Cartridge and device for applying electricity using negative pressure

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cartridge comprising: a case, of which the bottom surface is open and which has a cavity part on the inside thereof; and at least one pair of positive and negative electrodes arranged on the inner wall of the case so as to face the cavity part, wherein the cavity part has a negative pressure passage provided therein so that, when negative pressure is formed through the negative pressure passage, skin that has been in contact with the bottom surface is sucked into the cavity part, and electric current flows through the sucked skin by the at least one pair of positive and negative electrodes.

Description

Cartridges and devices for electrical application using negative pressure

[0001] The present invention relates to a cartridge and device for electrical application using negative pressure.

[0002] Electroporation is a technique that applies electrical pulses to the skin to allow active ingredients to be absorbed deep into the skin. Several methods have been proposed to provide electrical stimulation to the skin.

[0003] As one of them, referring to FIG. 1, there is a method in which a positive electrode (11) and a negative electrode (12) are inserted into the skin (30) and then the device (10) applies electricity to the electrodes (11, 12) to cause current to flow inside the skin (30). Since this method involves invasive insertion of the electrodes (11, 12) into the skin, it increases the patient's pain and raises concerns about allergic reactions due to the invasive electrodes (11, 12), and it also places a great burden on the practitioner. In addition, there is a problem in that the diameter of the electrodes (11, 12) is small, so the range of electricity application is narrow.

[0004] In contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 2, there is a method in which a positive electrode (21) and a negative electrode (22) are placed on the skin (30) in a non-invasive manner, and the device (30) applies electricity to the electrodes (21, 22) to cause current to flow in the skin (30). However, since the electrodes (21, 22) are in horizontal contact with the skin (30), the electrical force is difficult to transmit into the skin (30) and is inevitably limited to the epidermis. In addition, since the contact between the skin (30) and the electrodes (21, 22) may be imprecise, there is a problem in that the application of electricity is irregular, and there is also a problem in that the effective substance applied to the epidermis is difficult to transmit into the skin and the electrical stimulation of the dermis is difficult.

[0005] [Prior Art Literature]

[0006] Republic of Korea Patent No. 10-1489397 (Published on January 28, 2015)

[0007] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a cartridge and device for applying electricity using negative pressure, which can effectively penetrate an effective substance applied to the skin or injected into the skin into tissues or deliver it into cells through electrical stimulation.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present invention for solving such a problem, a cartridge comprises a case having an open lower surface and a cavity therein, and at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes arranged on an inner wall of the case toward the cavity, a negative pressure passage is provided in the cavity, and when negative pressure is formed through the negative pressure passage, skin in contact with the lower surface is sucked into the cavity, and current flows through the sucked skin by the at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes.

[0009] The above current may be a high voltage pulsed current.

[0010] The direction of the current can be reversed by reversing the polarity of the plus and minus electrodes.

[0011] According to another embodiment of the present invention, an electric application device includes a cartridge including a case having an open lower surface and a cavity therein, at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes arranged toward the cavity on an inner wall of the case, a vacuum pump for drawing air inside the cartridge to generate negative pressure in the cavity, a pressure sensor for detecting the negative pressure, and a current application device for applying electricity to the at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes, wherein a negative pressure passage is provided in the cavity and is connected to the vacuum pump, and when negative pressure is formed in the cavity through the negative pressure passage, skin in contact with the lower surface is sucked into the cavity, and current flows through the sucked skin by the at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes.

[0012] A method of operating an electric power application device according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a step of forming negative pressure inside the cartridge by the vacuum pump, a step of applying electricity by the current application device when skin is sucked into the cavity by the negative pressure, a step of releasing the negative pressure after the electric power application step, and a step of sending a termination alarm when the negative pressure is released.

[0013] The above operating method may further include a step of detecting negative pressure with the negative pressure sensor, and a step of applying the electricity if the detected negative pressure is higher than the reference negative pressure, and continuing to form the negative pressure if the detected negative pressure is lower than the reference negative pressure.

[0014] The above operating method may further include a step of instructing the vacuum pump to generate negative pressure when the operation of the device starts, and a step of sending out a start alarm before the negative pressure generation step.

