Phototherapy treatment device.

Abstract

The helmet (10) for treating a user's scalp by phototherapy, the helmet (10) comprising outer shell walls (22) and inner shell walls (24) each extending from a proximal apex portion to a distal edge (220, 240) and defining, when assembled, a peripheral border of the helmet (10) which delimits an opening for the user's head and a light source disposed between the two walls (22, 24) emitting into the helmet (10).According to the invention, the helmet (10) comprises a circumferential headband (40) for adjusting the helmet (10) to the user's head circumference, attached to the peripheral edge, said headband (40) comprising a body having a deformation portion (46) extending radially inwards towards the inside of the helmet (10) and being configured to deform between a resting position deployed radially inwards towards the inside of the helmet (10) and a compressed position between the helmet and the user's head in the usage configuration. Figure 3.

Description

Title of the invention: Phototherapy treatment device.

[0001] The present invention relates to a phototherapy treatment device for an external region of a living being's body. More particularly, but not exclusively, it applies to phototherapy treatment of a user's head surface, for example, scalp treatment as a treatment for baldness.

[0002] In a manner known per se, the treatment consists of applying light radiation with a predefined emission spectrum directly to the scalp. This phototherapy treatment can also be applied in combination with a photosensitizing product applied to the area to be treated a few hours before its exposure to light radiation to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. In this case, it is referred to as photodynamic therapy (also known by the English acronym PDT "Photo Dynamic Therapy").

[0003] The radiation is preferably substantially monochromatic or has an emission spectrum within a relatively narrow band of wavelengths. Generally, the emission spectrum includes a maximum wavelength located in the red visible light or in the blue visible light, these wavelengths having demonstrated particular effectiveness for the treatment of certain skin conditions.

[0004] It has thus been observed in numerous scientific studies that phototherapy treatment in a predefined wavelength range, particularly in red or blue light, can have a beneficial effect on many skin problems, such as scars, stretch marks, acne, wrinkles and fine lines.

[0005] More specifically, when radiation is applied to the skin, particularly red light and more specifically around the 630 nm wavelength, the cells in the irradiated area will react according to a principle similar to that of photosynthesis in plants. The light will stimulate the cells, and more specifically certain cellular structures of the cell, such as mitochondria.

[0006] Mitochondria, as is well known, play a particularly important role in the process of cellular respiration as well as in the process of transforming nutrients into an energy carrier commonly known as ATP (acronym for Adenosine Triphosphate). Therefore, the stimulation of mitochondria by red light contributes to cell regeneration through the improvement of cellular metabolism. Such cellular regeneration will manifest itself, for example, in facial skin cells by an increase in the production of collagen and elastin and consequently an observable reduction in wrinkles and fine lines.

[0007] In particular, it has been observed that exposure of the scalp to red light, for example at a wavelength of 630 nm, allows for stimulation of hair regrowth, improvement of hair quality and density, and stabilization of hair loss.

[0008] In the prior art, a phototherapy treatment device for the scalp of a user is already known, comprising a helmet delimiting an open end through which, in the position of use, the user's head is at least partially engaged.

[0009] In order to keep the helmet on the head during phototherapy treatment regardless of the size of the user's head circumference, several solutions have been proposed in the prior art.

[0010] For example, one of the proposed solutions is to hold the helmet in place by means of ear units which come to grip the head on each side at the level of the ears, as in patent application EP2477697.

[0011] This solution has the disadvantage of disturbing the user's sound environment during his phototherapy treatment, which is a disadvantage when the latter wishes, for example, to participate in a conversation with an interlocutor.

[0012] Another solution is to provide a chin strap that holds the helmet at user's chin level.

[0013] However, in addition to being unsightly, this solution is uncomfortable for the user whose chin is compressed during the treatment. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims in particular to provide a phototherapy device that remedies its drawbacks.

