Shell for dermatological treatment device

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective shell (1) for a dermatological treatment device comprising a laser, said shell (1) having a substantially elongated shape enveloping the device, forming at one end a nose (2) comprising a shooting window (3) capable of allowing a beam fired by the laser to pass through, said shell (1) comprising several parts (4-11) assembled together, where the nose (2) is formed from a single part (4). Abstract figure: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Shell for dermatological treatment device Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a dermatological treatment device comprising a laser head capable of firing a laser beam. Such a device is typically used to create heating of a target area of ​​a patient comprising dermal tissues in order to accelerate healing. The invention relates more particularly to the shell of this device. Prior art

[0002] It is known, to produce such a device, to house all the functional elements (laser, control unit, pyrometer, ventilation, power supply battery, etc.) in a plastic shell. This shell then protects these functional elements against possible projections. Its shape allows it to be handled by an operator with a view to using the device by the latter.

[0003] The end of the device comprising the laser firing window is intended to be brought close to the skin of the patient to be treated. Also, it may happen that this end mistakenly comes into contact with the patient's bodily fluids (blood, lymph, etc.), which are potentially contaminating.

[0004] A plastic shell is conventionally made of two longitudinal half-shells, relative to a plane of symmetry of the device passing through a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the laser firing axis. Also, the joint plane between the two half-shells passes substantially, at the level of the nose of the device, in an area which can come into contact with the skin of the patient being treated.

[0005] At the joint plane between the two half-shells, a baffle is supposed to prevent the penetration of liquid and thus prevent any internal contamination of the device. However, devices have been observed in which liquids have penetrated inside the shell. Such liquid penetration can potentially lead to contamination of patients or personnel in contact with the laser treatment device.

[0006] Also, the present invention proposes to overcome this drawback by preventing any risk of internal contamination of the hull. Summary of the invention

[0007] For this purpose, the invention relates to a protective shell for a dermatological treatment device comprising a laser, said shell having a substantially elongated shape enveloping the device which forms, at one end, a nose. comprising a firing window capable of allowing a beam fired by the laser to pass through, said hull comprising several parts assembled together, where the nose is formed from a single part.

[0008] Particular characteristics or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: - the shell also includes an inlet ventilation grille and an outlet ventilation grille made of the same material as the shell (i.e. they form a single piece), - the inlet ventilation grille is arranged near the end in the part forming the nose, - the outlet ventilation grille is arranged near the other end of the shell, opposite the nose, preferably in a plane not parallel to the surface of the shell, - the shell also comprises a measuring window for a pyrometer, said window being arranged set back from the outer surface of the shell, at the bottom of a well and / or surrounded by a protruding crown, - the shell also includes a light guide, made of translucent material, surrounding a small section of the shell, preferably over at least 180°, in order to make at least one status indicator of the device visible from the outside, - the light guide is inserted between the part forming the nose and the rest of the hull, - the hull also includes a hatch for access to programming connectors, - the hull also includes at least one laser firing control button, where said at least one button forms a protuberance relative to the surface of the hull, - the different parts are assembled together by screws, each of the screws is arranged at the bottom of a well and the well is hidden by a screw cover.

[0009] A second subject of the invention relates to a dermatological treatment device comprising a laser head capable of firing a laser beam towards a target area comprising dermal tissues of a patient in order to accelerate healing thereof, at least one pyrometer in the vicinity of the laser head and capable of measuring a temperature of the target area, at least one fan capable of dissipating the heat released by the laser head, at least one monitoring means capable of controlling at least one means of inhibiting the laser beam as soon as the temperature measured by the pyrometer exceeds a threshold value, which device further comprises a shell as defined above.

[0010] Such a device is notably described in detail in international applications WO 2011 / 080574 and WO2017 / 118606.

