AIRFLOW APPLICATORS AND RELATED TREATMENT METHODS

• US 20100071713A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larada Sciences
• Original Assignee: Larada Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Simon, Eric M., Block, Randall D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,475,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/115
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/001 Washing, cleaning, or drying devices for veterinary purposes A61D7/00, A61D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/002 Curry-combs; Brushes shearing sheep B26B19/24
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 13/003 Devices for applying insecticides or medication A01K27/007 takes precedence; for veterinary purposes A61D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 20/12 Details thereof or accessories therefor, e.g. nozzles, stands
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 24/30 Combs specially adapted for removing dirt or grease A45D24/32 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of airflow applicators used for delivering directional, heated air to, for example, the scalp and hair of humans and/or animals to eliminate ectoparasites, such as lice and lice eggs. In preferred embodiments, the applicators are configured to deliver heated airflow (from a separate device, or from another portion of a single device, that generates heated airflow) efficiently right to where ectoparasites and their eggs most frequently reside. Also disclosed are treatment methods, including preferred treatment patterns, for delivering heated airflows for use in eliminating ectoparasites and their eggs on an animal.

Claims

1. A method for treating an animal having a lice infestation to substantially eliminate both lice and lice eggs from the animal, the method comprising:

obtaining an applicator, wherein at least a portion of the applicator is disposable, and wherein the applicator is configured for delivering heated airflow to a treatment site on the animal;

connecting the applicator to a heated airflow source;

delivering a heated airflow through the applicator to the treatment site to substantially eliminate the lice and lice eggs from the treatment site;

moving the applicator to a second treatment site;

delivering a heated airflow through the applicator to the second treatment site to substantially eliminate the lice and lice eggs from the second treatment site;

repeating the delivering and moving steps until substantially all lice and lice eggs have been eliminated;

removing at least a portion of the applicator from the heated airflow source;

disposing of at least a portion of the applicator;

obtaining a second applicator, wherein at least a portion of the second applicator is disposable, and wherein the second applicator is configured for delivering airflow to a treatment site on the animal; and

connecting the second applicator to the heated airflow source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator comprises an applicator tip and an applicator base, wherein the applicator tip is configured to be detachably coupled to the applicator base, and wherein the step of connecting the applicator to the blower comprises coupling the applicator base with the blower and coupling the applicator tip with the applicator base.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of disposing of at least a portion of the applicator comprises disposing of the applicator tip.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the animal comprises a human, wherein the treatment site is on the scalp of the human, and wherein the method further comprises repeating the delivering and moving steps until the entire scalp of the human has been part of at least one treatment site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator lacks a comb-like structure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the applicator comprises a plurality of elongated fingers, and wherein at least a subset of the plurality of elongated fingers comprise ports for delivering airflow.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the ports open toward substantially the same direction such that the applicator tip delivers substantially all of the airflow to a single side of the applicator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the treatment site overlaps with at least a portion of the second treatment site.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the heated airflow is delivered through the applicator to each of the treatment sites for at least thirty seconds.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the applicator is configured to deter a user from using at least a portion of the applicator for more than one treatment session.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the applicator is also part of the second applicator.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the heated airflow source is configured to deliver a high-volume heated airflow.

13. A method for treating a human patient having a lice infestation to substantially eliminate both lice and lice eggs from the patient, the method comprising:

obtaining an applicator, wherein the applicator is configured for delivering airflow to a treatment site on the scalp of the patient;

connecting the applicator to a blower;

contacting the scalp of the patient with the applicator at the treatment site;

delivering a heated airflow through multiple openings in at least a portion of the applicator to the treatment site to substantially eliminate the lice and lice eggs from the treatment site, wherein the airflow is delivered laterally of the applicator such that the treatment site extends from the applicator to only one side of the applicator;

moving the applicator to a second treatment site;

contacting the scalp of the patient with the applicator at the second treatment site;

delivering a heated airflow through the applicator to the second treatment site to substantially eliminate the lice and lice eggs from the second treatment site, wherein the airflow is delivered substantially laterally of the applicator such that the second treatment site extends from the applicator to substantially only one side of the applicator;

repeating the delivering and moving steps until substantially all lice and lice eggs have been eliminated from the patient.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of connecting the applicator to a blower comprises connecting the applicator to a hose of the blower.

15. An applicator for delivering an airflow to treat an animal having a lice infestation to substantially eliminate both lice and lice eggs from the animal, the applicator comprising:

an applicator base configured to be coupled with a blower;

an applicator tip connected with the applicator base; and

a plurality of elongated fingers on the applicator tip, wherein at least a subset of the fingers comprise ports for delivering an airflow, wherein substantially all of the ports open on the same side of the fingers such that the applicator tip delivers substantially all of the airflow laterally of the applicator on only a delivery side of the applicator.

16. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the applicator tip is configured to be removed from the applicator base.

17. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the applicator comprises at least one of tabs, hinges, snap rings, detents, clasps, or tongue-and-groove elements to detachably couple the applicator tip with the applicator base.

18. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the applicator tip is disposable.

19. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the applicator is configured to deter a user from using the applicator tip more than once.

20. The applicator of claim 19, wherein the applicator is configured to provide for at least one of thermal failure and mechanical failure in at least one component of the applicator after one or more treatment sessions.

21. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the applicator is configured to provide an indication that the applicator tip has already been used in one or more treatment sessions.

22. The applicator of claim 21, wherein at least a portion of the applicator tip is configured to change colors after being used in one or more treatment sessions.

23. The applicator of claim 16, further comprising a tab and a corresponding tab recess, wherein the tab is configured to be received in the tab recess to couple the applicator tip to the applicator base.

24. The applicator of claim 23, wherein the tab is positioned on the applicator tip and the tab recess is positioned on the applicator base.

25. The applicator of claim 23, wherein the tab is configured to snap-fit within the tab recess.

26. The applicator of claim 15, wherein each of the elongated fingers have a conical shape.

27. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the applicator base comprises a cylindrical opening configured to be coupled to a hose of a blower.

28. The applicator of claim 27, wherein the cylindrical opening is configured to allow the applicator to be rotated on the hose.

29. The applicator of claim 15, wherein a cross-section of the applicator tip comprises four sides, wherein one of the four sides comprises the delivery side, and wherein the ports are configured such that airflow is substantially directed towards only the delivery side of the four sides.

30. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the elongated fingers comprise tips, and wherein the tips of the elongated fingers are substantially solid.

31. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the ports are configured such that, during use, when the elongated fingers are positioned in contact with the skin of an animal, a substantial portion of the airflow is directed at an angle towards the skin.

32. The applicator of claim 15, wherein at least a subset of the elongated fingers comprise ports that are angled inwardly towards one another.

33. The applicator of claim 32, wherein each of the elongated fingers positioned along two opposing sides of the applicator tip are angled inwardly towards one another.

34. The applicator of claim 15, wherein the outward extent of the elongated fingers cumulatively define an imaginary surface which is substantially concave along at least one cross-sectional plane through the imaginary surface.