Phototherapy treatment device.

Abstract

The face mask comprises a body (12) shaped to have a concavity oriented towards the area to be treated and defining, in facial correspondence, a so-called meridian line from the forehead to the chin and predefined parallel lines between each side of the face. The face mask comprises a plurality of light sources (22) and an electrical connection support for the light sources to power them. The body (12) comprises a first inner wall (30) and a second outer wall (40) between which the light source (22) is interposed. According to the invention, the support has a general shape of a perforated plate sufficiently deformable to conform to the concavity of the body, and the support delimits at least one main trunk extending substantially along the meridian line and a plurality of branches extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Phototherapy treatment device.

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for providing phototherapy or photomodulation treatment to improve skin health, such as anti-aging treatments or acne prevention, using light-emitting diode (LED) phototherapy, although other types of light radiation sources may be used.

[0002] Certain light spectra emitted by LEDs (blue or red) are known to be therapeutic for treating skin conditions such as acne or are beneficial for inhibiting skin aging. However, it is necessary to provide users with a practical home light therapy device, such as a mask, that is easy to use and does not cause discomfort.

[0003] Products currently available for home use by consumers on the market are fixed at a single size and / or generally must be held in the hand, which has generally not proven satisfactory for ensuring optimal light diffusion. The alternative is for clients to visit a specialized institute to receive treatments.

[0004] Light therapy devices known in the prior art, in particular masks, present many problems related to the exposure of LEDs and associated circuits to power the LEDs to contact with users.

[0005] More specifically, in order to maximize light communication with the patient, LEDs are generally arranged in such a way as to allow the patient to be in physical contact with them, which causes the accumulation of dust and oil. Furthermore, such contact can be dangerous for patients who are exposed to the sharp or hot edges of the LEDs and associated circuitry. Exposure to detailed circuitry is an intimidating and unpleasant experience when the treatment lasts several minutes and the mask is positioned relatively close to the face, often causing a feeling of claustrophobia and discomfort in the patient during the treatment.

[0006] It has been observed in some users that certain areas of the face are prone to rapid reddening even during medically approved exposure times. This results in persistent redness in certain more sensitive areas of the face, such as around the eyes.

[0007] To remedy this, the user is forced either to limit the duration of exposure to phototherapy treatment or to use phototherapy devices with a smaller emission surface which allows for more targeted treatment of the face.

[0008] It will therefore be understood that there is a need for a face mask that meets the times as needed to effectively treat the entire face while limiting the risks of overexposure.

[0009] The invention aims in particular to provide a face mask that maximizes the therapeutic effectiveness of the exposure while also limiting the risks of overexposure to red light.

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a facial mask for phototherapy treatment of a user's face, comprising a body shaped to present a concavity oriented towards the area to be treated and defining, in facial correspondence, a so-called meridian line from the forehead to the chin and so-called predefined parallel lines between each side of the face, the facial mask comprising a plurality of light sources and an electrical connection support for the light sources for their power supply, in which the body comprises a first inner wall and a second outer wall between which the light source is interposed,characterized in that the support has a general shape of a perforated plate sufficiently deformable to conform to the concavity of the body, and in that the support delimits at least one main trunk extending substantially along the meridian line and a plurality of branches extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines.

[0011] Thanks to the invention, the support carrying the light-emitting diodes is deformable and the body enveloping the support can follow the natural curvature of the human face, making the phototherapy treatment effective.

[0012] The trunk and branch configuration makes the support particularly flexible while allowing targeted and regionalized treatment of facial areas by remarkable facial lines and no longer in a homogeneous way as in the prior art.

[0013] A treatment device according to the invention may further include one or more of the following characteristics.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the luminous power density emitted on each meridian or parallel line varies along a branch, or from one branch to another, or from a branch relative to the trunk.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance separating two light sources along a branch is variable to vary the power density.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the support comprises at least one deformable segment providing flexion and longitudinal extension of the support localized on the segment.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deformable segment has a general S-shape or a general sinusoidal wave shape.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each branch extends symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the meridian line.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mask comprises a plurality of primary branches connected directly to the trunk and at least one secondary branch connected indirectly to the trunk via at least one primary branch.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the parallel line is a lower orbital line, a superior orbital line, a lower maxillary line, a frontal line, a superior maxillary line, a central malar line.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mask further comprises a branch extending substantially along a circumferential line defined by a general oval shape of the face.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main trunk includes a terminal block for connection at one end of an electrical power cable.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the light sources comprise light-emitting diodes emitting in a red spectrum with a wavelength between 620 and 640 nm.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body is made of a thermoformable plastic material, for example a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second walls are coupled together by at least one fastening fastener passing through coincident orifices in the two walls.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the mask comprises a heat dissipation plate shaped to fit the concavity of the body and disposed between the two walls, on which is mounted the support on one side of the plate facing the inner wall.

