Applicator device, related apparatus and method

Abstract

The invention pertains to an applicator device 10 for an apparatus 100 used in a localized cryotherapy treatment. The applicator device 10 is configured, when positioned over a body area to be treated, to receive and to uniformly distribute across the entire area covered thereby a stream of medium, such as air, adjusted to a temperature equal to or above −40 degrees Celsius (° C.) and directed, at a predetermined speed, via said applicator 10 to the area to be treated, whereby a cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and an underlying tissue within the area covered by said applicator. Related apparatus 100 and a method are further provided.

1 . An applicator device for an apparatus used in a localized cryotherapy treatment,
 wherein said applicator device is configured, when positioned over a body area to be treated, to receive and uniformly distribute a stream of gaseous medium, adjusted to a temperature equal to or above −40 degrees Celsius, across the entire area covered by said applicator device and directed, at a predetermined speed, via said applicator device to the body area to be treated, whereby a cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and an underlying tissue within the body area covered by said applicator device.   
     
     
         2 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to one or more of cover and enfold around the body area to be treated. 
     
     
         3 . The applicator device of  claim 2 , wherein the applicator device is configured to be brought into contact with the body area to be treated through an innermost surface thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to receive and to distribute the stream of gaseous medium adjusted to a temperature within a range of −40 to −15 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         5 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to receive and distribute the stream of gaseous medium directed thereto at a speed within a range of 5 to 17 meters per second. 
     
     
         6 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to be foldable. 
     
     
         7 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to be positioned over the body area selected from the group consisting of: a wrist, an elbow, a shoulder, a scapula-bone area, a neck, a knee, and an ankle. 
     
     
         8 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device comprises a fastener configured to secure said applicator device around the body area to be treated. 
     
     
         9 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device is configured to be positioned over a face of a patient. 
     
     
         10 . The applicator device of  claim 9 , wherein the applicator device comprises a layer with a plurality of apertures such that a gap is defined between an internal surface of the applicator device and the layer, whereby the stream of gaseous medium received into said gap is uniformly distributed, via the apertures, across the entire area covered by said applicator device. 
     
     
         11 . The applicator device of  claim 1 , wherein the applicator device comprises a plurality of light sources at an internal surface thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The applicator device of  claim 11 , wherein said light sources are configured as variable wavelength light sources. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for use in a localized cryotherapy treatment, said apparatus comprising:
 at least one applicator device; and   a blower configured to generate and to direct, at a predetermined speed, a stream of gaseous medium adjusted to a temperature equal to or above −40 degrees Celsius to the at least one applicator device,   wherein said at least one applicator device is configured, when positioned over a body area to be treated, to receive and uniformly distribute the stream of gaseous medium directed thereto from the blower across the entire area covered by said applicator device, whereby a cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and an underlying tissue within the area covered by said at least one applicator device.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the stream of gaseous medium generated by the blower is adjusted to a temperature within a range of −40 to −15 degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the stream of said gaseous medium is directed to the spatially restricted body area at a speed within a range of 5 to 17 meters per second. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the stream of gaseous medium generated by the blower is air. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 conducting non-invasive treatment by cryotherapy with the applicator device of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the non-invasive treatment by cryotherapy is combined with a light therapy. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising directing the stream of gaseous medium adjusted to a temperature equal to or above −40 degrees Celsius (° C.), at a predetermined speed, from a blower to a spatially restricted body area via the applicator device that is configured, when positioned over said body area, to receive and uniformly distribute the stream of gaseous medium directed thereto from the blower across the entire area covered by said applicator device, whereby the cold-induced thermal shock response is developed in skin and the underlying tissue within the area covered by said applicator device. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising activating a plurality of light sources provided at an internal surface of the applicator device.