INFRARED HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE TREATMENT OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUES

Abstract

The invention relates to a heating device for the treatment of biological tissues. This device comprises a support (10) having a first face (11) and a second face (12) opposite the first face (11), the first face (11) having a plurality of light-emitting diodes (20) capable of emitting infrared, this support being a thermal conductor, the device comprising a cooling circuit (30) with a liquid, this circuit being located in contact with the second face (12) and being capable of cooling the support (10).

Description

Advantageously, the surface density of LEDs 20 on the support 10 is at least equal to 1.5 LEDs / cm2. The term “surface density of LEDs” means the average number of LEDs per unit area of ​​the support 10 (average density reduced to the entire surface area of ​​the first face 11 of the support 10). This results in more efficient and faster heating. For example, this density is greater than 2 LEDs / cm2. For example, this density is greater than 2.5 LEDs / cm2. For example, this density is greater than 3 LEDs / cm2. For example, this density is greater than 3.5 LEDs / cm2. The higher the density of LEDs on the support 10, the more efficient the device is. Thus, with the heating device, it is possible to achieve an optical power density greater than 1.4 W / cm2, for example greater than 2 W / cm2, for example greater than 3.5 W / cm2. The heat released by the LEDs 20 during operation of the heating device requires cooling of the LEDs 20, in order not to damage the LEDs. Thus, the heating device comprises a cooling circuit 30 for a liquid. This cooling circuit 30 is therefore shaped to receive a liquid intended to circulate therein. Thus, this cooling circuit 30 comprises a channel 33 in which the cooling liquid circulates. For example, this liquid is water. Cooling by the cooling circuit 30 is carried out specifically by a liquid and not by a gas (air or other), because cooling by a liquid is more efficient than by a gas. It is this cooling circuit 30 by a liquid which allows to have a higher density of LED 20 on the support 10. The cooling circuit 30 is in contact with the second face 12 of the support 10, in order to be able to cool the support 10 and the LEDs 20. Advantageously, the support 10 forms a wall of the channel 33. Thus, the liquid circulating in the channel 33 is directly in contact with the support 10, and consequently the cooling of the support 10 and therefore of the LEDs 20 is more efficient. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the channel 33 is bordered by walls of the cooling circuit 30, and by the support 10. The channel 33 is thus closed, except at an inlet orifice 31 through which the cooling liquid enters the channel 33, and at an outlet orifice 32 through which the cooling liquid leaves the channel 33. The cooling circuit 30 is shaped such that, in operation, the liquid circulating in the channel 33 passes over substantially the entire second face 12 of the support 10. Thus, the liquid passes under each of the LEDs 20. This makes cooling the 20 LEDs more efficient. The fixing of the cooling circuit 30 on the support 10 is carried out by a fixing mechanism 40. The heating device is then in the assembly position. This fixing mechanism 40 is constituted for example by screws 42, tapped holes 43 in the cooling circuit 30, and holes 41 passing through the support 10, as shown in figure 1. The screws 42 pass through the holes 41 in the support 10, so that the heads of the screws 42, once screwed into the holes 43, hold the support 10 against the cooling circuit 30 (assembly position). Figure 2 is a perspective and radial sectional view of the device of Figure 1, after assembly of the support 10 with the cooling circuit 30 using the fixing mechanism 40. The sealing of the cooling circuit 30 is achieved by a sealing mechanism. This sealing mechanism comprises for example one or more seals (not shown) which are housed in grooves 35 of the cooling circuit 30 and are clamped between the cooling circuit 30 and the support 10 after assembly of the heating device. These seals separate the fixing mechanism 40 from the channel 33 of the cooling circuit 30. These seals make it possible to prevent the fluid circulating in the channel 33 from seeping through the fixing mechanism. For example, as shown in Figure 1, the cooling circuit 30 comprises a first central groove 35 which surrounds the central screws 42 to isolate them from the channel 33 and which is intended to house a first seal, and a second peripheral groove 35 which isolates the peripheral screws 42 from the channel 33 and which is intended to house a second seal. Alternatively, these seals are a set of O-rings, each seal surrounding a 42 screw. The maximum dimension (D) of the support is 15 centimeters (cm). In the case where the support is circular (disc), the maximum dimension is the diameter, referenced in figure 1. Advantageously, the cooling circuit 30 has the same maximum dimension D. Thus, when the support is a disc, the cooling circuit is a cylinder of circular section and diameter D. Indeed, above this dimension (15 centimeters), it is difficult to perform "palpate-rolls" of the region to be treated with the device without fatigue and in a reproducible manner. The device is then not in practice not usable. A “palpate-roll” is a movement of simultaneous pressure and twisting carried out by contact of the device with the region to be treated. Advantageously, the maximum dimension of the support is 12 cm, even more advantageously 9 cm. The use of the device is thus facilitated. In the embodiment described above and shown in the figures, the support 10 forms a wall of the channel 33. Alternatively, the walls of the channel 33 are integral parts of the cooling circuit 30 and form an independent block separate from the support 10. The channel 33 is therefore in a single block and is only open at its inlet orifice 31 and its outlet orifice 32. The cooling circuit 30 is then fixed to the support 10 by the fixing mechanism 40, for example by screws. This embodiment has the advantage that a sealing mechanism between the channel 33 and the support 10 is not necessary. In practice, the device is small enough in size and weight to be able to be handled by the practitioner with one hand and used on a patient's body without fatigue for the duration of a treatment session, for example for at least a quarter of an hour. Advantageously, the heating device further comprises a protective window 50 which covers the LEDs 20. This window 50 is transparent to infrared rays, and prevents unwanted contact of the skin with the LEDs 20. This configuration is shown in Figure 2. For example, the 50 glass is shaped like a lens to concentrate infrared rays. This makes heating the area to be treated more efficient. Advantageously, the device comprises a side wall 60 which extends the periphery 13 of the support 10 to form an open cavity whose bottom is the support 10. The side wall 60 is circular cylindrical and extends perpendicularly to the main plane of the support 10. This configuration is shown in Figure 2. Alternatively, the wall 60 has a flared shape that flares radially from the support 10. The wall 60 thus facilitates prolonged contact between the region to be treated and the support 10 during the “palpate-roll” movement carried out by the practitioner when using the heating device. Advantageously, the device comprises, in addition to the wall 60, a conduit 70 connecting the space delimited by the support 10 and the side wall 60, and the exterior of the device. This conduit 70 is intended to be connected to the suction inlet orifice of a suction system (not shown), such that, in operation, the air in this space is able to be sucked through the conduit 70 towards this inlet orifice. Thus, this suction system is able to bring the patient's skin closer to the support 10 when the patient's skin is in contact with the wall 60. This bringing together is carried out as described below. In this case, the support 10 comprises a first hole 17 and the cooling circuit 30 comprises a second hole 37 which is in communication and opposite (central axes coincident) with the first hole 17. The suction system comprises a vacuum cleaner (not shown) whose suction inlet orifice is in communication with the second hole 37. The suction duct 70 is constituted by the first hole 17 and the second hole 37. In operation, the patient's skin comes into contact with the edge of the wall 60 which is furthest from the support 10. A space is thus delimited by the skin, the wall 60, and the support 10. The air in this space is sucked through the second hole 37 and the first hole 17 by the vacuum cleaner. This results in a suction phenomenon of the patient's skin towards the LEDs 20, which, in conjunction with a "palpate-roll" movement of the heating device, contributes to improving the efficiency of the heating device. In the case where the heating device comprises a window 50, this window 50 comprises a third hole 57 which is itself in communication and opposite the first hole 17, which allows the suction of air from the space delimited by the wall 60, as described above. In this case the suction duct 70 is constituted by the first hole 17, the second hole 37, and the third hole 57. Advantageously, as shown in Figure 2, the first hole 17, the second hole 37, and the third hole 57 are located in the center of the device. The suction is thus radial and symmetrical in the space delimited by the wall 60. The invention also relates to a method for treating biological tissues. The process involves the following steps: (a) A heating device is provided which comprises a support 10 having a first face 11 and a second face 12 opposite the first face 11, the first face 11 carrying a plurality of light-emitting diodes 20 capable of emitting infrared rays, this support being a thermal conductor, the device comprising a cooling circuit 30 by a liquid, this circuit 30 being located in contact with the second face 12 and being capable of cooling the support 10, the support comprising a side wall 60 which extends the periphery 13 of the support 10 to form an open cavity whose bottom is the support 10, and the device comprising a conduit 70 putting the space delimited by the support 10 and the side wall 60 into communication, and the exterior of the device, this conduit being intended to be put into communication with the suction inlet orifice of a suction system; (b) The device is placed in contact with the patient's area to be treated; (c) Air is sucked out into the space delimited by the support 10 and the wall 60; (d) The region to be treated is heated by the LEDs 20; (e) The device is moved over the treatment region. Optionally, before step (b), a gel is applied to the patient's area to be treated. Optionally, between step (b) and step (c), the area to be treated is cooled.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Heating device for the treatment of biological tissues, characterized in that it comprises a support (10) comprising a first face (11) and a second face (12) opposite said first face (11), said first face (11) carrying a plurality of light-emitting diodes (20) capable of emitting infrared rays, this support being a thermal conductor, said device comprising a cooling circuit (30) by a liquid, this circuit being located in contact with said second face (12) and being capable of cooling said support (10), the light-emitting diodes (20) being covered by a window (50) transparent to infrared rays and having a lens shape capable of concentrating the light rays coming from the light-emitting diodes (20).

