CA2169661A1 - Wetting process - Google Patents
Wetting processInfo
- Publication number
- CA2169661A1 CA2169661A1 CA002169661A CA2169661A CA2169661A1 CA 2169661 A1 CA2169661 A1 CA 2169661A1 CA 002169661 A CA002169661 A CA 002169661A CA 2169661 A CA2169661 A CA 2169661A CA 2169661 A1 CA2169661 A1 CA 2169661A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- covering
- container unit
- containers
- recesses
- container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61M—DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY; DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY; DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR
- A61M35/00—Devices for applying media, e.g. remedies, on the human body
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B10/00—Instruments for taking body samples for diagnostic purposes; Other methods or instruments for diagnosis, e.g. for vaccination diagnosis, sex determination or ovulation-period determination; Throat striking implements
- A61B10/0035—Vaccination diagnosis other than by injuring the skin, e.g. allergy test patches
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
- G01N33/26—Oils; Viscous liquids; Paints; Inks
- G01N33/32—Paints; Inks
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Heart & Thoracic Surgery (AREA)
- Biomedical Technology (AREA)
- Pathology (AREA)
- Anesthesiology (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Hematology (AREA)
- Food Science & Technology (AREA)
- Medical Informatics (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Biochemistry (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Immunology (AREA)
- Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
- Molecular Biology (AREA)
- Surgery (AREA)
- Media Introduction/Drainage Providing Device (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
Abstract
The invention concerns a process and an apparatus which is particularly suitable for carrying out the process for identifying a surface in partial regions, damaging it and wetting it with a liquid.
In order to provide such a process or an apparatus for carrying out a process for partially identifying and applying various substances to a surface, in particular with allergens, the following process steps are proposed: fixing a covering provided with openings as working areas, opening the containers of a container unit on one side of the container unit, damaging the surface with the covering applied, applying a container unit to the covering, wherein in the container unit containers with all required substances are arranged in matching positions with respect to the openings through the covering, and opening the containers of the container unit.
In order to provide such a process or an apparatus for carrying out a process for partially identifying and applying various substances to a surface, in particular with allergens, the following process steps are proposed: fixing a covering provided with openings as working areas, opening the containers of a container unit on one side of the container unit, damaging the surface with the covering applied, applying a container unit to the covering, wherein in the container unit containers with all required substances are arranged in matching positions with respect to the openings through the covering, and opening the containers of the container unit.
Description
~ ~ 21 69661 Wetting process D~S~Kl~llON
The invention concerns a process and an apparatus which is particl]l~rly suitable for carrying out the process, for identifying a surface in partial regions thereof, ~m~ging it, and wetting it with a liquid. This procedure is used for ex~Trle when testing paint surfaces in regard to the resistance thereof to certain reagents, and in a big way in connection with allergy tests on patients, wherein the skin of the patient has to be damaged by scratching or pricking and has to be subjected to the action of an allergen in order to test the action of the allergen on the patient. As that is effected in parallel for a multiplicity of allergens, many individual regions of the skin, for example along the forearm of a patient, have to be treated in that way.
Hereinafter the process according to the invention and the associated apparatus are described in relation to use thereof in connection with allergy tests so that instead of the surface to be treated, reference is directly made to the skin of the patient, etc, which however does not limit the area of use of the invention to such allergy tests or indeed to the surface of the skin of patients.
In connection with allergy tests of that kind, the hitherto usual practice provides that the skin of the patient, for example along the forearm, is divided by means of a marker pen into a multiplicity of areas which are numbered by hand to distinguish them, the corresponding surface of the skin is disposed horizontally, using an assol~,~nt box which contains individual d~ el bottles for the allergens, the individual bottles are removed therefrom and a drop of the appropriate liquid is applied to the marked areas of the skin of the patient.
In that situation the numbering of the area must coincide with the numbering which is also present on the allergen bottles, as otherwise the test result would be wrongly interpreted.
It is also nec~ss~ry to take care that the 1 ;~l;~s of the individual areas do not run into each other and then - after all allergens have been ~pl;e~ to the surface of the skin - the surface of the skin of the patient is briefly pricked with a needle or the like, through each individual drop of liquid. The needle etc must be carefillly ~le~ne~ between the individual pricks, in order not to mix the liquid allergens used, with each other.
The individual allergens must then be able to act on the damaged surface of the skin for a sufficient period of time in order then to be able to positively or negatively ascertain r~n;ng of the skin in that region, which permits the doctor to arrive at a conclusion about lS an overreaction on the part of the patient to certain substances.
Besides the large amount of time that this method involves, it has four further disadvantages, in particular a plurality of posslhle sources of error in regard to carrying out the test for ~ATrle due to the liquids running, mixing of the allergens when the skin is pricked, inadequate damage to the skin, and incorrect association of the allergen numhering with the bottle numbering.
A further disadvantage is that the allergens are stored in bottles which contain the amount for a multiplicity of allergen tests, but which on the other hand can only be kept for a limited amount of time.
For that reason a doctor will only have such an allergy test av~ hle if he can reckon on a certain minimum level of turnover in terms of persons to be tested. _ US No 5 104 620 ~;scloses an allergy testing apparatus having an li~
S upper layer in which there are provided openings which accommcdate press buttons, at the underside of each of which is arranged a needle.
While maintaining a certain spacing, arranged below the upper layer is a ~ ne layer in which are provided chambers which acc..~ ate an antigen. The chambers are closed by means of a removable protective layer. As in that previously known apparatus the upper layer and the AMENDED PAOE
The invention concerns a process and an apparatus which is particl]l~rly suitable for carrying out the process, for identifying a surface in partial regions thereof, ~m~ging it, and wetting it with a liquid. This procedure is used for ex~Trle when testing paint surfaces in regard to the resistance thereof to certain reagents, and in a big way in connection with allergy tests on patients, wherein the skin of the patient has to be damaged by scratching or pricking and has to be subjected to the action of an allergen in order to test the action of the allergen on the patient. As that is effected in parallel for a multiplicity of allergens, many individual regions of the skin, for example along the forearm of a patient, have to be treated in that way.
Hereinafter the process according to the invention and the associated apparatus are described in relation to use thereof in connection with allergy tests so that instead of the surface to be treated, reference is directly made to the skin of the patient, etc, which however does not limit the area of use of the invention to such allergy tests or indeed to the surface of the skin of patients.
In connection with allergy tests of that kind, the hitherto usual practice provides that the skin of the patient, for example along the forearm, is divided by means of a marker pen into a multiplicity of areas which are numbered by hand to distinguish them, the corresponding surface of the skin is disposed horizontally, using an assol~,~nt box which contains individual d~ el bottles for the allergens, the individual bottles are removed therefrom and a drop of the appropriate liquid is applied to the marked areas of the skin of the patient.
In that situation the numbering of the area must coincide with the numbering which is also present on the allergen bottles, as otherwise the test result would be wrongly interpreted.
It is also nec~ss~ry to take care that the 1 ;~l;~s of the individual areas do not run into each other and then - after all allergens have been ~pl;e~ to the surface of the skin - the surface of the skin of the patient is briefly pricked with a needle or the like, through each individual drop of liquid. The needle etc must be carefillly ~le~ne~ between the individual pricks, in order not to mix the liquid allergens used, with each other.
The individual allergens must then be able to act on the damaged surface of the skin for a sufficient period of time in order then to be able to positively or negatively ascertain r~n;ng of the skin in that region, which permits the doctor to arrive at a conclusion about lS an overreaction on the part of the patient to certain substances.
Besides the large amount of time that this method involves, it has four further disadvantages, in particular a plurality of posslhle sources of error in regard to carrying out the test for ~ATrle due to the liquids running, mixing of the allergens when the skin is pricked, inadequate damage to the skin, and incorrect association of the allergen numhering with the bottle numbering.
A further disadvantage is that the allergens are stored in bottles which contain the amount for a multiplicity of allergen tests, but which on the other hand can only be kept for a limited amount of time.
