DE2948059A1 - Scalp blood circulation interruption device for hair loss prevention - comprises pressure band placed around head coupled to pressurised air source - Google Patents

Abstract

The device includes a band placed around the patient's head before being inflated with pressurised air. It pref. has a disposable covering replaced for each patient and it may be in the form of a helmet fitted over the patient's head. The band in this case is incorporated in an inflatable bag and includes an electrical thermometer (24) and foam ear protectors (25). The thermometer is coupled to a thermostat of a cooling unit (23) supplying a cooling medium to the helmet. The device is used to prevent secondary heat loss by cancer patient's due to the toxins inherent in their medication.

Description

Device for the temporary interruption of the arterial

Blood flow to the skin skull "There are therapeutic methods for Example of intravenous cytostatic therapy, against various cancers, where secondary hair loss results from drug side effects, what the patients had to put up with so far. This secondary hair loss is natural patients, especially women, are extremely uncomfortable, especially with the latter can lead to mental complexes and depression. It goes so far that some Patients even opted for intravenous because of these secondary side effects Do not undergo cytostatic therapy.

In addition, this secondary hair loss has the consequence that the Health insurance companies have to cover the cost of making wigs. this means certainly a not insignificant increase in the cost of the whole process.

The cause of this secondary hair loss can be seen in the fact that the cytostatic drugs toxic substances included, not only destroy or inhibit the cancer cells in the organism, but in general have toxic effects on the entire organism. This results in a A number of undesirable secondary side effects, one of which is hair loss is. It has now been found that this hair loss occurs during peroral cytostatic therapy is not observed, since the toxic concentration of the cytostatics is lower here than with intravenous cytostatic therapy. Would it be possible with this intravenous Therapy the arterial blood flow to the skin skull over a certain period of time to interrupt, then no toxic substances would reach the hair roots, the hair loss could be prevented. This could disrupt arterial blood flow of the skin skull are interrupted for a time within which the concentration the cytostatic substances in the blood would be broken down by at least 50 to 80% toxic side effects with the consequence of hair loss no longer occur.

The invention is based on the object of providing a device for temporarily Finding interruptions in arterial blood flow to the skin skull, with their help these requirements can be met.

The invention solves this problem by a device in the form a pressure cuff, designed as a hollow band, placed around the skin skull, the can be acted upon with compressed gas, preferably compressed air.

The arterial blood flow to the skin skull is through three main arteries secured, the angular artery, the superficial temporal artery and the arteria occipitalis.

With the device according to the invention, the blood flow to these Arteries are interrupted over certain times, so that even when the intravenous cytostatic therapy then no toxic substances can get to the hair roots. It has been shown that an interruption the arterial blood flow is sufficient for thirty to a maximum of sixty minutes. Then the concentration of the cytostatic substances in the blood is reduced by up to about 80%.

There is no more in the blood than in oral therapy, where there is no hair loss.

The pressure cuff, which is preferably made of rubber, about 60 cm long and 4 cm wide, is placed in a cover, for example made of sterile Paper or foil that can be exchanged and thus meets the hygienic requirements corresponds to the applications of the pressure cuff.

Either a loop can be used to fix the pressure cuff to the skull or one of the known adhesive systems, for example a Velcro fastener, use Find.

The pressure cuff can be similar to that in a simple manner a sphygmomanometer be connected to a rubber hose, at its free At the end of a pump in the form of a rubber ball is provided. It can also an air pressure gauge and a valve for releasing the air may be provided.

If the rubber ball pump generates pressure in the pressure cuff, which corresponds to or is slightly above the normal blood pressure of the patient, arterial blood flow is no longer established in the aforementioned arteries. It So even on the hair roots there can be no severe toxic effect during intravenous use Cytostatic therapy may occur.

The interruption of arterial blood flow between thirty and sixty minutes is generally easily tolerated by the human body. this has for example in vascular surgery shown the lower extremities in the so-called bypass procedures.

In addition, the possibly still existing risk of a The pressure cuff can avoid a lack of tissue oxygen and energy in the skin of the skull the shape of a double-walled pouch that covers the skull Get a helmet that uses a pressure medium from a cooling system, which is also the coolant is, can be acted upon. Due to the associated exposure to cold in the area of the Skull skin, whereby a reduction of the temperature to 15 to 20 OC is sufficient the entire tissue metabolism can be reduced to a minimum, so that even over No circulatory disturbances in the affected region for sixty minutes can.