[0011] Advantageously, such a device further comprises a protective sleeve as described for example in international application WO 2017 / 118605. Brief description of the drawings

[0012] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] shows, in perspective view, an overall view of the hull,

[0014] [Fig.2] shows, in exploded perspective view, the view of [Fig.l],

[0015] [Fig.3] shows, in perspective view, the part covering the nose,

[0016] [Fig.4] shows the detail of the pyrometer window,

[0017] [Fig.5] shows, in perspective view, a light guide,

[0018] [Fig.6] shows, in perspective view, a trapdoor. Description of the embodiments

[0019] The invention relates to a protective shell 1 for a dermatological treatment device comprising a laser capable of firing a laser beam. Such a device is typically used to create heating of a target area of ​​a patient comprising dermal tissues in order to accelerate healing.

[0020] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, said shell 1 comprises several parts 4-11 assembled together, so as to envelop the device. The shell 1 has a substantially elongated shape, in the form of an oblong cigar. One of the ends of the cigar, where a firing window 3 is arranged allowing the passage of a laser beam fired by the laser, forms a nose 2.

[0021] In order not to reproduce the unfavorable characteristic of the prior art, of having a joint plane between two shell parts, passing through the nose 2, not far from the optical axis of laser firing, according to one characteristic, the nose 2 is formed of a single part 4. An example of embodiment of such a part 4 is illustrated in [Fig. 3]. This part 4 thus forms the nose 2 of the shell 1 without having a joint plane at the firing window 3, potentially in contact with the patient and therefore potentially subject to contamination.

[0022] The shell 1 is also a handpiece: it constitutes a handle for gripping and maneuvering the device when it is used by an operator.

[0023] In addition to the part 4 covering the nose 2, according to the illustrated embodiment, the shell 1 also comprises a right shell 5 and a left shell 6 each forming, substantially symmetrically, one of the lateral sides of the shell 1. In the upper part, between the two shells 5, 6 is arranged a cover 7. All the parts 4-11, advantageously made of plastic, are produced by molding. The shell 1 may also comprise a removable battery compartment 19.

[0024] The laser heats up and therefore requires a means of cooling. Also, the device incorporates a fan, capable of creating an air circulation, sweeping the laser transmitter, in order to cool it. This requires an air inlet and outlet. It is known to arranging in the hull an inlet ventilation grille and an outlet ventilation grille, the air circulation going from the inlet to the outlet. According to the prior art, metal grilles are fixed to the hull opposite inlet and outlet orifices.

[0025] According to another characteristic, an inlet ventilation grille 12 is made directly in the shell 1 by means of holes. This advantageously allows for production in one piece with the shell part 1 carrying said inlet ventilation grille 12, from the molding stage. This allows for cost reduction by eliminating a part and an assembly operation. Similarly, an outlet ventilation grille 13 is made in one piece with the shell 1. The shape of the grille can be any. The example illustrated shows grilles substantially in the shape of a snowflake.

[0026] According to another characteristic, the inlet ventilation grid 12 is arranged near the end in the part 4 forming the nose 2. As illustrated more particularly in [Fig. 3], the inlet ventilation grid 12 is arranged in the lower part of the part 4 forming the nose 2, substantially in line with the laser emitter (not shown). It is arranged sufficiently far from the firing window 3 and the area of ​​contact with the skin to avoid the risk of contamination.

[0027] According to another characteristic, the outlet ventilation grille 13 is arranged near the other end of the shell 1, opposite the nose 2. This is more particularly visible in [Fig.2].

[0028] These relative arrangements remote from the two ventilation grilles 12, 13 allow the circulation of air, produced by the fan, to cool the entire volume between the two ventilation grilles 12, 13, and therefore substantially the entire internal volume of the shell 1.

[0029] According to another characteristic, the outlet ventilation grille 13 is arranged in a plane formed in the shell 1 in an orientation not parallel to the surface of the shell 1 at this location. It has been observed that this configuration makes it possible to orient the outlet ventilation grille 13 substantially parallel to the fan and thus to improve the efficiency of the air circulation, which contributes to improving the operation of the device as a whole.

[0030] The device may also comprise a pyrometer. This pyrometer is intended to measure the temperature of the patient's skin during treatment in order to check that it does not heat up too much. Also, near the laser firing window 3, the shell 1 comprises a measurement window 14 for this pyrometer. This window 14 comprises a filter closing it while allowing measurement by the pyrometer.

