commands originating, for example, from an application managed by an external device 19, such as a smartphone hosting a dedicated application. When a command message is received by the command receiver 15, it is processed and then transmitted to the signal generator 14, which in turn activates the transducer(s) 12 according to the content of the received message. Such a message may, for example, indicate which of the available transducers 12 should be activated, the amplitude, intensity, and / or power of the ultrasonic waves to be generated, and possibly their frequency, provided that the frequency can be adjusted, the duration, cycle parameters, etc.

[0049] As mentioned, the command receiver 15 can receive commands from the device 19 external to the garment. However, it can also receive information from the garment itself. This information may relate in particular to the transducers 12 and indicate which transducers are active, the amplitude of the generated ultrasonic waves, their frequency, their intensity, the exposure time, cycle parameters, etc.

[0050] The garment 10 may also include a power supply 16, generally in the form of a battery, which may also be located on or next to the garment 10. In a preferred embodiment, this battery may be charged via a USB connection and, if possible, have a battery life of at least 24 hours.

[0051] The garment may also include one or more measuring devices 17 intended to measure certain parameters relating to the person wearing the garment. For example, the measuring device 17 could measure the temperature at certain points on the user's body in contact with the garment.

[0052] The information sent to the control receiver 15 may also come from the measuring device 17 and relate to the parameters measured by that measuring device.

[0053] The command receiver 15 may include a communication module 18 arranged to transmit the information collected to an external component such as a memory, a device or a communication network in particular.

[0054] Once emitted by the transducers acting as transmitters, the ultrasonic waves pass through the impedance matching element 20 and propagate through different biological tissues. The differences in density between these tissues correspond to different impedances. These impedance differences create an echo that is captured by the transducers. In this context, the transducers 12 act as receivers 12b. It should be noted that the transducers used as transmitters 12a can also be used as receivers. It is also possible to use different transducers as transmitters and receivers, provided they are manufactured in the same way. Alternatively, different transducers can be used as transmitters and receivers, with these transducers manufactured differently depending on their function.It is also possible to use different transducers as transmitters, depending on the physical characteristics of the emitted waves and in particular their acoustic intensity, and also different transducers as receivers, depending on the physical characteristics of the received waves.

[0055] The 12 transducers convert echo waves into electrical signals. These electrical signals are processed to extract information about biological tissues. This process creates an ultrasound image of the biological tissues off which these waves are reflected. The denser an organic tissue, the more the ultrasound waves will be reflected. Thus, the transducers will detect a reflected sound when the ultrasound waves bounce off a tissue mass. Several transducers are used to create an image of breast tissue.

[0056] Three modes of use of the garment of the invention are described with reference to figures 3 to 6 .

[0057] As is known, normal biological cells can undergo a process called apoptosis. This process is how cells trigger their own destruction in response to a signal. In the case of cancer cells, this apoptosis process does not occur, and unhealthy cells, which should normally be eliminated by the body, are not destroyed. It has been shown that applying ultrasound waves to biological tissue can have different effects, depending on the acoustic intensity of these waves. Within certain intensity ranges, ultrasound waves have the ability to regenerate the apoptosis process in cells.

[0058] The first use described relates to prevention, and in particular the prevention of breast cancer or cancer of another part of the body on which the garment is placed.

[0059] In this usage method illustrated by the figure 3 The acoustic intensity of the ultrasonic waves is selected first. This intensity is chosen to be between 0.05 and 2 W / cm². The frequency of the ultrasonic waves used can be chosen between approximately 600 kHz and 7 MHz. This frequency can be essentially the same in all operating modes or can vary depending on the operating mode, while preferably remaining within the range defined above. The physical characteristics of the ultrasonic waves are chosen to be compatible with the apoptosis regeneration function.

[0060] Regarding prevention, the waves can be emitted according to a predefined cycle. A practical example of a cycle that involves sending ultrasonic waves for 2 minutes, followed by a 15-minute break, with the cycle repeated, for example, 10 times a day.

