Patent Publication Number: US-2007100403-A1

Title: Therapeutic treatment device and method for cold sores and the like

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The invention herein resides in the art of therapeutic devices and, more particularly, to such devices for use in the treatment of cold sores, insect bites, bee stings, spider bites and the like. Particularly, the invention relates to a hand held therapeutic device that provides heat to a specified area of the body for particular periods of time and at particular intervals in order to provide for the prevention and relief of the symptoms of cold sores, and to hasten recovery from other maladies.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The invention herein will be described with particular regard to its application to the treatment of cold sores. However, the concept of the invention may also be extendable and applicable to the treatment of other viral or bacterially caused conditions. Additionally, the concept of the invention extends to insect bites, bee stings, spider bites, and similar maladies for which it has been found that the localized application of heat for particular spaced durations of time hastens recovery. Applicants have particularly found that the application of heat to the cold sore area, particularly before visible manifestation, can prevent the visible manifestation or, at least, shorten its duration.  
      Cold sores are common sources of personal frustration and embarrassment. They are commonly triggered by infections, exposure to the sun, fever, stress, fatigue, hormonal changes, trauma or injury, pregnancy, or exposure to excessive temperatures.  
      An individual may sense that a cold sore is starting by feeling a tingling, prickling, itching or burning sensation about the lips at the site of the cold sore, well before the cold sore is visibly detectable. This is called the prodrome or prodromal stage. This stage generally precedes the eruption of a cold sore lesion by about 24 hours. At that time, the area will become red and a fluid-filled blister will form. This blister will weep with a clear fluid and then subsequently form a scab. The duration of time from the initial eruption of the cold sore lesion to the time at which the scab falls off and the healing is complete is on the order of 10-14 days.  
      Applicants have found that the localized application of heat to the cold sore region in the prodomal stage can prevent the cold sore lesion from forming and, if applied later in the stage, or if ineffective to preclude the formation of the lesion, such application of localized heat can shorten the duration of the lesion by a considerable time. As mentioned above, similar effects have been known to take place with insect bites, bee stings, and the like.  
      The prior art has recognized that the application of heat to the localized affected region of a bee sting or insect bite has curative results. The art has addressed this concept in a somewhat rudimentary fashion in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,297. The prior art, however, has failed to recognize that cold sores may be effectively treated by the application of heat to the localized affected region for particular periods of time and at a particular frequency or temporal spacing. The prior art has similarly failed to recognize that the heat treatment of bee stings and insect bites may be significantly improved by the time-regulated application of heat.  
      The prior art is unaware of the benefits to be derived from the localized application of heat to cold sores in general, and the time-regulated application of heat to cold sores and other maladies in particular. Specifically, there is a need for a mechanism for delivering heat to an affected area in an effective manner. Particularly, there is a need in the art for a hand held device that effectively walks the user through the required application of heat to the localized area, by signaling the user when each application should begin and when it ends, and when a subsequent application is appropriate. There is a need in the art for a device for providing such a user friendly approach to treatment, and which may be tailored to the treatment of various maladies requiring different durations and spacing of the heat application.  
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
      In light of the foregoing, it is a first aspect of the invention to provide a therapeutic treatment device for cold sores and the like, which allows for ease of application of heat to a localized area.  
      Another aspect of the invention is the presentation of a therapeutic treatment device for cold sores and the like that is user friendly and instructive in walking the user through the heat application and the sequencing and durations thereof.  
      Still another aspect of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic treatment device for cold sores and the like that can be tailored for the treatment of any of various incidents requiring the application of heat at different time intervals for different durations.  
      Yet a further aspect of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic device for cold sores and the like that is adaptable in use for multiple purposes.  
      Yet another aspect of the invention is the provision of a therapeutic treatment device for cold sores and the like, which is replenishable and reusable, having a cost incident thereto that is commensurate with the aggregate use of the device itself.  
      The foregoing and other aspects of the invention which will become apparent as the detailed description proceeds are achieved by a therapeutic treatment device, comprising: a housing configured to be hand held; a pad on said housing configured to engage an area on the body of a user; a heat source adjacent said pad; and a controller connected to said heat source, said controller enabling said heat source for determined periods of time at predetermined intervals.  
      Other aspects of the invention which will become apparent herein are attained by an actuator for a therapeutic treatment device having a housing containing a heat source and a controller connected to said heat source, said controller enabling said heat source for predetermined periods of time at predetermined intervals, the actuator comprising: a clip configured for removable receipt by the housing; and a module carried by said clip, said module configured for communicative interconnection with the controller. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING  
      For a complete understanding of the objects, techniques and structure of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawing wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the therapeutic treatment device of the invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the actuator clip adapted to enable the controller of the device of  FIG. 1 ; and  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic block diagram of the circuitry of the invention configured to achieve the beneficial aspects hereof. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
      Referring now to the drawing and more particularly  FIG. 1 , it can be seen that a thermal treatment device made in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral  10 . The device  10  includes a housing  12  having an end cap  14 , which is removable therefrom and securable thereto by means of screws, a catch and latch mechanism, or the like. A battery  16  is received within the housing  12  near the end receiving the end cap  14 , the battery  16  being provided for powering the thermal treatment device  10  as will become apparent herein.  