The helmet can be equipped with an electric thermometer on its inside be.

Furthermore, he can use these adapted cold insulation in the area of the ears Be equipped to avoid the negative effects of low temperatures on your ears to avoid. This cold insulation can, for example, be adapted to the shape of the ears, be elliptical insulation made of plastic foam.

Further features of the invention and details of the same The advantages achieved result from the following description of one of in the accompanying drawings shown purely by way of example and schematically Embodiments of the subject matter of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a human skull with the inventive Pressure cuff, in Flg 2, this pressure cuff is designed State (1 reproduced, Fig. 3 shows a varied embodiment of the pressure cuff in the form of a helmet, Fig. 4 is the representation of a in connection with the Pressure cuff usable refrigeration system.

The human skull has the angular artery on the forehead, which is denoted by 1, on the temples on both sides the arteria denoted by 2 temporalis superficialis and in the lateral area of the skull, again on both sides, the occipital artery designated by 3. To the one occupied by these arteries The pressure cuff 4 according to the invention is now placed in the area of the skin skull. This consists of a hollow belt 5, which is arranged in an exchangeable cover 6 which is continued in the example shown in a loop 7. The hollow belt 5 of the pressure cuff stands over a rubber hose 8 with a rubber ball 9 in Connection that is the same or similar to those ball pumps on a normal Blood pressure measuring cuff is formed. There is also a pressure gauge 10 and a Valve 11 arranged.

When the cuff is designed in the form of a helmet, this is the case Helmet 21 in turn designed as a double-walled bag. He stands over two rubber hoses 22 with a refrigeration system 23 in connection. In the helmet, the sensor 24 is an electrical one Arranged thermometer. Furthermore, there is insulation 25 in the area of the ears made of plastic foam. On the housing of the refrigeration system 23 is an adjustable one Thermostat 26 with the electrical thermometer, the sensor 24 of which is arranged in the helmet is intended.

The refrigeration system can be a heat exchanger in a manner known per se 27 in the form of a helical coil which is connected to the interior of the helmet 21 Via the rubber hoses 22 a closed one, for example containing water Cycle forms. In this circuit is an adjustable pump with a small debit arranged.

The helmet or the bag has the shape of a double-walled bathing cap, so that they form part of the said closed circuit chamber represents. The electric thermometer is mounted on the inside of the helmet, so that it is in direct contact with the skin. So pressure and temperature are continuous adjustable.

The pressure cuff can now either be applied to the patient first attached and fixed and after pumping in the desired air pressure the helmet on put on the head and put the refrigeration system into operation. It is also possible to combine pressure cuff and helmet in a single device. The helmet bag with the cooled liquid becomes up to pressure level or if something is applied above it, the special pressure cuff can be dispensed with will. In the simplest case, the arrangement of the pressure cuff and that is sufficient Applying one or more ice packs to the skin of the skull. The with the invention Device in its various designs so far gained experience and the results achieved can be described as extremely good. It joins intravenous cytostatic therapy no longer leads to hair loss without the new one Devices in turn generate any unpleasant side effects would. This can also make the patient shy of the necessary use of the intravenous cytostatic therapy. In addition, the pressure cuff also in emergencies with corresponding lacerations on the head next to the one described primary use, for example, as tourniquet during the transport of the injured person be used.

L e r s e i t e

Claims (7)

"Device for the temporary interruption of arterial blood flow on the skin skull "claims 1.) Device for the temporary interruption of the arterial blood flow to the skin skull, characterized in that it consists of a in the form of a hollow band, a pressure cuff placed around the skin skull exists, which can be acted upon with compressed gas, preferably compressed air. 2.) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the Pressure cuff with an exchangeable one that meets the hygienic requirements Cover is provided. 3.) Device according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the pressure cuff is equipped with means for adapting and fixing it to the skull is. 4.) Device according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure cuff has the shape of a pouch that covers the skull Helmet has. 5.) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the Helmet can be acted upon with a pressure medium from a cooling system, which is also a coolant is. 6.) Device according to claim 4 and 5, characterized in that the helmet is equipped with an electric thermometer. 7.) Device according to claim 4 to 6, characterized in that the helmet is equipped with this adapted cold insulation in the area of the ears is.