JP7547673B2 - Transdermal absorption enhancer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a transdermal absorption enhancing device.

Topical drugs, cosmetics, etc. are absorbed into the human body through the skin. Some of these topical drugs, cosmetics, etc. can be absorbed through the skin simply by applying them to the skin, but some cannot be absorbed into the human body unless percutaneous absorption is promoted. For this reason, various methods have been proposed to promote percutaneous absorption.

One method for promoting transdermal absorption is a technique called sonophoresis, which is known as a technique that does not cause physical trauma to the skin or thermal damage. It is also known that sonophoresis improves the transdermal absorption effect by simultaneously irradiating the skin with 20 kHz and 1 MHz ultrasound.

Skin care devices that combine sound waves or ultrasonic waves of multiple frequencies have also been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Special table 2017-501809 publication

By the way, topical medicines, cosmetics, etc. are applied to various parts of the human body. For this reason, it is desirable for a device for promoting percutaneous absorption to be easy to handle and easy to hold.

It is also desirable to be able to improve the effect of promoting percutaneous absorption using multiple frequencies even when the area of skin where percutaneous absorption is promoted is small.

In consideration of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide an easy-to-use transdermal absorption enhancing device.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transdermal absorption promotion device for promoting transdermal absorption of an external use product, the device comprising a first oscillator, a second oscillator, and a contact unit, the first oscillator being configured to be capable of propagating sound waves or ultrasonic waves of a first frequency in a first direction, the second oscillator being configured to be capable of propagating ultrasonic waves of a second frequency higher than the first frequency in a second direction, the contact unit having a contact surface with the skin, and being disposed at a position including an intersection point between the first direction and the second direction.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently promote transdermal absorption depending on the propagation direction of sound waves or ultrasonic waves.

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a basic configuration of a transdermal absorption enhancing device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. FIG. FIG. 2 is a top view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. FIG. 2 is a left side view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. FIG. 2 is a right side view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a transdermal absorption enhancing device 11. FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11 when the contact surface 141 is circular.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The various features shown in the following embodiments can be combined with each other.

1. Basic configuration Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the basic configuration of a percutaneous absorption enhancing device. As shown in the figure, a percutaneous absorption enhancing device 1 for promoting percutaneous absorption of an external use product includes a first oscillation unit 2, a second oscillation unit 3, and a contact unit 4.

The first oscillator 2 generates sound waves or ultrasonic waves of a first frequency by oscillating, and propagates the generated sound waves or ultrasonic waves in a first direction. The first direction is the direction indicated by the dashed arrow L in the figure, which is the direction passing through the contact portion 4.

The second oscillator 3 oscillates to generate ultrasonic waves of a second frequency higher than the first frequency, and propagates the generated ultrasonic waves in a second direction. The second direction is the direction indicated by the dashed arrow H in the figure, which is the direction passing through the contact portion 4.

The contact portion 4 has a contact surface for contacting the skin. This contact surface is the surface of the contact portion 4 opposite the surface facing the first oscillator 2 and the second oscillator 3. The contact portion 4 is also disposed at a position including an intersection of the first direction and the second direction.

In this transdermal absorption enhancing device 1, the positional relationship between the first oscillator 2, the second oscillator 3, and the contact unit 4 is determined so that the angle θ between the first direction and the second direction is an acute angle.

In addition, in the transdermal absorption promotion device 1, the distance DL between the first oscillator 2 and the contact surface of the contact part 4 is an integer multiple of half the wavelength of the sound wave or ultrasound of the first frequency, and the distance DH between the second oscillator 3 and the contact surface of the contact part 4 is an integer multiple of half the wavelength of the sound wave or ultrasound of the second frequency.

2. Configuration Example of Percutaneous Absorption Promoting Device Next, a percutaneous absorption promoting device 11 having the basic configuration of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 1 shown in FIG. 1 will be described, but first, the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11 will be described. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11. Note that the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11 does not have a particular front face, so any face is taken as the front face here. FIG. 4 is a top view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11. FIG. 5 is a left side view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11. Note that the dashed lines in FIG. 5 are drawn for reference, and do not actually exist. FIG. 6 is a right side view showing the appearance of the percutaneous absorption promoting device 11.