[0061] In principle, for preventative purposes, the transducers 12 of both cups 13 are used symmetrically, and all transducers are utilized. Other embodiments are possible, for example, using the transducers of only one cup at a time or using only some of the transducers.

[0062] A second mode of use illustrated by the Figures 4 and 5 It concerns the detection of abnormal cells, and in particular cancerous cells. figure 4This illustrates a first embodiment of this method of use. In this embodiment, the intensity of the ultrasound waves is selected to be between 1 and 3 W / cm². The physical characteristics of the ultrasound waves are chosen to be compatible with an ultrasound application.

[0063] Sound waves are emitted by the transducers 12, pass through the impedance matching element 20, and are transmitted to the user's biological tissues. Some of the emitted waves are reflected by these tissues, particularly at the interface between biological tissues of different densities.

[0064] The waves reflected by the user's cells are captured by transducers 12, which act as receivers, and are transformed into electrical signals by these transducers. These electrical signals are then transmitted to a processing unit 21 by the communication module 18 located on the garment.

[0065] According to a first embodiment, this processing unit 21 can also be placed directly on the garment 10. However, this implies an appropriate power supply and a size of the processing unit compatible with wearing on the garment.

[0066] According to a second embodiment, the processing unit 21 is separate from the garment. This processing unit 21 can be integrated into the external device 19, the latter being in the form of a smartphone or similar equipment comprising a signal processing application or software and means for receiving the signals measured by the sensors of the garment.

[0067] The processing unit 21 receives data from the external device 19, which includes a receiver adapted to receive the signals emitted by the communication module 18. These signals are then processed by the processing unit 21 in order to extract information and / or an image.

[0068] When the data has been processed by the processing unit 21, a result can be made available to the user on the garment by means of an audible alarm, a vibration or a visual alarm indicating that the detector has not detected anything abnormal or, on the contrary, indicating that a doctor should be consulted.

[0069] The result can then be made available on the external device 19, for example on a smartphone screen, as an image, text, sound, or movement. It is also possible to display a result only if the measurement processing identified abnormal cells, and to show nothing if no abnormal cells were detected.

[0070] The information provided to the user can therefore be the presence or absence of abnormal cells. This information can be delivered based on a comparison of the signals with information from a database stored, for example, in processing unit 21. The image can be a three-dimensional image of the inside of the user's breasts, highlighting, for example, clusters of abnormal cells.

[0071] According to a third embodiment illustrated by the figure 5 The steps of choosing the acoustic intensity, emitting ultrasonic waves by the transducers, reflecting ultrasonic waves by biological tissues, and receiving waves by the receptors / transducers are the same as those described with reference to the figure 4 . The electrical signals from the receivers / transducers are also transmitted to an external device 19, preferably external to the garment 10.

[0072] In this embodiment, the external device 19 does not house a processing unit and does not necessarily have data processing capabilities. However, this external device 19 has a remote communication channel with a remote processing center 22. In this case, the signals captured by the transducers / detectors of the garment are transmitted locally to the external device 19. These signals are then transmitted remotely to the remote processing center 22, which handles this processing.

[0073] For example, the 22-cell processing center can create a 3D image of cells and then compare this 3D image to a database of images corresponding to healthy and / or unhealthy cells. This comparison determines whether the cells of the person on whom the measurements were taken are healthy or unhealthy. This comparison can typically be improved through the use of artificial intelligence and deep learning techniques.

[0074] It is also possible to store images from each scan corresponding to a specific individual and then compare them. This allows for the detection of changes or alterations in the structure of biological tissues for that individual. If these changes are abnormal or if the cells are unhealthy, the individual can be notified and advised to schedule a medical appointment.

[0075] It is also possible to collect data from a large number of people and associate them with the qualifier of healthy or unhealthy, in order to form a knowledge base and gradually improve the reliability of image processing.

