WO2009050753A1

WO2009050753A1 - Apparatus for effecting aesthetic skinworks through electric treatment

Info

Publication number: WO2009050753A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000733
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michele Berretta
Original assignee: I.T. S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-10-19
Filing date: 2007-10-19
Publication date: 2009-04-23

Abstract

An apparatus for effecting decorative permanent deformations of skin tissues, for correcting defects or, anyway for an aesthetic purpose, comprises an electrode for emitting electric discharges, supplied by a generator of electric signals of an interrupted galvanic current of low voltage and frequency. The apparatus is set in operation from a proper button after adjusting various parameters controlling the entity of the electric discharge. The simplicity of the generator and the provision of reliable safety means allow performing innovative kind of skinworks in a very simple way assuring the total safety of the person under treatment.

Description

Description APPARATUS FOR EFFECTING AESTHETIC

SKINWORKS THROUGH ELECTRIC TREATMENT.

Technical Field

[1] The present invention refers to an apparatus for effecting permanent deformation of skin tissues for beauty or decoration. [2] In particular the invention refers to an apparatus apt to allow effecting permanent deformation of skin tissues through the use of electric currents.

Background Art [3] Permanent artificial deformations of skin tissues are, as known, performed by many people for various purposes and they are nowadays widely spread for beauty and decoration in general. [4] These skinworks can be effected by stinging and injection or by scarring; in the first case they are tattoos obtained using devices made of needles moving with a reciprocating motion and connect to tanks of colouring substances which are injected underneath the skin. [5] In the second case they are scarifications obtained by cutting the skin and filling the wound with substances, like ash, ink or other substances producing, in view of the specific substance and of the personal reaction, more or less evident fibrous scars, or cheloids. [6] The scarifications are also obtained by burning the skin through bars or stamps of incandescent metal, like the ones used to mark animals. The above technique, named branding, is a kind of scarification which is nowadays spreading at various levels also among western populations. [7] Nevertheless it is evident that said procedure causes painful second and third degree burns, and it brings consequences such as likelihood of infections and difficulty of the healing process. [8] In a sanitary ambit is largely known the use of electric currents for effecting surgeries apt to eliminates skin abrasions, to stop blood flowing or to perform cuts in the skin tissue. [9] As a function of the voltage and power applied the various kinds of treatment can by divided in desiccation, fulguration, cut or coagulation. [10] The fulguration, in particular, is the only technique in which the electrode does not touch the body of the patient since the high voltage between the electrode and the body of the patient itself causes an electric arc when the two parts are close enough to beat the resistance or the impedance relating to the dielectric rigidity of the mean between them that is usually air, but that could even be different elements conveyed towards the working area in order to make stable and even the electric arc.

[11] Electrosurgical generators are known which are optimized to perform fulguration or different electrosurgical operations, in which are optimized the voltage, the frequency, the power and the current's wave forms, such as the ones described in patents CAl 175110, US4188927 or US4559943, which, however, disclose complicate and expensive solutions, mainly suitable for surgical use.

[12] Furthermore, continuous or galvanic currents are still used to perform electrolysis or thermal treatment on tissues, but due to many contra-indications, such treatments are being replaced by treatments using high frequency alternating currents.

[13] In fact, recent electromedical generators works at frequencies over 100 kHz, because, it worth to remind, this is the frequency limit over which electric current is not perceived and it do not interfere with the human nervous system. The use of lower frequencies would result in a great simplification of the generators but it is not advised nor allowed in a surgical ambit as the associated power should be tool low, in order to avoid collateral damages to the patient, to produce the desired surgical and therapeutic effects.

Disclosure of Invention

Summary of the Invention

[14] Object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues apt to produce much less painful and intrusive scarifications with respect to the ones obtained with the present branding technique, having great accuracy and producing innovative aesthetic skinworks.

[15] Further object of the invention is to propose an apparatus for the treatment of the human body by using electric currents which is suitable to be used in a safe way also by non-medical or unskilled personnel.

[16] Another object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues which could be used to perform light aesthetic or therapeutic operations, such us tattoos or cheloids removal.

[17] The above objects are attained through an apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues comprising a rod for electric sparks, or electrode, fed by a generator of electric signals whose parameters can be set within determined safety values. The apparatus also comprises a push button for commanding the electric sparks between said rod and the tissue to be deformed, said button being advantageously integral to the rod, along the side surface of it. The maximum values of the voltage of the electric arc generated by said rod, and the related power, can be determined and controlled through a micro-processor control unit which is part of said generator. Said control unit provides to cut the connection of the generator with the power supply network while performing the scarification operation.