[0015] To this end, the invention relates to a helmet for treating a user's scalp by phototherapy, the helmet comprising outer and inner shell walls, each extending from a proximal apex portion to a distal edge and, once assembled, defining a peripheral border of the helmet which delimits an opening for the user's head and a light source disposed between the two walls emitting towards the inside of the helmet, characterized in that it comprises a circumferential headband for adjusting the helmet to a head circumference of the user, attached to the peripheral border, said headband comprising a body provided with a deformation portion extending radially towards the inside of the helmet and being configured to deform between a resting position deployed radially towards the inside of the helmet and a compressed position between the helmet and the user's head in the configuration of use.

[0016] A helmet according to the invention may include one or more of the following features following.

[0017] In one embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion is hollow.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the headband is mounted on the helmet of such that the headband cannot be removed before the two hull walls are removed from each other.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion extends into the interior of the helmet by means of an attachment ridge which is pinched between reliefs of the distal edges of the shell walls.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the inner wall includes on its rear face a circumferential projecting rib which forms a support shoulder at the distal edge such that the bead is held in a vise inside this shoulder by the inner shell wall against a relief of the outer shell wall.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the distal edge of the outer shell wall is folded inwards at the end to form a rim extending radially inwards to form a support shoulder such that the bead is held in a vise inside this shoulder by the outer shell wall against a relief of the inner shell wall.

[0022] In one embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion extends outwards from the helmet by means of an external anchoring heel which is retained by a relief formed on a rear face of the outer shell wall.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor heel is formed by a U-shaped curved free end edge which is radially embedded in a circumferential groove formed on an outer face of the outer shell wall.

[0024] In one embodiment of the invention, the adjustment strip is configured to be pre-positioned by being retained in a releasable manner on the outer hull wall in a final destination position, before assembly of the inner hull wall to the outer hull wall to lock the strip in said position.

[0025] In one embodiment of the invention, the headband is made of a deformable and resilient material with a shore A hardness between 25 and 95 shore.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the helmet includes a heat dissipation interface plate made of a light-opaque material that extends between the two shell walls.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the headband and the outer shell wall being made of translucent materials, the outer shell wall has on its distal edge a locally raised pattern which locally prevents light from passing through so as to produce a luminous pattern.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the two hull walls are joined together by permanent or flexible connecting means.

[0029] The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a helmet according to the invention and a group of headbands with a plurality of different inner circumferences defining as many different dimensional categories, the headband of the helmet being chosen from said group and assembled on the helmet to define the dimensional category of the helmet.

[0030] The invention will be better understood and its advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of embodiments shown by way of non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0031] [Fig-1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet according to the invention for the treatment of a user's scalp;

[0032] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a view from below of the helmet of the [Fig.2];

[0033] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a cross-sectional view along line III-III of the [Fig.1]

[0034] [Fig.4] Fig.4 is viewed in perspective from a heat dissipation interface on which has a light source mounted;

[0035] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is an exploded perspective view of the helmet;

[0036] [Fig. 6] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of a helmet adjustment headband of the [Fig.5];

[0037] [Fig.7] The [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of the band of the [Fig.6]. Detailed description of the invention

[0038] Figures 1 to 7 show a scalp treatment helmet according to the invention. The treatment helmet is designated by the general reference numeral 10.

[0039] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the treatment helmet 10 includes a body 20 which delimits a cavity 12 into which a user can insert their head.

[0040] The body 20 further incorporates a light source 16 which emits light into the cavity 12 towards the surface to be treated. The light source 16 comprises, in this example, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], a plurality of light-emitting diodes 162. In the example described, the light-emitting diodes 162 emit red light preferably with a wavelength around 630 nanometers, in a range of 620 to 640 nanometers. Alternatively, other wavelengths of light can be selected depending on the nature of the desired phototherapy treatment. For example, the light-emitting diodes 162 are supported by an electrical interconnection support 164.