[0076] The detection phase for abnormal cells can be performed, for example, daily, weekly, or at any chosen frequency. This phase can last from a few tens of seconds to a few minutes. Two minutes is generally sufficient to complete a full detection phase.

[0077] According to a third mode of use illustrated by the figure 6The garment is used to treat a condition such as cancer. In this application, the intensity of the ultrasound waves is generally greater than 10 W / cm². The physical characteristics of the ultrasound waves are chosen to enable the destruction of specific cells. The ultrasound waves are not necessarily emitted by all transducers, but may instead be emitted by targeted transducers placed near areas where abnormal cells have been detected. These waves are emitted according to specific cycles that may depend on the location of the cells, their extent, a physician's choice, or other parameters. For example, the treatment could consist of three 1-minute cycles, followed by 15-minute breaks, repeated five times throughout the day.

[0078] The garment according to the invention preferably allows for three modes of use: prevention, detection, and treatment. Detection is initiated, for example, once a day, resulting in no indication if no abnormal cells have been detected and an alarm if abnormal cells have been detected. In the absence of abnormal cells, the prevention mode can be used, according to a predefined cycle.

[0079] If abnormal cells are detected, an alarm is usually triggered to advise the user that medical advice is recommended. If treatment is required, the treatment mode can be activated according to a predefined cycle. The detection mode allows monitoring of abnormal cell development, even during treatment, and potentially allows for adjustments to the treatment accordingly. Treatment adjustments may involve the intensity of the waves used, the duration of a cycle, the number of cycles per unit of time, the activated transducers, and so on.

[0080] The operating mode is chosen by selecting the acoustic intensity of the emitted ultrasonic waves. This intensity can be selected from at least two distinct intensity ranges, but preferably from three. One intensity range is intended to prevent the appearance of abnormal biological cells such as cancer cells; another range is intended for the detection of abnormal biological cells; and a third range is intended for the elimination of such abnormal cells and the treatment of the pathology.

[0081] As mentioned above, the intensity range for prevention is preferably between 0.05 and 0.2 W / cm². The intensity range for detection is preferably between 1 and 3 W / cm², and the intensity range for treatment is preferably greater than 10 W / cm².

[0082] If a sufficiently reliable knowledge base is established, it is possible for the usage patterns to be managed entirely autonomously and automatically. This would mean that the detection phase is used to detect the presence or absence of abnormal cells, as explained previously. If no abnormal cells are detected, the prevention phase is activated, also as described above. Conversely, if abnormal cells are detected, the treatment phase is triggered autonomously, without necessarily requiring intervention from medical personnel.

[0083] In an advantageous embodiment, the different modes of use are managed by means of an application running on an external device and / or by means of suitable software. In principle, different rights are assigned to different users. For example, the user is authorized to enter personal information and to log securely into an account. However, they are not generally authorized to modify elements related to the different cycles of the modes of use. They may be authorized to view certain information.

[0084] Medical personnel may be authorized to adjust the parameters of the cycles governing the different modes of use. They may also be authorized to access data such as stored images or information indicating the presence or absence of abnormal cells. Accessing or modifying parameters, values, or other elements could be done either locally, for example, via a wired connection or a short-range wireless connection such as Bluetooth or NFC, or remotely. This remote connection could be made using external devices such as smartphones or dedicated devices. Clearly, the security and confidentiality of information transmitted through these devices must be ensured.

[0085] The garment 10 of the invention has been described, in particular, in the form of a bra. It could be made in many other forms, such as any type of underwear, including a blouse, tank top, tights, briefs, etc. The garment could also be made in the form of a visible garment or even possibly a tracksuit such as leggings, trousers, a jacket, a sleeve, etc. This garment could be used preventively and / or curatively against various forms of cancer, such as breast, testicular, and colon cancer, etc., without limitation to any particular type of cancer. The characteristics mentioned above in relation to a garment in the form of a bra also apply when the garment is briefs or tights, in particular.