[0015] In this way, according to the cartridge and device for electrical application using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention, an effective substance applied to the skin or injected into the skin can be effectively penetrated into tissue or delivered into cells through electrical stimulation.

[0016] In addition, since it applies electrical stimulation by sucking the skin with negative pressure, it is safer than invasive methods, pain to the person being treated is not a problem, and electrical stimulation is more effective than conventional non-invasive methods.

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an invasive method in a conventional electroporation method.

[0018] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a non-invasive method in a conventional electroporation method.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an electric waveform applied to a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of a cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] FIGS. 6 and 7 are drawings illustrating various electrode patterns applied to a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 8 is a drawing of a cartridge actually implemented according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of Fig. 8.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical application device using negative pressure according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical application device using negative pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 12 is a flowchart illustrating an automatic mode in an electrical application device using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figures 13 to 15 are experimental photographs comparing the use and non-use of electrical power according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as limited to their usual or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted as meanings and concepts that conform to the technical idea of ​​the present invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to explain his or her own invention in the best way.

[0030] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations illustrated in the drawings are merely the most preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and that there may be various equivalents and modified examples that can replace them at the time of filing this application.

[0031] Hereinafter, with reference to the attached drawings, a cartridge and device for electrical application using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail so that a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains can easily implement the invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of a cartridge according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a drawing showing an electric waveform applied to a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] As illustrated in FIG. 3, an electrical application cartridge (100) using negative pressure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a case (110) having an open bottom and a cavity inside, and a plurality of positive electrodes (131, 133, 135, 137) and a plurality of negative electrodes (132, 134, 136, 138) arranged toward the cavity on the inner wall of the case (110).

[0034] One positive electrode and one negative electrode are arranged opposite to each other, and the polarity of the electrodes arranged near one electrode is opposite. Therefore, one pair of electrodes (131, 138) is arranged horizontally with a cavity between them, and the remaining pairs of electrodes (132, 137), (133, 136), (134, 135) are also arranged horizontally with a cavity between them.

[0035] A negative pressure passage (120) is provided in the upper part of the cavity of the case (110), so that when the cartridge (100) is brought into contact with the skin (140) while negative pressure is formed in the negative pressure passage (120), the area of ​​the skin (140) that is in contact is sucked up into the cavity.

[0036] In this way, when the skin (140) is sucked into the cavity of the case (110) using negative pressure and electricity is applied to the electrodes (131 to 138) while the skin (140) is folded, current flows in the direction of the arrow as shown in FIG. 3, and among them, the electric energy is transmitted deep into the skin by the current flowing in the direction perpendicular to the skin, and thus, an effective substance can be delivered deep into the skin or dermal stimulation can be maximized. In addition, by sucking the skin (140), the surface area of ​​the skin in contact with the electrodes (131 to 138) is increased, so that electricity can be applied to a wide area of ​​the skin (140).

[0037] At this time, the electricity applied to the skin (140) is a high voltage pulsed current (HVPC) as a direct current. Therefore, since it is a direct current, there is a current flow, and when the voltage is applied at a right angle while the skin is folded, the current flows as if penetrating deep into the skin, thereby increasing the effect. The electric waveform illustrated in Fig. 4 is an example, in which the voltage magnitude is 20 to 150 V, the duration of one pulse (A) is 1 μs to 2.5 ms, the interval between pulses (B) is 10 μs to 1 sec, the duration of one polarity pulse (C) is 10 μs to 30 min, the time for the electrode to change (D) is 120 μs to 1 sec, and the duration of a pulse bundle, that is, the time for performing one treatment, is 140 μs to 60 min.

[0038] By changing the polarity of the electrodes, the current can flow alternately from one direction (positive direction) to the opposite direction (negative direction) and vice versa, resulting in a uniform stimulation and effective material transfer.

[0039] Because alternating current or ultrasound energy vibrates, it only generates thermal energy by causing vibrations in cells and intercellular matter within skin tissues, making it difficult to stimulate cells or intercellular matter in a consistent direction. However, direct current can stimulate cells and intercellular matter in a consistent direction, and by changing the electrode orientation, it can also stimulate them in the opposite direction.