[18] The entity of the scarification produced with the above apparatus can be adjusted in order to obtain ornamental skin effects of the desired shape and dimensions, or to perform destruction and/or removal of specific part of skin tissues, always under the power level which could cause damages to the human organism, in view of a safe use of the device for beauty or decoration even by unskilled people.

[19] The advantages deriving from the apparatus of the invention are clear mainly as it allow realizing innovative and pleasant skin decorations, producing skin scarifications in a safe and painless mode, and avoiding the production of cheloids.

[20] Further advantages concern the easiness of changing the entity and the shape of the scarification as a function of desired decorative and/or aesthetic effect, with no need of providing, from time to time, specific instruments and devices, as occurs with techniques of the known art.

Description Of Drawings

[21] Anyway, for a better understanding of the characteristics and the advantages of the present invention, it will now be described, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention itself, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

• figure 1 shows a block diagram of the main components of an apparatus according to the present invention;

• figure 2 shows a further block diagram relating to one of the components of fig.i;

• figure 3 shows a circuitry scheme relating to a component of the apparatus of the invention.

Description Of Preferred Embodiments

[22] Referring to figure 1 it is pointed at as a whole with 10 a block diagram in which are schematically shown the components, and their functional links, of an apparatus for effecting scarifications of skin tissues.

[23] The apparatus mainly comprises a rod or electrode, 11, for generating an electric arc, said rod being electrically supplied by a generator of high voltage signals, schematically indicated with 12, composed of a supply unit, 13, an internal battery, 14, with its recharge circuit, 15, an electronic control unit, 16, and a power circuit, 18, apt to directly supply the rod 11.

[24] The generator 12 further comprises a cut-off switch, 19, for separating the supply unit 13 from the remaining units of the generators, said switch being controlled by the control unit 16 for opening when the rod 11 emits its electric arc. [25] Said control unit 16 is composed, as we can see in detail in fig.2, of a central microprocessor 20, a control panel 21, a display 22 showing various working parameters, a sensor 23 for detecting the current absorption of the power circuit 18, which, as schematically shown in fig.3, comprises a high rating transformer, 24, whose primary winding, 25, can be supplied with an interrupted galvanic current at a specific frequency by using a transistor, 26, which, properly operated by the control unit 16, cut the circuit comprising said winding 25 which leads to the battery 14.

[26] A button, 27, activating the emission of the electric arc from the rod is placed in the present embodiment, on the side surface of the rod 11 itself.

[27] The way the apparatus of the invention works is clearly understandable from what above disclosed.

[28] In particular, as a function of the extent and width of the scarification you want to obtain, through the control panel 21, the intensity of the electric arc produced by the rod 11 is adjusted by varying the duty cycle of the interrupted current, 28, supplying the transistor 26 of the positive voltage booster circuit 18. It has to be noticed that, anyway, the intensity of the electric arc cannot exceed a safety maximum limit automatically controlled by the unit 16 with the aid of the sensor 23 of the current absorbed by said circuit 18.

[29] It is also possible to adjust, within a certain range, a further parameter of the apparatus, that is the frequency of the interrupted galvanic current 28, said frequency being automatically set, at the apparatus powering on, to a specific value, of some kilohertz, preferably about 3000 Hz that, according to performed tests, has been recognized as a value apt to cause the best distribution of the electric arc one the skin, able to produce painless and easy to cicatrize scarifications.

[30] Once adjusted one or both the above parameters, the skin deformation takes place simply pushing the button 27 and bringing the rod 11 close enough to the skin to let the electric arc flash, in correspondence to the zone where you want the scarification to begin; after that the rod is moved, keeping it at the same distance from the skin, along the path or the area suitable to obtain the desired scarification shape.

[31] It is also useful to point out that in order to grant the maximum level of reliability and safeness of the apparatus according to the invention, it is assured that the voltage of the electric arc emitted through the rod 11 is within a certain maximum limit, in a likely way 7 Kilovolts in the present embodiment, thanks to the fact that when is commanded the emission of the electric arc by pushing the button 27, the cut-off switch 19 is opened as above described, so that the voltage supplying the positive voltage booster 18 is in any case the voltage of the battery 14, so obtaining both the certainty that the voltage of the electric arc remains steady and not subject to possible malfunctions of the supply unit 13, and the galvanic insulation of the apparatus and of the rod 11 from the power supply network.

[32] It is undoubtedly that the above contributes to increase the safety level of the apparatus; safety that, as already said, is substantially assured thanks to the limit imposed to the absorbed current, and than to the electric power of the electric arc produced by the apparatus. Furthermore, the body part reached by the minimal superficial leakage current is delimited and restricted between the area of the scarification and a mass electrode which is bound to the body part under operation, as schematically shown in fig.1.

