Phototherapy treatment device.

Abstract

The helmet (10) for treating the scalp of a user 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 of the helmet (10) which delimits an opening for passage of the user's head and a light source disposed between the two walls (22, 24) emitting towards the interior of the helmet (10).According to the invention, the helmet (10) comprises a circumferential headband (40) for adjusting the helmet (10) to a head circumference of the user, attached to the peripheral edge, 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 head of the user in the use 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 the body of a living being. More particularly but not exclusively, it applies to the phototherapy treatment of the head surface of a user, for example to the treatment of the scalp as a treatment for baldness.

[0002] In a manner known per se, the treatment consists of the application of light radiation having a predefined emission spectrum directly onto 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 the light radiation to increase the effectiveness of the treatment. In this case, we speak of dynamic phototherapy (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 red visible light or in blue visible light, these wavelengths having demonstrated particular effectiveness for the treatment of certain skin conditions.

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

[0005] More particularly, when radiation is applied to the skin, particularly in red light and more particularly around the wavelength of 630 nm, the cells in the irradiated region 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 the mitochondria.

[0006] As is known per se, mitochondria play a particularly important role in the process of cellular respiration as well as in the process of transforming nutrients into an energy vector commonly referred to as ATP (acronym for Adenosine Tri Phosphate). Therefore, the stimulation of mitochondria by red light contributes to cell regeneration thanks to 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] More particularly, it has been observed that exposure of the scalp to red light, for example at the wavelength of 630 nm, allows stimulation of hair regrowth, improvement of the quality and density of the hair as well as stabilization of hair loss.

[0008] Already known in the state of the art is equipment for phototherapy treatment of the scalp of a user, comprising a helmet delimiting an open end through which, in the position of use, the head of the user is at least partially engaged.

[0009] In order to keep the helmet on the head during phototherapy treatment and 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 solutions proposed is to hold the helmet using ear units which 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 their phototherapy treatment, which presents a disadvantage when the latter wishes to participate, for example, in a conversation with an interlocutor.

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

[0013] However, in addition to being unsightly, this solution is not very comfortable for the user whose chin is compressed during treatment. Description of the invention

[0014] The present invention aims in particular to propose a phototherapy device which overcomes its drawbacks.

[0015] For this purpose, the invention relates to a helmet for treating the scalp of a user by phototherapy, the helmet comprising outer and inner shell walls each extending from a proximal apex portion to a distal edge and defining, once assembled, a peripheral edge of the helmet which delimits an opening for passage of the user's head and a light source arranged 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 edge, 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 rest position deployed radially towards the inside of the helmet and a compacted position between the helmet and the user's head in the use configuration.

[0016] A helmet according to the invention may comprise one or more of the 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 strip cannot be removed before the two hull walls have been removed from each other.

[0019] In one embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion extends towards the inside of the helmet by a connecting bead which is pinched between reliefs of the distal edges of the shell walls.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the inner wall comprises on its rear face a circumferentially projecting rib which forms a support shoulder at the distal edge such that the bead is gripped 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 at an inwardly projecting end to form a rim extending radially inward to form a bearing shoulder such that the bead is gripped 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 towards the outside of the helmet by an external anchoring heel which is retained by a relief provided on a rear face of the external shell wall.

[0023] In one embodiment of the invention, the anchor heel is formed by a free end edge curved in a U shape which fits radially into a circumferential groove provided 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 releasably retained on the outer shell wall in a final destination position, prior to assembly of the inner shell wall to the outer shell wall to lock the strip in said position.

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

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

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the strip, the outer shell wall being made of translucent materials, the outer shell wall has on its distal edge a local excess thickness pattern which locally prevents light from passing so as to produce a light pattern.

[0028] In one embodiment of the invention, the two shell walls are assembled with each other by permanent or liberal connecting means.

[0029] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a helmet according to the invention and a group of headbands with a plurality of different internal 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 appear better, on reading the detailed description which follows, of embodiments shown as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the appended drawings in which:

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

[0032] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a bottom view of the helmet of [Fig.2];

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

[0034] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of a heat dissipation interface on which a light source is mounted;

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

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

[0037] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a cross-sectional view of the strip of [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 10.

[0039] As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the treatment helmet 10 comprises a body 20 which defines a cavity 12 inside which a user can insert his head.

[0040] The body 20 further incorporates a light source 16 which emits towards the interior of 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 may be selected depending on the nature of the desired phototherapy treatment. For example, the light-emitting diodes 162 are carried by an electrical interconnection support 164.

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

[0042] The inner shell wall 24 is preferably made of a material that allows the light flux emitted by the light source 16 to pass through. Preferably, the material is translucent to allow homogeneous diffusion of the light as well as natural protection of the user against glare. By translucent, we mean a material that allows light to pass through but is not necessarily transparent. The choice of a translucent material rather than a transparent material also makes it possible, aesthetically, to make the diodes of the light source less visible. Of course, as a variant, 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 an inner window because of 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 also comprises 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 makes it possible to adjust the cavity 12 of the helmet 10 to the head circumference of the user, this head circumference presenting a great variability within the general population.