[0027] The invention further relates to a hands-free phototherapy treatment device comprising a face mask according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a support equipped with a self-supporting flexible tube configured as a gooseneck supporting the face mask and a base forming a housing enclosing an electronic board for controlling the light sources according to a predefined treatment protocol.

[0028] The attached drawings illustrate the invention:

[0029] [Fig-1] represents a perspective view of a phototherapy device according to the invention;

[0030] [Fig.2] represents a perspective view of a human face in which have been identified a first set of remarkable lines;

[0031] [Fig.3] represents a partial exploded perspective view of the device of [Fig.1];

[0032] [Fig.4] represents a view of a front face of the face mask of the device [Fig.1] in which an inner wall is absent;

[0033] [Fig.5] represents a front view of an electrical connection support for a plurality of light points of the mask of [Fig.4];

[0034] [Fig.6] represents a perspective view of the electrical connection support of [Fig.4] mounted on a base of the device of [Fig.1];

[0035] [Fig.7] represents a perspective view of a heat dissipation plate mounted inside the mask of the device in [Fig.1];

[0036] [Fig.8] represents a perspective view of a variant of the electrical connection support of the mask of the device of [Fig.1].

[0037] Figure 1 shows a phototherapy treatment device. This device is designated by the general reference numeral 100. In the illustrated example, the device 100 comprises a face mask 10 and a support 200 for holding the face mask 10, as will be detailed below.

[0038] As illustrated in detail in [Fig. 1], the face mask 10 comprises a body 12 of generally concave shape delimited by a peripheral edge 14, intended to be positioned preferably opposite a treatment area of ​​a user, here the user's face. In the example described, the body 12 is formed of a rigid shell shaped to cover the entire face of the patient.

[0039] In addition, the mask 10 further comprises a plurality of light sources 22, illustrated in detail in [Fig. 5]. The light sources 22 comprise, for example, at least one light-emitting diode chip 24 defined by a red color spectrum in a wavelength mainly and preferably between 620 and 640 nm, suitable for phototherapy treatment.

[0040] Preferably, the luminous flux emitted by each light-emitting diode 24 is at least 30 lumens, for example within the range of 30 lumens - 60 lumens.

[0041] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the body 12 is shaped to cover the face by conforming to the natural curvature of the face and thus has a concavity oriented towards the user's face. This concavity allows it to cover the face of a human being by following the natural curvature between the malar areas on the one hand and between a frontal area and a lower maxillary area on the other.

[0042] In this example, the concavity of the body 12 makes it possible in particular to better fit and follow the contours of a user's face and thus make exposure to the light radiation emitted by the light sources 22 more efficient.

[0043] Furthermore, preferably, the body 12 also includes two recesses 16 for the user's eyes.

[0044] Preferably, the body 12 comprises a first inner wall 30 intended to be positioned opposite the user's face. This inner wall 30 is pre-formed and has a generally concave shape, for example with several slopes to adapt to the physiognomy of a human face. Thus, preferably, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], the inner wall 30 has a general face-mask shape and includes a central region with at least one curve from the frontal area to the lower maxillary area, in order to follow the natural curvature of a human face. The inner wall 30 also has a curve in the transverse direction, between the two malar areas.

[0045] Furthermore, according to the invention, the device 10 includes a second wall 40 shaped to fit, in its final configuration, the first wall 30.

[0046] The first inner wall 30 is made of a material that allows the light from the light-emitting diodes 24 to pass through. Preferably, the material is translucent to allow for homogeneous diffusion of the light as well as natural protection for the user against glare. Translucent means a material "that allows light to pass through but is not transparent." Choosing a translucent material rather than a transparent one also makes the light sources 22 less visible from an aesthetic point of view. Of course, alternatively, the material can be chosen to be transparent to the light rays emitted by the light sources 22.

[0047] In addition, preferably, the inner wall 30 is made of a thermoformable plastic material, for example a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene (acronym PS-PE).