[0086] The garment can also be made not as underwear, but as a visible piece of clothing. Such a garment could, for example, be a hat or a balaclava, and be used in the prevention, detection, and / or treatment of carcinomas.

[0087] The command receiver 15 also allows a person, who may be the user or a member of the care staff, to send commands specific to the desired treatment.

[0088] The command receiver 15 may include a wireless receiving device or a connector such as, for example, a USB connector.

[0089] The measuring device 17 can be used to receive information about certain user parameters, such as the temperature of a specific area of ​​the user's body. This can be achieved, for example, by means of a temperature probe.

[0090] The results of these parameter measurements can be used, for example, by a healthcare professional to adapt, modify, or validate treatment modalities. These measurement results can also be automatically incorporated to adapt these treatment modalities.

[0091] It is clear that this piece of clothing could be combined with other conventional treatment mechanisms, particularly in the field of cancer treatment.

Claims

1. An item of clothing (10) intended to be worn by a user so as to cover a part of the body of this user, this item of clothing comprising a flexible clothing element (11) covering said part of the body of the user, said item of clothing further comprising an electrical signal generator (14) and at least one transducer (12) integral with the said flexible clothing element (11), said at least one transducer (12) being arranged to convert said electrical signals from the electrical signal generator (14) into ultrasounds and to transmit the ultrasounds generated by said transducer (12) to said part of the user's body covered by said flexible clothing element (11), said item of clothing being characterized in that said at least one transducer (12) is arranged to emit ultrasounds having at least three different acoustic intensities comprised in at least three distinct intensity ranges, one of said intensity range corresponding to a prevention mode intended to prevent the apparition of abnormal biological cells, another intensity range corresponding to a detection mode intended to detect such abnormal cells, and a third intensity range corresponding to a treatment mode intended to eliminate such abnormal cells and to treat the pathology, in that the item of clothing comprises at least a receiver (12b) arranged to receive waves coming from said at least one transducer (12) after reflection by said part of the user's body covered by said item of clothing and to convert these waves into electrical signals, in that the item of clothing comprises a communication module (18) arranged for transmitting these electrical signals to a processing unit (21) arranged to extract an information, in that the item of clothing comprises an instruction receiver (15) arranged to receive an instruction message depending on said information extracted by the processing unit (21) and to transmit this instruction message to said signal generator (14), said signal generator (14) being arranged to activate said at least one transducer (12) according to the content of the message received, the prevention mode being activated if no abnormal cell is detected when said at least one transducer (12) is used in the detection mode, the treatment mode being activated if abnormal cells are detected when said at least one transducer (12) is used in the detection mode, and in that the modes of use are managed fully autonomously and automatically.

2. Item of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least three transducers (12) of at least three different types, one of the types of transducers being arranged to emit ultrasounds having an intensity comprised in a first range of intensities, another type of transducers being arranged to emit ultrasounds having an intensity comprised in a second range of intensities distinct from said first range of intensities and another type of transducers being arranged to emit ultrasounds having an intensity comprised in a third range of intensities distinct from said first and second range of intensities.

3. Item of clothing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ultrasounds of one intensity range have an acoustic intensity between 0.05 and 0.2 W / cm2.

4. Item of clothing according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ultrasounds of an intensity range have an acoustic intensity between 1 and 3 W / cm2.

5. Item of clothing according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ultrasounds of an intensity range have an acoustic intensity greater than 10 W / cm2.

6. Item of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an impedance matching element (20) disposed between said at least one transducer (12) and said part of the user's body covered by said flexible clothing element (11).

7. Item of clothing according to claim 6, characterized in that the impedance matching element (20) is a silicone element.

8. Item of clothing of claim 6, characterized in that the impedance matching element (20) has an acoustic impedance between 1 and 20 MRayl.

9. Item of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one receiver (12b) is formed by said at least one transducer (12).

10. Item of clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that the item of clothing comprises a communication module (18) arranged for transmitting data from said at least one receiver (12b) to an external device.