[0040] Next, a cartridge according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 5. The cartridge (200) for electrical application using negative pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 5 includes a case (210) having an open lower surface and a cavity inside, and a plurality of positive electrodes (231, 233, 235, 237) and a plurality of negative electrodes (232, 234, 236, 238) arranged toward the cavity on the inner wall of the case (210).

[0041] A negative pressure passage (220) is provided in the upper part of the cavity of the case (210), so that when the cartridge (200) is brought into contact with the skin (240) while negative pressure is formed in the negative pressure passage (220), the area of ​​the skin (240) that is in contact is sucked up into the cavity.

[0042] Up to this point, it is practically the same as the previous example, so a detailed explanation will be omitted and only the differences will be explained.

[0043] A syringe connection part (251) communicating with the outside is provided on the upper part of the cartridge (200), and a drug injection needle (250) enters the cavity through the syringe connection part (251) and pierces the skin (240) to inject an effective substance into the skin (240). By providing the syringe connection part (251) in the cartridge (200) in this way, an effective substance can be effectively injected into the skin (240).

[0044] Meanwhile, although FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate that there are eight electrodes, the number and size of the electrodes may vary as needed.

[0045] For example, various electrode patterns will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 6 and 7 are drawings illustrating various electrode patterns applied to a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates an electrode pattern appearing in a longitudinal section of a cartridge, and FIG. 7 illustrates an electrode pattern appearing in a cross-section of a cartridge.

[0046] Fig. 6(a) illustrates an electrode pattern in which positive and negative electrodes in the shape of vertical bars are arranged in a horizontal direction and intersect each other, Fig. 6(b) illustrates an electrode pattern in which positive and negative electrodes in the shape of horizontal bands are arranged in a vertical direction and intersect each other, and Fig. 6(c) illustrates an electrode pattern in which positive and negative electrodes in the shape of squares are arranged in two layers so that the polarity of the adjacent electrodes is opposite.

[0047] Fig. 7(a) shows an electrode pattern in which a cartridge case has a circular cross-section and a positive electrode and a negative electrode intersect to surround a cavity, Fig. 7(b) shows an electrode pattern in which a cartridge case has a rectangular cross-section and a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged on each of the four sides, but the polarities of the electrodes facing each other are the same, and Fig. 7(c) shows an electrode pattern in which a cartridge case has a rectangular cross-section and a positive electrode and a negative electrode are arranged on each of the four sides, but the polarities of the electrodes facing each other are different.

[0048] FIG. 8 is a drawing of an actual implementation of a cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 8.

[0049] As described above, the cartridge (500) includes a case (510) having an open bottom and a cavity inside, and a plus electrode (530) and a minus electrode (531) arranged toward the cavity on the inner wall of the case (210). The case (510) is provided with a negative pressure passage (520), so that when negative pressure is applied from the outside, negative pressure is formed in the cavity, and when the bottom of the cartridge (500) is in contact with the skin, the contacted skin area is sucked up into the cavity. The cartridge (500) has a syringe connection portion (551) at the top, so that an external syringe can be connected thereto to inject a drug into the sucked skin.

[0050] Then, with reference to Fig. 10, a device for applying electricity using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Fig. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a device for applying electricity using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] As illustrated in Fig. 10, the device (300) includes a cartridge (100) and a main body (310). The main body (310) includes a control device (311), a current applying device (312), a vacuum pump (313), a negative pressure sensor (314), and a negative pressure valve (315). Since the cartridge (100) has been described above, its description will be omitted.

[0052] The vacuum pump (313) is a pump used to create a vacuum state by extracting air from the cartridge (100) and the negative pressure passage, thereby generating negative pressure in the cavity of the cartridge (100). The negative pressure valve (315) is a valve that adjusts the negative pressure generated in the cavity of the cartridge (100) to become a reference negative pressure. The negative pressure sensor (314) detects negative pressure at the area where negative pressure is generated and sends the pressure value to the control device (311). The current application device (312) is a device that applies electricity in the waveform shown in FIG. 4 to the electrodes in the cartridge (100). The control unit (311) controls these to maintain an appropriate reference negative pressure inside the cartridge (100) by using the pressure value received from the negative pressure sensor (314) to adjust the negative pressure valve (315), and commands the current application device (312) to apply electricity so that direct current flows to the electrodes while the reference negative pressure is maintained inside the cartridge (100).

