Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
This invention relates to a process and appear-
tusk fur treatment of human skin.
The human skin can be afflicted by blemishes
such as wrinkles, strip, depressed scars and other
similar irregularities which may be caused by aging.
Various proposals have been made in order to
reduce or remove the aforesaid irregularities. For
example, cosmetic creams have been proposed for the
treatment of wrinkles, and whilst such creams prove
useful in the hydration and nutrition of the skin, they
do not have any specific action on wrinkles and similar
irregularities.
Alternatively, the wrinkles, strip, depressed
scars and other similar irregularities can be removed by
surgery such as "lifting", or in the case of wrinkles by
the injection of a suitable compound, such as silicone
or collagen under the skin. Other treatments include
the massage or grinding of the skin.
However, surgical treatment can be expensive,
and sometimes painful especially where the surgical
treatment requires removal of parts of the skin to rev
dupe wrinkling. Although some of these treatments are
effective in masking the blemishes, none of them actual-
lye improve the physiology of the dermis and epidermis
Furthermore, none of these treatments specifically treat
only the blemishes themselves.
It is an object of the present invention to
provide a process and apparatus for reducing skin
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blemishes such as wrinkles, depressed stars and other
similar irregularities which do not require the spin to
be treated surgically, or by cosmetic substances.
It is a further object of the invention to
provide a process and apparatus which does not require
invasion of the human body below the inner surface of
the skin, and which can be used by individuals without
specialized training in the use of the process and
apparatus.
It has been discovered that the passage of a low
intensity (less than 0.25 ma direct current interrupted
by rest periods of approximately 1 msec each, at a low
frequency less than 200 hertz) for short periods of
time (less than 2 minutes) in the skin of humans has
beneficial effects on the cellular metabolism of the
skin. More particularly, it has been discovered that
certain frequencies have more effect on particular
tissues comprising the skin. For example, a frequency
of approximately 5 hertz acts more specifically of the
endoblastic structures and the tropic function of the
skin, a frequency of about 10 hertz acts on the
mesoblastic function, a frequency of about 40 hertz on
the ectoblastic function while a frequency of 80 hertz
has more effete on aysmetabolic troubles. After a few
sessions, wrinkles tend to "fill up" as the result of a
better physiology of the subcutaneous tissues.
In order that the above objects will become
apparent, and so that the invention can be understood
and carried into effect, apparatus for effecting the
process of the invention will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure l is a block diagram of one form of Papa-
fetus in accordance with the invention;
and
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic view of an alterna-
live apparatus for carrying out the
process of the invention.
Referring to Figure l of the drawings 10 India
gates a positive electrode and 12 a negative electrode,
each of which comprises a needle which resembles an
acupuncture n edge and is capable of being inserted in
the skin of a human being.
lye positive electrode lo is connected to the
positive terminal of a direct current generator (butte-
rye transformer-r~ctifier, etc.) 14 by means of a con-
ductile element 16, and connected in flow series between
the generator 14 and the electrode 10 are an on-off
switch 18, a resistance 20 and a potentiometer 22.
The negative electrode 12 is connected to the
negative terminal of the generator 14 by means of a con-
ductile element 24, which includes a contact breaker
26.
A frequency modulator pa enclosed in box 44 is
connected between element 16 and 24 to activate the
contact breaker 26.
.~,
The frequency modulator is constructed in a man-
nor well Known to those skilled in the art to provide
direct current pulses separated by zero current periods
of approximately 1 msec each at four predetermined ire-
quenches for the electrical current passing there-
through, namely frequencies of approximately 5, 10, 40
and 80 Ho in that order when the system is activated.
In addition, the frequency modulator 28 also includes
means whereby the duration of each frequency is prude-
termined, in this particular example, the duration is
thirty seconds. Such means are well known to those
skilled in the art.
In addition, the frequency modulator 28 is
opened by an on-off button 30 also enclosed in box 44.
In order to provide an indication that elect
tribal current is being supplied to the circuit an elect
tribally conductive element 32 is connected between the
elements 16 and 24, downstream of the switch 18, which
element 32 includes a resistance 34 and a lamp 36, which
in this example glows red when electrical current flows
through the element 32 upon closing of the switch 18.