[0048] The inner wall 30 is thus preferably formed from a material capable of evolving according to the temperature between a plastic phase and a rigid phase, by shaping said material in its plastic phase in a mold, then stiffening said material in place in the mold.

[0049] The process for manufacturing the body 12 in a plastic material includes, for example, the successive steps of (a) cutting a piece of said material, to the dimensions of the mold according to a shape spreading in the mold, and (b) shaping said piece, by molding the piece of material in its plastic phase, (c) stiffening the molded material, in place in the mold to form the body 12, and (d) providing recesses at the eye level, either on the piece before its shaping, or once the body 12 has been stiffened.

[0050] Preferably, the walls 30 and 40 are coupled together by fasteners, for example made of plastic in the form of clips (not shown), and passing through coincident orifices in the two walls 30 and 40.

[0051] In addition, the mask 10 includes an electrical connection support 20 for the light sources and their power supply. According to the invention, the support 20 has a general shape of a perforated plate sufficiently deformable to conform to the concavity of the body 12.

[0052] The support 20 is, for example, configured to be sufficiently deformable to substantially conform to the concavity of the face mask. The support 20 allows not only to provide an electrical connection base to an external power supply with the light sources formed by the LED chips.

[0053] In the following description, we will consider a decomposition of a human face along predefined parallel lines notable for the treatment of wrinkles extending transversely to a main meridian line M1 which extends from the forehead to the upper maxillary region, as schematically illustrated by [Fig.2]: - a first parallel frontal PI line remarkable for example for the treatment of forehead wrinkles; -a second parallel line, the main malar line P2, extending from one side of the face to the other, for the treatment of, for example, nasolabial fold wrinkles. -a third parallel line P3 maxillary extending to the level of the user's mouth for the treatment of perioral wrinkles, for example.

[0054] According to the invention, for the face mask 10, in facial correspondence, at least one notable line called meridian M1 from the forehead to the chin and at least one notable line PI, P2 or P3 called predefined parallel extending between each side of the face.

[0055] According to the invention, the luminous points 22 are arranged mainly along these parallel lines PI to P3 in order to produce a spatial distribution of the energy illumination of the face having a maximum surface luminous power density in localized regions along these lines and a minimum at a distance from these lines.

[0056] In the example illustrated in [Fig.5], in this first embodiment, the support 20 delimits at least one main trunk 52 extending substantially along the meridian line M1 and a plurality of branches 54 extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines PI to P3.

[0057] Preferably, in order to take into account the topographic structure of the epidermal layer of the face, the density of light power emitted along each parallel line and possibly also along the main meridian line varies from one area to another along the lines or from one line to another.

[0058] Thus, preferably, the luminous power density emitted on each meridian line or parallel varies along a branch, or from one branch to another, or from a branch relative to the trunk.

[0059] For example, in order to vary the light power density, the distance separating two light sources 22 along a branch 54 is variable. In other words, in order to vary the power density in the corresponding region of the face, the spacing between two light sources 22 along a longitudinal direction of the branch varies along a branch 54.

[0060] Thus, in [Fig. 5], it can be seen that branch 54.2 extends along a parallel periorbital line. On this branch 54.2, the light sources 24 are arranged along the branch 54.2 with a greater spacing than the light sources 24 of branches 54.1 and 54.3. Indeed, branches 54.1 and 54.3 extend along parallel frontal and lower maxillary lines corresponding to regions of the face with an epidermis thicker than the epidermis located in the periorbital area.

[0061] More particularly, the support 20 delimits at least one main trunk 52 extending substantially along the meridian line M1 and a plurality of branches 54.1 to 54.3 extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines PI to P3.

[0062] It is noted on [Fig.5] that, preferably, each branch 54.1 to 54.3 extends symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the meridian line Ml.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, the support 20 comprises a plurality of primary branches 54.1 and 54.3 directly connected to the main trunk 52 and at least one so-called secondary branch 54.2 indirectly connected to the trunk 52 via at least one primary branch.

[0064] More particularly, in this first embodiment, the support 20 delimits at least one main trunk 52 extending substantially along the meridian line M1 and a plurality of branches 54 extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines PI to P3.