[0031] It has appeared, in devices according to the prior art, that the operator could put his finger on the filter blocking the pyrometer window. This has the effect, by depositing sebum or bodily fluids (blood, lymph, etc.) from the patient being treated, of obscuring the window and altering the temperature measurement (underestimation). However, the The device includes a control unit that controls the laser power to the measured temperature. Also, a fingerprint on the pyrometer window filter can cause overheating or even a burn to the patient's skin.

[0032] Consequently, according to another characteristic, the shell 1 is shaped so that the filter of the window 14 cannot come into contact with a finger. For this, the window 14 is arranged set back from the outer surface of the shell 1. The window 14 is arranged at the bottom of a well. Alternatively or additionally, it is surrounded by a protruding crown. Due to its diameter being significantly smaller than that of a finger, said protruding crown makes it possible to protect the outer surface of the filter by preventing contact of a finger with the filter arranged in the window 14. These characteristics are illustrated in detail figure 4.

[0033] The device also comprises at least one luminous status indicator, advantageously of the LED type. Such an indicator can indicate power on, operation of the laser, an overheating alarm, a low battery alarm, etc.

[0034] In order for the indicator light arranged inside the shell 1 to be visible from the outside, typically by an operator, the shell 1 comprises at least one zone made of translucent material, preferably transparent. According to another characteristic, the shell 1 also comprises a light guide 11, made of translucent material, preferably transparent. It is shaped so as to surround a small section of the elongated shape of the shell 1, i.e. a section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cigar, substantially coincident with the optical axis of the laser. It surrounds said section preferably over at least 180°, still preferably over at least 300°. This makes it possible to make visible to the outside at least what resembles a status indicator of the device and this over a corresponding angle of at least 180°, respectively at least 300°. According to one embodiment, a light guide is illustrated in [Fig.5].

[0035] The light guide 11 is one of the parts 4-11 of the shell 1. According to another characteristic, the light guide 11 is interposed between the part 4 forming the nose 2 and the rest 5-10 of the shell 1. According to the illustrated embodiment, the light guide 11 is interposed between the part 4, the side shells 5, 6 and the cover 7. A section profile complementary to that of the adjacent parts ensures its maintenance in the shell 1 without any other means of fixing.

[0036] It has been seen that the device comprises a control unit. This control unit is advantageously programmable. To do this, it has at least one connector allowing it to be connected to a programming unit in order to carry out software updates in particular. Access to this at least one programming connector is reserved for maintenance teams. It does not have to be accessible to the operator using the device. Also, according to the prior art, access to the connectors programming is done by disassembling the hull 1. This can be tedious for maintenance teams.

[0037] Also, according to another characteristic, the shell 1 further comprises a hatch 8 for access to the programming connectors. This hatch 8 is more particularly illustrated in [Fig.5]. Its insertion into the shell 1 is illustrated by [Fig.2].

[0038] In order to avoid being accessible to operators and to reserve access to maintenance teams, the hatch 8 is advantageously protected by a tamper-evident label.

[0039] In order to control the laser firing of the device, the latter comprises at least one control button. This at least one button is taken up at the level of the shell by as many buttons 9, 10. Advantageously, the control of the laser firing is secured by a two-digit control: it is necessary to simultaneously actuate the two buttons 9, 10 to control the firing of the laser. The opposite position of the two buttons 9, 10, on either side of the shell 1, substantially opposite each other, a right button 9 on the right shell 5 and a left button 10 on the left shell 6, guarantees that the thumb and index finger are each arranged on one of the buttons 9, 10, ensuring that the operator's hand is in the gripping position of the shell 1.

[0040] According to another characteristic, said at least one button 9, 10 of the shell 1 forms a protuberance relative to the surface of the shell 1. It has been demonstrated that this solution allows the operator's fingers to be positioned on the shell 1 naturally in position on the buttons 9, 10, in a haptically-like manner. This haptic effect could be further reinforced by producing said at least one button 9, 10 with a raised surface, contrasting with the smooth surface of the rest of the shell 1 around said at least one button 9, 10. This difference in relief is sensitive to the finger. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous for positioning the finger on the button 9, 10 by touch because the operator wears gloves and the device is associated with a protective cover, both of which impair the handling of the device.

