APPARATUS FOR PERI- AND / OR INTRA-AURICULAR THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT

Description

DESCRIPTION of the Industrial Invention entitled: “Apparatus for the peri- and / or therapeutic treatment “intra-auricular” belonging to Fabio Fontana, of Italian nationality, and Nicola Bertolini, of Italian nationality. ***** DESCRIPTION TEXT 10 The present invention relates to apparatus for the therapeutic treatment of the ear, and in particular concerns a device for the treatment therapeutic peri- and / or intra-auricular. Devices intended for therapeutic treatment 15 of the ear may include systems for improve hearing, both through amplification of the sound that through the sensory stimulation of senses other than hearing, such as touch, or they may concern systems that allow cleaning 20 of the ear, or they can still understand devices suitable for protecting the ear from noise excessive, or from the atmosphere of the external environment. Among the various systems, they are particularly interesting are those that allow the treatment of 25 balance problems, related to the functionality of the vestibular reflex; methods are known for the vestibular stimulation using currents low intensity electrical or infusing means localized heat. 30 Document WO2021084424, filed by one of the applicants of this application, describes some therapeutic devices comprising an element support laminar and at least two quantum dots, i.e. two nanostructures, chosen from: graphene, graphene blue luminescence, cyan luminescence graphene, graphene aqua green luminescence, Perovskite coated with oleic acid and oleylamine, CdTe carboxylate, CdS / ZnS 5 functionalized with oleic acid, where said element support is transparent to radiation electromagnetic reference, in addition to those emitted from the human body, being a suitable side of the device upon contact with the patient's skin, and being 10 on the opposite side placed a mixture of at least two of the above quantum dots with a concentration between 1.0 mg / cm2 and 100.0 mg / cm2, capable of emit photons at the reference wavelength, and with an intensity between 0.1 mW / cm2 and 0.5 15 mW / cm2, and preferably between 0.2 mW / cm2 and 0.4 mW / cm2, and where said reference wavelength is between 280 and 740 nm, and preferably between 350 and 530 nm, where stimulated by at least one radiation electromagnetic infrared, visible, or 20 ultraviolet. The research that led to the development of the This invention has hypothesized, on the basis of the proven and multiple capabilities of nanostructures described above, the possibility of creating a 25 apparatus for therapeutic treatment of the ear that is able, in a substantially non-invasive way, to stimulate the auditory system, and in particular the vestibular reflex, thus improving balance of patients who, for various reasons, present 30 deficits in this area. The object of the present invention is therefore a device for therapeutic treatment of the ear, comprising a support intended to be positioned on the mastoid, and / or on the pinna, and / or in the concha, and / or in the ear canal of the ear to be subjected to treatment, being positioned on said support a mixture of at least two photoluminescent nanostructures. 5 In one embodiment, said mixture of at least two photoluminescent nanostructures are arranged on a transparent element in flexible material, applied in a suitable position on the aforementioned support. 10 In another embodiment, the nanostructures photoluminescent are directly integrated into the support structure. In an executive variant, the support of the device is a protective noise cap, 15 intended to be positioned between the basin and the entrance of the ear canal. In another executive variant, the support of the apparatus of the invention is an apparatus acoustic, behind-the-ear type, which attaches 20 in the area between the pinna of the ear and the mastoid, with a curved element at one end presents an organ intended for positioning in the concha and at the beginning of the ear canal. In a further variant the device can be 25 of the type inserted at the entrance of the ear canal, or of the type completely inserted inside the ear canal. Additional benefits and features of the apparatus according to the present invention 30 will be evident from the following description of some executive forms of the same surrender, for the purpose by way of example and not by way of limitation, with reference to attached drawing tables, in which: Figure 1A is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, appropriately positioned on one ear; Figure 1B is a front elevation view 5 of an executive variant of the apparatus of the figure 1A; Figure 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, appropriately positioned on one ear; 10 Figure 2B is a front elevation view of an executive variant of the figure's apparatus 2A; Figure 3A is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, 15 appropriately positioned on one ear; Figure 3B is a front elevation view of an executive variant of the figure's apparatus 3A; Figure 4A is a perspective view of a 20 fourth embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, appropriately positioned on one ear; Figure 4B is a front elevation view of an executive variant of the figure's apparatus 4A; 25 Figure 5A is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the apparatus of the invention, appropriately positioned on one ear; Figure 5B is a front elevation view of an executive variant of the figure's apparatus 30 5A. Figure 1A shows a first form executive of the apparatus of the invention; the ear 10 presents the mastoid process, commonly called mastoid 11, the pinna 12, the concha 13 and the duct auditory 14. At the entrance of the auditory canal 14 is positioned the noise-reducing cap 1, on which is positioned the transparent element 101 in flexible material on 5 which contains a mixture of at least two nanostructures photoluminescent. In the variant of figure 1B, the noise-reducing cap features portion 201 of its structure made so as to integrate the mixture of at least two nanostructures. 