For that reason a doctor will only have such an allergy test av~ hle if he can reckon on a certain minimum level of turnover in terms of persons to be tested. _ US No 5 104 620 ~;scloses an allergy testing apparatus having an li~
S upper layer in which there are provided openings which accommcdate press buttons, at the underside of each of which is arranged a needle.
While maintaining a certain spacing, arranged below the upper layer is a ~ ne layer in which are provided chambers which acc..~ ate an antigen. The chambers are closed by means of a removable protective layer. As in that previously known apparatus the upper layer and the AMENDED PAOE
2 1 6966~
~ dne layer together fonm a part, that gives a ccmpa~atively high ; level of flexural stiffness which has a detriméntai erfect on h~n~ g at the curved surface of the skin of a patient.
EP-A-0 081 975 discloses an allergy testing apparatus comprising a flexible adhesive strip which at its adhesive side has at least one needle which penetrates into the skin and which carries an allergen.To use that apparatus, a layer which protects the adhesive side of the adhesive strip and the needle is pulled off and thereupon the adhesive strip is stuck on to the desired surface of the skin of the patient. In that situation it may happen that the adhesive strip sticks to itself because of its excessively low level of flexural st;ffn~ss and h~n~ g thereof is thus made more difficult.
Furthermore W0-A-88 09 149 discloses a medical testing apparatus comprising a covering which comes into contact with the surface of the skin, with openings arranged in parallel rows side-by-side, and a container unit. The container unit has a plurality of containers which are open towards the same side and which correspond to the openings and in which the allergens are disposed. The covering and the container unit are connected together by means of an adhesive so that this apparatus is always used in a layered condition. The result of this is that here the flexural stiffness of the apparatus is relatively high so that ~rpl;cation of the apparatus to curved surfaces is possible only by tolerating wcrse isolation of the individual test locations from each other. Furthenmore, with that apparatus it is also not possible for the individual skin testing 1~ ations to be visually monitored and treated and prepared separately individually from each other.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for identifying and wetting a surface, with which the test locations on ~he surface are individually visible and treatable, the apparatus has a flexural st; ffn~s which simplifies handling thereof so that adhesion to the curved surface is as durable as possible, and the probability of error when using the process or the apparatus is as low as possible.
That object is attained by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embcdiments are set forth in the appendant claims.
AMENDED PAGE
21 6~66 1 .
In that case division of the regions of the surface and identification thereof is not effected directly on the skin but by applying a covering which has a series of openings therethrough, for example arranged in two parallel rows in side-by-side relationship, and which are each numbered directly on the covering.
The covering can be fixed on the skin of the patient either by means of hook-and-loop bands which are passed around the forearm, or by means of adhesion to the skin. That is possible either by means of known A~hes;ves, as are also used in relation to adhesive plasters etc, which however involves the risk that the patient may precisely 2S have an allergic reaction to that adhesive, so that the test result is falsified as a result. Another poss;b;l;ty is that at least the side of the covering which is towards the skin is made from a plastic material which is adhesive-free but nonetheless self-adhesive and the adhesion of which is based exclusively on the high degree of flexibility of the plastic material and close contact thereof against the skin.
Plastic materials of that kind are known per se but are very difficult in terms of handling thereof without a support and carrier foil as their very high level of flexibility and adhesion to surfaces very easily results in them sticking to themselves.
However, a self-adhesive foil of that kind could be applied to the actual cover itself by means of glu~;ng, and in that case would not necessarily have to embrace the entire surface of the covering, but the annular region around the individual openings would already be sufficient.
Before use a self-adhesive foil of that kind would have to be protected from contact with other surfaces by a protective foil laid thereover and would possibly also have to be ~pplie~ to the skin of the patient separately, without being previously joined to the covering, in order to protect the skin of the patient from the effect of adhesives, by means of which the covering is to be held in place.
~ dne layer together fonm a part, that gives a ccmpa~atively high ; level of flexural stiffness which has a detriméntai erfect on h~n~ g at the curved surface of the skin of a patient.
EP-A-0 081 975 discloses an allergy testing apparatus comprising a flexible adhesive strip which at its adhesive side has at least one needle which penetrates into the skin and which carries an allergen.To use that apparatus, a layer which protects the adhesive side of the adhesive strip and the needle is pulled off and thereupon the adhesive strip is stuck on to the desired surface of the skin of the patient. In that situation it may happen that the adhesive strip sticks to itself because of its excessively low level of flexural st;ffn~ss and h~n~ g thereof is thus made more difficult.
Furthermore W0-A-88 09 149 discloses a medical testing apparatus comprising a covering which comes into contact with the surface of the skin, with openings arranged in parallel rows side-by-side, and a container unit. The container unit has a plurality of containers which are open towards the same side and which correspond to the openings and in which the allergens are disposed. The covering and the container unit are connected together by means of an adhesive so that this apparatus is always used in a layered condition. The result of this is that here the flexural stiffness of the apparatus is relatively high so that ~rpl;cation of the apparatus to curved surfaces is possible only by tolerating wcrse isolation of the individual test locations from each other. Furthenmore, with that apparatus it is also not possible for the individual skin testing 1~ ations to be visually monitored and treated and prepared separately individually from each other.
Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a process and an apparatus for identifying and wetting a surface, with which the test locations on ~he surface are individually visible and treatable, the apparatus has a flexural st; ffn~s which simplifies handling thereof so that adhesion to the curved surface is as durable as possible, and the probability of error when using the process or the apparatus is as low as possible.
That object is attained by the characterizing features of claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embcdiments are set forth in the appendant claims.
AMENDED PAGE
21 6~66 1 .
In that case division of the regions of the surface and identification thereof is not effected directly on the skin but by applying a covering which has a series of openings therethrough, for example arranged in two parallel rows in side-by-side relationship, and which are each numbered directly on the covering.
The covering can be fixed on the skin of the patient either by means of hook-and-loop bands which are passed around the forearm, or by means of adhesion to the skin. That is possible either by means of known A~hes;ves, as are also used in relation to adhesive plasters etc, which however involves the risk that the patient may precisely 2S have an allergic reaction to that adhesive, so that the test result is falsified as a result. Another poss;b;l;ty is that at least the side of the covering which is towards the skin is made from a plastic material which is adhesive-free but nonetheless self-adhesive and the adhesion of which is based exclusively on the high degree of flexibility of the plastic material and close contact thereof against the skin.
Plastic materials of that kind are known per se but are very difficult in terms of handling thereof without a support and carrier foil as their very high level of flexibility and adhesion to surfaces very easily results in them sticking to themselves.
However, a self-adhesive foil of that kind could be applied to the actual cover itself by means of glu~;ng, and in that case would not necessarily have to embrace the entire surface of the covering, but the annular region around the individual openings would already be sufficient.
Before use a self-adhesive foil of that kind would have to be protected from contact with other surfaces by a protective foil laid thereover and would possibly also have to be ~pplie~ to the skin of the patient separately, without being previously joined to the covering, in order to protect the skin of the patient from the effect of adhesives, by means of which the covering is to be held in place.
3 ~
After the covering has been fixed in position the surface of the skin can be damaged by a procedure whereby scratching is effected using a needle or another pointed object along the rows of open;~g~
which then serve as working areas, in which case the skin is protected S fram unnecessary scratching between the individual working areas by -- the covering. For that reason the covering must comprise a sllffici~ntly scratch-resistant or strong and elastic stable plastic material. The fixing of the covering must also gua~ ee a sl~ffic;~ntly firm connection to the skin, so that no shifting of the covering can occur due to the scratching operation.
After the surface of the skin has been subdivided, identified and damaged, the allergens are not individually trickled on to the w~rking areas, but a container unit is applied directly to the covering, in which container unit are disposed containers which are open at one side, with the solid or liquid allergens therein, in an arrangement such that they align with the openings through the covering, that is to say the working areas. As, in that procedure, the region of the skin being treated will generally be disposed approximately horizontally, for greater ease of handling, the container unit has to be turned upside down upon being ~plied to the covering so that the liquid allergens may not be present in recesses which are open at one side in the container, as otherwise they would run out when the container unit is turned over, became mixed up, and similar undesirable effects would occur.