[0065] In the illustrated example, the support 20 delimits a main meridian trunk 52 and a frontal branch 54.1 and a lower maxillary branch 54.3. The support 20 further comprises two lateral meridian branches 52.1 and 52.2 extending substantially parallel to the main meridian trunk 52, allowing it to extend laterally along the contour of the face. The support 20 preferably also comprises a malar branch 54.2. In order to provide flexibility to the support 20, this malar branch 54.2 is secondarily connected to the main meridian trunk 52 via, for example, the lateral meridian branches 52.1 and 52.2.

[0066] It is noted that the branches 54 of the support 20 form in the illustrated example a double “E” arrangement arranged opposite each other symmetrically with respect to the meridian trunk 52 to which they are connected.

[0067] The parallel line can be chosen from an inferior orbital line, an superior orbital line, a inferior maxillary line, a frontal line, an superior maxillary line or a central malar line.

[0068] The decomposition of the mask 10 into high energy dosing lines makes it possible to optimize the energy supply of light in very specific and targeted areas of the user's face and to limit the energy supply of light in areas not requiring or little phototherapy treatment.

[0069] Preferably, the light energy dosing rate (otherwise considered the surface density of light power) varies along the same line and / or from one line to another, which also makes it possible to treat certain localized areas (for example the periorbital region) with an adjustment of the light energy dosing rate.

[0070] For example, the variation of the surface density of light power is obtained by varying the linear density of the light sources 22 along a parallel line and / or from one line parallel to the other.

[0071] According to the invention, the light sources 22 are intercalated between the two inner wall 30 and outer wall 40 and are carried by the support 20 which is sufficiently deformable to conform to the concavity and curvature of the body 12.

[0072] In [Fig. 1], the support 200 comprises a base 210 and a self-supporting flexible tube 220 that also allows the orientation of the mask 10 to be changed ergonomically. Preferably, the flexible tube 220 is configured in a "gooseneck" shape so as to support the face mask 10 while also allowing the orientation of the device 10 to be changed.

[0073] A flexible tube known as a "gooseneck" or "stand tube" can deform along a curvilinear trajectory while providing support. Such a tube is made, for example, from a combination of two generally metallic windings with round and triangular cross-sections that are wound alternately longitudinally.

[0074] Preferably, the support 200 includes a plastic sheath which covers the flexible tube 220 along its entire length in order to allow the handling of the flexible tube 220 under optimal hygienic conditions.

[0075] In this example, the base 210 forms a housing enclosing an electronic control board (not shown) for the light sources 22 according to a predefined processing protocol. Furthermore, the support 200 includes a power cable intended to be connected at one end to a power supply, for example, the main power supply of a domestic electrical network, and at the other end to the electrical connection support for the light sources 22. Preferably, the housing also includes, for example, a conventional AC / DC converter. This power cable extends inside the flexible tube 220.

[0076] For this purpose, preferably, the support 20 includes a terminal block 50 for connection at one end of the power supply cable. In the illustrated example, the terminal block 50 extends along the meridian trunk 52, preferably in the vicinity of a free end of this trunk 52. Preferably, the electrical connection terminal block 50 includes a cable gland-type arrangement 70 at the end of the cable to ensure sealing and mechanical stability of the light source circuit 22 with respect to from the external environment. In a manner known per se, a gland-type arrangement 70 comprises a compressible packing, at the origin of the packing which is compressed by means of a nut or ring screw 72. Such a gland 70 makes it possible to retain and ensure the sealing around the electrical cable.

[0077] Furthermore, as illustrated in [Fig. 7], the face mask 10 also includes a heat dissipation interface 60 made, for example, of aluminum. This heat dissipation interface 60 is in the form of a curved plate comprising an opening 64 for the passage of the power cable and recesses 68 for the user's eyes. The opening 64 also includes, on a peripheral edge, a tab 66 drilled for the passage of the power cable and the cable gland arrangement 70. Preferably, each arm 54 extends symmetrically with respect to a plane containing the meridian line M1.

[0078] Preferably, the luminous power density emitted on each meridian line or parallel by the light sources 22 varies along a branch 54, or from one branch 54 to another, or from a branch 54 to the trunk 52. For example, preferably, the distance separating two light sources 22 along a branch 54 is variable to vary the power density.

[0079] According to the invention, the light sources 22 are intercalated between the two inner wall 30 and outer wall 40. Furthermore, preferably, the heat dissipation plate 60 extends between the outer wall 40 and the support 20.

[0080] In the variant illustrated in figures 7 and 8, the support 20 always includes a main meridian trunk 52 and a plurality of parallel branches 54 originating from this trunk 52.