      At the end of the device  10 , opposite that of the end cap  14 , is an applicator tip  18 , configured to contact the affected area of skin of the user. The applicator tip  18  includes an annular pad  20  encircling a recessed screen or mesh  22 . The screen or mesh  22  prevents a light bulb  24 , or other appropriate heat generating device or heat element, from coming into direct contact with the skin of the user when the annular pad  20  is brought into contacting engagement with the skin. It will be appreciated that the light bulb or heat generator  24  is of a type sufficient to raise the temperature of the flesh beneath the skin contacted by the annular pad  20 , without burning the skin or flesh. The concept and the nature of the heating element for such purposes is known and understood by those skilled in the art, as generally described in prior art U.S. Pat. No 4,944,297.  
      A display screen  26 , for providing appropriate visual indicia of the operative status of the device  10 , is provided within the housing as at  26 . It is contemplated that the display  26  may constitute a light emitting diode display or other appropriate means, as would be appreciated by those skilled in the art. Also included as part and parcel of the device  10 , and maintained within the housing  12  thereof, is an audio generator such as a beeper  28  or the like devised to emit audible indicia as the process performed by the device  10  is undertaken, in a manner to be discussed herein. Also interconnected with the housing  12  is an appropriate activation switch  30 , which may be a push button or other appropriate switch mechanism. A similar switch  32  is provided for testing the strength of the battery  16 , to assure that the battery is of sufficient strength to undertake a treatment sequence.  
      The housing  12  is provided with a textured hand grip area  34 , or other suitable mechanism, for convenience of hand manipulation. It will be appreciated that the device  10  and the housing  12  are configured to be a hand sized unit, for ease of implementation, the device  10  being a hand held device.  
      Maintained within the housing  12 , and performing the operative functions thereof, is a control unit  36 , which comprises a dedicated microprocessor or chip, programmable to perform the operations to be discussed herein. The availability and programmability of such chips is well known and understood by those skilled in the art. Also included as part and parcel of the invention and as a key portion thereof, is a treatment actuator  38 , removably received by the housing  12 , and in physical and communicative engagement with the control unit  36  to effect the operation of the control unit  36  to an extent and by a method authorized by the treatment actuator  38 .  
      As shown in  FIG. 2 , the treatment actuator  38  comprises a band or clip  40  having a registration tab  42  extending from one side thereof. The clip  40  and tab  42  are configured to be removably received by the housing  12 . Carried by the clip  40  is a programmable chip  44 , serving as a treatment activator, and in physical and communicative engagement with the control unit  36  by means of the connector pins shown.  
      As shown in  FIG. 3 , the control unit  36  comprises a dedicated microprocessor or chip  46 , interconnected with the battery  16  and all of the operative input/output connectors of the device  10 . The chip  46  contains the necessary programming to energize the light bulb or heating element  24  for a predetermined period of time upon actuation by the activation switch  30 . After the heating element  24  is deactivated under control of the program of the chip  46 , a quiescent period of a fixed duration is engaged, after which the program of the chip  46  causes the beeper  28  to beep, signaling the user that the activation switch  30  may again be engaged, to energize the heating element  24  for a period of time as dictated by the program of the chip  46 .  
      The visual display  26  serves several purposes, producing an output signal indicating the treatment stage presently being entertained, also indicating the strength of the battery  16 , when tested by depression of the battery test switch  32 , and indicating the viability of the activator for enabling use of the device  10 .  
      The activator  44  may be of any of various natures. It is contemplated in the first instance, that the activator may be employed to simply enable the chip  46  to run its program upon demand by the actuation switch  30 . The treatment activator or programmable chip  44  may be programed to allow the chip  46  to undertake a predetermined number of treatments, and then be discardable and replaceable by a new activator chip  44  for additional subsequent treatments, if desired. In this regard, the user only pays for the treatments actually used or desired, allowing the cost of the device  10  to remain reasonable. Additionally, the activator  44  may be selected from a group of activators, each having a different program associated therewith for actuating the heat element  24 . In other words, for treatment of a cold sore, a particular sequence of heat applications is desired. For an insect or spider bite, or a bee sting, a different sequence may be required. Accordingly, the activator may be selected for the treatment to be provided.  