Therefore the individual containers of the container unit are still closed when the container unit is turned over and put on to the covering, and they are opened only after the container unit has been - applied and thus without being lifted off again relative to the working areas. In this case the allergen may be present as a liquid within the container. The opening operation can be effected for example by piercing the applied container unit fram the rear side.
That is possible by means of a wounding unit, that is to say a kind of pincu~hion which in the region of each working area has a needle or a pointed object, and which after the container unit has been applied to the covering is separately ~plied to the rear side of the container unit and pressed thereagainst.
AMENDED PA OE
_ In that case the needles can also be arranged on the bottom of each recess so that the needles which are wetted with the active substance are pressed into the surface by a pressure applied to the rear side of the individual containers of the container unit, for example by means of a stable pressure plate. In that case the needles may also be in the form of points or tips which are dry inoculated with allergens, so that a foil is no longer required on the container unit.
It is also possible to use as the container unit a so-called hollow-chamber foil comprising two foils which are disposed in parallel and which are welded together in a network-like manner so that hollow spaces or cavities which are closed off relative to each other are formed therebetween. The foils used in that case are relatively thin and flexible so that, before the two foils are glued together, one of the foils could be fitted into a shaped substrate with suitable recesses and theindividual liquid allergens could be introduced into the recesses.
Likewise a closed capsule which contains the respective active substance, preferably in liquid form, can be fitted into each recess in a container unit provided with recesses.
Another detail configuration provides that the pincushion, that is to say the wounding unit, is firstly moved towards the container unit from the open side of the containers, to such an extent that wetting of the points or tips by the active substances in the containers occurs, and then the wounding unit is pressed into the surface. In that case, a covering provided with openings therethrough may possibly be entirely eliminated. The operating step of wetting the points or tips may also be omitted in that respect if the wounding unit which contains the points or tips in recesses is covered with a container foil, in the containers of which are arranged small sponge portions which are saturated with active substance and into which the points or tips already project in the packaged condition. After the container foil has been removed from the wounding unit the latter can then be applied directly to the surface. Finally, if there is also a wish to save the step of separating the container foil and the wounding unit, it is possible -for both components to be laid as one AMENDED PAGE
2~696~1 piece on to the surface and for the points or tips to be pressed into the surface from the side of the wounding unit which is remote from the surface, by means of a pressing plate, through the small sponge portions in the container foil.
When such a procedure is adopted, there is a very great degree of liberty in terms of the design configuration of the container unit.
For example, it w~uld then be possi hl e to use as the container unit a so-called hollow-chamber foil comprising two foils which are disposed in parallel and which are welded together in a network-like manner so -- s ,q AMENDED PA OE
that hollow spaces or cavities which are closed off relative to each other are formed therebetween. The foils used in that case are relatively thin and flexible so that, before the two foils are glued together, one of the foils could be fitted into a shaped substrate S with suitable recesses and the individual liguid allergens could be introduced into the recesses.
Likewise, a closed capsule which contains the respective active substance, preferably in liquid form, can be fitted into each recess in a container unit provided with recesses. The capsule is held in the recess by a spot of adhesive present in the recess, or by an undercut conf;~lration in the recess, that is to say a neck of reduced width.
The use of individual capsules of that kind means that the container unit can be individually equipped therewith before use thereof.
Another solution in regard to this operational procedure is that the nee~les or points for opening the containers when already fitted in position are already disposed within the containers, that is to say for example on the bottoms of the individual containers. In that case however the points or tips will have to be so short that in the nonmal condition they do not pierce the covering support foil, but that is possible only after the ~pl;~ container has been pressed against, from the rear side.
Besides mechanically strong points or tips such as metal points or tips etc the points or tips used may also be hard fibers or bundles of fibers such as for ~x~rle glass fibers or hard pointed plastic fibers as active substance carriers, in which respect in particular fiber blln~l~s are suitable for handling dry active substances which can be satisfactorily ~pl'f~ to the relatively large surface of the fiber bundle tips.
For that purpose the material making up the container unit itself and in particular the containers which are fonmed therein as recesses must also be sufficiently stable so that it does not already suffer defo~ ion upon light contact being made, to such an extent that the fitted point or tip pierces the cover foil which is disposed 35 thereover, so that the container ~ rely loses sealing integrity.
2~ 6966 1 "
The other plucedure provides that the allergens are not intrcduced into the containers as loose liquids, but that they are disposed therein in such a way that, after the top side of the containershas been opened, for ~x~mrle by pulling off a continuous protective foil, the containers can be tipped upside down on to the covering without the allergens undesirably ~cc~r;ng.
That is psss-hle insofar as disposed within each container is a fleece or another sponge-like fabric in which the liquid allergens are absorbed, more specifically in such an amount that the allergens do not yet drip out of same when the container is simply turned upside dcwn, but when the ~rpl;e~ containers are pressed against frcm the rear side, the liquid is pressed out towards the surface of the skin to which it is to be ~pl-e~, and that surface is then moistened.
Another poss;h-l~ty is that the allergens are not acc~mr~ted in the containers in the form of liquid but in the form of a gel which is sufficiently pasty for it not to drip out when the container is turned over. In this case also the gel is brought into contact with the surface of the skin by pressure ~pl;~ to the rear side of the ~rPl;e~ container or the entire container unit. A further advantage of this solution is that a gel, in contrast to a liquid, has a lesser degree of capillary action or no such action at all, and thus it cannot run under the covering from one working area to another by virtue of sufficient adhesion between the covering and the surface of the skin, and it is therefore also poss-hle to forego a~ liate count~nTe~fiures when designing the covering.
The pressure applied to the rear side of the fitted container unit is produced by pressing thereon by means of a suitable object, for example a plate, or by rolling over same with a rubber roller or a s;m;lAr object. If pressure is to be ~rpl;~fl over a prslonge~ period of time, that can also be effected by means of the blood pressure sleeve which any doctor has, or a tightly fitted bandage consisting of hook-and-loop band etc.
.
In regard to the design confi~lration and the posit;~n;~g of the open;ngs as working areas in the cavering on the one hand and the containers in the container unit on the other hand, care is to be taken to ensure not only that the openings and the containers are 5 Al;g~d when the containers are A~pl;e~' but in particlllAr that either by virtue of the design cs~f;~lration of the external contour of the covering and the container unit, incoll~cL Ar~l;cAtion of the container unit is immediately apparent or such incorrect fitting of the container unit is prevented by virtue of the fact that the covering remains joined to the container unit.
Thus the container unit and the covering may be produced in one piece by means of a pivotable connection which is in the form of a hinge and, after the covering has been A~p~ and fixed in position, and a protective foil has been removed from the side of the container unit in which the open side of the individual containers lies, the container unit is pivoted on to the covering and is also fixed there before pressure is Arpl;e~ thereto, to prevent it fram moving.
The fixing operation can be effected by partial glueing to the covering, or by separate fixing by means of a strip of loop-and-hook band material around the arm of the patient.
When using liquid allergens which are Acc~mn~Ated in a fleece or sponge portion in the individual containers, if the period of action is increased it is also possible entirely to omit the step of applying pressure to the container unit if the arm of the patient is held ~ ximately horizontal. For, when that procedure is adopted, the liquid allergen will trickle dawnwardly through the fleece or sponge portion, just by virtue of the force of gravity acting thereon, and after a certain period of time the underside of the sponge portion will also be moist. If that sponge portion is of such a size or is so fitted that, when the protective foil is removed, that is to say without a counter-pressure acting thereon, it projects out of the top side of the recess which serves as a holding means, then that fleece _.
or sponge portion will be in contact with the surface of the skin when the container unit is correctly applied, and thus contact between the liquid and the scratched surface of the skin will also occur without the application of pressure after about between 10 and 30 secon~.