10 The embodiment of Figure 2A shows a hearing aid 2 positioned between concha 13 and the auditory canal 14; the device in question is equipped with the speaker 102, the battery compartment 202, and of the transparent element 302 in flexible material 15 on which the mixture of at least two is arranged photoluminescent nanostructures. In the variant of the figure 2B, the hearing aid has the portion 402 of its structure made so as to integrate the mixture of at least two nanostructures. 20 The embodiment of Figure 3A shows a hearing aid 3 positioned between concha 13 and the auditory canal 14; the device in question is equipped with battery compartment 103, extractor wire 203 and the transparent element 303 in material 25 flexible on which the mixture of at least two is placed photoluminescent nanostructures. In the variant of the figure 3B, the hearing aid has the portion 403 of its structure made so as to integrate the mixture of at least two nanostructures. 30 The embodiment of Figure 4A shows a hearing aid 4 placed inside the ear canal 14; hearing aid 4 is equipped with the 104 extractor wire which is the only one portion of the same that comes out towards basin 13 of the ear 10. On the body of the hearing aid 4 highlights the portion 204 made in this way integrate the mixture of at least two nanostructures. In the 5 variant of figure 4B, the hearing aid features the transparent 304 element in material flexible on which the mixture of at least two is placed photoluminescent nanostructures. The embodiment of Figure 5A shows a 10 hearing aid 5 consisting of a retro- auricular 105 attested on mastoid 11 and that surrounds fin 12, joining via the arm 115 and the articulated joint 125 to an organ 205 positioned between the concha 13 and the auditory canal 14. 15 On organ 105, portion 405 is highlighted made so as to integrate the mixture of at least two nanostructures, and the portion is made at the same time 305 of organ 205. In the variant of figure 5B, the hearing aid features element 605 20 transparent flexible material on which it is arranged the mixture of at least two nanostructures photoluminescent, positioned on the organ 105, and a analogous element 505 positioned on the organ 205. The operation of the apparatus according to the 25 This invention will be apparent from the following. Based on the experiences related to the different therapeutic applications of nanostructures photoluminescent inventors thought of use the above mentioned nanostructures to activate the 30 vestibular reflex and thus attenuate the disorders of the balance. The apparatus can therefore be a simple cap such as the one illustrated in figures 1A, 1B, which could also be provided if necessary of a hole to allow the treatment and to while allowing the passage of sound, or can think, as in other executive forms of combine the action of the hearing aid with 5 that of photoluminescent nanostructures. As can be seen from the examples provided, the position of the nanostructure mixture photoluminescent varies, and adapts, to the shape and placement of the support on the ear. In all cases 10 the alternative of placing an element is considered in flexible material or to integrate nanostructures in the support structure. The first solution leaves clearly the freedom to choose the type of nanostructures to be used, and to be able to use them if necessary 15 replace; in the second case, however, preference is given to the stability of nanostructures with respect to the support. Preliminary tests have been carried out on a prototype of the type described above with a perforated cap, worn by a patient who has undergone use 20 of the baropodometric platform, finding sensitive posture improvements as a result to the use of the apparatus of the invention. The apparatus conceived in this way allows for a broad spectrum of applications, particularly in 25 treatment of balance deficits, and in the stimulation of the vestibular reflex.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the therapeutic treatment of the ear, comprising a support (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) intended to be positioned on the mastoid (11), and / or on the pinna (12), and / or in the concha (13), and / or in the auditory canal (14) of the ear (10) to be treated, a mixture of at least two photoluminescent nanostructures being positioned (101, 201; 302, 402; 303, 403; 204, 304; 305, 405, 505, 605) on said support.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said mixture of at least two photoluminescent nanostructures is arranged on a transparent element made of flexible material (101; 302; 303; 304; 505, 605), applied in a suitable position on said support (1; 2; 3; 4; 5).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photoluminescent nanostructures are directly integrated (201; 402; 403; 204; 305, 405) in the support structure (1; 2; 3; 4; 5).

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the support of the apparatus is a protective noise-reducing cap (1), intended to be positioned between the concha (13) and the entrance of the auditory canal (14).

5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the support of the apparatus of the invention is a hearing aid (5), formed by a retro-auricular organ (105) abutting on the mastoid (11) and surrounding the pinna (12), connecting via an arm (115) and an articulated joint (125) to an organ (205) positioned between the concha (13) and the auditory canal (14).

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the support of the apparatus is a hearing aid (2; 3) of the type inserted at the mouth of the auditory canal (14). 5 7. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the support of the apparatus is a hearing aid (4) of the type completely inserted inside the auditory canal (14).