As shown in Figures 2 to 6, the transdermal absorption enhancing device 11 has a first storage section 12, a second storage section 13, a contact section 14, and a horn 15.

The first housing section 12 houses the first oscillator section 2 shown in FIG. 1. Note that the first oscillator section 2 cannot be seen from the outside.

The second housing section 13 houses the second oscillator section 3 shown in FIG. 1. Note that the second oscillator section 3 cannot be seen from the outside.

The contact section 14 is a section that irradiates the skin with sound waves or ultrasonic waves propagated from the first oscillator 2 housed in the first housing section 12 and ultrasonic waves propagated from the second oscillator 3 housed in the second housing section 13, and has a contact surface 141 for contacting the skin. This contact surface 141 forms a flat surface.

The horn 15 is a medium that propagates the sound waves or ultrasonic waves generated by the first oscillator 2 housed in the first housing 12.

The contact portion 14 and the horn 15 are formed using stainless steel, aluminum, epoxy resin, silicon, etc., and any of these can serve as a medium for propagating sound waves or ultrasonic waves. If the contact portion 14 and the horn 15 are formed using a conductor such as stainless steel or aluminum, the transdermal absorption promotion device 11 can also be used as an electrode during iontophoresis (ion introduction).

Next, the configuration of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11 will be described. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11. As shown in the figure, the percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11 accommodates a piezoelectric element 21, an electrode 22, an electrode 23, an electrode 24, an insulating material 25, an insulating material 26, a back mass 27, and a bolt 28 in a first accommodation section 12. These constitute a first oscillation section 2. The percutaneous absorption enhancing device 11 also accommodates a piezoelectric element 31 and an insulating material 32 in a second accommodation section 13. These constitute a second oscillation section 3.

The first oscillator 2 housed in the first housing 12 is a bolt-tightened Langevin transducer (BLT) consisting of a piezoelectric element 21, electrodes 22, 23, 24, a back mass 27, and a bolt 28. This first oscillator 2 oscillates at a first frequency by applying a predetermined voltage between electrodes 22 and 23. Note that electrodes 22 and 24 are electrically connected so that they are always at the same potential. The first frequency is preferably 100 kHz or less, for example, 20 kHz. When the first oscillator 2 oscillates at 20 kHz, for example, a voltage of 40 V, 20 kHz is applied between electrodes 22 and 23 by a voltage supply unit (not shown).

The electrode 22 and the horn 15 are electrically insulated by the insulating material 25, and the electrode 24 (back mass 27) and the bolt 28 are electrically insulated by the insulating material 26. As a result, the horn 15 into which the bolt 28 is inserted is electrically insulated from the electrode 22 and the electrode 24, and as a result, the first oscillator 2 and the contact portion 14 are electrically insulated. Note that if the material of the bolt 28 has a high insulation voltage, the insulating material 26 can be omitted.

The distance DL between the electrode 23 and the contact surface 141 is an integer multiple of half the wavelength of the sound wave or ultrasonic wave generated by the first oscillator 2. For example, if the material of the horn 15 and the contact portion 14 is stainless steel, and if the speed of sound propagating through stainless steel is 5660 m/s, the wavelength of a 20 kHz sound wave or ultrasonic wave is 283 mm, the distance DL will be 141.5 mm, 283 mm, 424.5 mm, etc. If the material of the horn 15 and the contact portion 14 is aluminum, and if the speed of sound propagating through aluminum is 6380 m/s, the wavelength of a 20 kHz sound wave or ultrasonic wave is 319 mm, the distance DL will be 159.5 mm, 319 mm, 478.5 mm, etc.

The second oscillator 3 housed in the second housing 13 is composed of a piezoelectric element 31 and an insulating material 32. The piezoelectric element 31 is, for example, a ceramic piezoelectric element, and oscillates at a second frequency by applying a predetermined voltage between electrodes (not shown) connected to the piezoelectric element 31. The second frequency is higher than the first frequency, for example, 1 MHz. When the second oscillator 3 is caused to oscillate at 1 MHz, for example, a voltage of 40 V, 1 MHz is applied between the electrodes (not shown) by a voltage supply unit (not shown).