Introducing such sponge portions or fleece portions into the containers, that is to say preferably into recesses in the container unit, is intended reliably to prevent them from subsequently f?l~ing out. As it is undesirable for adhesive to be used to stick them in position because of possible falsifications of the allergy tests, the material used for the containers is preferably a plastic material which can show incipient dissolution by a solvent while the material used for the fleece or sponge portion is a material which is not ~Am~g~ by the same solvent. In that way, when inserting the sponge portions or fleece portions, it is poss;hl e for them to be saturated with the solvent in question, in such an amount and in such a concentration that, after they have been inserted, the contacted regions within the recesses undergo initial dissolution at the surface by the solvent, but are not pierced through.
Because of the volatility of the solvents, for ~x~nrle the easy volatility of acetone, that incipient surface dissolution effect will quickly result in solidification again, in which case the regions of the sponge portions which during that operation were pressed against the walls of the recesses are there near the surface slightly so-to-speak cast into the container surface and are positively lockingly attached thereto.
The fleece portions ho~ever may also be m~h~n;c~lly held in the recesses, insofar as the recesses have a correspondingly undercut configuration, that is to say a neck-like consL~iction in the vicinity of their open side. If that constriction is produced before insertion of the fleece, the fleece must be at least partially pressed through that constriction, in order to be able to expand behind same and to ensure an adequate mech~n;~Al retention effect.
21 6966~
-Likewise however the consLliction may also be produced only after insertion of the fleece, insofar as in the region of the side walls of the recesses, that is to say the subsequent neck configuration, the plastic material has shrink ~L~eL Lies or is S covered with a foil having the corresponding shrink properties.
Heating of those side walls causes shrinkage of the neck whereby the fleece is held in the recess.
If, after the active substances have been applied to the surface, the covering -for ~xAnrle for allergy reasons - should no longer lie on the surface or if such a cover is to be completely amitted, it is possible to apply an identification, for example in the form of numbering, automatically to the surface in the vicinity of each working area:
For that purpose the part which is to be Arp~ to the surface, that is to say either the container unit or the wounding unit, is provided with a transferable identification, that is to say either an identification by means of transferable ink or dye which has good adhesion on the desire~ surface, or a transfering identification foil similarly to a transfer picture. The adhesion with respect to the surface in that case must be so adjusted that the identification is at least partially and thus perceptibly transferred on to the surface by simply pressing the corresponding unit against the surface.
Individual ~nho~;ments in accordance with the invention are described in greater detail by way of ~XAm~l e hereinafter with reference to the Figures in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete apparatus, Figure 2a is a detail view of an alternative ~nhc~iment with refere~ce to only one container in the unused condition (packaged condition), Figure 2b is a detail view COL1~ n~;ng to Figure 2a in the opened condition when pulling off the protective foil, Figure 2c is a detail view coLLe~ollding to Figure 2a in the condition of being Arpli~d to the surface, when pressing on the nee~le~ by means of a pressing plate, Figure 3 shows an apparatus which is e~p~r~e~ in comparison with Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a container unit with a hollow foil, ~ igure 5a shows a container filled with a fleece, in the packaged condition, and Figure Sb shows a container filled with a fleece, with the protective foil pulled off.
Figure 1 shows a complete apparatus comprisinga o~ing 2 and a container unit 5 which are adapted to be pivotable relative to each other at their narrow side, namely the edge 12, by material which is thinner there, acting as a hinge 23. In that respectthe ooh3ing 2 and the container unit 5 are of identical external contours 13, 13' and lie in ~l;gnment one upon the other when they are pivoted together.
The covering is fixed on the surface 1 of the skin which is ~;~pOSf~ therebeneath, by means of the adhesive 21, or by means of two hook-and-loop bands 20 which are wound around the forearm or the colle~olding part of the body of the patient and which are fixedly connected to the covering 2 and of which one is shown in Figure 1 only at the front left corner of the covering 2.
Figure 1 also shows the scratching 22 which has been produced over the openings 3 serving as working areas 4, by means of a needle point or a pointed object, and thus leaves a scratch on the one hand on the parts of the skin which are within the working areas 4, and also on the covering between the openings 3. The advantage lies in the fact that the scratch can be produced quickly and efficiently, with only one respective quick scratching having to be effected for each row 7 of openings 3.
~ eside each op~n;ng 3 Figure 1 also shows the non-removable numbering 19, by means of which the ~so~;~ted allergen can be est~hl;~ed, in accordance with observation of the reddening effect produoed.
2 1 6~66 1 In Figure 1 the container unit 5 frcm which the protective foil 10 has been previously removed in order to open the openings of the individual containers 6 on the side which is directed towards the covering 2 is in the course of being pivoted downwardly towards the covering 2. The container unit 5 is preferably fixed to the covering 2 by means of an adhesive strip 24 which is ~l~pose~ on the other side at the free end of the container unit 5. Pressure is then applied to the containers 6 fram the rear side thereof by rolling over same by means of a roller 32 (or by pressing against same by means of a pressing plate as shown in Figure 2c) in order to bring the content of the containers 6 into contact with the surface 1.
With reference to only one of the containers 6 of a container unit 5 Figures 2a through 2c show another configuration of the apparatus in detail:
In the packaged condition the covering 2 and the container unit 5 are also folded together in a parallel condition for them to be stored in a space-saving manner. The protective foil 10 covers the open sides of the cavities 11 of the container unit 5, which are formed by the containers 6. Disposed in the interior of each cavity 11 on the bottom of the cup-shaped container 6, that is to say at the inside of the top thereof in the position shown in Figures 2a through 2c, is a point 8 whose free end however is in that condition at a sufficient spacing from the protective foil 10.
Disposed on the side of the covering 2 which is the lower side in Figure 2a and around the openings 3 is a region extending therearound which - depending on the sensitivity of the patients -either consists of an adhesive 21 or a self-adhesive foil 26 and which is protected by a cover foil 9 in the packaged condition. After that cover foil 9 has been removed, the covering 2 can be ~pl;~ to the surface 1 to be treated, pressed thereagainst and thus fixed. After the protective foil 10 of the container unit 5 has been pulled off, as shown in Figure 2b, the container unit 5 is ~pl;e~ to the covering 2, -as shown in Figure 2c, and pressed against the surface 1 by means of a pressing plate 28 or in scme other way. In that way the needle 8 is pushed through the opening 3 of the covering 2 into the surface 1 of the skin and ~ gP~ same which at the same time cames into contact with the gel 25 which contains the allergen and which was acc~",~odated in the container 6.
Instead of a container 6 which is stable in respect of shape or an entire container unit 5 which is stable in respect of shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2a through 2c, it is also possible to use a relatively unstable hollow-~h~her foil 29 as the container unit 5, a shcwn in Figure 4. After the covering 2 has been fixed in position, the foil is also a~ yLiately applied to the cover m g 2 and is then pressed against the surface 1 by means of a pressing plate 28, in which case nee~lPs 8 in the positions COLLeS~On~ jng to the openings 3 are disposed on the underside of the pressing plate and pierce both foils of the hollow-chamber foil and the surface 1 of the skin. If the pressing plate 28 remains applied under pressure for a sufficiently long period of time, at least some secon~, the liquid 14 containing the allergens is thereby urged out through the opPn-ng produced in the lower foil of the hol1~ chamber foil 29 and will came into contact with the damaged surface 1.
An apparatus which is somewhat more expensive but which is very rPl 1 ~hl e and which is gentle in operation, as an expansion of the construction shown in Figure 1, is illustrated in Figure 3.
