FR3063228A1 - ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERY FOR REDUCING TRANSPIRATION - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a cosmetic electrochemical cell comprising at least a first electrode (10) comprising a first conductive material and a second electrode (6) comprising a second conductive material, the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) being fixed. a flexible support (8) and the battery using as electrolyte, human perspiration, characterized in that the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) are printed on the flexible support (8).

Description

© Publication no .: 3,063,228 (to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number: 17 51564 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

COURBEVOIE © IntCI ⁸

A 61 N 1/18 (2017.01), A 41 D 1/00

A1 PATENT APPLICATION

©) Date of filing: 27.02.17. (© Applicant (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme— FR. (© Priority: @ Inventor (s): JACOB MATTHIEU and PLANARD- LUONG THI HONG LINK. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 31.08.18 Bulletin 18/35. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme. related: ©) Extension request (s): (© Agent (s): L'OREAL Société anonyme.

ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL FOR REDUCING PERSPIRATION.

FR 3,063,228 - A1 (b £) The present invention relates to a cosmetic electrochemical cell comprising at least a first electrode (10) comprising a first conductive material and a second electrode (6) comprising a second conductive material, the first electrode (10 ) and the second electrode (6) being fixed to a flexible support (8) and the battery using as electrolyte, human perspiration, characterized in that the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) are printed on the flexible support (8).

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Electrochemical cell to reduce sweating

The present invention relates to the treatment of areas of the body which may be the source of excessive sweating.

Background

The armpits in particular are the site of several discomforts, which arise either directly or indirectly, from sweating phenomena.

First of all, the presence of water linked to perspiration is generally felt as unpleasant and perspiration, under certain conditions, wets clothes. Evaporation of perspiration, which leaves salts and proteins, causes visible traces and / or unpleasant sensations. In addition, odors may develop.

The discomfort can also result, even in the event of moderate perspiration and in the case where one perceives neither visually traces of water, nor odor, other factors like friction and the temperature, exalted by the confinement of the location.

Other sources of discomfort can be added such as hair removal or hair regrowth and the use of certain garments, in particular those with significant impermeability.

Aluminum salt technology has been widely used to solve or limit some of these problems, but it has flaws. Indeed, if it reduces the presence of water and odor, it is not active on other sources of discomfort.

In addition, for some, the application of a wetting product is considered unpleasant, because of the feeling of wet at the time of application. This sensation can be reduced by using compositions having volatile solvents, but the use of the latter at high contents also has drawbacks.

The application of a composition to combat perspiration or its effects can still be considered unsatisfactory due to possible sticky aspects or traces left on the clothes.

Finally, some people are reluctant to repeat applications of products on the body.

Application US 2006/0210504 discloses a composition comprising an anticholinergic compound intended to act on the nerve fiber to prevent the release of acetylcholine to the sweat gland.

Another possible and in some cases recommended approach consists of injecting botulinum toxin to obtain an antiperspirant effect, but the use of an injection greatly limits the use of this approach, limited to cases of hyperhidrosis.

Accessories have also been proposed to avoid certain drawbacks associated with perspiration. For example, applications US 2006/0041987 or US 2006/0015981 disclose patches to be applied under the armpit.

JP 2006 043319 A2 describes the use of UV light to kill the germs responsible for odor development.

FR 2931686 describes a method for reducing perspiration by exposing a region to be treated to electromagnetic radiation of non-destructive artificial origin.

All the existing solutions are not entirely satisfactory and there is a need to benefit from new treatments and devices to combat perspiration and the associated discomfort.

We know the use of micro-currents in cosmetics.

FR2941332 describes an electrochemical cell comprising at least two electrodes, each made of a different conductive material, said electrodes are woven or sewn in a fabric. The battery uses a physiological fluid, such as perspiration, as an electrolyte to supply electricity to a sensor. Perspiration can also be used as the fluid analyzed by the sensor. This document does not concern the fight against sweating.

US 6,223,076 describes the treatment of transpiration by iontophoresis of antiperspirant active agents, using a device comprising a pair of electrodes connected to a microcontroller and to a current generator. The electrodes are in contact with pads impregnated with antiperspirants administered when current flows between the electrodes. However, this treatment requires the use of antiperspirant active ingredients.