[33] From all the above descends that the apparatus of the invention is particularly suitable to perform skin treatments through electric currents in a way absolutely safe and painless, treatments which are apt to produce innovative types skinworks and dermographies.

[34] The great simplicity and safety of the apparatus make it also suitable for effecting light aesthetic or therapeutic operations such as removal of pre-existent tattoos or treatment of scars or cheloids.

[35] About this matter it worth to notice that, unlike electromedical generators using high voltage alternating currents, which cause a thermal action destroying the tissues with necrosis of the cells surrounding the work area and then slow cicatrization, the apparatus of the present invention produces in the skin a chemical effect with a superficial, more or less wide, scarification assuring the proper coagulation without destruction of the surrounding blood vessels and tissues.

[36] It is also clear that the above advantages in the above described operating fields remain unchanged even when changes or modifications to what above disclosed as an example take place.

[37] In particular the apparatus, for specific applications, could work with pre-set parameters, without the need of providing adjusting and control panels. In the application to skin decoration , for instance, the voltage, the on-off timing, the frequency and the intensity of the interrupted current, could be previously combined in a set of programmes apt to perform specific decorations.

[38] The apparatus could further comprise a variable amount of rods; each of them being prepared to perform a specific kind of scarification and each of them could be connected to its own power circuit or all of them to the same power circuit used in turns. The rod could also be provided with interchangeable and single use terminal spacers apt to make easier to maintain the right distance between the rod and the skin.

[39] The button commanding the apparatus can be variously shaped and it can be located in any position reachable by the operator, even as a foot control lever. [40] More changes could concern the design features of the control unit, which can be vary versatile, or even the work parameters could be vary different as regards the frequency and voltage of the various electric components affecting the arc with respect to the ones above shown as an example.

[41] The voltage of the arc could be, as a function of the desired effects, positive or negative with respect to the tissue under scarification.

[42] The permanent modification of the physical and morphologic features of the treated skin parts could be combined with pigmentation of the same parts.

[43] These and more changes or modifications can be brought to the above disclosed apparatus, still remaining in the ambit of protection defined by the following claims.

Claims

[I] Apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues characterized in that it comprises at least one rod (11) for the emission of an electric arc supplied by a generator (12) of electric signals whose parameters can be set and adjusted within specific safety limits.

[2] Apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues according to the previous claim characterized in that it comprises at least one button (27) commanding the production of said electric arc between said at least one rod (11) and the skin tissues to be treated. [3] Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said generator (12) of electric signals comprises a power circuit (18) apt to supply said rod (11). [4] Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said generator

(12) of electric signals comprises a supply unit (13), a battery (14), a recharge circuit (15) of said battery and an electronic control unit (16). [5] Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that it comprises at least a cut-off switch (19) apt to insulate said supply unit (13) from the other sections of the generator (12). [6] Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said switch (19) is controlled by said control unit (16) for opening when the electric is emitted by said rod (11). [7] Apparatus according to claim 4 or followings, characterized in that said control unit (16) comprises a micro-processor (20), a control panel (21), a display (22) apt to show the various quantities and parameters, a sensor (23) detecting the current absorbed by said power circuit (18). [8] Apparatus according to claim 3 or followings, characterized in that said power circuit (18) comprises a high rating transformer (24) whose primary winding (25) is supplied with an interrupted galvanic current having specific frequency upon pushing the command button (27). [9] Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that the frequency of said interrupted galvanic current is lower than 6 kHz. [10] Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 characterized in that the voltage supplying said primary winding is the voltage of said battery (14) with recharge circuit (15) not working.

[II] Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that the voltage of the electric arc emitted by said rod (11) is lower than 7 kilovolts. [12] Apparatus according to claim 7 or followings characterized in that the maximum value of the intensity of the current, and then the maximum power of the electric discharge emitted by said at least one rod (11) is controlled by a control unit (16) with the aid of a sensor (23) detecting the absorbed current.

[13] Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said at least one button (27) is integral to said at least one rod (11).

[14] Apparatus according to the previous claim characterized in that said button (27) is located on the surface of said rod (11).

[15] Apparatus according to one of the previous claims characterized in that said rod

(11) is provided with a terminal spacer apt to make easier to maintain the right distance between the rod and the skin.

[16] Apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues according to one of the precious claims characterized in that said deformations are scarifications made along defined and variable paths and areas, for beauty or decoration in general.

[17] Apparatus for effecting permanent deformations of skin tissues according to one of the claims from 1 to 15 characterized in that said deformations are scarifications made along paths and areas useful to remove defects, decorations or protuberances of the skin or, anyway, for aesthetic purpose.