25In that case, hingedly fixed at the free end of the container unit 5 is an additional support foil 27 which is of the same dimensions and contours. In accordance with the parallel position of that support foil, disposed at the underside thereof at least around the regions which COLLe5k~nd to the area around the op~nings 3 in the covering 2 are self-adhesive foils 26 which surround the openings 3 and which cannot be handled on their own and which are firstly still covere~ over by a cover foil 9'. After those cover foils 9' have been pulled off and after the support foil 27 has been pressed on to the 2 1 69'66 1 skin, those self-adhesive foils 26 remain adhering on the skin, in relation to which they have a higher degree of ~h~s;on than in relation to the relatively smooth support foil 27. The support foil 27 is thereupon removed from the skin of the patient and brought into one plane with the covering, or separated therefram by being torn off by means of perforations at the connecting edge, and discarded. The container unit 5 is then a~pl;~ to the regions of the skin which are covered with self-adhesive foil 26 so that the adhesives 21 disposed on the underside of the covering 2 came to lie on the self-adhesive foils 26 which are on the skin, and glue the container unit 5 firmly in place there.
In that way the skin does not come directly into contact with the adhesive, but only with the self-adhesive foil 26 which does not contain either solvent or adhesive, and which therefore itself cannot trigger off any allergies and which also cannot falsify the test result, and which also does not cause any pain when being pulled off the surface of the skin. The ~Loced~re is then as described above.
Figures 5a and 5b show a detail view of the arr~ng~nt of a fleece 18 within the container 6 of a container unit 5, which can be in the form of a blister pack. The fleece 18 is fixed in a part;~ll~rly simple manner if the cavity 11 which serves as the container has an undercut configuration into which the fleece 18 can spread.
As however the production of such recesses is a difficult operation, it is also sufficient for the recesses of the containers 6 to be designed with approximately parallel walls which extend ~el~el~dicularly to the surface. The fleece 18 which is of a plate-like configuration in the unstressed condition and which is of a larger size than the base area of the container 6 can be fitted in a concavely curved configuration into such a container, whereby it will spread with its outside edges against the walls of the recess in the container 6. If upon being inserted the fleece 18 is saturated with acetone or another solvent and the plastic material of the container 6 .
can exhibit incipient dissolution by that solvent, a region 31 initially undergoes incip;~nt dissolution in the contact surfaces between the fleece 18 and the container 6 and is sol;~;fied again upon evaporation of the solvent, in which case during such solidification the regions which are pressed against each other by the inherent stress of the curved fleece 18 are bonded together and mechanically held fast.
In that respect it is important that the fleece 18 is of such large dimensions that it curves out of the container 6 without a counter-pressure, that is to say for example a protective foil 10 which is glued over same, thereby ensuring that when the container unit S is ~pl;e~ to the covering 2 the fleece 18 comes into contact with the skin by virtue of being introduced in a convexly curved configuration relative to the bottom of the container 6 and thus curving outwardly in the middle region.
After the covering has been fixed in position the surface of the skin can be damaged by a procedure whereby scratching is effected using a needle or another pointed object along the rows of open;~g~
which then serve as working areas, in which case the skin is protected S fram unnecessary scratching between the individual working areas by -- the covering. For that reason the covering must comprise a sllffici~ntly scratch-resistant or strong and elastic stable plastic material. The fixing of the covering must also gua~ ee a sl~ffic;~ntly firm connection to the skin, so that no shifting of the covering can occur due to the scratching operation.
After the surface of the skin has been subdivided, identified and damaged, the allergens are not individually trickled on to the w~rking areas, but a container unit is applied directly to the covering, in which container unit are disposed containers which are open at one side, with the solid or liquid allergens therein, in an arrangement such that they align with the openings through the covering, that is to say the working areas. As, in that procedure, the region of the skin being treated will generally be disposed approximately horizontally, for greater ease of handling, the container unit has to be turned upside down upon being ~plied to the covering so that the liquid allergens may not be present in recesses which are open at one side in the container, as otherwise they would run out when the container unit is turned over, became mixed up, and similar undesirable effects would occur.
Therefore the individual containers of the container unit are still closed when the container unit is turned over and put on to the covering, and they are opened only after the container unit has been - applied and thus without being lifted off again relative to the working areas. In this case the allergen may be present as a liquid within the container. The opening operation can be effected for example by piercing the applied container unit fram the rear side.
That is possible by means of a wounding unit, that is to say a kind of pincu~hion which in the region of each working area has a needle or a pointed object, and which after the container unit has been applied to the covering is separately ~plied to the rear side of the container unit and pressed thereagainst.
AMENDED PA OE
_ In that case the needles can also be arranged on the bottom of each recess so that the needles which are wetted with the active substance are pressed into the surface by a pressure applied to the rear side of the individual containers of the container unit, for example by means of a stable pressure plate. In that case the needles may also be in the form of points or tips which are dry inoculated with allergens, so that a foil is no longer required on the container unit.
It is also possible to use as the container unit a so-called hollow-chamber foil comprising two foils which are disposed in parallel and which are welded together in a network-like manner so that hollow spaces or cavities which are closed off relative to each other are formed therebetween. The foils used in that case are relatively thin and flexible so that, before the two foils are glued together, one of the foils could be fitted into a shaped substrate with suitable recesses and theindividual liquid allergens could be introduced into the recesses.
Likewise a closed capsule which contains the respective active substance, preferably in liquid form, can be fitted into each recess in a container unit provided with recesses.
Another detail configuration provides that the pincushion, that is to say the wounding unit, is firstly moved towards the container unit from the open side of the containers, to such an extent that wetting of the points or tips by the active substances in the containers occurs, and then the wounding unit is pressed into the surface. In that case, a covering provided with openings therethrough may possibly be entirely eliminated. The operating step of wetting the points or tips may also be omitted in that respect if the wounding unit which contains the points or tips in recesses is covered with a container foil, in the containers of which are arranged small sponge portions which are saturated with active substance and into which the points or tips already project in the packaged condition. After the container foil has been removed from the wounding unit the latter can then be applied directly to the surface. Finally, if there is also a wish to save the step of separating the container foil and the wounding unit, it is possible -for both components to be laid as one AMENDED PAGE
2~696~1 piece on to the surface and for the points or tips to be pressed into the surface from the side of the wounding unit which is remote from the surface, by means of a pressing plate, through the small sponge portions in the container foil.
When such a procedure is adopted, there is a very great degree of liberty in terms of the design configuration of the container unit.
For example, it w~uld then be possi hl e to use as the container unit a so-called hollow-chamber foil comprising two foils which are disposed in parallel and which are welded together in a network-like manner so -- s ,q AMENDED PA OE
that hollow spaces or cavities which are closed off relative to each other are formed therebetween. The foils used in that case are relatively thin and flexible so that, before the two foils are glued together, one of the foils could be fitted into a shaped substrate S with suitable recesses and the individual liguid allergens could be introduced into the recesses.
Likewise, a closed capsule which contains the respective active substance, preferably in liquid form, can be fitted into each recess in a container unit provided with recesses. The capsule is held in the recess by a spot of adhesive present in the recess, or by an undercut conf;~lration in the recess, that is to say a neck of reduced width.
The use of individual capsules of that kind means that the container unit can be individually equipped therewith before use thereof.
Another solution in regard to this operational procedure is that the nee~les or points for opening the containers when already fitted in position are already disposed within the containers, that is to say for example on the bottoms of the individual containers. In that case however the points or tips will have to be so short that in the nonmal condition they do not pierce the covering support foil, but that is possible only after the ~pl;~ container has been pressed against, from the rear side.
Besides mechanically strong points or tips such as metal points or tips etc the points or tips used may also be hard fibers or bundles of fibers such as for ~x~rle glass fibers or hard pointed plastic fibers as active substance carriers, in which respect in particular fiber blln~l~s are suitable for handling dry active substances which can be satisfactorily ~pl'f~ to the relatively large surface of the fiber bundle tips.
For that purpose the material making up the container unit itself and in particular the containers which are fonmed therein as recesses must also be sufficiently stable so that it does not already suffer defo~ ion upon light contact being made, to such an extent that the fitted point or tip pierces the cover foil which is disposed 35 thereover, so that the container ~ rely loses sealing integrity.