[0046] In particular, this headband 40 comprises a body provided with a deformation portion 46 extending radially towards the inside of the helmet 10 which is configured to deform between a rest position deployed radially towards the inside of the helmet 10 and a compressed position between the helmet 10 and the user's head in the use configuration. Preferably, this deformation portion 46 is hollow which makes it possible, for example, to guide the deformation along a preferential deformation line.

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

[0048] For this purpose, the deformation portion 46 extends towards the inside of the helmet 10 by a peripheral attachment bead 44 which forms the second attachment part. This bead 44 is preferably pinched between reliefs of the distal edges. 220, 240 of hull walls 22 and 24.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the deformation portion 46 extends towards the outside of the helmet 10 by a peripheral external anchoring heel 48 forming the first attachment part of the headband 40. This heel 48 is preferably retained by embedding in a relief provided on a rear face of the external 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 external face of the outer helmet wall 22. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the strip 40 comprises a free edge 480 curved in a U shape ([Fig.7]) which is fitted radially into the circumferential groove 224 formed on the external face of the shell wall 22.

[0051] Preferably, the inner shell wall 24 comprises on its rear face a circumferentially projecting rib 242 which forms a support shoulder 244 at the distal edge 240 such that the bead 44 of the strip 40 is gripped 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 at the end projecting inwards to form a rim 226 extending radially inwards, forming a support shoulder 228 such that the bead 44 is gripped 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 varied shape, 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 strip 40 is made of a deformable and resilient material with a Shore A hardness of between 25 and 95 Shore, preferably 50 Shore.

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

[0056] The headset 10 also comprises, in the illustrated example, on its peripheral edge 200, two notches corresponding to the ear contour zones. As illustrated, the headband 40 has a general arch shape having a curvilinear circumferential profile with preferably 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 which flares outwards to form a collar 222 before curving towards the interior by its edge 226,

[0058] Furthermore, the helmet 10 further comprises 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 in order to conform to the concavity of the shell walls 22, 24. Preferably, the support 164 is attached to an internal face of the heat dissipation plate 26 which is oriented towards the cavity 12 of the helmet 10.

[0059] The heat dissipation plate 26 is made of a light-opaque material 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, the outer shell wall 22 being made of translucent materials, the outer shell wall 22 has on its distal edge 220 a locally thickened pattern which locally prevents light from passing so as to produce a light 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 from each other.

[0061] Preferably, the two shell walls 22, 24 are assembled with each other by permanent (irreversible) or liberal (reversible) connecting means 250.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting means comprise a plurality of fixing elements 250, for example spaced apart from each other. These fixing elements 250 have complementary geometric profiles that can be mechanically assembled to each other, reversibly or irreversibly. Irreversible assembly is understood to mean an assembly that is inviolable due to its physical and mechanical strength or due to its chemical inertia (in the case of gluing for example).

[0063] In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the assembly of the two shell walls 22, 24 with each other is irreversible. This is an assembly for example by reciprocal interlocking by clipping or by snap-fastening arranged in such a way that it is not possible to separate the two walls 22, 24 without damaging the connecting means 250 in rupture zones. This prevents a user from involuntarily dismantling the helmet 10. This makes it possible to ensure that the headband 40 cannot be removed from the helmet 10 without irreversible damage to the body of the helmet 10.

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

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

[0066] The insertion of a fixing element (not shown) makes it possible to constrain the inner window 24 formed by the inner shell wall 24 against the outer shell wall 22, for example by screwing. The fixing elements are chosen, for example, from: screws, bolts, crimping, a rivet, a seal.

[0067] The main aspects of a phototherapy helmet according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5.

[0068] Initially, the helmet 10 is presented in several separate pieces, 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 corresponding to three different dimensional categories: a small dimension, a medium dimension and a large dimension. It is therefore only at the time of assembly of the headband 40 to the body of the helmet 10 that the dimensional category of the helmet 10 is defined.

[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 prepositioned 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 comes to be positioned naturally in its final destination position by elasticity and shape memory.

[0071] The window formed by the inner shell wall 24 is then assembled on the outer shell wall 22 so that when the window 24 is screwed onto the outer shell wall 22, the strip 40 is constrained by its bead 44 between the reliefs of the two shell 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 those skilled in the art to the invention which has just been 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, the headband (40) being mounted on the helmet (10) such that the headband (40) cannot be removed before the two shell walls (22, 24) are removed from each other.

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 deformation portion (46) extends towards the inside 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).

4. 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).

5. Helmet (10) according to the preceding claim, in which the distal edge (220) of the outer shell wall (22) is folded at the end projecting inwards to form a rim (226) extending radially inwards to form a support shoulder (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).

6. 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).

7. 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).

8. A helmet (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein the adjustment strap (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 strap (40) in said position.

9. 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.

10. 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).

11. 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.

12. 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).

13. 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 different dimensional categories, the headband (40) of the helmet (10) being selected from said group and assembled on the helmet (10) to define the category helmet dimension (10).

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