The article Control of Palmar Hyperhidrosis with a New “Dry-Type” Iontophoretic Device, by GUN YOEN NA, MD et al., American Society for Dermatology Surgery Inc, 2007, 33: 57-61 suggests that the treatment of a body area dry iontophoresis can be effective. The device consists of a plastic tube covered with stainless steel wires connected to a 9V generator.

The article Immediate Reduction in Sweat Secretion With Electric Current Application in Primary Palmar Hyperhidrosis, by Kave Shams et al, ARCH

DERMATOL, published on October 18, 2010 describes a reduction in hand sweating by dry iontophoresis. The device includes electrodes formed from gel connected to a generator delivering a current of 4mA.

The article Open Clinical Trial for Evaluation of Efficacy and Safety of a Portable Dry-Type ”Iontophoretic Device in Treatment of Palmar Hyperhidrosis, YOON HYUK CHOI, American Society for Dermatologie Surgery Inc, 2013, 39: 578-583 describes a decrease in the sweating by dry electrophoresis treatment. The device comprises an insulating tube covered with stainless steel wires connected to a generator delivering a current of 20 mA for 20 minutes.

However, the devices described in these scientific publications require the use of an external generator.

EP 1 715 915 describes a fabric substrate on which points (dots) are regularly distributed to form a stack. A first family of points is formed by a reducing agent. A second family of points is formed by an oxidizing agent. The families of points form interlaced networks to obtain a potential difference between two adjacent points ranging from 0.05V to 5 V. An electric current can be induced between two adjacent points of different nature without the use of an external battery or a current source. The battery can be used to regenerate tissue, reshape collagen, stimulate neo-angiogenesis, act on microbes, act on a wound, promote cell migration or modify cell activity. The use of the battery to reduce sweating is not taught.

The invention aims to propose a simple and practical solution to implement, remedying all or part of the above drawbacks.

In particular, the invention aims to propose a cosmetic device to reduce sweating:

- Not necessarily using antiperspirant active ingredients, or even cosmetic composition,

- Not using an external generator,

- Inducing an immediate effect on a treated area,

- Easy to manufacture,

- Economic and ecological,

Reliable.

summary

The subject of the invention is, according to one of its aspects, a cosmetic electrochemical cell comprising at least a first electrode comprising a first conductive material and a second electrode comprising a second conductive material, the first conductive material and the second conductive material have a difference in electrochemical potential strictly greater than 0, the first electrode and the second electrode being fixed to a flexible support and the battery using as electrolyte, human perspiration, the first electrode and the second electrode being printed on the flexible support.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to act on perspiration by means of a device without using an external generator. Indeed, the battery according to the invention is formed in contact with a body area, in the presence of perspiration. As soon as perspiration is present, it acts as an electrolyte to circulate a current between the two electrodes of opposite polarities arranged on the support. This generation of current is made possible, because of the sufficiently high concentration of ions present in perspiration, in particular in sodium, potassium and calcium ions. The battery does not require an external generator.

A major advantage of the battery is that it automatically stops working when perspiration stops. It can start again if perspiration reappears, possibly stop again and then leave once or several times.

The comfort of the person is improved, and this with a mobile device.

As the electrodes are printed on the support, they can remain fixed even if the person is moving. The distance between the electrodes is more constant over time, for better regulation of perspiration and for more effective treatment.

On the contrary, as soon as the distance between the electrodes is changed, the intensity of the current varies. The person may be surprised by a current which can suddenly become too weak, which is undesirable since the efficiency decreases. The invention remedies this problem by printing the electrodes on the support, so as to leave them no range of movement.

In addition, the distance between each electrode and the support does not vary, for a more constant current over time.

The invention uses the micro-current circulating in the cell to act on perspiration. The energy released by the person is recovered. Perspiration is used as an ion conducting liquid to operate the battery.

Without being bound by theory, the Applicant believes that the battery according to the invention has an action on at least one mechanism linked to the production of perspiration to cause a temporary, non-therapeutic reduction in the activity of the sweat glands. The treated area may include the armpits or other areas of the body such as the groin, the palm of the hand or the feet, for example. The treatment according to the invention is non-depilatory and non-depigmenting, above all intended to reduce the daily discomfort due to sweating. The invention probably acts on the biological sequences involved in the loss of comfort in the part of the body treated, in particular on the innervation and the triggering of the sweat glands.