[0041] As illustrated in the figures, the body 20 of the helmet 10 comprises outer shell walls 22 and inner shell walls 24, each extending from a portion of the apex proximal to a distal edge 220, 240 of the shell wall 22, 24. The two shell walls 22, 24, when assembled, define a peripheral edge 200 of the helmet 10 which delimits the opening for the passage of a user's head.

[0042] The inner shell wall 24 is preferably made of a material that transmits the light emitted by the light source 16. Preferably, the material is translucent to allow for homogeneous diffusion of light and natural protection of the user against glare. Translucent means a material that transmits light but is not necessarily transparent. Choosing a translucent material rather than a transparent one also makes the LEDs of the light source less visible from an aesthetic point of view. Alternatively, the material can be chosen to be transparent to the light rays emitted by the light sources. The inner shell wall 24 can also be referred to as the inner pane due to its light transmission properties.

[0043] For example, preferably, the inner wall 24 is made of a thermoformable plastic material, for example a mixture of polystyrene and polyethylene (acronym PS-PE).

[0044] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the light source 16 is arranged between the two shell walls 22, 24 and emits towards the inside of the helmet 10.

[0045] According to the invention, the helmet 10 further includes a circumferential band 40 for adjusting the helmet 10 to a head circumference of the user, attached to the peripheral edge 200. This band 40 allows the cavity 12 of the helmet 10 to be adjusted to the head circumference of the user, this head circumference having a large variability within the general population.

[0046] In particular, this headband 40 comprises a body having a deformation portion 46 extending radially inward toward the helmet 10, which is configured to deform between a rest position deployed radially inward toward the helmet 10 and a compressed position between the helmet 10 and the user's head in the usage configuration. Preferably, this deformation portion 46 is hollow, which allows, for example, guiding the deformation along a preferred deformation line.

[0047] In the example described, the headband 40 is held attached to the helmet after the two shell walls 22, 24 have been joined together. The headband 40 in the example described comprises two attachment portions, a first attachment portion 48 on the outside of the helmet 10 and a second attachment portion 44 on the inside of the helmet 10.

[0048] To this end, the deformation portion 46 extends inwards towards the helmet 10 by means of a peripheral attachment ridge 44 which forms the second attachment part. This ridge 44 is preferably pinched between reliefs on the distal edges. 220, 240 of the hull walls 22 and 24.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion 46 extends outwards from the helmet 10 by means of a peripheral heel 48 for external anchoring forming the first attachment part of the headband 40. This heel 48 is preferably retained by being embedded in a relief provided on a rear face of the outer shell wall 22, for example in the distal edge 220.

[0050] For example, the first attachment portion 48 is housed in a circumferential groove 224 formed on the outer face of the outer helmet wall 22. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the headband 40 includes a free edge 480 curved in a U shape ([Fig.7]) which is radially embedded in the circumferential groove 224 formed on the outer face of the shell wall 22.

[0051] Preferably, the inner shell wall 24 includes on its rear face a circumferential projecting rib 242 which forms a support shoulder 244 at the level of the distal edge 240 such that the bead 44 of the band 40 is held in a vise inside this shoulder 244 by the inner shell wall 24 against a relief of the outer shell wall 22.

[0052] In the example described, the distal edge 220 of the outer wall 22 is folded inwards at the end to form a rim 226 extending radially inwards, forming a support shoulder 228 such that the bead 44 is held in a vise inside this shoulder 228 by the outer shell wall 22 against a relief of the inner shell wall 24.

[0053] Alternatively, the deformation portion 46 may have a solid or hollow cross-section and of various shapes, for example of a shape chosen from the following list: polygonal, square, rectangular, triangular, circular, non-circular, oblong, oval, elliptical, crenellated, star-shaped, etc.

[0054] For example, the band 40 is made of a deformable and resilient material with a shore A hardness between 25 and 95 shore, preferably 50 shore.