The piezoelectric element 31 and the contact portion 14 are electrically insulated by the insulating material 32. This electrically insulates the second oscillation portion 3 and the contact portion 14.

The distance DH between the piezoelectric element 31 and the contact surface 141 is an integer multiple of half the wavelength of the ultrasonic wave generated by the second oscillator 3. For example, if the material of the contact portion 14 is stainless steel, and if the speed of sound propagating through stainless steel is 5660 m/s, the wavelength of 1 MHz ultrasonic wave is 5.66 mm, the distance DH will be 2.83 mm, 5.66 mm, 8.49 mm, etc. If the material of the contact portion 14 is aluminum, and if the speed of sound propagating through aluminum is 6380 m/s, the wavelength of 1 MHz ultrasonic wave is 6.38 mm, the distance DH will be 3.19 mm, 6.38 mm, 19.14 mm, etc.

It has been explained that the distance DL is an integer multiple of a half wavelength of the sound wave or ultrasound of the first frequency, and the distance DH is an integer multiple of a half wavelength of the ultrasound of the second frequency, but the integers here do not have to be the same for both. Therefore, it is possible for the distance DL to be 141.5 mm, which is one half wavelength of the sound wave or ultrasound of the first frequency, and the distance DH to be 6.38 mm, which is two half wavelengths of the sound wave of the second frequency.

The angle θ between the propagation direction of the sound wave or ultrasonic wave propagated from the first oscillator 2 to the contact surface 141 and the propagation direction of the ultrasonic wave propagated from the second oscillator 3 to the contact surface 141 is an acute angle, and is, for example, 30 degrees to 60 degrees, specifically, 30 degrees, 35 degrees, 40 degrees, 45 degrees, 50 degrees, 55 degrees, or 60 degrees. It may also be within a range between any two of the numerical values exemplified here, for example, 42 degrees or 38.9 degrees. Of course, it may also be 20 degrees or 80 degrees.

The contact surface 141 of the contact portion 14 may have any shape as long as it is flat, and may be other than rectangular, for example, circular or elliptical. In this case, the external appearance of the transdermal absorption enhancing device 11 may be, for example, as shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the transdermal absorption enhancing device 11 when the contact surface 141 is circular.

4. Others The present invention may be provided in the following aspects.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the angle between the first direction and the second direction is an acute angle.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the distance between the first oscillation unit and the contact surface is an integer multiple of a half wavelength of a sound wave or ultrasonic wave of the first frequency.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the distance between the second oscillation unit and the contact surface is an integer multiple of a half wavelength of the ultrasonic wave of the second frequency.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the first frequency is 20 kHz.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the second frequency is 1 MHz.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the contact portion is an electrical conductor.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the first oscillating unit and the contact unit are electrically insulated from each other, and the second oscillating unit and the contact unit are electrically insulated from each other.
In the percutaneous absorption enhancing device, the contact surface is circular.
Of course, this is not the case.

1: percutaneous absorption enhancing device 2: first oscillator 3: second oscillator 4: contact section 11: percutaneous absorption enhancing device 12: first housing section 13: second housing section 14: contact section 15: horn 21: piezoelectric element 22: electrode 23: electrode 24: electrode 25: insulating material 26: insulating material 27: back mass 28: bolt 31: piezoelectric element 32: insulating material 141: contact surface

Claims (2)

A percutaneous absorption enhancing device for promoting percutaneous absorption of an external use product,
The device includes a first oscillating unit, a second oscillating unit, and a contact unit having a surface for contacting the skin,
the first oscillator is configured to be capable of propagating sound waves or ultrasonic waves of a first frequency in a first direction, and is fixed to the contact portion via a medium that propagates the sound waves or ultrasonic waves;
the second oscillator is configured to be capable of propagating ultrasonic waves having a second frequency higher than the first frequency in a second direction and is fixed to the contact portion;
The contact surface of the contact portion is disposed at a position including an intersection point of the first direction and the second direction. The percutaneous absorption enhancing device according to claim 1,
The medium includes an elongated horn, and the first direction is a longitudinal direction of the horn.
Transdermal absorption enhancing device.