[0053] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical application device using negative pressure according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] As illustrated in Fig. 11, the device (400) includes a cartridge (200), a main body (410), an electric injection device (416), and a syringe (417). The main body (410) includes a control device (411), a current application device (412), a vacuum pump (413), a negative pressure sensor (414), and a negative pressure valve (415).

[0055] The syringe (417) is connected to the syringe connection (251) of the cartridge (200), and the electric injection device (416) operates the syringe (417) according to the instructions of the control device (411) to automatically inject the drug into the skin. By providing the syringe (417) and the electric injection device (416) in the device (400) in this way, the effective substance can be effectively injected into the skin (240), and the convenience of the procedure can be promoted because the practitioner does not have to separately inject the skin of the subject.

[0056] The cartridge (200) and the main body (410) are substantially the same as those in the previous embodiment, so their description is omitted.

[0057] Then, referring to Fig. 12, an automatic mode that allows a practitioner to conveniently perform a procedure using an electrical application device using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. Fig. 12 is a flowchart explaining the automatic mode in an electrical application device using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0058] First, when the operation starts, the control device (411) instructs the vacuum pump (413) to operate to generate negative pressure (S10). Then, a start alarm is sent out to notify the operator of the start of the operation by sound or light (S11). When the operator places the cartridge (200) on the operator's treatment area according to the start alarm, the skin of the treatment area is sucked up to the cartridge (200), and negative pressure is generated inside the cartridge (200) (S12).

[0059] A negative pressure is detected by a negative pressure sensor (414) (S13), the detected negative pressure is compared with a reference negative pressure (S14), and if the detected negative pressure does not reach the reference negative pressure, the negative pressure formation step (S12) is repeated, and if the detected negative pressure is higher than the reference negative pressure, the electric injection device (416) is operated to inject the drug into the skin sucked into the cartridge (200) (S15). Then, the current application device (412) is operated to apply direct current to the electrodes of the cartridge (200) (S16), and when the application of electricity is completed, the negative pressure is released (S17).

[0060] When the negative pressure is released, a termination alarm is sent out through sound or light to notify the operator that the treatment on the relevant area has ended (S18). The operator can remove the cartridge (200) from the treatment area upon receiving the termination alarm. If the standard time for one treatment has elapsed (S19), the process proceeds to the step of instructing negative pressure generation again (S10) to repeat the operation.

[0061] The start alarm and the end alarm can be distinguished from each other, and either one can be omitted. For example, in the case of a skilled practitioner, immediately after the end alarm (S18), the practitioner can move the cartridge (200) to the next area to suction the skin and create negative pressure (S12). In this case, the negative pressure creation can be instructed (S10) immediately after the end alarm (S18), and the start alarm step (S11) can be omitted.

[0062] Thus, according to the automatic mode of the electric power application device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the practitioner only needs to place the cartridge on the treatment site of the patient upon the start alarm and remove the cartridge from the treatment site upon the end alarm. During this time, the negative pressure is automatically checked and the drug injection and electric application are performed, thereby enhancing the convenience of the practitioner.

[0063] In addition, in cases where there are multiple treatment areas, rather than having the operator press a separate switch to create negative pressure each time the treatment area is moved, the vacuum pump is automatically started after a standard time has elapsed after the end alarm to create negative pressure immediately, allowing the treatment to be performed continuously, which not only improves the convenience of the treatment but also shortens the treatment time.

[0064] The results of an experiment conducted to verify an electrical application device using negative pressure according to an embodiment of the present invention are described with reference to FIGS. 13 to 15. FIGS. 13 to 15 are experimental photographs comparing an example of an electrical application using and not using an example of the present invention.

[0065] Experiment 1

[0066] 1% rhodamine B, a fluorescent substance, was applied to the surface of a 5% agarose gel, and the depth to which rhodamine penetrated into the agarose gel was observed after applying electrical stimulation to one of the gels without electrical stimulation and to the other. In Fig. 13, the upper photo shows a penetration depth of 2822.53 μm in the case without electrical stimulation, and the lower photo shows a penetration depth of 4079.06 μm in the case with electrical stimulation. Therefore, it can be seen that rhodamine penetrates the agarose gel much better when electrical stimulation is applied.

