APPARATUS FOR INCREASING THE MEDICINE TRANSFER THROUGH SURFACES WHERE MEDICINE ABSORBTION IS LIMITED, SUCH AS THE

SUBUNGUAL AREA

AREA OF USE

The invention is of the apparatus that allows materials which are not absorbed through the nail surface, such as liquid medicine, to reach the nail fold by enabling them to transit the subungual area; that is in the U or C shaped clip with the structure of uniform or hinged or having an adjustable width, one edge of which is placed on the subungual area and the other on the nail; the surface of which carries liquid or is liquid impregnated; metal, silicone or sometimes micro-pored silicone or a similar material; and that possesses a cap on its top which increases medicine absorbtion or drug coated. The purpose of this application is to enable the transfer of liquid medicines that are not absorbed through the nail surface into the subungual area. Some parts of the apparatus may be applied on skin surfaces where the medicine absorbtion is difficult, such as callus.

CURRENT STATUS OF THE TECHNIQUE

Currently lotions applied on the nail are used for various purposes, such as treating fungal nail infection. However, studies show that there are different kinds of fungal infections and that some of these are located underneath the nail, which is the nail bed. As much as medicine absorption through nails is tried to be increased as much as possible in these cases, the treatment percentage is limited and the relapse is highly common.

As it is very difficult to enable the treatment agent to reach the skin surface underneath the nail, usually chemical or physical nail removal is required for uncured cases. Systemic medicine use, as an alternative to this method, is not preferred by many patients, or it may not be possible especially in the case of old patients.

l Protective silicone caps are applied upon thick skin surfaces such as callus, however, this usually does not help softening the tissue or relieving the pain. Medicine-carrying cap made of silicone etc may be applied on such treatment-resistant calluses as well as on nails.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

With the invention, it is aimed to prevent difficult, troublesome, and costly operations by enabling the desired material to be transferred underneath the nail, as well as to present a new method of treatment within the patient groups that are inconvenient for operation, such as pregnant women, the elderly and children.

For this purpose, the apparatus possesses U- or C-shaped clips with the structure of uniform or hinged or having an adjustable width with one edge able to enter the subungual area (4) and the other on the nail. Facing or side by side connection between the clips is provided via chain-shaped liquid carriers (2) made of silicone etc. Besides, there is a medicated plate that can carry medicine between the nail (4) and liquid carriers (2), which is smooth and soft, and made of silicone etc. Liquid carriers (2) are made of or covered with micro-pored silicone or a similar material. While the medicine applied on the liquid carriers (2) and the plate (7) is absorbed from the top, it is transferred and applied to the subungual area thanks to medicine carrying clips (1) as well.

Furthermore, the parts of the clips that coincide the subungual area are equipped with microfiber threads (5) on the edges. Thanks to these microfiber threads (5), the medicine is managed to be transferred to the subungual area more abundantly and applied longer.

It is also possible to transfer the liquid which will be applied on the nail (4) underneath the nail (4) with the thin tubes (3) made of silicone, micro-holed, and covered with liquid absorbent material inside, placed on the clips (1). Alternatively, these clips (1) may be covered with drug coated microfibrils.

Various materials may be used for these applications; just as covering the metal with cotton material, using hydrophilic silicone etc or covering a liquid absorbent material on the structure below, the part on the nail may be holed or non-holed and the part underneath the nail may be made of hydrophobic including micro holes, hydrophilic silicone or a similar material.

Clips (1) may be put on the nails (4) horizontally or vertically. They may be put on the desired points on the nail (4) symmetrically or asymmetrically. Besides, their lengths may be different on both ends. Just as being able to be put on the same nail more than once both vertically and horizontally, their widths may be different as well. In some cases, they may be put on the whole nail surface and cover the whole nail. The clips (1) may be removed and washed; liquid carrying covers (2) or the thin tubes (3) on them may be disposed and replaced.

In order to increase the absorbtion of the materials applied on or underneath the nail (4), and to soften the nail when necessary, the efficiency of the medicine may be increased by adding extra silicone nail covering caps (6) on the clips. Covering the nail surface, the nail covering cap (6) prevents the applied material from flowing and being wasted as well as increasing its absorbtion. In addition to silicone, it may be made of different skin-friendly materials as well. Depending on the situation, the nail covering cap (6) may be applied on thickened tissues on toes/fingers, too and because it is also able to carry medicine, it can possess both protective and curative qualities at the same time. The nail covering cap (6) may be one or two piece(s). In the case of two, it may be rejoined narrowly or widely depending on the nail width, being adjusted to the narrow or wide nail surface. The adjustable part in the middle, enabling the rejoining, may be adjusted to every kind of nail and toe/finger width in addition to providing a longer life span to the cap that loosens in time. The length of the bands enabling the rejoining on the sides is also adjustable and may be narrowed or widened according to the nail or toe/finger width of the patient.

Furthermore, the nail covering cap (6) may be impregnated in various chemicals depending on the need and it may increase the activities of the tools below in addition to being used alone in some situations.

When applied, this can make it possible both to protect the patient mechanically and to treat the patient chemically. In a way that helps the treatment, with the purpose of disinfecting the fungal spores contaminated the shoes or socks, for example, the medicine may be put in drug impregnated, medicine carrying or medicine covered shoes or socks, or bands with similar qualities may be put between toes/fingers. On the other hand, calluses too may be treated besides being protected with medicine carrying or impregnated bands.

Small pads made of material that absorbs and gradually emits liquid may be added on or next to the clips in a parallel way to the subungual area. These help the treatment material remain underneath the nail for a long time and reduce the application frequency by gradually leaking within the day or week.

SHORT EXPLANATIONS OF THE FIGURES :

Figure 1 : General view of the apparatus that allows treatment liquids to transfer to the subungual area.

Figure 2 : Bottom perspective view of the apparatus that allows treatment liquids to transfer to the subungual area.

Figure 3 : View of the liquid carrier on the nail and the location of the plate. Figure 4 : View of the connection between the clips and the liquid carrier. Figure 5 : General view of the nail covering cap situated on the nail.

EXPLANATIONS OF THE APPARATUS PARTS :

1. Clips

2. Liquid carrier

3. Thin tube

4. Nail

5. Microfiber threads

6. Nail covering cap

7. Plate