Abstract:
An insect locating device includes a support, a brush element connected to the support and a magnification element connected to the support. The magnification element is positioned adjacent to the brush element for viewing a zone adjacent to an area which has been brushed. The support and the brush element include brush connection structure for connecting the brush element to the support and disconnecting the brush element from the support. The support and the magnification element include magnification element connection structure for connecting the magnification element to the support. Illumination structure is also provided, connected to the support for illuminating the viewing zone.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a device including a brush element for locating ectoparasites that live on or in the skin of a host such as a human or animal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ectoparasites are organisms that live in or on the skin of a host and derive sustenance from that host. Ectoparasites are a worldwide problem as to health. Problems with ectoparasites result in economic consequences for both human and animal populations. 
     Ectoparasites include biting or vesicating arthropods and are divided into insect and arachnid groups. Insects include lice, bedbugs, fleas and flies. Arachnids include mites, ticks and spiders. 
     Ectoparasites transmit various diseases including bacterial, spirochetal, viral, rickettsial, helminthic and protozoal. The following provides an example of ectoparasites and their related diseases: 
     
         ______________________________________Ectoparasite   Disease______________________________________TicksHard Ticks     Hypersensitivity to bites with fever,          pruritus and urticaria.          Paralysis          Granuloma          Lyme Disease          Q Fever          Tularemia          Babesiosis          Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever          EhrlichiosisSoft Ticks     Endemic Relapsing FeverHuman Body Lice          Epidemic Relapsing Fever2 to 4 mm parasites          Epidemic Typhus          Trench FeverMosquitos      Yellow Fever          Encephalitis          Dengue Fever          Brugia Malayi          Filariasis          MalariaFlies          Leishmaniasis          Onchocerciasis          Trypanosomiasis          TularemiaFleas and Lice Murine Typhus          PlagueMouse Mites    Rickettsial PocksMites          Scrub TyphusScabies 0.35 mm organism______________________________________ 
    
