Device for hyperbaric ozone therapy

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for ozone therapy of a part of a patient's body, comprising: - ozone supply means (10); - means (20) for transcutaneous application to the body part of the ozone supplied by the supply means (10), the application means comprising sealing means (21) configured to cooperate with the patient's body part. According to the invention, the supply means (10) are configured so that the supplied ozone is hyperbaric. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Device for hyperbaric ozone therapy Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the technical field of ozone therapy devices. Prior art

[0002] Ozone therapy is a therapeutic technique known in itself, which can be indicated as part of various treatments such as antifungals, antibacterials, or even virucides.

[0003] Different methods of ozone therapy have been considered, depending on whether the treatment is to be local or systemic.

[0004] Document EP2213317 describes a device for blood-borne ozone therapy, which has the advantage of being a systemic treatment. However, blood-borne ozone therapy presents risks of potentially serious side effects, such as embolism.

[0005] Document EP1089698 describes a device for localized and transcutaneous ozone therapy. This device avoids the disadvantages of blood-borne methods, but its effectiveness is limited because the absorption of ozone by the skin is not optimal.

[0006] Documents PL225685B1, WO2018117880A1, ITSV950009A1, ITUB20153121A1, US20090099503A1, FR1158484A, CN106994096A, CN111110487A and CN107997953A each describe ozone therapy devices. However, these devices are not entirely satisfactory. Statement of the invention

[0007] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an ozone therapy device which avoids dangerous side effects for the patient, which is of improved effectiveness compared to the transcutaneous ozone therapy devices of the prior art, and which may possibly be compatible with a systemic treatment.

[0008] For this purpose, an ozone therapy device for a part of a patient's body has been developed, comprising: - means of supplying ozone; - means for transcutaneous application to the body part of ozone supplied by the supply means, the application means comprising sealing means configured to cooperate with the patient's body part.

[0009] According to the invention, the supply means are configured so that the supplied ozone is hyperbaric.

[0010] Thus, the absorption of ozone by the skin of the part of the body exposed to ozone is increased. The effectiveness of the treatment is improved.

[0011] The sealing means make it possible to guarantee the stability of the pressure of the ozone contained in the application means, as well as to prevent leaks of ozone, which can be toxic in the event of inhalation.

[0012] Preferably, the pressure of the supplied ozone is higher than atmospheric pressure by a maximum of 50 mbar, preferably 15 to 20 mbar. These overpressure values ​​are sufficient to allow an increase in the absorption of ozone, without unduly complicating the design of the sealing means.

[0013] In order to further increase the absorption of ozone by the skin, the device comprises a system for heating the body part. The pores of the skin are dilated by the heat, in particular prior to the ozone treatment, which facilitates the penetration of the ozone.

[0014] For example, the heating system includes infrared lamps, i.e. lamps emitting the majority of their radiation in the infrared range. This type of system is simple to implement, and has the advantage of having low thermal inertia.

[0015] Still with the aim of increasing the absorption of ozone by the skin, the device comprises a pressure regulation system configured to create a depression inside a volume defined by the application means, and surrounding the part of the body to be treated. It is therefore possible, before supplying the hyperbaric ozone, to subject the body to a negative pressure. In this way, when the pressure regulation system returns the volume to a normal pressure, then the ozone is introduced hyperbarically, the part of the body is exposed to a greater pressure variation, so that the absorption of ozone by the skin is further improved. By practicing a depression step upstream of the treatment, it is possible to achieve a satisfactory pressure variation without unreasonably increasing the overpressure of the ozone. This makes it possible to avoid the aforementioned complexifications of the sealing means.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the application means are a box configured to receive a patient's body except for their head, and the sealing means are configured to cooperate with the patient's neck. In this way, a very large part of the body is exposed to ozone, which allows for systemic treatment. With the head outside the box, the patient is not likely to suffer from claustrophobia, and prevention of inhalation of ozone is facilitated.

[0017] In a second embodiment, the application means are a housing configured to be applied to a part of the patient's body and the means Sealing elements are a seal arranged around the perimeter of an open face of the housing to cooperate with the patient's body part. In this way, the treatment is localized, which is sufficient for certain therapeutic indications such as skin conditions.

[0018] In a third embodiment, the application means are a box configured to fully receive the body of a patient and the sealing means comprise a breathing mask configured to cooperate with the patient's face. In this way, the largest possible part of the body is exposed to ozone, which allows for a further improved systemic treatment.

[0019] The invention also relates to a method for preparing a part of a patient's body for ozone therapy, which uses a device according to the aforementioned characteristics.