[0055] Preferably, the band 40 is made of a material comprising a polyurethane or silicone elastomer. Furthermore, preferably, the band 40 has a passage 42 for a power supply cable from the source 16. For example, the connecting portion 44 is locally interrupted to form the passage 42.

[0056] The headset 10, in the illustrated example, also includes two notches on its peripheral edge 200 corresponding to the ear contours. As illustrated, the headband 40 has a general band shape with a curvilinear circumferential profile, preferably with two ear contour notches. This allows the user's ears to be free in the usage configuration.

[0057] Preferably, the outer shell 22 is provided on its inner face with an end that flares outwards to form a collar 222 before curving towards the interior by its rim 226,

[0058] Furthermore, the helmet 10 also includes a heat dissipation layer 26 interposed between the two shell walls 22, 24. Preferably, the layer 26 is shaped into a plate configured to extend into the body of the helmet 10. As illustrated in the figure, the plate 26 forms a support for the light source. In the illustrated example, the light source 16 comprises a flexible support 164 and a plurality of light-emitting diodes 162. The flexible support 164 has, for example, a star-shaped configuration to conform to the concavity of the shell walls 22, 24. Preferably, the support 164 is attached to an inner face of the heat dissipation plate 26 that is oriented towards the cavity 12 of the helmet 10.

[0059] The heat dissipation plate 26 is made of a material opaque to light so that light cannot pass through the helmet 10 in an area covered by the heat dissipation layer 26. For example, the plate is an aluminum plate. Preferably, the headband 40 and the outer shell wall 22 being made of translucent materials, the outer shell wall 22 has on its distal edge 220 a locally raised pattern that locally prevents light from passing through so as to produce a luminous pattern.

[0060] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the headband 40 is arranged on the helmet 10 in such a way that the headband 40 cannot be removed without dismantling the two shell walls 22, 24 between them.

[0061] Preferably, the two hull walls 22, 24 are joined together by permanent (irreversible) or liberal (reversible) joining means 250.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the joining means comprise a plurality of fastening elements 250, for example spaced apart. These fastening elements 250 have complementary geometric profiles that can be mechanically joined to one another, either reversibly or irreversibly. An irreversible joint is understood to be a joint that is tamper-proof due to its physical and mechanical strength or its chemical inertness (in the case of bonding, for example).

[0063] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly of the two shell walls 22, 24 is irreversible. This assembly is achieved, for example, by interlocking clips or snap-fit ​​mechanisms arranged so that the two walls 22, 24 cannot be separated without damaging the connecting means 250 in areas of potential breakage. This prevents a user from unintentionally disassembling the helmet 10. This ensures that the headband 40 cannot be removed from the helmet 10 without irreversible damage to the helmet body 10.

[0064] For example, the connecting means 250 include projections 254 provided on one 24 of the walls which penetrate corresponding recesses in the other 22 of the walls. Preferably, the projections 254 are in the form of clips. In In addition, the recesses have complementary teeth (not illustrated) designed to cooperate with the projections 254 of the wall 24.

[0065] In addition, preferably, the two walls 22, 24 are coupled together by clips 254, for example made of plastic and comprising for example orifices 252 coinciding with the two walls 22, 24 allowing the insertion of a fixing element of the walls 22, 24 together.

[0066] Inserting a fastener (not shown) allows the inner pane 24 formed by the inner hull wall 24 to be held against the outer hull wall 22, for example by screwing. The fasteners are chosen, for example, from: screws, bolts, a crimp, a rivet, a seal.

[0067] We will now describe the main aspects of a phototherapy helmet according to the invention with reference to figures 1 to 5.

[0068] Initially, the helmet 10 is presented in several separate parts, an outer shell wall 22, an inner shell wall 24, a heat dissipation plate 26, a light source 16, an adjustment headband 40.

[0069] The adjustment headband 40 can be selected, for example, from a group of three headbands corresponding to three different head circumferences, which in turn correspond to three different size categories: small, medium, and large. Therefore, the size category of the helmet 10 is defined only when the headband 40 is assembled to the body of the helmet 10.

