Device for determining skin sensitivity

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known that a red streak remains on the skin after irritating it with an object such as a fingernail, spoon handle, or laboratory spatula. The degree of redness or persistence duration is used as a basis for skin sensitivity. This rough method has the disadvantage, however, of yielding different results since the local pressure of the mechanical action varies considerably, depending on the investigator, the pressure applied and the object used.

A fine gradation of the degree of skin sensitivity or a reproducible standardized determination of the readiness of the skin to react to mechanical stimulation has not as yet been possible. This property of the skin is of particular importance, especially for skin property valuation, and thus a method to provide a standardized pressure to the skin must be found.

In dermatology and cosmetics, it is desirable to have a simple means for evaluating skin sensitivity. The purpose of this invention is to create such a device. This is accomplished according to the invention, by the fact that at least one pressure element projecting from a base is provided. This element is compressible into the base of the device, against the action of an elastic system or a spring element with a known spring force. The outer end of the pressure element is provided with an rough surface whose area is directly proportional to the spring tension and whose roughness is inversely proportional to the spring tension.

By this means, very accurate determinations of skin sensitivity can be made since the skin is always subjected to exactly the same definite pressure. Further features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following description and from the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principle object of the present invention is to provide a device which overcomes the defects of the prior art, such as indicated above.

Another object is to provide a device for accurately measuring the sensitivity of the skin utilizing a standardized pressure element.

A further object is to provide a device for measuring the sensitivity of the skin where the pressure elements are compressed into its base against the action of an elastic system or spring element.

The device is placed upon the skin to be tested in such fashion that the spring-loaded pressure rod is pushed down into the housing at a definite and constant application pressure. A sweep is then made across the skin at the point on the skin (preferably on the inside of the forearm) to be tested. A red streak shows up after a short time; its persistence provides a criterion of the degree of sensitivity of the skin. If the streak produced by the device described above is, for example, still clearly and obviously visible after more than 10 minutes, the skin is judged to be sensitive. If the red streak has faded or can be seen only dimly after 10 minutes have elapsed, the skin is rated insensitive.

Any other pressure element can be provided instead of the pressure rod, which can be tensioned by an elastic system or by any spring element, such as lamellar, rubber, or gas-spring systems, or hydraulic, or pneumatic spring systems. The contact or sliding surface of the pressure element can also have any rounded shape, and in addition, instead of the adjusting screw, any other device can be provided to adjust the spring tension. In particular, a click-stop adjustment device can be provided with several adjustment steps such as "weak," "medium" and "strong."

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the device can contain several pressure elements. If these pressure elements have different spring tensions, or if they are provided with contact surfaces of different size or degree of roughness, after a certain time interval a precise statement can be made regarding the degree of skin sensitivity after all the rods in the device have been drawn simultaneously over the skin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The following sample embodiments of the invention are shown in greater detail in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an elevational view, partly in cross-section, through a first sample embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows the tip of the pressure rod in the device according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a second sample embodiment;

FIG. 4 shows an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a third sample embodiment; and

FIG. 5 shows an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a fourth sample embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

According to FIG. 1, an axially displacable pressure rod 2 is located in a housing 1, said rod being limited in its outward travel by a stop 3 connected to the housing. A coil spring 4 is located internally in a recess in the pressure rod, said spring pressing either directly on the housing or, as shown in FIG. 1, on an adjusting screw 5. The tension of the spring 4 can be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 5 that is operable by a disc with a knurled edge. To ensure reproducible setting of the spring tension, a scale can be provided on the housing 1 or on the adjusting screw, the desired spring tension being readable from said scale.

FIG. 2 shows the tip of the pressure rod in enlarged form, which in this example has a diameter of 3 mm, is rounded off to a radius of 1.5 mm, and flattened at the tip to a diameter of approximately 1 mm. The pressure rod is preferably made of a polyamide, however any other material may be used. Given the above dimensions for the pressure rod, the tension of the spring 4 should preferably be between 200 and 400 grams. This calculates to a spring pressure of 250-500 gm/mm.sup.2 when the tip of the pressure rod is depressed to the base surface of the housing.

According to a simplified embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the pressure rod 2 is installed directly into the housing without the use of a stop. One end of the spring 4 is connected at a junction 6, and the other end is fastened directly to the housing 1.

FIG. 4 shows a sample embodiment with three pressure rods, tensioned with different spring tensions P1, P2 and P3. FIG. 5 shows three pressure rods tensioned with the same spring tension P, but the surfaces of the pressure rods have different shapes. Pressure rod 10 is rounded, pressure rod 11 is conical and pressure rod 12 has a serrated surface. Pressure rod 12 will produce more of a skin irritation than the other two pressure rods, with rod 10 producing the least skin irritation of the three. All of the pressure elements may also have the same type of surface, but be provided with different surface roughnesses.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.

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