     Principles and Practice of Infectious Disease, Third Edition, Mandell, Douglas, Bennett. 
     Elimination of the various ectoparasites is generally not possible. For example, Lyme disease is carried by what is often referred to as the deer tick. This tick is found in wooded regions wherein there are fairly large populations of deer, rabbits, and other animals. The deer ticks can only be avoided with certainty by staying away from these areas. The areas provide a large reservoir of wild animals that harbor the Lyme disease carrying ticks. Similarly, eradication methods have been relatively unsuccessful in controlling various ectoparasites. Insecticides and environmental manipulation can help to decrease populations of the ectoparasites. However, use of insecticides can have other effects such that the use of insecticides has raised new concerns with regard to resistance to the insecticides by the organisms, environmental damage and personal health concerns with regard to topical insecticides and other agents. 
     As removing all of the host animals from an area of human and domesticated animal populations is not possible (such as removing all deer and rabbits, etc.), little can be done to fend off diseases carried by ectoparasites, including Lyme disease. Experts have advised that people living in areas wherein particular ectoparasites are present, such as Lyme disease carrying deer ticks, wear clothing so as not to expose skin, and to check for the ectoparasites, after coming in from out of doors. Unfortunately, certain ectoparasites, including deer ticks, are very small. 
     Deer ticks in their larvae stage are under one half millimeter in size. Similarly, deer ticks in their nymph stage are also small, approximately one half millimeter in size. Detection of these ectoparasites can be quite difficult, particularly detection under human hair, such as ectoparasites which have gotten to human skin, under the cover of human hair, such as the human scalp or the skin of an animal such as a pet. 
     Removal of the ectoparasite from the skin is always necessary to prevent disease transmittal. As this requires careful and frequent inspection of the skin and hair, the process can be very difficult and time consuming. The process is especially difficult with regard to children, long-haired individuals or restless pets. Parasites, including deer ticks, can be small, hidden in hair and hard to see with the naked eye. 
     SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a device which improves the ability to detect and remove ectoparasites from the skin, including areas of humans and pets covered by hair. 
     According to the invention, a device is provided for identifying ectoparasites on or near the skin of their human or animal hosts. The device provides magnification and illumination of a local skin area to assist in identification of the small ectoparasite organism. The device mechanically assists in exposing an area of examination by separating and holding hair away from the field of examination. The device provides magnification and preferably also illumination and provides a field of view wherein access to the skin is provided whereby the offending ectoparasite may be identified and removed. 
     The device is preferably provided as a modular unit with elements which may be removed for washing and may be substituted for human and animal use. The device includes a brush receiving portion and a brush element which is connectable to the brush receiving portion whereby various different brush elements can be used for different human and animal hair conditions. The brush components are preferably washable and safe for contact on human and animal skin. 
     The device according to the invention includes a support element including a brush receiving portion. The support element defines a viewing area wherein the brush element, when connected to the support element is adjacent to the viewing area. A magnification element is preferably provided at the viewing area such that the surface of the skin can be examined to detect very small ectoparasites. Most advantageously, the magnification means includes a magnification element for magnifying four times, allowing easy location of ticks, fleas and other ectoparasites. The brush element is connectable to the support via a fixing means to fix the brush in place, adjacent to the viewing area. The brush element preferably includes one of various different brush shapes for a particular application. Most advantageously, the brush is preferably designed with brush bristles which have a natural curve, a curve shape for example generally corresponding to average curvatures of the human head and for example curvatures matching typical animal portions which are to be examined or even other portions of the human body including legs, etc. The positioning of the brush elements, whereby it is received by the support means advantageously allows the support means to be moved through the hair, such as hair on the head of a human, whereby a field of view of the scalp is provided in a region wherein the hair is moved. 
     The support is preferably is provided with a handle or the like for easy manipulation of the viewing field and for manipulation of the brush element to expose a field of view in an area of hair on the human or animal. The support also preferably includes illumination means for illuminating the exposed field. The illuminating means is preferably positioned adjacent to the magnification means, directed at the viewing region. 
     The ability to connect the brush to the support means provides various different advantages according to the invention. A plurality of different brushes can be available including brushes with curvatures designed for humans such as brushes with curvatures corresponding to average human head sizes. Brushes can also be provided which have curvatures adapted particularly for pets and the like. A very slight curve can also be provided for large animals and other areas for inspection of humans and animals. 
     Preferably all components of the device are modular allowing removal of parts for cleaning. The brush elements are removable as noted above and this is particularly useful to clean the brushes for later use. The magnifying element is preferably also removable. This allows cleaning of the magnifying element and also allows replacement. According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the magnifying element is a four times magnifying element. Other degrees of magnification are also possible according to the modular design of the invention. 
     The bristles of the brush element are preferably blunted or rounded to avoid any damage to the skin or scalp of the pet or human. The bristles are preferably at a height allowing for the use of implements for tick and insect removal. The support preferably has a handle and the handle is preferably right or left-handed allowing engagement of the brush into the hair to expose a viewing region between the person operating the device and the region wherein the hair is engaged by the brush. The handle may further be of a modular design, allowing different handles for use with a single support. 
     The support is provided with illumination means. This may be in the form of a light directed at the viewing site, in the field of view of the magnification element. 
     The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a top view of the insect locator device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front side view of the device in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear side view of the device in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4a is a view of a preferred brush element according to the invention with preferred radius of brush bristle ends; 
     FIG. 4b is an enlarged view of the detail of I of FIG. 4a; 
     FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c show the curvature of various different brush bristle ends according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6a is a top view of the modular magnification element according to the invention; 
     FIG. 6b is a left side view of the modular magnification element of FIG. 6a; 
     FIG. 6c is a diagrammatical view showing the geometry of the magnification element according to the invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a top partially cut away view of the insect locator brush showing a preferred layout of the power source and illumination structure; 
     FIG. 8 is a top right perspective exploded view showing the detachment of the various modular units according to the invention. 
     FIG. 9a is a view illustrating the curvature of the head of various individuals; and 
     FIG. 9b is a view similar to FIG. 9a, illustrating the curvature of the head of other various individuals; 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention comprises an insect locator brush generally designated 10 including a support portion 12 and a handle part 14. The support part 12 includes brush receiving members 16 which define a brush receiving space 18. A brush element 20 is inserted in the brush receiving space 18. The brush element 20 includes first and second brush engaging elements or brush rails 22. These engaging elements are received in brush support slots 24. The brush receiving elements 22 and the brush support slots 24 cooperate to form brush element connection means. The connection means provides a frictional engagement between the brush receiving portion 16 and the brush element 20. 
     On a side of the support element 12, opposite the brush receiving space 18, a magnification lens receiving space 26 is provided defined between magnification support elements 28. Each of the magnification lens support elements 28 include magnification lens support slots 30. A magnification lens 32 is provided to be positioned within the magnification lens receiving space 26. The lens 32 includes magnification lens engaging elements or rails 34. The magnification lens engaging elements 34 are designed in a manner similar to the engaging elements 22. This allows the magnification lens 32 to be positioned in the magnification lens receiving space by sliding the magnification lens engaging elements 34 in corresponding slots 30. 
     The modular construction, wherein the brush element 20 and lens element 32 may be inserted and removed from the brush support 12, allows for ease in cleaning the various elements including the brush 24 and the lens 32. Additionally, the invention provides the ability to use one of a number of different brushes 20. Various different lenses can also be provided however a preferred lens is provided according to the invention with a four times magnification as discussed below. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 4a, the brush element 20 according to the invention has a specific design including a bristles 38 and a base portion 40. The bristles are provided spaced apart as shown to define an animal hair parting and unfolding means. The bristles engage hair of a human or animal for parting the hair or parting the hair and unfolding the hair (including for example uncurling the hair) to expose a region of skin of the human or animal. The bristles 38 preferably have blunted or rounded tips 42 to avoid scratching or abrading the scalp or skin of the animal or human being treated. 
     Together the bristles 38 if wanted around the tips 42 form non-abrasive human and animal hair parting and unfolding means. Specfically, the structural elements cooperate to unfold and/or part hair for exposing a region as noted above. Further the blunted around the tips form a non-abrasive structure, namely structure for engaging or touching the skin of the human or animal adjacent to the region of skin exposed. This non-abrading skin contact means allows contact with the skin of the human or animal without scratching or braiding the scalp or skin or animal or human being treated. 
     The invention is most advantageously used for humans, such as to detect deer ticks which pass Lyme disease. As deer ticks can be of a very small size, the location and removal of deer ticks from the scalp of a human can be very problematic. 
     According to the invention, the curvature of the skull of various humans was analyzed to determine a preferred curvature radius. Specifically, Cranial measurements were made to provide an accurate average or curvature along any plane in the skull. FIGS. 9a and 9b show various cranial measurements. These were analyzed wherein an average was made based on the data as follows: 
     
