WO2018177699A1

WO2018177699A1 - Device and method for controlling body odour and/or underarm wetness

Info

Publication number: WO2018177699A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/055478
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bernhard Banowski; Thomas Welss
Original assignee: Henkel Ag & Co. Kgaa
Priority date: 2017-03-27
Filing date: 2018-03-06
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Also published as: DE102017205094A1

Abstract

The invention provides a wearable device for controlling body odour and/or underarm wetness. The wearable device comprises at least one sensor, mounted in or on the device, for detecting at least one sensor value that is relevant for controlling body odour and/or underarm wetness; at least one discharging unit, arranged in or on the device, for discharging at least one substance for controlling body odour and/or underarm wetness, preferably selected from the group consisting of perfurmes, antimicrobial substances, bacteriostatic agents, prebiotics, probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, complexing agents, masking agents, antiperspirants and mixtures thereof; and an electronic circuit device, arranged in or on the device body, wherein the electronic circuit device is coupled to the at least one sensor for receiving the at least one sensor value, and wherein the electronic circuit device is configured to provide the at least one sensor value received to the discharging unit and/or to a user and/or to a data processing device.

Description

"Apparatus and method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness"

The invention relates to a device and a method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness.

For the control and / or prevention of body odor and / or underarm wetness, many people use, especially as part of morning hygiene, a deodorant or antiperspirant, which is preferably also effective against underarm wetness at the same time. A deodorant, or deodorant for short, is a personal care product that is primarily applied in the armpits. The most important strategies for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness are:

Odor masking (by fragrances)

Odor absorption (on / by suitable carriers)

Control of microorganisms involved in the formation of odors (by antimicrobial, bacteriostatic, prebiotic or probiotic substances)

Inhibition of bacterial enzymes involved in the development of body odor

Influence on sweat gland activity (by antiperspirants).

Control of the microorganisms involved in the formation of the odor may include, for example, reducing the number of bacteria by antimicrobial agents, inhibiting the growth of bacteria by bacteriostatic agents or promoting the growth of non-malodour microorganisms and thereby displacing the odoriferous microorganisms by prebiotic substances or probiotic substances.

In order to achieve sufficient odorant protection in a single use of deodorant, a sufficient amount of perfumes, antimicrobials and / or antiperspirants must be applied to the skin. This can lead to intolerances such as skin irritation in users with sensitive skin. In addition, the deodorant loses after application, for example, by evaporation of (slightly) volatile perfumes of subjectively perceived protective effect.

So-called "underarm pads" are not known in the art to prevent underarm sweat from being worn on the clothes, these are underwear garment liners which absorb the freshly formed underarm sweat, and depending on the product structure, odors can be significantly reduced.

Underarm pads can be divided into three groups: pads to be bonded to the skin (patches)

Pads to be attached to clothing

in the clothes to be placed pads.

From the company Thanko from Japan an attachable mini fan is known, which keeps the armpits cool and dry and thereby prevents (armpit) sweat from getting on the clothes.

"Wearables ^" (English for "wearable") refers to a category of technical devices that are worn directly on the body, record and analyze data and serve as an interface to a data processing device. The product category of wearables includes, for example, fitness trackers, smart watches and smart glasses, but also hearing aids and similar items. In general, wearables communicate wirelessly with a data processing device (for example, a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer) and are connected via this for further synchronization with the Internet. The aim of wearables is to support users in everyday situations. For this purpose, wearables have a large number of sensors which record, for example, environmental values (UV radiation and temperature) or body values (blood pressure and pulse).

From US 8,950,238 a portable device is known, which comprises activity sensors and can detect, for example, acceleration, electrodermal activity and body temperature of the wearer. From the collected data, a potential odor pollution of third parties is calculated by the own body odor. The device is also connected to the Internet and the social networks of its wearer. If contacts of the wearer are in the vicinity when a threshold value for the odor load is exceeded, a route is indicated to the wearer, which avoids a meeting with these contacts. If necessary, the device can deliver a fragrant composition.

The human body odor depends on various factors: skin pH, microflora on the skin (for example, the amount and type of bacteria on the skin), hormones, sex, diseases, dietary habits, lifestyle habits (consumption of stimulants), mental stress ( Stress) or personal hygiene habits (use of perfume and / or deodorant). These factors are not related to a user's athletic activity and / or body temperature.

In many areas of daily life there has been a trend for some time to personalized programs and / or products that can respond to individual needs and requirements specifically, for example in a food or health care. An object of the present invention was to provide a portable body odor and / or underarm control device which makes it possible to control the individual body odor and / or underarm wetness of a user in all situations.

This object is achieved by portable device for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprising

at least one sensor arranged in or on the device for detecting at least one sensor value which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness;

at least one dispensing unit arranged in or on the device for dispensing at least one body odor and / or underarm control substance, preferably selected from the group consisting of perfumes, antimicrobials, bacteriostats, prebiotics, probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, complexing agents, masking agents and antiperspirants ; and

an electronic circuit device disposed in or on the device body, wherein the electronic circuit device is coupled to the at least one sensor for receiving the at least one sensor value, and

wherein the electronic circuit device is configured to provide the received at least one sensor value of the dispensing unit and / or a user and / or a data processing device.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device is further configured to determine a recommendation based on the determined sensor value and to provide the recommendation to a user and / or a data processing device and / or to control the dispensing unit.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device is further configured to determine a recommendation based on the determined sensor value and to control the dispensing unit.

In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device is further configured to receive data from the data processing device.

The data processing device is, for example, a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer.

In these embodiments, it is particularly preferred that the electronic circuit device is further configured to control the dispensing unit based on the data received from the data processing device. In various embodiments, the electronic circuit device includes a wireless data interchange device.