[0070] The assembly order is as follows: the heat dissipation plate 26 and the light source 16 are positioned inside the concavity of the outer shell wall 22. The strip 40 is pre-positioned by being connected to the outer shell wall 22 by means of the anchoring heel 48 which is inserted into the peripheral groove 224 and the rest of the strip 40 naturally comes to position itself in its final destination position by elasticity and shape memory.

[0071] The window formed by the inner hull wall 24 is then assembled on the outer hull wall 22 so that when the window 24 is screwed onto the outer hull wall 22, the strip 40 is constrained by its bead 44 between the reliefs of the two hull walls 22, 24 and immobilized in its final position.

[0072] Of course, other embodiments are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, various modifications can be made by a person skilled in the art to the invention just described by way of example.

Claims

Claims

1. Helmet (10) for treating a user's scalp by phototherapy, the helmet (10) comprising outer (22) and inner (24) shell walls each extending from a proximal apex portion to a distal edge (220, 240) and defining, once assembled, a peripheral edge (200) of the helmet (10) which delimits an opening for passage of the user's head and a light source arranged between the two walls (22, 24) emitting towards the inside of the helmet (10), characterized in that it comprises a circumferential band (40) for adjusting the helmet (10) to a head circumference of the user, attached to the peripheral edge (200),said headband (40) comprising a body provided with a deformation portion (46) extending radially towards the inside of the helmet (10) and being configured to deform between a rest position deployed radially towards the inside of the helmet (10) and a compressed position between the helmet and the user's head in the use configuration.,

2. Helmet (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the deformation portion (46) is hollow.

3. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the headband (40) is mounted on the helmet (10) such that the headband (40) cannot be removed until the two shell walls (22, 24) are removed from each other.

4. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the deformation portion (46) extends towards the interior of the helmet (10) by a connecting bead (44) which is pinched between reliefs of the distal edges (220, 240) of the shell walls (22, 24).

5. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the inner wall (24) comprises on its rear face a circumferentially projecting rib (242) which forms a support shoulder (246) at the distal edge (240) such that the bead (44) is gripped inside this shoulder (246) by the inner shell wall (24) against a relief (228) of the outer shell wall (22).

6. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal edge (220) of the outer shell wall (22) is folded at an inwardly projecting end to form a flange (226) extending radially inward to form a shoulder support (228) such that the bead (44) is gripped inside this shoulder (228) by the outer shell wall (22) against a relief (246) of the inner shell wall (24).

7. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the deformation portion (46) extends towards the outside of the helmet (10) by an external anchoring heel (48) which is retained by a relief (224) provided on a rear face of the external shell wall (22).

8. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchoring heel (48) is formed by a free end edge (480) curved in a U-shape which fits radially into a circumferential groove provided on an outer face of the outer shell wall (22).

9. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment band (40) is configured to be pre-positioned by being releasably retained on the outer shell wall (22) in a final destination position, prior to assembly of the inner shell wall (22) to the outer shell wall (24) to lock the band (40) in said position.

10. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the headband (40) is made of a deformable and resilient material with a Shore A hardness of between 25 and 95 shore.

11. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, comprising a heat dissipation interface plate (26) made of a light-opaque material which extends between the two shell walls (22, 24).

12. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the headband (40), the outer shell wall (22) are made of translucent materials, the outer shell wall (22) has on its distal edge (220) a local overthickness pattern which locally prevents light from passing so as to produce a light pattern.

13. Helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the two shell walls (22, 24) are assembled with each other by permanent or liberal connecting means (250).

14. An assembly comprising a helmet (10) according to any one of the preceding claims and a group of headbands (40) with a plurality of different inner circumferences defining as many categories different dimensions, the headband (40) of the helmet (10) being chosen from said group and assembled on the helmet (10) to define the dimensional category of the helmet (10).

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