[0067] Experiment 2

[0068] As in Experiment 1, rhodamine was applied to pig skin, and the depth of penetration of rhodamine was observed in one case without electrical stimulation and in the other with electrical stimulation. In Figure 14, the upper photo shows the case without electrical stimulation, and the lower photo shows the case with electrical stimulation. As can be visually clearly seen, the rhodamine in the lower photo has diffused much further than the rhodamine in the upper photo.

[0069] Experiment 3

[0070] If Experiments 1 and 2 were experiments on the penetration of effective substances into tissues, Experiment 3 was an experiment on whether effective substances were delivered into cells. Luciferase, a luminescent enzyme that emits light only when it enters cells, was injected into experimental mice, and it was observed whether luciferase was delivered into cells by the electrical stimulation of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 15, different amounts were injected into 10 different parts of the experimental mice, and the electrical stimulation of the present invention was applied. As a result, as shown in Fig. 15, light emission by luciferase occurred, indicating that luciferase was delivered into the cells of the experimental mice. Based on this, it was confirmed that other effective substances can also be delivered into cells by the electrical stimulation of the present invention.

[0071] Additionally, since the larger the amount of luciferase injected, the brighter the light is in a wider range, it can be inferred that the more effective substance there is, the more it can be delivered into the cell.

[0072] The detailed description above is illustrative of the present invention. In addition, the above description merely illustrates and describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the present invention can be used in various other combinations, modifications, and environments. That is, changes or modifications are possible within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed in this specification, the scope equivalent to the written disclosure, and / or the scope of technology or knowledge in the art. The above-described embodiments are intended to explain the best mode for carrying out the present invention, and various modifications required for specific applications and uses of the invention are also possible in other modes known in the art for utilizing other inventions such as the present invention. Therefore, the detailed description of the invention above is not intended to limit the present invention to the disclosed embodiments. Furthermore, the appended claims should be construed to include other embodiments.

Claims

1. A case with an open bottom and a cavity inside, and At least one pair of positive and negative electrodes arranged toward the cavity on the inner wall of the case, A cartridge in which a negative pressure passage is provided in the above-mentioned common portion, and when negative pressure is formed through the negative pressure passage, skin in contact with the lower surface is sucked into the common portion, and current flows through the sucked skin by at least one pair of plus electrodes and minus electrodes.

2. In paragraph 1, The above current is a cartridge that is a high voltage pulsed current.

3. In paragraph 1, A cartridge in which the direction of the current is reversed by reversing the polarity of the plus and minus electrodes.

4. A cartridge including a case having an open surface and a cavity inside and at least one pair of positive and negative electrodes arranged toward the cavity on the inner wall of the case; A vacuum pump that extracts air inside the cartridge and creates negative pressure in the cavity; A pressure sensor that detects the above negative pressure, and A current applying device for applying electricity to at least one pair of positive and negative electrodes is included. A negative pressure passage is provided in the above cavity and connected to the vacuum pump, and when negative pressure is formed in the cavity through the negative pressure passage, the skin in contact with the lower surface is sucked into the cavity, and current flows through the sucked skin by at least one pair of positive electrodes and negative electrodes. Electrically-approved device.

5. In paragraph 4, The above current is an electrical application device that is a high voltage pulsed current.

6. In paragraph 4, An electrical application device in which the direction of the current is reversed by reversing the polarity of the positive and negative electrodes.

7. A method of operating an electric power device according to any one of clauses 4 to 6, A step in which negative pressure is formed inside the cartridge by the vacuum pump; A step of applying electricity by the current applying device when the skin is sucked into the cavity by the negative pressure; A step of releasing the negative pressure after the above electric application step, and Step for sending out a termination alarm when the above negative pressure is released A method of operating an electrically conductive device comprising:

8. In paragraph 7, A step of detecting negative pressure using the above negative pressure sensor, and A method of operating an electric power application device further comprising the step of applying the electric power if the detected negative pressure is equal to or greater than a reference negative pressure, and continuing to form the negative pressure if the detected negative pressure is less than a reference negative pressure.

9. In paragraph 7, When the operation of the above device starts, a step of instructing the vacuum pump to generate negative pressure, and A method of operating an electrical power supply device further comprising the step of emitting a start alarm prior to said negative pressure forming step.

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