2~ 6966 1 "
The other plucedure provides that the allergens are not intrcduced into the containers as loose liquids, but that they are disposed therein in such a way that, after the top side of the containershas been opened, for ~x~mrle by pulling off a continuous protective foil, the containers can be tipped upside down on to the covering without the allergens undesirably ~cc~r;ng.
That is psss-hle insofar as disposed within each container is a fleece or another sponge-like fabric in which the liquid allergens are absorbed, more specifically in such an amount that the allergens do not yet drip out of same when the container is simply turned upside dcwn, but when the ~rpl;e~ containers are pressed against frcm the rear side, the liquid is pressed out towards the surface of the skin to which it is to be ~pl-e~, and that surface is then moistened.
Another poss;h-l~ty is that the allergens are not acc~mr~ted in the containers in the form of liquid but in the form of a gel which is sufficiently pasty for it not to drip out when the container is turned over. In this case also the gel is brought into contact with the surface of the skin by pressure ~pl;~ to the rear side of the ~rPl;e~ container or the entire container unit. A further advantage of this solution is that a gel, in contrast to a liquid, has a lesser degree of capillary action or no such action at all, and thus it cannot run under the covering from one working area to another by virtue of sufficient adhesion between the covering and the surface of the skin, and it is therefore also poss-hle to forego a~ liate count~nTe~fiures when designing the covering.
The pressure applied to the rear side of the fitted container unit is produced by pressing thereon by means of a suitable object, for example a plate, or by rolling over same with a rubber roller or a s;m;lAr object. If pressure is to be ~rpl;~fl over a prslonge~ period of time, that can also be effected by means of the blood pressure sleeve which any doctor has, or a tightly fitted bandage consisting of hook-and-loop band etc.
.
In regard to the design confi~lration and the posit;~n;~g of the open;ngs as working areas in the cavering on the one hand and the containers in the container unit on the other hand, care is to be taken to ensure not only that the openings and the containers are 5 Al;g~d when the containers are A~pl;e~' but in particlllAr that either by virtue of the design cs~f;~lration of the external contour of the covering and the container unit, incoll~cL Ar~l;cAtion of the container unit is immediately apparent or such incorrect fitting of the container unit is prevented by virtue of the fact that the covering remains joined to the container unit.
Thus the container unit and the covering may be produced in one piece by means of a pivotable connection which is in the form of a hinge and, after the covering has been A~p~ and fixed in position, and a protective foil has been removed from the side of the container unit in which the open side of the individual containers lies, the container unit is pivoted on to the covering and is also fixed there before pressure is Arpl;e~ thereto, to prevent it fram moving.
The fixing operation can be effected by partial glueing to the covering, or by separate fixing by means of a strip of loop-and-hook band material around the arm of the patient.
When using liquid allergens which are Acc~mn~Ated in a fleece or sponge portion in the individual containers, if the period of action is increased it is also possible entirely to omit the step of applying pressure to the container unit if the arm of the patient is held ~ ximately horizontal. For, when that procedure is adopted, the liquid allergen will trickle dawnwardly through the fleece or sponge portion, just by virtue of the force of gravity acting thereon, and after a certain period of time the underside of the sponge portion will also be moist. If that sponge portion is of such a size or is so fitted that, when the protective foil is removed, that is to say without a counter-pressure acting thereon, it projects out of the top side of the recess which serves as a holding means, then that fleece _.
or sponge portion will be in contact with the surface of the skin when the container unit is correctly applied, and thus contact between the liquid and the scratched surface of the skin will also occur without the application of pressure after about between 10 and 30 secon~.
Introducing such sponge portions or fleece portions into the containers, that is to say preferably into recesses in the container unit, is intended reliably to prevent them from subsequently f?l~ing out. As it is undesirable for adhesive to be used to stick them in position because of possible falsifications of the allergy tests, the material used for the containers is preferably a plastic material which can show incipient dissolution by a solvent while the material used for the fleece or sponge portion is a material which is not ~Am~g~ by the same solvent. In that way, when inserting the sponge portions or fleece portions, it is poss;hl e for them to be saturated with the solvent in question, in such an amount and in such a concentration that, after they have been inserted, the contacted regions within the recesses undergo initial dissolution at the surface by the solvent, but are not pierced through.
Because of the volatility of the solvents, for ~x~nrle the easy volatility of acetone, that incipient surface dissolution effect will quickly result in solidification again, in which case the regions of the sponge portions which during that operation were pressed against the walls of the recesses are there near the surface slightly so-to-speak cast into the container surface and are positively lockingly attached thereto.
The fleece portions ho~ever may also be m~h~n;c~lly held in the recesses, insofar as the recesses have a correspondingly undercut configuration, that is to say a neck-like consL~iction in the vicinity of their open side. If that constriction is produced before insertion of the fleece, the fleece must be at least partially pressed through that constriction, in order to be able to expand behind same and to ensure an adequate mech~n;~Al retention effect.
21 6966~
-Likewise however the consLliction may also be produced only after insertion of the fleece, insofar as in the region of the side walls of the recesses, that is to say the subsequent neck configuration, the plastic material has shrink ~L~eL Lies or is S covered with a foil having the corresponding shrink properties.
Heating of those side walls causes shrinkage of the neck whereby the fleece is held in the recess.
If, after the active substances have been applied to the surface, the covering -for ~xAnrle for allergy reasons - should no longer lie on the surface or if such a cover is to be completely amitted, it is possible to apply an identification, for example in the form of numbering, automatically to the surface in the vicinity of each working area:
For that purpose the part which is to be Arp~ to the surface, that is to say either the container unit or the wounding unit, is provided with a transferable identification, that is to say either an identification by means of transferable ink or dye which has good adhesion on the desire~ surface, or a transfering identification foil similarly to a transfer picture. The adhesion with respect to the surface in that case must be so adjusted that the identification is at least partially and thus perceptibly transferred on to the surface by simply pressing the corresponding unit against the surface.
Individual ~nho~;ments in accordance with the invention are described in greater detail by way of ~XAm~l e hereinafter with reference to the Figures in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete apparatus, Figure 2a is a detail view of an alternative ~nhc~iment with refere~ce to only one container in the unused condition (packaged condition), Figure 2b is a detail view COL1~ n~;ng to Figure 2a in the opened condition when pulling off the protective foil, Figure 2c is a detail view coLLe~ollding to Figure 2a in the condition of being Arpli~d to the surface, when pressing on the nee~le~ by means of a pressing plate, Figure 3 shows an apparatus which is e~p~r~e~ in comparison with Figure 1, Figure 4 shows a container unit with a hollow foil, ~ igure 5a shows a container filled with a fleece, in the packaged condition, and Figure Sb shows a container filled with a fleece, with the protective foil pulled off.
Figure 1 shows a complete apparatus comprisinga o~ing 2 and a container unit 5 which are adapted to be pivotable relative to each other at their narrow side, namely the edge 12, by material which is thinner there, acting as a hinge 23. In that respectthe ooh3ing 2 and the container unit 5 are of identical external contours 13, 13' and lie in ~l;gnment one upon the other when they are pivoted together.
The covering is fixed on the surface 1 of the skin which is ~;~pOSf~ therebeneath, by means of the adhesive 21, or by means of two hook-and-loop bands 20 which are wound around the forearm or the colle~olding part of the body of the patient and which are fixedly connected to the covering 2 and of which one is shown in Figure 1 only at the front left corner of the covering 2.
Figure 1 also shows the scratching 22 which has been produced over the openings 3 serving as working areas 4, by means of a needle point or a pointed object, and thus leaves a scratch on the one hand on the parts of the skin which are within the working areas 4, and also on the covering between the openings 3. The advantage lies in the fact that the scratch can be produced quickly and efficiently, with only one respective quick scratching having to be effected for each row 7 of openings 3.
~ eside each op~n;ng 3 Figure 1 also shows the non-removable numbering 19, by means of which the ~so~;~ted allergen can be est~hl;~ed, in accordance with observation of the reddening effect produoed.