[0020] In a first embodiment, the method is remarkable in that it comprises a step of exposing the part of the body to a temperature higher than body temperature, prior to ozone therapy. The dilation of the pores of the skin, subjected to heat, makes it possible to improve the transcutaneous absorption of ozone.

[0021] In a second embodiment, compatible with the first, the method is remarkable in that it comprises a step of exposing the part of the body to a hypobaric pressure, prior to ozone therapy. The variation in pressure to which the treated part of the body is subjected, between the preparation step and the treatment step, makes it possible to improve the transcutaneous absorption of the ozone. Brief description of the drawings

[0022] [Fig. 1] is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a diagram illustrating the second embodiment. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the invention relates to a device (1) for ozone therapy of a part of a patient's body, remarkable in that said part of the body is exposed to hyperbaric ozone. This characteristic makes it possible to increase the absorption of ozone by the skin of the exposed part.

[0025] It is understood that by "ozone", pure ozone is preferred, generated from pure oxygen or from a concentrator. Ozone is avoided from ambient air, to avoid the presence of nitrogen. However, and without departing from the scope of the invention, a gas mixture rich in ozone and not exclusively pure ozone can be envisaged, but the effectiveness of the treatment risks being reduced.

[0026] With particular reference to [Fig.l], the device (1) comprises: - means for supplying (10) hyperbaric ozone; and - means for applying (20) ozone to a part of the patient's body.

[0027] The supply means (10) are known per se. They essentially consist of transforming dioxygen (O2), present in the gas mixture, into ozone (O3). The means implemented may be a plasma such as a corona plasma which has the advantage of being a low temperature plasma, or even ultraviolet radiation.

[0028] The oxygen comes from a supply of oxygen, which may be for example a bottle containing pressurized oxygen, or an oxygen concentrator taking ambient air from the device (1) and filtering it in order to increase its oxygen content.

[0029] The supply means (10) are configured so that the ozone supplied is hyperbaric. The difference between the atmospheric pressure to which the body is exposed before treatment, and the pressure of the hyperbaric ozone, therefore greater than atmospheric pressure, makes it possible to increase the absorption of ozone by the skin of the part of the body treated.

[0030] In a first mode, the overpressure of the ozone is generated directly by the supply means (10), for example by regulating the pressure supplied by a bottle of oxygen: this being connected to an internal volume (22) of the application means (20), the use of a pressure reducer at the outlet of the oxygen bottle makes it possible to directly adjust the suppression of the ozone.

[0031] In a second mode, illustrated in [Fig.2], the overpressure of the ozone is generated by a pressure regulation system (40) connected to the volume (22).

[0032] If a pressure regulation system (40) is present, it is possible, upstream of the ozone treatment, to subject the part of the body to be treated to a depression, that is to say a pressure lower than atmospheric pressure. In this case, the pressure regulation system (40) sucks air present in the volume (22), so that the part to be treated will be subjected, after the depression step and during the introduction of the hyperbaric ozone, to a greater pressure variation. This makes it possible to further improve the absorption of ozone by the skin at the level of the part of the body treated.

[0033] In order for the volume (22) inside the application means (20) to remain at the desired pressure, and in order for the ozone to remain inside the volume (22) without exposing the patient to risks of inhalation, the application means (20) comprise sealing means (21), which cooperate with the part of the body to be treated.

[0034] In the mode illustrated in [Fig. 1], the body part is the entire body with the exception of the head. The sealing means (21) are therefore in the form of a neck strap, configured to press against the patient's neck.

[0035] Advantageously, these sealing means (21) have a retracting lip, towards the inside of the volume (22), so that the hyperbaric pressurization of the volume (22) presses this lip against the patient's neck, and reinforces the sealing. provided by said means (21).

[0036] In this embodiment, and as illustrated, the patient can stand upright, inclined, or lying down, while presenting the same seal at the neck. It can be envisaged, in a mode not shown, that the patient is in a seated position, on a seat adjustable in height in order to raise it for the passage of the head out of the volume (22).

[0037] At the end of the treatment, the ozone present in the application means (20) is evacuated by means of an exhaust (25). This exhaust (25) can be connected directly to the outside of the building where the device (1) is installed, or include means for degrading the ozone, for example at high temperature, so as not to overload the ambient air around the device with ozone. The patient, and even more so the practitioner, would otherwise be subjected to repeated and significant respiratory exposure to ozone.

[0038] Optionally, the device (1) also comprises a heating system (30), for example by means of infrared lamps (31). This heating system (30) is not intended to be used during ozone therapy as such, since heat destroys ozone. The ozone used is at room temperature when it is introduced into the volume (22) of the application means (20).