         ______________________________________SKULL CURVATURES______________________________________4.254.54.754.254.54.752.54.54.253.253.54.254.54.754.754.254.6254.2544.752.8754.1254.254.6254.754.6254.254.236607 AVERAGE CURVATUREUSE 4.25 INCHES______________________________________ 
    
     The brush radius of curvature entails requirements as to the length of the bristles 38. For example, based on the curvature 4.25 inches (radius), the bristle length has an approximate average length of 1.25 inches. The length of the bristles was chosen to be 11/4 inches providing enough space to check the viewing area and providing access to implements for removing an ectoparasite. Further, a magnification of 4 was selected according to a preferred embodiment. This is based on the need to magnify deer ticks and other small ticks which may be quite small as noted above. With a 4 times magnification, these ticks and mites are visible. Although a specific arrangement including bristle length and magnification level have been selected according to a preferred embodiment, both the bristle length and magnification can be provided otherwise according to the invention. 
     According to the invention, a bi-convex lens is preferably used. 
     Tick Brush Lens Calculation 
     Referring to FIG. 6c, the preferred magnification element according the invention is a bi-convex lens based on the following calculation: 
     The bi-convex lens calculations used are derived from the thin lens derivation. A lens is defined as an optical system which includes two refracting surfaces. The general problem of refraction by a lens is solved by understanding the principles of refraction, whereby the image formed by the first surface serves as the object for the second surface. 
     Refer to FIG. 10: 
     From the triangles PBC and P&#39;BC: 
     