2 1 6~66 1 In Figure 1 the container unit 5 frcm which the protective foil 10 has been previously removed in order to open the openings of the individual containers 6 on the side which is directed towards the covering 2 is in the course of being pivoted downwardly towards the covering 2. The container unit 5 is preferably fixed to the covering 2 by means of an adhesive strip 24 which is ~l~pose~ on the other side at the free end of the container unit 5. Pressure is then applied to the containers 6 fram the rear side thereof by rolling over same by means of a roller 32 (or by pressing against same by means of a pressing plate as shown in Figure 2c) in order to bring the content of the containers 6 into contact with the surface 1.
With reference to only one of the containers 6 of a container unit 5 Figures 2a through 2c show another configuration of the apparatus in detail:
In the packaged condition the covering 2 and the container unit 5 are also folded together in a parallel condition for them to be stored in a space-saving manner. The protective foil 10 covers the open sides of the cavities 11 of the container unit 5, which are formed by the containers 6. Disposed in the interior of each cavity 11 on the bottom of the cup-shaped container 6, that is to say at the inside of the top thereof in the position shown in Figures 2a through 2c, is a point 8 whose free end however is in that condition at a sufficient spacing from the protective foil 10.
Disposed on the side of the covering 2 which is the lower side in Figure 2a and around the openings 3 is a region extending therearound which - depending on the sensitivity of the patients -either consists of an adhesive 21 or a self-adhesive foil 26 and which is protected by a cover foil 9 in the packaged condition. After that cover foil 9 has been removed, the covering 2 can be ~pl;~ to the surface 1 to be treated, pressed thereagainst and thus fixed. After the protective foil 10 of the container unit 5 has been pulled off, as shown in Figure 2b, the container unit 5 is ~pl;e~ to the covering 2, -as shown in Figure 2c, and pressed against the surface 1 by means of a pressing plate 28 or in scme other way. In that way the needle 8 is pushed through the opening 3 of the covering 2 into the surface 1 of the skin and ~ gP~ same which at the same time cames into contact with the gel 25 which contains the allergen and which was acc~",~odated in the container 6.
Instead of a container 6 which is stable in respect of shape or an entire container unit 5 which is stable in respect of shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2a through 2c, it is also possible to use a relatively unstable hollow-~h~her foil 29 as the container unit 5, a shcwn in Figure 4. After the covering 2 has been fixed in position, the foil is also a~ yLiately applied to the cover m g 2 and is then pressed against the surface 1 by means of a pressing plate 28, in which case nee~lPs 8 in the positions COLLeS~On~ jng to the openings 3 are disposed on the underside of the pressing plate and pierce both foils of the hollow-chamber foil and the surface 1 of the skin. If the pressing plate 28 remains applied under pressure for a sufficiently long period of time, at least some secon~, the liquid 14 containing the allergens is thereby urged out through the opPn-ng produced in the lower foil of the hol1~ chamber foil 29 and will came into contact with the damaged surface 1.
An apparatus which is somewhat more expensive but which is very rPl 1 ~hl e and which is gentle in operation, as an expansion of the construction shown in Figure 1, is illustrated in Figure 3.
25In that case, hingedly fixed at the free end of the container unit 5 is an additional support foil 27 which is of the same dimensions and contours. In accordance with the parallel position of that support foil, disposed at the underside thereof at least around the regions which COLLe5k~nd to the area around the op~nings 3 in the covering 2 are self-adhesive foils 26 which surround the openings 3 and which cannot be handled on their own and which are firstly still covere~ over by a cover foil 9'. After those cover foils 9' have been pulled off and after the support foil 27 has been pressed on to the 2 1 69'66 1 skin, those self-adhesive foils 26 remain adhering on the skin, in relation to which they have a higher degree of ~h~s;on than in relation to the relatively smooth support foil 27. The support foil 27 is thereupon removed from the skin of the patient and brought into one plane with the covering, or separated therefram by being torn off by means of perforations at the connecting edge, and discarded. The container unit 5 is then a~pl;~ to the regions of the skin which are covered with self-adhesive foil 26 so that the adhesives 21 disposed on the underside of the covering 2 came to lie on the self-adhesive foils 26 which are on the skin, and glue the container unit 5 firmly in place there.
In that way the skin does not come directly into contact with the adhesive, but only with the self-adhesive foil 26 which does not contain either solvent or adhesive, and which therefore itself cannot trigger off any allergies and which also cannot falsify the test result, and which also does not cause any pain when being pulled off the surface of the skin. The ~Loced~re is then as described above.
Figures 5a and 5b show a detail view of the arr~ng~nt of a fleece 18 within the container 6 of a container unit 5, which can be in the form of a blister pack. The fleece 18 is fixed in a part;~ll~rly simple manner if the cavity 11 which serves as the container has an undercut configuration into which the fleece 18 can spread.
As however the production of such recesses is a difficult operation, it is also sufficient for the recesses of the containers 6 to be designed with approximately parallel walls which extend ~el~el~dicularly to the surface. The fleece 18 which is of a plate-like configuration in the unstressed condition and which is of a larger size than the base area of the container 6 can be fitted in a concavely curved configuration into such a container, whereby it will spread with its outside edges against the walls of the recess in the container 6. If upon being inserted the fleece 18 is saturated with acetone or another solvent and the plastic material of the container 6 .
can exhibit incipient dissolution by that solvent, a region 31 initially undergoes incip;~nt dissolution in the contact surfaces between the fleece 18 and the container 6 and is sol;~;fied again upon evaporation of the solvent, in which case during such solidification the regions which are pressed against each other by the inherent stress of the curved fleece 18 are bonded together and mechanically held fast.
In that respect it is important that the fleece 18 is of such large dimensions that it curves out of the container 6 without a counter-pressure, that is to say for example a protective foil 10 which is glued over same, thereby ensuring that when the container unit S is ~pl;e~ to the covering 2 the fleece 18 comes into contact with the skin by virtue of being introduced in a convexly curved configuration relative to the bottom of the container 6 and thus curving outwardly in the middle region.
Claims (28)
1. A process for identifying and applying various substances to a surface, in particular allergens, with the following process steps:
- fixing a covering (2) provided with openings (3) as working areas, on the surface, - opening the containers (6) of a container unit (5) on one side of the container unit (5), _ damaging the surface (1) before applying the container unit (5) when the covering (2) is applied, and - applying the container unit (5) to the covering (2) so that in the container unit (5) the containers (6) with all necessary active substances are in matching positions relative to the openings (3) through the covering (2).
- fixing a covering (2) provided with openings (3) as working areas, on the surface, - opening the containers (6) of a container unit (5) on one side of the container unit (5), _ damaging the surface (1) before applying the container unit (5) when the covering (2) is applied, and - applying the container unit (5) to the covering (2) so that in the container unit (5) the containers (6) with all necessary active substances are in matching positions relative to the openings (3) through the covering (2).
2. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that liquids are used as active substances.
3. A process according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the openings (3) are arranged in rows (7) and the damage is effected by interruption-free scratching of a row (7) over the covering (2).
4. A process according to claim 2 characterised in that the liquids (14) are actively pressed out of the containers (6) of the container unit (5).
5. A process according to claim 4 characterised in that the operation of pressing out the liquids (14) is effected by pressing against and in particular rolling over the applied container unit (5).
6. A process according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the operation of opening and pressing the containers (6) of the container unit (5) is performed in one working operation by pressing against same, wherein points or needles act in such a position on each container (6) and thus each aligned working area, that the surface (1) of each working area (4) is damaged.
7. A process according to one of the preceding claims characterised in that the opening operation is effected by at least partially pulling off a protective foil (10) which covers over the entire container unit (5).