      It is also contemplated that the activator  44  may be either an active or a passive circuit element. The activator  44  may itself contain a program to interface with the program of the chip  46 , or the activator  44  may contain nothing more than an indicator to the chip  46  of a particular program stored by the chip  46  that must be run. The activator  44  may be a one-shot activator, capable of only activating the chip  46  a single time, or it may provide for multiple activations, to accommodate multiple treatments or uses. The activator  44  may itself include a down counter or the like, being inhibited from further use after counting down to “zero,” or the actuator  44  may be disabled from further use by communication from the program of the chip  46 , once the treatments authorized thereby have been employed.  
      With the foregoing description in mind, an appreciation may now be obtained of the use of the device  10  in the treatment of a malady, which, for purposes of discussion, will be considered to be a cold sore. In this case, the device  10  has been equipped with a treatment activator  38 , with the housing  12  receiving the clip  40  and registration tab  42  thereof. Each treatment of the cold sore requires three spaced apart heat applications of particular time duration. In a preferred embodiment, the activator chip  44  of the treatment activator  38  is programmed to apply three such treatments of three separate timed and spaced apart heat applications.  
      To begin use, the user first depresses the battery test switch  32 , causing the chip  46  to test the voltage of the battery  16 , to determine if it is sufficient to undertake the treatment authorized by the treatment activator  38 . Such indicia is presented upon display  26 . In a preferred embodiment, the letter “H” appears on display  26  if the battery voltage is above a first threshold indicative of a strong battery, and the letter “L” appears if the battery voltage is below that first threshold, but above a second lower threshold. In either of these events, there is sufficient voltage to provide the treatment requested. The appearance of the “L” simply informs the user that the battery is at the lower end of its useful life, and will soon need to be replaced. In the event that the battery is below the second threshold, nothing appears on the display  26 , indicating that the battery is insufficient to undertake the treatment, and battery replacement is required.  
      To begin treatment, the user dries the area about the lip to which the annular pad  20  will be applied. The pad  20  is then gently placed against the surface of the skin and the activation switch  30  is depressed. Under control of the program of the chip  46 , the number “ 1 ” will begin to flash on the display  26 , and the audio generator or beeper  28  will begin to beep. Once the beeping starts, the activation switch  30  can be released and the program of the chip  46  causes the beeping and the flashing of the number  1  on the display  26  to continue while the heating element  24  is energized to apply heat to the area within the annular pad  20 . In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this continues for 30 seconds, at which time the beeping stops and the numeral  1  terminates its flashing. The device  10  then remains quiescent, while a timer of the chip  46  times out a particular period of time, such as 60 seconds. At the end of that time, the beeper sounds again, alerting the user that the activation switch  30  should be depressed again, with the annular pad  20  upon the treatment area. At this time, the number  2  begins to flash on the display  26 , and the beeper  28  continues to beep while the heating element  24  is activated to apply heat for a second 30 second period. At the end of this second period, the beeping stops, the flashing numeral  2  terminates, and the heating element  24  become deactivated for a second quiescent period of 60 seconds. At the end of the second quiescent period, the beeper  28  sounds again, advising the user that the third and final application of heat may be applied. At this time, the user depresses the activation switch  30 , which commences the flashing of the numeral  3  on the display  26 , the beeping of the beeper  28 , and the activation of the heating elements  24  for a third 30-second period. At the end of this third 30-second period, the treatment of the cold sore area is complete.  
      If the treatment activator  30  is programmed for three treatments, either the activator  44  is down counted, or the microprocessor  46  registers the fact that only two treatments remain available from the activator  44  presently in place. If, however, the treatment activator  38  and associated activator chip  44  was capable of but a single treatment, the treatment activator  38  is now spent, and must be discarded and replaced with a new treatment activator  38  for any subsequent treatments.  
      Thus it can be seen that the various aspects of the invention have been satisfied by the structure presented above. A device and method for the therapeutic heat treatment of localized areas of skin and flesh is provided, with the sequence of such treatment being preprogramed, with audible and visual prompts given to the user. A treatment activator, having a programmable treatment activator chip, assures that the treatment given is proper for the issue being addressed, and also allows the user to provide for treatment on a “pay as you go” basis, rendering the device and the treatments given affordable. Moreover, the use of the treatment activator  38  allows for adaptability of the device  10  for treatment of maladies apart from cold sores, but for other issues for which the localized application of heat is beneficial.  
      In the example given, the cold sore treatment was presented as three 30-second applications spaced 60 seconds apart. It will be appreciated that such treatment may vary as to duration and spacing, it being contemplated that the heat application durations may be on the order of 25-45 seconds, with the spacing commensurately being on the order of 45-90 seconds.  
      Thus it can be seen that the aspects of the invention have been attained by the structure and technique presented above. While in accordance with the patent statutes only the best mode and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention reference should be made to the following claims.