[0081] In this variant, the parallel branches 54 have curvilinear shapes to closely follow the natural curvature of the face. In this variant, the support 20 always delimits a frontal parallel branch 54.1 and a malar parallel branch 54.3.

[0082] In general, the notable parallel lines P of the human face include in particular a frontal line, a lower maxillary line, a upper maxillary line, a central malar line and periorbital lines (lower orbital line and a superior orbital line).

[0083] Thus, preferably, in this variant, the support 20 delimits in addition to the lower periorbital parallel branches 54.4 and the upper periorbital branch 54.5 as well as an upper maxillary branch 54.6. Furthermore, the support 20 also includes a secondary semi-circumferential branch 56 indirectly connected to the meridian trunk by the branch 54.3, extending substantially along a circumferential line defined by a general semi-oval shape of a lower part of the face.

[0084] Preferably, in this variant, the support 20 comprises at least one deformable segment 58 providing longitudinal bending and extension of the support 20 located on segment 58. The elastically deformable segment 58 conformation provides additional longitudinal bending and extension of support 20.

[0085] As illustrated in [Fig. 8], the deformable segment 58 has a general S-shape or a general sinusoidal wave shape. In general, the segment 58 can exhibit a general wavy shape.

[0086] We will now describe the main aspects of the operation and manufacture of a treatment apparatus and treatment device according to the invention.

[0087] With reference to [Fig.1], when switching on the device 100, the user positions the mask 10 in front of his face so that his eyes coincide with the recesses 16 of the mask 10. The treatment protocol can then start.

[0088] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Other embodiments within the grasp of a person skilled in the art may also be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims.

Claims

Claims

1. Facial mask (10) for phototherapy treatment of a user's face, comprising a body (12) shaped to have a concavity oriented towards the area to be treated and defining, in facial correspondence, a so-called meridian line from the forehead to the chin (Ml) and predefined so-called parallel lines (P) between each side of the face, the facial mask (10) comprising a plurality of light sources (22) and a support (20) for electrically connecting the light sources for their electrical power supply, in which the body (12) comprises a first internal wall (30) and a second external wall (40) between which the light source (22) is interposed,the support (20) having a general shape of an openwork plate sufficiently deformable to fit the concavity of the body (12) and delimiting at least one main trunk (52) extending substantially along the meridian line (Ml) and a plurality of branches (54) extending substantially along at least two distinct parallel lines (P), characterized in that the branches (54) have curvilinear shapes to follow as closely as possible the natural curvature of the face and in that the density of light power emitted on each meridian line (Ml) or parallel line (P) varies along a branch (54), or from one branch to another (54), or from one branch (54) relative to the trunk (52).,

2. A face mask (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the distance separating two light sources (22) along a branch (54) is variable to vary the power density.

3. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the support (20) comprises at least one deformable segment (58) providing longitudinal flexion and extension of the support (20) localized on the segment (58).

4. A face mask (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the deformable segment (58) has a general S shape or a general sinusoidal wave shape.

5. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each leg (54) extends symmetrically about a plane containing the meridian line (M).

6. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of primary branches (54) connected directly to the trunk (52) and at least one secondary branch connected indi- directly to the trunk (52) via at least one primary branch (54).

7. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the parallel line (P) is a lower orbital line, an upper orbital line, a lower maxillary line, a frontal line (PI), an upper maxillary line, a central malar line (P2).

8. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, further comprising a temple (56) extending substantially along a circumferential line defined by a generally oval shape of the face.

9. Face mask (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the main trunk (52) comprises a terminal block (50) for connection to one end of a power supply cable for the light sources (22).

10. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the light sources (22) comprise light emitting diodes (24) emitting in a red spectrum with a wavelength between 620 and 640 nm.

11. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the body (12) is made of a thermoformable plastic material, for example a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene.

12. A face mask (10) according to any preceding claim, comprising a heat dissipation plate (60) shaped to fit the concavity of the body (12) and disposed between the two walls (30, 40), on which the support (20) is mounted on one side of the plate (60) facing the inner wall (30).

13. Hands-free type phototherapy treatment device (100) comprising a face mask (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a support (200) provided with a self-supporting flexible tube (220) configured as a swan neck supporting the face mask (10) and a base (210) forming a housing enclosing an electronic card for controlling the light sources (22) according to a predefined treatment protocol.

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