[0041] The shell 1 is made by assembling the different parts 4-11. These different parts 4-11 are notably assembled together by screws. In the illustrated embodiment, four screws secure the right shell 5 to the left shell 6. Loops arranged in the part 4 and in the cover 7 are shaped to surround and be passed through by the screws and thus assemble the part 4 and the cover 7 to the two shells 5, 6.

[0042] According to another characteristic, each of the screws is arranged at the bottom of a well, so that the screw is retracted under the surface of the shell 1. The well is masked by a screw cover 15-18. This screw cover 15-18, in that it closes the well and has a continuous surface with the surface of the shell 1 around the well, limits the crevices and thus improves the sealing of the shell 1 and its resistance to contamination. The screw cover 15-18 is typically assembled with the well by a quarter-turn thread. In addition, a 15-18 screw cover improves the aesthetics of the hull 1.

[0043] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This should be considered as illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this description alone. Numerous alternative embodiments are possible. List of reference signs

[0044] 1: hull, 2: nose, 3: shooting window, 4: part forming the nose, 5: right shell, 6: left shell, 7: cover, 8: connector hatch, 9: right button, 10: left button, 11: light guide, 12: inlet ventilation grille, 13: outlet ventilation grille, 14: pyrometer window, 15-18: screw cover, 19: battery.

Claims

Claims

1. A dermatological treatment device comprising a laser head capable of firing a laser beam towards a target area of ​​a patient comprising dermal tissues in order to accelerate healing thereof, at least one pyrometer in proximity to the laser head and capable of measuring a temperature of the target area, at least one fan capable of dissipating the heat released by the laser head, at least one monitoring means capable of controlling at least one means of inhibiting the laser beam as soon as the temperature measured by the pyrometer exceeds a threshold value, at least one luminous status indicator disposed inside a shell (1) having a substantially elongated shape in the form of an oblong cigar enveloping the device, forming at one end a nose (2) formed of a single part (4) comprising a firing window (3) capable of allowing a beam fired by the laser to pass through and comprising a contact zone with the skin,said shell (1) comprising several parts (4-11) assembled together, the shell (1) being characterized in that the shell (1) further comprises a light guide (11), made of translucent material, surrounding over at least 180° a section transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shell (1) in order to make said at least one status indicator of the device visible to the outside.,

2. The device according to the preceding claim, further comprising an inlet ventilation grille (12) and an outlet ventilation grille (13) made of the same material as the shell (1), where the inlet ventilation grille (12) is arranged near the end in the part (4) forming the nose (2) and the outlet ventilation grille (13) is arranged near the other end of the shell (1), opposite the nose (2), preferably in a plane not parallel to the surface of the shell (1).

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (1) further comprises a measuring window (14) for the pyrometer, said window (14) being arranged set back from the outer surface of the shell (1), at the bottom of a well and / or surrounded by a protruding crown.

4. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the light guide (11), made of translucent material, surrounds a small section of the shell (1) on at least 300°, in order to make at least one device status indicator visible from the outside.

5. The device according to the preceding claim, where the light guide (11) is interposed between the part (4) forming the nose (2) and the rest (5-10) of the shell (1).

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a hatch (8) for access to programming connectors, said hatch (8) being protected by a tamper-evident label.

7. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one laser firing control button, which at least one laser firing control button is taken up at the level of the shell (1) by as many buttons (9, 10).

8. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the at least one button (9, 10) at the shell forms a protuberance relative to the surface of the shell (1).

9. The device according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said at least one button (9,10) at the level of the shell (1) has a raised surface and in that this device is associated with a protective cover.

10. The device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises two buttons (9, 10) which must be actuated simultaneously to control the firing of the laser, which buttons have an opposite position, on either side of the hull.

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