The invention also makes it possible to reduce the sensations of irritation that humidity, friction or temperature can produce.

The battery according to the invention is also anti-odor thanks to its antibacterial effect.

Main definitions:

Conventionally, an “electrochemical cell” is a device which transforms the energy of a chemical reaction into electrical energy. The battery shelters a chemical oxidation-reduction reaction between two substances, one of which can easily give up electrons (reducing material) and the other absorbs them (oxidizing material). Each of these materials is used to make an electrode; the two electrodes, the anode or terminal (-) produced with the reducing material and the cathode or terminal (+) produced with the oxidizing material, are immersed in an ionic solution called an electrolyte. The electrochemical potential of the two metals constituting the electrodes determines the voltage of the battery. A battery can contain several pairs of electrodes connected in series.

"The first electrode and the second electrode are spaced from each other by a distance between x and y" means that the minimum measurable distance between the edge of the first electrode and the edge of the second electrode is between x and y.

A "discrete element" is an isolated conductive element located at a distance from another discrete element. Each discrete element can refer to an element of any suitable size or shape, having for example as cross section, a square, a circle, a triangle, a line, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, an octagon, a decagon, a trapezoid, a parallelogram, a rhombus, a heptagon, a star, a crescent, an oval or a semicircle. The discrete elements are also called dots or mini dots or reservoir. The discrete elements form a discontinuity on the support.

A "flexible support," is a flexible substrate. In particular, this term designates fabrics intended for dressing as well as textile accessories used by an individual. By way of example and without any limiting character, this term can designate a sweater, a T-shirt, a shirt, an undergarment, gloves, pants, skirt, dress, jackets, anorak, coat, gloves, hat, scarf, scarf, headband, bandage, mask, sole, shorts, boxer shorts, tampon (patch) or wipe. Preferably, the flexible support is elastic to ensure permanent support between the electrodes and the person.

Preferred battery embodiments

Preferably, the battery according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

- The electrodes are spaced from each other by a distance between mm and 10 mm, and preferably between 1 mm and 5 mm. This distance is optimal to favor the passage of the current.

- It includes a multitude of first electrodes and a multitude of second electrodes forming discrete elements regularly distributed on the flexible support. This structure shows good efficiency. It avoids short circuits due to its geometry.

- The first electrode and the second electrode are fixed to the flexible support by digital printing or by printing an ink. The manufacture of the battery is mastered and simplified.

- The first electrode and the second electrode are separated by a separation material, said separation material being absorbent and insulating in the absence of perspiration.

- The first conductive material and the second conductive material have an electrochemical potential difference of at least 200 mV.

This minimum potential difference is preferable for obtaining a current flow.

Electrodes

The shape, the length and the surface of the electrodes can be very diverse, it can in particular be wire or square, star, round, surface lying between a few square millimeters and several tens of square centimeters.

The battery according to the invention is prepared fixing the electrodes in a fabric without them being in contact with one another in order to avoid short circuits; they can for example be positioned in parallel. Such an arrangement has the advantage of being able to combine a large number of pairs of electrodes.

The electrodes can form entangled patterns such as those described for example in EP 1 715 915.

The conductive material which can be used for the manufacture of the electrodes can be metal, it is in particular aluminum, silver, copper, gold, zinc. It is also possible to prepare an electrode by metallization of a textile thread by different techniques such as metallic evaporation, sputtering or chemical metallization. The metal electrodes can consist of one or more wires of the same metal. If several wires are used, each metal wire must be in contact with at least one other metal wire of the same metal to ensure the electrical continuity of the electrode. The metallic threads can be sewn or woven with threads used in the manufacture of the garment so that the surface of the electrode is composed of both metallic threads and textile thread identical to the rest of the garment.

Soft support

Generally, the flexible supports are made with textile fibers composed either of natural materials: of animal origin (sheep wool, cashmere and goat mohair, llama alpaca, rabbit and goat angora, worm cocoon silk silk), of vegetable origin (cotton, linen, sisal, rubber, etc.) or of mineral origin (glass, carbon, metal, etc.); either of artificial chemical materials which are derived from cellulose (viscose, modal, acetate ...) or synthetic which are derived from petroleum products (polyamide, polyester, acrylic, elastane ...). The same fabric can also be made up of several types of textile fibers.