         φ=Θ+u                                            (eq. 1) 
    
     and 
     
         Θ=u&#39;+φ&#39;                                          (eq. 2) 
    
     From Snell&#39;s Law: 
     
         n sin φ=n&#39; sin φ&#39;                                  (eq. 3) 
    
     where n and n&#39; are indices at the left and right of a spherical surface. 
     The image is incident at an angle φ with the normal, and is refracted at an angle φ&#39;. 
     For paraxial rays, we may approximate both the sine and tangent of an angle by the angle itself. Then Snell&#39;s law becomes: 
     
         nφ=n&#39;φ&#39;                                            (eq. 4) 
    
     If we combine (eq.1) and eq. 4) we have: 
     
         φ=n/n&#39;(u+Θ)                                      (eq.5) 
    
     Substituting into (eq.2) gives: 
     
         nu+n&#39;n&#39;=(n&#39;-n)Θ 
    
     Using the small angle approximations, we obtain: 
     
         n/s+n&#39;/s&#39;=(n&#39;+n)/R                                         (eq.6) 
    
     Very often, the lens is so thin that the thickness, t, is negligible. 
     Therefore, sl&#39;=(-s2). Since the medium on both sides of the lens is air (index of refraction=1), we obtain: 
     
         1/sl+n/sl&#39;=(n-1)/R1                                        (eq.7) 
    
     Refraction at the second surface yields the equation: 
     
         n/s2+1/s2&#39;=(1-n)/R2                                        (eq.8) 
    
     Adding (eq.7) and (eq.8) yields: 
     
         1/s1+1/s2&#39;=(n-1)(1/R1-1/R2                                 (eq.9) 
    
     s1 and s2 are set at infinity for thin lenses. Therefore: ##EQU1## where: f=focal length 
     This equation is called &#34;the lensmaker&#39;s equation&#34;. 
     1 Assume a Bi-Convex Lens ##EQU2## O=Optical Center; Distance=11/4&#34;=3.125 cm=OA C 1 , C 2  =Centers of Curvature 
     F=Focal Points 
     r 1  =Radius of Object Side 
     r 2  =Radius of Image Side ##EQU3## 
     FIG. 6a shows a preferred magnifying glass element 32 designed to provide a 4.00 magnification factor. This lens is provided with first and second magnification lens engaging elements 30. FIG. 6b shows the preferred curvature of the lens to achieve the magnification factor as noted above. The first lens portion preferably has a curvature based on a 6.5 centimeter radius and the second lens portion has a curvature based on a 20 centimeter radius, calculated as noted above. 
     As can be seen in FIG. 7, the invention further includes an illumination structure, preferably provided on a lower portion of the support 12. The illumination element 50 is provided in a recessed portion of the lower side of the support 12. The illumination element is simply located to provide a focus of light based on the distance of the bristles and based on viewing area as discussed above. 
     Power for the illumination element is preferably provided by forming the handle 14 as a hollow element, preferably with a removable portion 52 for replacing batteries 54. A switching element 56 is connected between the illumination element 50 and the batteries for switching the light of the illumination element on and off. 
     As shown in FIG. 8, the lens element 32 and the brush element 20 may be removed and reconneeted to the support 12 as needed. This allows for cleaning the various elements and also allows for the possibility of replacing one or more of the element. For example, upon damage of one of the brush elements 32 or if the brush element 32 wears out, it can be replaced with a new brush element 32. Further, various different shapes or curvatures of the brush element may be selected based on the application (scalp of a human, dog, cat, etc.). Further, the spacing of the bristles relative to one another may be selected for different types of hair or different types of animal fur. A different magnification element can be provided if the original magnification element is scratched or damaged and a magnification element having a different magnification factor can also be provided if necessary. 
     While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.