[0039] This system is intended to be used upstream of ozone therapy, during a treatment preparation stage. Indeed, exposing the part to be treated to heat has the effect of dilating the pores of the skin, which will subsequently increase the absorption of ozone.

[0040] In cases where the walls of the application means are transparent, and in particular transparent to infrared rays, it is possible to arrange the heating system (31) outside the volume (22), so that it is not exposed to ozone.

[0041] It is recalled that ozone is an oxidizing gas, and that materials which are exposed to ozone must be chosen accordingly.

[0042] To this end: - the walls of the application means (20) can be made of polycarbonate or stainless steel; - the sealing means (21) can be made of silicone.

[0043] A human-machine interface (50) is connected to the various controllable systems and components of the device (1), and makes it possible to adjust the various parameters of the ozone therapy as well as the preparatory steps.

[0044] The human-machine interface (50) is of course connected to the safety devices of the device (1), for example those which check the correct closure of the application means (20) before the injection of the ozone, or even an ozone analyzer making it possible to check that the air breathed by the patient does not contain ozone in quantity that may be toxic.

[0045] It is thus possible to adjust the durations of each of the stages, the overpressure and / or depression values, to prepare pre-programmed sequences to automatically link the different stages, etc.

[0046] With reference to [Fig. 2], the device (1) can be designed for localized treatment. In this case, the same structural elements are found as in the first embodiment, but the application means (20) are of a geometry adapted to the part of the body to be treated. The illustrated embodiment concerns the treatment of the patient's back, and therefore takes the form of a box with one face open, and the opening is applied against the patient's body.

[0047] In this case, the sealing means (21) are a seal arranged around the entire periphery of the opening, and are applied against the patient's skin in order to guarantee the necessary seal.

[0048] Clamping means may be provided to ensure that the box is held securely against the part to be treated, such as straps fixed to the box and surrounding the patient's chest.

[0049] The application means (20) can be of any shape adapted depending on the part of the body to be treated.

[0050] In a third embodiment not shown, the application means (20) are a box inside which the patient can fully enter. In this case, the sealing means (21) are a breathing mask applied to the patient's face, allowing him to breathe within the volume (22) filled with hyperbaric ozone.

[0051] To enable its air supply, the breathing mask can be connected to the outside of the application means (20), or to an air supply system such as a pressurized bottle of the type used in scuba diving.

[0052] Since ozone is also toxic to the eyes, the mask is facial in order to protect them.

[0053] The use of polycarbonate to make the walls of the application means (20) allows the patient, in this case, to maintain visual contact with the outside, which prevents him from suffering from claustrophobia.

[0054] It is obvious that in the embodiments where the application means (20) are a box, as in the first and in the third embodiment, then the application means (20) comprise a removable part, such as a door, allowing the patient to enter said application means (20).

[0055] The removable part is of course sealed by means of the necessary silicone seals, and the opening of this removable part is subject to the appropriate safety devices preventing its untimely opening, and thereby the uncontrolled release of the ozone contained in the volume (22).

[0056] Furthermore, the device (1) may be shaped differently from the examples given without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.

[0057] Furthermore, the technical characteristics of the different embodiments and variants mentioned above can be, in whole or in part, combined with each other. Thus, the device (1) can be adapted in terms of cost, functionality and performance.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for ozone therapy of a part of a patient's body comprising: - means (10) for supplying ozone; - means (20) for transcutaneous application to the part of the body of the ozone supplied by the supply means (10), the application means comprising sealing means (21) configured to cooperate with the part of the patient's body; characterized in that the supply means (10) are configured so that the supplied ozone is hyperbaric; and in that the pressure of the supplied ozone is higher than atmospheric pressure by a maximum of 50 mbar, preferably 15 to 20 mbar; and in that the application means (20) are a box configured to receive the body of a patient with the exception of his head, and the sealing means (21) are configured to cooperate with the patient's neck;and in that the sealing means (21) are in the form of a neck strap and have a retracting lip, towards the inside of the volume (22), so that the hyperbaric pressurization of the volume (22) presses this lip against the patient's neck.;

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a heating system (30) for the body part.

3. Device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the heating system (30) comprises infrared lamps (31).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a pressure regulation system (40) configured to create a vacuum inside a volume (22) defined by the application means (20).

5. Method for preparing a part of a patient's body for ozone therapy, using the device (1) according to claim 2, remarkable in that it comprises a step of exposing the part of the body to a temperature higher than body temperature, prior to ozone therapy.

6. Method for preparing a part of a patient's body for ozone therapy, using the device (1) according to claim 4, remarkable in that it comprises a step of exposing the part of the body to hypobaric pressure, prior to ozone therapy.

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