8. Apparatus for identifying and wetting a surface, in particular for carrying out the process according to one of the preceding claims, which has - a covering (2) of plastic material, in which approximately parallel rows of juxtaposed openings (3) are arranged, and - a container unit (5) whose base surface substantially corresponds to that of the covering (2) and which has a substantially flat underside, wherein - provided in the container unit (5) are containers (6) which corresponds to the openings (3) and which are all open on one side towards the same side and which each function as a reservoir for respective active substances, characterised in that - the covering (2) and the container unit (5) are pivotably connected together at an edge (12) so that the containers (6) of the container unit (5) can be laid in aligned relationship on to the openings (3) through the covering (2), and - the surface is wettable by pivoting the covering (2) and the container unit (5) together.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that spongelike fabric, in particular absorbent fleeces (18), are arranged in the containers (6).
10. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that capsules containing the active substance are arranged in the containers (6).
11. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that a pasty gel is arranged in the containers (6) as the active substance.
12. Apparatus according to claim 8 characterised in that points (8) provided with dry active substances are arranged in the containers (6).
13. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 12 characterised in that the edge (12) is the narrow side of an approximately rectangular contour of the covering (2) and the container unit (5).
14. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 13 characterised in that the covering (2) and the container unit (5) have identical and symmetrical external contours.
15. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 14 characterised in that the container unit (5) comprises a hollow or double foil in which two foils extending substantially parallel are welded together in a mesh-like manner in plan view so that closed cavities are produced within the welding limb portions between the two foils.
16. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 14 characterised in that - the container unit (5) is a blister pack with a base body (16) which at one side has recesses (17) which are open towards the same side, with - a protective foil (10) for covering over and closing the recesses (17) and - absorbent fleece (18) in the recesses (17), which is impregnated with the active substances.
17. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that the fleece (18) in the recesses (17) is plate-like.
18. Apparatus according to one of claims 16 and 17 charaterised in that the plate-like fleece (18) is quadrangular and is spread in a spherically curved configuration into round recesses (17).
19. Apparatus according to one of claims 16 through 18 characterised in that the fleece (18) is held in the recesses (17) by a necked constriction of the side walls of the recesses (17) in the vicinity of the open side.
20. Apparatus according to claim 19 characterised in that the necked constriction is formed by a shrink foil.
21. Apparatus according to one of claims 16 through 20 characterised in that the base body (16) comprises an acetone-soluble plastic material.
22. Apparatus according to one of claims 16 through 21 characterised in that points (8) are arranged in the recesses (17) of the containers (6) directed towards the open sides of the containers (6), which points in the normal condition of the recesses do not reach the free outside surface of the containers (6).
23. Apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 22 characterised in that the points (8) are arranged in a similar arrangement to the containers (6) of the container unit (5) on a wounding unit which is elastically connected to the container unit so that when they are pivoted together the points (8) penetrate into the containers (6).
24. Apparatus according to one of claims 12, 22 or 23 characterised in that glass fibers or bundles of glass fibers are used as the points (8).
25. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 24 characterised in that the openings (3) in the covering (2) have in clearly associated relationship on the covering (2) numberings (19) which can only be removed with difficulty.
26. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 25 characterised in that at least the covering (2) can be fixed to the surface (1) to be treated by means of hook-and-loop bands (20) which each project with two free ends from the covering (2).
27. Apparatus according to claim 10 characterised in that the capsules engage in recesses which the container unit (5) has at the location of each container (6) by virtue of a constricted neck of the recesses.
28. Apparatus according to one of claims 8 through 27 characterised in that the covering (2) of plastic material which is to be applied to the surface (1), at each opening (3) functioning as a working area (4), has an identification, for example numbering, on the side to be directed towards the surface (1), which upon being applied to the surface (1) is transferred on to the same.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEP4328112.5 | 1993-08-20 | ||
| DE4328112A DE4328112C1 (en) | 1993-08-20 | 1993-08-20 | Wetting method |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2169661A1 true CA2169661A1 (en) | 1995-03-02 |
Family
ID=6495684
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002169661A Abandoned CA2169661A1 (en) | 1993-08-20 | 1994-08-19 | Wetting process |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0714267B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH09505210A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE192303T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2169661A1 (en) |
| DE (2) | DE4328112C1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1995005776A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11020043B2 (en) | 2015-08-21 | 2021-06-01 | Prof. Dr. Claus Bachert Bvba | Device for performing an allergy test |
Families Citing this family (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19640084A1 (en) * | 1996-09-28 | 1998-04-02 | Beiersdorf Ag | Test plasters for repetitive or cumulative dermatological testing |
| DE29621365U1 (en) * | 1996-12-11 | 1997-02-27 | Lohmann Gmbh & Co Kg, 56567 Neuwied | Patch test patch |
| WO2004062512A1 (en) * | 2003-01-09 | 2004-07-29 | Accelerator I Linköping Ab | Skin penetration device to simultaneously introduce a plurality of substances |
| DE502005008614D1 (en) | 2005-02-24 | 2010-01-14 | Schindlbeck Gerhard | Apparatus for carrying out an allergy test |
| GB2531027A (en) * | 2014-10-07 | 2016-04-13 | Ogden Hayley | Improvements in and relating to allergy testing |
Family Cites Families (13)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2817336A (en) * | 1952-12-20 | 1957-12-24 | Kravitz Harvey | Means for vaccinating |
| DE2444379A1 (en) * | 1974-09-17 | 1976-03-25 | Baumgartner | Marking strip for skin tests for allergies or compatibility - has holes at pre-determined intervals and adhesive strips along one edge |
| EP0006158B1 (en) * | 1978-06-09 | 1982-02-03 | Ortrun Mara Dr. Maucher | Test plaster strip |
| SE417056B (en) * | 1979-07-19 | 1981-02-23 | Alani Safwat David | APPLICATION DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OR TREATMENT |
| EP0081975B1 (en) * | 1981-12-14 | 1986-11-26 | Nicholas H. Maganias | Device and method for allergy testing |
| US4802493A (en) * | 1981-12-14 | 1989-02-07 | Maganias Nicholas H | Device and method for allergy testing |
| DE3527893A1 (en) * | 1985-08-03 | 1987-02-05 | Merck Patent Gmbh | EPICUTANE TEST PLASTER |
| WO1987005200A1 (en) * | 1986-03-06 | 1987-09-11 | Wray, Reginald, Charles | Skin test kit |
| US5179959A (en) * | 1986-04-18 | 1993-01-19 | Henry Fishman | Allergy testing apparatus and method |
| US5099857A (en) * | 1987-05-29 | 1992-03-31 | Northern Sydney Area Health Service | Medical testing device with calibrated indicia |
| US4788971A (en) * | 1987-07-13 | 1988-12-06 | Hill Top Research, Inc. | Patch system for use on the skin |
| DE3810658A1 (en) * | 1988-03-29 | 1989-10-12 | Lohmann Gmbh & Co Kg | PLASTER, ESPECIALLY EPIKUTANT TEST PLASTER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME |
| US5104620A (en) * | 1990-07-30 | 1992-04-14 | Wiley Fred R | Disposable allergy skin testing kit |
-
1993
- 1993-08-20 DE DE4328112A patent/DE4328112C1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1994
- 1994-08-19 CA CA002169661A patent/CA2169661A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1994-08-19 AT AT94925464T patent/ATE192303T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1994-08-19 EP EP94925464A patent/EP0714267B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-08-19 DE DE59409326T patent/DE59409326D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1994-08-19 JP JP7507340A patent/JPH09505210A/en active Pending
- 1994-08-19 WO PCT/EP1994/002771 patent/WO1995005776A1/en not_active Ceased
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US11020043B2 (en) | 2015-08-21 | 2021-06-01 | Prof. Dr. Claus Bachert Bvba | Device for performing an allergy test |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE4328112C1 (en) | 1994-12-08 |
| DE59409326D1 (en) | 2000-06-08 |
| WO1995005776A1 (en) | 1995-03-02 |
| ATE192303T1 (en) | 2000-05-15 |
| JPH09505210A (en) | 1997-05-27 |
| EP0714267B1 (en) | 2000-05-03 |
| EP0714267A1 (en) | 1996-06-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |