Abstract:
The present invention concerns a system for dermatologic treatment comprising an energy source for activating a biochemical healing effect and at least one bandage meant to be placed on or near the area being treated before applying the activation step using the said energy source characterized in that the bandage comprises an identification means ( 4, 5, 10, 11 ) interacting with a sensor controlling the functioning of the energy source.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to PCT Application No. PCT/FR2007/051321, having an international filing date of May 24, 2007, which claims priority to French patent application no. 0651942, filed May 29, 2006. Each of the foregoing disclosures is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to the repair of skin wounds. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Various solutions are known in the prior art, consisting of improving the suture and healing process by using an external energy source. The lips of the wound are brought together and held in place by a dressing, which may include active ingredients that are activatable by the external energy source. 
     International patent application WO9717025 describes a treatment process consisting of affixing a cross-linked material containing a non-collagenous protein component onto a tissue. This cross-linked material is first placed on a target location on the tissue, and energy is then applied to the cross-linked material. The non-collagenous protein component is such that when energy is applied in an appropriate quantity, the matrix adheres to the tissue. 
     European patent application EP265470 describes a device for uniting the lips of a wound, comprising a laser whose emission wavelength is chosen such that it can perform tissue bonding and unite the lips of the wound, and a holding piece suitable for being secured to the tissue around the wound so as to hold the lips of said wound in contact, at least while the wound is exposed to said laser radiation. The holding piece includes at least one region suitable for being positioned over the wound and sufficiently transparent at the wavelength of laser radiation for the energy of said radiation to be sufficient, after it has passed through said region, to perform the desired tissue bonding. 
     The use of activation devices such as a laser source is not without danger and handling such apparatus may cause accidents if the beam is inadvertently directed towards the eye of a person near the operating area. 
     SUMMARY 
     The aim of the present invention is to avoid such disadvantages in the prior art. 
     To this end, in its most general form, the invention relates to a skin wound treatment system comprising an energy source for activating a biochemical effect and at least one dressing designed to be affixed on or close to the wound before the activation stage is performed using said energy source, characterised in that said dressing includes a means of identification that interacts with a sensor that controls the operation of the energy source. 
     The applications of the invention mainly relate to wound treatment, but also to the field of cosmetic dermatology, with applications such as dermabrasion or laser peeling. The biochemical effect is, in particular, a wound closure effect. 
     In a preferred variant, the energy source consists of a laser source. 
     In a first embodiment, the identification means consists of at least one conductive track running the length of said dressing. 
     In a second embodiment, the dressing is at least partially conductive to form said identification means. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the identification means consists of two parallel conductive strips running the length of said dressing. In another embodiment, the parallel strips are connected to one another by a conductive track or by means of an electronic memory device containing the identification information. In another embodiment, the two conductive tracks are connected by an electronic memory device in the form of an electronic chip, containing information about the dressing and the firing sequence. This information is read via the two conductive strips. 
     Advantageously, the identification means consists of a conductive strip running the length of said dressing and a second parallel strip wherein conductive sections are alternated with insulated sections. In another embodiment, the conductive sections may be connected to the conductive strip either directly or via a memory device. 
     Preferably, the operating settings of the energy source are controlled according to said identifications means. 
     The invention also provides a dressing for use with such a system, characterised in that it includes a means of identification consisting of at least one conductive strip. 
     The invention also provides a biochemical activation device for use with such a system, characterised in that it includes an energy source controlled by a calculator that receives a signal from a sensor suitable for interacting with the identification means incorporated in a dressing. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will best be understood by reading the following description and referring to the appended illustration, which provides a schematic view of a device as claimed by the invention. 
     The dressing ( 1 ) is formed by a transparent film as described in European patent application EP265470. Dressing ( 1 ) presents two conductive strips ( 4 ,  5 ) placed either side of a centre line ( 6 ). 
     It works in cooperation with a laser source ( 2 ) controlled by a control unit ( 3 ) that supplies power to and controls the laser source. The unit presents extensions ( 7 ,  8 ) whose ends are conductive and which enable the activation system to interact with the conductive tracks ( 4 ,  5 ). 
     This information can be used to optimise the settings of the associated energy source, in particular the power, duration and frequency of the pulses. 
     Activation of the laser is dependent on a contact being made between conductive tracks ( 4 ,  5 ) and the ends of extensions ( 7 ,  8 ). If such a signal is not detected, the laser is on standby and thus prevents any risk of accident, even when inadvertently directed towards a person. In some implementations, reference numeral  2  can refer to an active device, reference numeral  4  can refer to a conductive track on the dressing, reference numeral  5  can refer to another conductive track on the dressing, reference numeral  6  can refer to an incision line, reference numeral  7  can refer to a contact connecting the device and the dressing, and reference numeral  9  can refer to a memory device that can contain information for activating the active device  2 . 
       FIG. 2  shows a variant embodiment of the dressing. The dressing presents, on either side of the centre line ( 6 ), a first continuous conductive track ( 10 ) and a second track ( 11 ) with conductive zones ( 12 ) alternating with insulated zones ( 13 ). In some implementations, each of reference numerals  10  and  11  can refer to a conductive strip. 
     The alternation between conductive zones ( 12 ) and insulated zones ( 13 ) is used to control the laser operating settings, for instance periodical activation and deactivation for an operating method involving bursts, or coding for operation according to different dressing types. In the latter case, the alternation between conductive zones ( 12 ) and insulated zones ( 13 ) constitutes a coding for the dressing type. An initial scan with handpiece ( 2 ) is used to identify the dressing and to determine the operating settings accordingly. 
     Said settings are recorded in the memory of the laser control unit, for instance in the form of a table. These settings may be updated, particularly in the event that a new type of dressing is marketed, via a link with an external computerised device, or by data entry using an input interface incorporated in control unit ( 3 ). 
     In another equivalent variant, the interaction may take place by means of an optical marking, for instance a fluorescent marking, excited by a secondary source fitted in the handpiece. The handpiece in this case includes an optical sensor, for instance a sensor including a CCD (charge-coupled device) associated with a calculator that analyses the image detected in order to calculate the distance and possibly the orientation of the handpiece with respect to the marking on the dressing. This marking may take the form of a matrix code or geometrical figures by which the distance may be deduced on the basis of the size and deformation of the image, as detected by the sensor in the handpiece. 
     The dressing may consist of a simple transparent film, by which the lips of the wounds are brought together and temporarily held in place and by which the energy provided by the handpiece can be transferred. It may also consist of an opaque film with a transparent window running the length of the centre line ( 6 ). 
     It may also include active coatings involved in the biochemical reactions under the effect of excitation by an energy source. 
     The energy source described is a laser beam. However, other equivalent energy sources such as ultrasound, radio-frequency electromagnetic waves or a thermal source may be used and would constitute a technical equivalent. Nevertheless, a laser source remains the preferred solution.