2. Heating device according to claim 1 characterized in that said support (10) has a thermal conductivity at least equal to 20 W / (mK).

3. Heating device according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the surface density of light-emitting diodes (20) on said support (10) is at least equal to 1.5 LED / cm2.

4. Heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is of sufficiently small size and weight to be handled by the practitioner with one hand and used on the body of a patient.

5. Heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said cooling circuit (30) is shaped in such a way that, in operation, the liquid circulating in said circuit (30) passes over substantially the entire second face (12) of the support (10).

6. Heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a side wall (60) which extends the periphery (13) of said support (10) to form an open cavity whose bottom is said support (10).

7. Heating device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a conduit (70) connecting the space delimited by the support (10) and said side wall. (60), and the exterior of the device, said conduit (70) being intended to be placed in communication with the suction inlet orifice of a suction system, such that, in operation, the air in said space is able to be sucked towards this inlet orifice.

8. Heating device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the maximum dimension (D) of said support (10) is 15 centimeters.

9. Method for heating adipocytes in order to liquefy their contents, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: (a) A heating device is provided which comprises a support (10) having a first face (11) and a second face (12) opposite said first face (11), said first face (11) carrying a plurality of light-emitting diodes (20) capable of emitting infrared rays, said support (10) being a thermal conductor, said device comprising a cooling circuit (30) by a liquid, this circuit (30) being located in contact with said second face (12) and being capable of cooling said support (10), said support (10) having a side wall (60) which extends the periphery (13) of said support (10) to form an open cavity whose bottom is said support (10), and said device comprising a conduit (70) putting the space delimited by said support (10) and said side wall (60) into communication, and the exterior of said device, this conduit being intended to be put into communication with the suction inlet orifice of a suction system; (b) said device is placed in contact with the patient's region to be treated; (c) Air is sucked out into the space delimited by said support (10) and said wall (60); (d) said region to be treated is heated by said light-emitting diodes (20); (e) said device is moved over said treatment region.

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