Printing of the electrodes on the flexible support

The printing of electrodes can in particular be carried out by screen printing, flexography, gravure printing or by ink jet. These printing techniques generally allow high production rates.

Printed batteries have the advantage of being flexible with a cohesive and light structure.

The documents WO2004 / 011901 or US2009 / 0095942 disclose, for example, such methods of printing electrodes.

The electrodes can be printed by a three-dimensional object printing device more commonly called a 3D printer, for example a 3D printer using a photochemical reaction induced by multiphotonic absorption with at least two photons comprising a laser source and a focusing objective. . For example, one can use a printer described in application WO2015197794.

Article

The invention also relates to an article comprising at least one battery as described above.

The article may be a garment in which at least one battery is integrated. For example, the support can be glued or sewn to clothing.

Method for reducing perspiration

The subject of the invention is also a non-therapeutic process for reducing sweating in a region of the human body comprising sweat glands, this process comprising the operations consisting in:

(i) bringing an article according to claim 6 into contact with said region, (ii) allowing the article to generate a micro current of intensity between ΙΟμΑ / cm ² to ΙΟΟμΑ / cm ² on said region as soon as the appearance of the sweating, possibly until the battery runs out.

The micro current produced by a battery acts on perspiration, to reduce or regulate it. The invention provides a simple, economical and ecological way to combat perspiration effectively.

The method according to the invention can be implemented by selectively treating predefined areas of a region comprising the sweat glands. The treatment can thus target the areas of the pores of the skin or at least the areas with the highest probability of being inhabited by one or more pores, areas below which the sweat glands are located.

The affected area can be treated in the morning, for example, before or after washing. This use can be preventive, the treatment taking place before sweating has caused discomfort. Optionally, several direct uses can be made in the same day. One can also realize direct uses while sweating has started to cause discomfort.

Preferred embodiments of the process

Preferably, the method according to the invention has one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

- Said region includes the armpits, groin, feet, back or palm of the hand or other part of the body liable to sweat.

- The frequency of treatment being higher depends on the need of the user.

Together

Another subject of the invention is, according to another of its aspects, a set aiming to reduce sweating in a region of the human body comprising sweat glands, comprising:

- an article as defined above,

- a cosmetic composition to be used in conjunction with the treatment of the skin with the article.

The compounds which can be used jointly with the treatment of the region to be treated by the microcurrent, are for example:

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i) agents acting in and on the phenomena of pain and / or inflammatory phenomena, for example those involved or interacting on the transport of nerve impulses, in the transfer of nerve impulses at the level of nerve endings, neuromuscular junction, motor plates, cholinergic synapses, post-synaptic receptors, inhibitors or agents interacting in these transport or transfer phenomena, compounds having a parasympatholytic, anticholinergic action, and more particularly local anticholinergics, for example curarisants and more particularly the botulinum toxin, the compounds acting on the release of acetylcholine at the level of cholinergic synapses, those acting on the reception of acetylcholine on the level of postsynaptic receptors, those acting on acetylcholine esterase, or those acting on transport of the salts involved, in particular Ca2 +, paracet amol, derivatives of salic dérivéslic acid and other analgesic agents, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticox 2 and agents with paralyzing or muscle relaxant effects, such as botox for example;

ii) biomaterials, for example derivatives of hyaluronic acid, derivatives of cellulose and other carbohydrates or chain of carbohydrates, derivatives of collagen or other peptides such as polylysine, polyhistidine, biomaterials involving all or part of elements minerals, such as silicones for example, biocompatible materials such as hydroxyapatite or silica;

iii) solvents and volatile compounds, such as water, alcohols, ethers, ketones, alkanes and alkenes, such as isododecane, volatile silicones, perfumes and essential oils;

iv) agents said to be antiperspirant, anti-odor, astringent or absorbent, such as aluminum, zirconium salts, tannins or derivatives of tanic acid, absorbent silica particles or porous polymeric particles such as those sold under the name Orgasol by the company Atochem, for example;

v) reactive agents or compositions, that is to say agents or compositions whose shape may change under the effect of a stimulus or over time. The change is not necessarily a chemical change and can be a physico-chemical change.

The skin can also be subjected, before or during or after the treatment, to physical treatments, for example:

i) heat treatment, heating, cooling, ventilation effect, heat exchange by solid or liquid material, ii) light treatment by exposing the skin to other light, for example UV radiation, iii) mechanical effects, such as rubbing to activate circulation or stretching, depilatory effect or shaving.

Description of the figures

The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, of nonlimiting examples of implementation thereof, and on examining the appended drawing, in which FIGS. 1 to 6 show a top view of a flexible support on which two electrodes are fixed

The support 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises two families of electrodes of different shape. A first family of electrodes 6, for example made of zinc and a second family of electrodes 10, for example made of silver. The electrodes are digitally printed on a flexible fabric support 8. A current can flow between each pair of electrodes 12 when the support is in contact with perspiration.

In FIG. 1, the electrodes 6 and 10 are of point shape. They have a circular cross section.

In FIG. 2, the electrodes 6 and 10 are of point shape. They have a hexagonal cross section.

In FIG. 3, the electrodes 6 and 10 are of point shape. They have a circular cross section

In FIG. 4, the electrodes 6 are of point shape. They have a circular cross section. The electrodes 10 have a slender shape.

In FIG. 5, the electrodes 6 and 10 have a slender shape.

In FIG. 6, the electrodes 6 form a mesh, each mesh being filled by an electrode 10.

Tests have been implemented to evaluate this technology.

Three supports are placed in contact with a synthetic perspiration composition formed by a 0.9% NaCl solution of mass / volume 9g / l. The electrodes are completely covered with the composition.

The supports are:

- PROCELERA® from Vomaris with two Zn, Ag electrodes,

- JUMPSTART ® from Artrex,

- VOLTAC ® from Integra Lifescience Corporation,

The two VELaris PROCELERA® electrodes are connected to a multimeter which measures the voltage and calculates the current.

We measure 0.4 V initially decreasing to 0.15 V after 2 hours.

This measurement shows that it is possible to generate a battery without a generator with synthetic perspiration using the PROCELERA® support from Vomaris.

We also note that a current is generated with the other two supports JUMPSTART ® from Artrex and VOLTAC ® from Integra Lifescience Corporation. The voltage measured is of the same order of magnitude as that measured with PROCELERA® from Vomaris. With these two supports also, it is possible to generate a battery without a generator.

The distance between the nearest electrodes is 2.5 mm for the PROCELERA® support from Vomaris.

The invention is not limited to the examples described. In particular, the support can have a completely different shape and the electrodes can be arranged differently on the support 8.

Claims (9)

1. Cosmetic electrochemical cell comprising at least a first electrode (10) comprising a first conductive material and a second electrode (6) comprising a second conductive material, the first conductive material and the second conductive material have a difference in electrochemical potential strictly greater than 0, the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) being fixed to a flexible support (8) and the battery using as human electrolyte, perspiration, characterized in that the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) are printed on the flexible support (8). 2. Cosmetic electrochemical cell according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrodes (6, 10) are spaced from each other by a distance (d) between 1 mm and 10 mm. 3. Electrochemical cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a multitude of first electrodes (10) and a multitude of second electrodes (6) forming discrete elements regularly distributed on the flexible support (8 ). 4. Electrochemical cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) are fixed to the flexible support (8) by digital printing or by printing of an ink 5. Electrochemical cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first electrode (10) and the second electrode (6) are separated by a separation material (24), said separation material (24) being absorbent and insulating in the absence of perspiration. 6. Electrochemical cell according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first conductive material and the second conductive material have a difference in electrochemical potential of at least 200 mV. 7. Article comprising at least one battery according to any one of the 5 preceding claims. 8. Kit aimed at decreasing the perspiration of a region of the human body comprising sweat glands, comprising: - an article according to claim 7, 10 - a cosmetic composition to be used in conjunction with the treatment of the skin with the article. 9. Assembly according to the preceding claim, the composition comprising at least one compound chosen from antiperspirant, astringent or absorbent agents or 15 anti-odor. 1/2