A further conductive element 38 is connected
between the elements 16 and 24 downstream of the element
32, and like the element 32 includes a resistance 40 and
lamp 42. Thus when the on-off button 30 is activated to
close the circuit after closing of the switch 18, the
lamp 42 will be connected to the negative terminal of
I`
the battery 14 via the modulator 28 and thus illuminate
Ed
When the above described apparatus is to be used
to treat wrinkles for example, the needles are slightly
inserted (2 or 3 mm) into the skin at each end of the
wrinkle to be treated.
Although needles are used in this example, -they
could be replaced by electrodes applied onto the skin at
each end of the wrinkle to be treated after an
appropriate electrolytic gel or solution has been coated
onto the skin.
The electrical circuit is then activated by
closing the switch 18 and the frequency modulator switch
30 is moved to the closed position.
Thus current will flow through the circuit, at
four successive predetermined frequencies and for a
predetermined time as previously described, and each
frequency produces a particular reaction in the cellular
metabolism of the skin.
The initial frequency of Ho stimulates the
endoblastic structure and tropic function of the skin,
whilst a frequency of 10 I stimulates the mesoblastic
function.
The subsequent application of I Ho activates an
ectoblastic function and finally the application of the
80 Ho frequency acts on dysmetabolic disorders. Each
frequency is applied for thirty seconds, and after the
80 Ho frequency, the frequency modulator automatically
switches off at which point the lamp I is no longer
illuminated, thus indicating that the electrodes are
disconnected from the battery 14.
The above described process can be repeated, for
example, at weekly intervals.
Whilst the electrical current is flowing through
the electrodes, the person using the apparatus may expel
wryness a tingling or prickly sensation, but this can be
reduced to an acceptable level by adjustment of the
potentiometer.
Although in this example, the system has been
designed in order that the maximum current be inferior
to 0.25 ma any other current which does not endanger
the health of the user may be used.
Figure 2 of the drawings illustrate apparatus in
accordance with the invention which includes two pairs
of electrodes each pair comprising a positive electrode
So and a negative electrode 52. Each pair of electrodes
is included in an electrical circuit, not shown which
can be connected to a domestic electrical supply by
means of an electrical lead 54.
The electrical circuit includes a potentiometer
56 for each pair of electrodes, and a frequency regular
ion, whereby the 110 volts 60 Ho of a domestic supply
can be varied so as to produce a 9 to 15 volt direct
current output at the input of the modulator 28
electrodes together with a current cycle as described
with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings.
In addition, the apparatus also includes an
on-off button 58.
Thus the apparatus described with reference to
Figure 2 of the drawings can be used in the manner
described with reference o Figure 1 of the drawings,
and in addition, the overall size of the apparatus is
such as to render it portable.
While in the above description, frequencies of
5, 10, 40 and 80 hertz are specified, it should be
understood that these are approximate frequencies and
that the precise frequencies which provide the optimum
results vary from one individual to another.
The optimum frequencies for a particular indivi-
dual may be measured by constantly measuring the pulse
rate of the individual while gradually increasing the
frequency of the current applied to an area of the spin
of the individual as described above. Each time the
pulse rate diminishes slightly, the frequency will
correspond to an optimal frequency.
Tests carried out on a number of individuals
have revealed that the average optimum frequencies of
the group included 4.56, 9.125, 36.54 and 73 hertz
respectively.
-- 8 --
Thus, the effectiveness of apparatus in which
the frequencies have been preset will vary according to
the extent of deviation of the preset frequencies from
the optimum frequencies applicable to the individual
using the apparatus.
although the use of the method and of the
apparatus was described to be for use in relation to
wrinkles, it should be understood that this method and
the apparatus are useful for the treatment of any type
of blemishes which are caricatured by a certain
reduction in the physiologic activity.
It will be seen therefore that the above desk
cried process enables selected areas of the skin to be
treated without the necessity of surgery, cosmetics or
the injection of silicone or similar substances.
In addition, the apparatus does not require the
services of a skilled operator, and therefore, the Papa-
fetus can be used in the home.