US-12616630-B2 - Scar skin massage device

US12616630B2US 12616630 B2US12616630 B2US 12616630B2US-12616630-B2

Abstract

A skin massage device for positioning in contact with the skin of a person. It includes a positioning membrane configured to delimit a zone of action and generate a sealed contact, a main suction device, a vibrator ring configured to produce a series of vibrations according to a pre-established pattern. The vibrator ring is removably and sealingly attached between the positioning diaphragm and the main suction device, such that the device is generally rotationally symmetrical about an axis A. The device forms a decompression cone which, when switched on, simultaneously generates a suction and a series of vibrations at the action area.

Inventors

Elenita L. TIGUERT

Assignees

DREAMER

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20211110
Priority Date: 20201112

Claims (10)

1 . A skin massage device configured to be positioned in contact with a person's skin, the device comprising: a positioning membrane configured to: delimit an action area of the person, and generate a sealed contact between said action area and the device, a main suction device controlled by an operating element, a vibrator ring configured to produce a series of vibrations according to a pre-set pattern, the vibrator ring also being controlled by the operating element, the positioning membrane, the main suction device and the vibrator ring each presenting a rotational symmetry according to an axis A, the vibrator ring being secured in a detachable and sealed way between the positioning membrane and the main suction device, so that the skin massage device presents a general rotational symmetry around the axis A, and wherein the skin massage device forms a decompression cone which, when switched on, simultaneously generates a suction and a series of vibrations in the action area.
2 . The skin massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the skin massage device comprises at least one red electroluminescent diode configured to illuminate the action area.
3 . The skin massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the operating element is an app intended for being installed on a mobile phone.
4 . The skin massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the skin massage device comprises an auxiliary suction device, which is detachably connected to the main suction device by a fluidic line.
5 . The skin massage device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the main suction device and the auxiliary suction device displays three different suction forces.
6 . The skin massage device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the main suction device and the auxiliary suction device has a low suction force comprised between 90 and 100 mmHg, a medium suction force comprised between 160 and 170 mmHg, and a high suction force comprised between 240 and 250 mmHg.
7 . The skin massage device according to claim 4 , wherein each of the main suction device and the auxiliary suction device has a discontinuous functioning, producing a series of 40 to 60 suctions per minute.
8 . The skin massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrator ring is configured to receive a motherboard for recording the pre-set vibration pattern.
9 . The skin massage device according to claim 1 , wherein the vibrator ring comprises at least one vibration spot, each vibration spot of the at least one vibration spot generating 40 to 50 vibrations per second.
10 . A skin stretching method, using the skin massage device according to claim 1 , comprising, in the following order, the following steps: positioning the skin massage device assembled in a sealed manner along the axis A against the skin of the action area of the person, switching on the skin massage device, programming and storing, by the person, a vibration pattern in a motherboard by way of the operating element, or selection by the person of a vibration pattern pre-stored in the motherboard, suction of the action area by the main suction device or an auxiliary suction device and simultaneously vibrating the action area by the vibrator ring according to: either a defined number of cycles, or an indeterminate duration left to the discretion of the person, the suction generating a suction movement of the action area towards an interior of the skin massage device so as to stretch the action area, each vibration generating a propagation of movement waves in the action area, so as to stimulate the action area metabolically, the method making it possible to observe, after several uses of the skin massage device: a gain in elasticity and flexibility of the action area, and an enlargement of the action area by stretching the action area, so as to create a pocket suitable for receiving a graft or an implant.

Description

FIELD The present invention relates to a device for softening post-operative scar tissue and a method for stretching such scar tissue. BACKGROUND In France, it is estimated that between 49,000 and 58,000 breast cancers are diagnosed every year and that the number is increasing by an average of 1.1% per year. In about 30 to 40% of cases, women (or other people with breast cancer) have a mastectomy, i.e. the total or partial removal of one or more breasts. This is a major surgical procedure that can be both physically and psychologically painful. After a mastectomy, breast reconstruction is available. Breast reconstruction is usually an integral part of breast cancer management, particularly after non-conservative breast surgery such as mastectomy. Breast reconstruction can be immediate, i.e. performed at the same time as the mastectomy, or delayed, i.e. performed again some time later. As is well known from the state of the art, breast reconstruction takes place in three stages: reconstruction of the breast volume, harmonisation of the two breasts, and creation of the areola and nipple area. There are currently three different forms of breast reconstruction: Implant reconstruction: during surgery, a breast prosthesis is placed under the woman's pectoral muscle.Flap reconstruction: during surgery, muscle (and fat) tissue from another part of the body is used as a graft.Reconstruction by injection: during surgery, fatty tissue is injected into the breast to be reconstructed. Implant reconstruction presents significant risks of post-operative complications, such as implant rejection, peri-prosthetic shell phenomenon or various retractions. These complications cause a lot of pain and in some cases can be infectious in themselves. In very rare cases, patients with major post-operative complications may even develop cancer of the lymphatic system (Large Cell Anaplastic Lymphoma associated with the breast implant or LAGC-AIM). Flap reconstruction, on the other hand, requires seven to eight hours of surgery under general anaesthesia, performed in microsurgery by highly specialised surgeons. In addition to the risks associated with a general anaesthetic, the waiting time for such an operation is therefore long. In addition, this type of reconstruction has a risk of failure ranging from 2 to 4%, i.e. the vessels have a significant risk of becoming blocked and leading to necrosis of the grafted flesh. Reconstruction with injections has a low risk of post-operative complications as it is a relatively non-invasive surgical procedure, quite similar to non-invasive cosmetic treatments. However, the mastectomy leaves scar tissue with a high degree of rigidity. This scar tissue does not stretch well and it can therefore be difficult to inject fatty tissue under the rigid (and therefore very unstretchable) skin of this traumatised area. This rigidity can even prevent reconstruction by injection, even though this presents the least risk of post-operative complications and is very non-invasive. In view of all the risks, disadvantages and limitations outlined above, only two out of ten women have breast reconstruction. One of the objectives of the present invention is to enable any woman (or other person) who so desires to have breast reconstruction following a mastectomy. The present invention thus offers a solution to combat the scar rigidity induced by mastectomy, thereby increasing the possibilities of using injection breast reconstruction, which is less invasive and less dangerous than other currently proposed methods. SUMMARY This is achieved in accordance with the invention by a skin massage device configured to be positioned in contact with a person's skin, the device comprising: a positioning membrane configured to delimit an action area of the device, andgenerate a sealed contact between said action area of the device, a main suction device controlled by an operating element,a vibrator ring configured to produce a series of vibrations according to a pre-set pattern, the vibrator ring also being controlled by the operating element,the positioning membrane, the main suction device and the vibrator ring each presenting a rotational symmetry according to an axis A,the vibrator ring being secured in a detachable and sealed way between the positioning membrane and the main suction device, so that the device presents a general rotational symmetry around the axis A, The invention is characterised in that the device forms a decompression cone which, when switched on, simultaneously generates a suction and a series of vibrations in the action area. This solution achieves the above-mentioned objective. In particular, the suction of the skin allows it to be stretched outwards, creating a pocket that can accommodate fatty tissues. The combination of suction with vibrations allows an improvement of the blood circulation and thus restores flexibility and elasticity to the traumatised skin in addition to creating the p