In various embodiments, the sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, odor sensors, humidity sensors, chemosensors, biosensors, and combinations thereof.

In various embodiments, the sensor may be an optical sensor. To determine a sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, with an optical sensor

exposing a user's skin to electromagnetic radiation,

a spectrum and / or at least one image of at least part of the electromagnetic radiation which has interacted with the skin of the user,

at least one comparison region of the spectrum and / or the at least one image is compared with calibration spectra and / or calibration images obtained for a plurality of calibration samples; and at least sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, determined taking into account a result of the comparison.

The exposed skin of the user is preferably in the area of the armpits.

In various embodiments, the electromagnetic radiation may have light with a wavelength of 380 nm to 150,000 nm. The wavelength range from 380 nm to 780 nm corresponds to the visible light. The wavelength range from 780 nm to 150,000 nm is part of the wavelength range called infrared (IR).

The wavelength range from 8,000 nm to 150,000 nm is also referred to as long-wavelength infrared (LWIR). In a preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range of 8,000 nm to 150,000 nm.

The wavelength range from 3,000 nm to 8,000 nm is also referred to as mid-wavelength (MWIR). In a preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range of 3,000 nm to 8,000 nm.

The wavelength range from 1400 nm to 3000 nm is also referred to as short-wave infrared (English: short wavelength, SWIR). In a preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range of 1400 nm to 3000 nm. The wavelength range from 780 nm to 1400 nm is also called near-infrared (NIR). In a preferred embodiment, the electromagnetic radiation has a wavelength range of 780 nm to 1400 nm.

The optical sensors used can be, for example, NIR sensors, IR sensors, VIS / NIR sensors, VIS / IR sensors or VIS sensors.

In various embodiments, the sensor may be an odor sensor. An odor sensor is a technical system for measuring odors.

A suitable odor sensor is for example a gas sensor. Gas sensors generate electronic signals to measure odors.

Suitable gas sensors can use physical measuring methods (exploitation of molecular properties for detection: molecular mass, diffusion behavior, molecular structure, molecular stability (binding energy) and molecular mobility) or chemical measuring methods (exploitation of chemical properties such as reactivity, oxidizability and reducibility).

Suitable gas sensors include, for example, olfactory cells. In olfactory cells receptor molecules are contained, which interact very specifically with a few gases. There is a high signal amplification, so that few gas molecules, i. H. very low concentrations, sufficient to activate an olfactory cell.

A moisture sensor can be used in particular for determining underarm wetness.

With the help of chemosensors and / or biosensors, the qualitative or quantitative chemical composition of substances can be determined.

A suitable biosensor may, for example, work with surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi).

As a smell sensor, for example, a biochip can be used. A suitable biochip is the "EssenceChip" from the company Aromyx, which can image complex odorant mixtures.

In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a humidity sensor in combination with another sensor selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, odor sensors, humidity sensors, chemosensors, biosensors, and combinations thereof. In various embodiments, the sensor value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness is selected from the group consisting of a lipid content,

a fatty acid content, in particular a content of Ci-Cw-fatty acid,

an aldehyde content, in particular a content of Ci-Cw-aldehyde,

a sulphanyl alcohol content,

a steroid content,

a bacterial content,

a water content,

a fragrance content,

an antimicrobial content,

a content of bacteriostat,

a content of prebiotic,

a probiotic content,

a content of masking agent,

a content of absorber,

a content of complexing agent,

a content of enzyme inhibitor,

an antiperspirant content and

a combination of them.

There are two variants: eccrine and apocrine sweat. The eccrine sweat is thin and clear in contrast to the apocrine sweat. The most important task is the regulation of body heat. Apocrine sweat also contains pheromones. Ekkriner Schweiß consists of 99 percent water, plus a minimum salinity. The remaining sweat composition consists of substances such as urea, uric acid, amino acids, fatty acids, ammonia, sugar, lactic acid and ascorbic acid (vitamin C). These components differ a little, depending on the type of welding.

With a few exceptions, for example, during puberty or certain illnesses, fresh sweat does not smell sour, or at the most slightly sour. The strong / unpleasant odor of sweat arises when bacteria on the skin decompose sweat, especially apocrine sweat, into its individual building blocks.

Bacteria which decompose components of perspiration and contribute to the formation of body odor include, for example, bacteria of the Corynebacterium group, propionic acid bacteria, Staphylococcus hominis or Staphylococcus epidermidis. For example, Staphylococcus hominis is known to produce thioalcohols that contribute to body odor. It is therefore preferred that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises a bacterial content.

It is particularly preferred that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises a bacterial content which is determined using an optical sensor which operates with electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range from 3,000 nm to 8,000 nm.

It is further preferred that the sensor value which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises a fatty acid content, in particular a content of Ci-Ci4-fatty acid. In various embodiments, the fatty acid is selected from the group consisting of propanoic acid, butyric acid, E-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid (E-3M2H), 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-hexanoic acid (HMHA), isovaleric acid, and mixtures thereof.

It is further preferred that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises an aldehyde content, in particular a content of O-CwAldehyd. In various embodiments, the aldehyde is 2-nonenal.

It is further preferred that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises a sulfanyl alcohol content. In various embodiments, the sulfanyl alcohol is selected from the group consisting of 3-mercapto-1-hexanol, 3-mercapto-3-methyl-1-hexanol, and mixtures thereof.

It is further preferred that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprises a steroid content. In various embodiments, the steroid is selected from the group consisting of androstenol, androsterone, and mixtures thereof.

Alternatively or additionally, the decrease of a fragrance content, an antimicrobial content and / or an antiperspirant content which are constituents of a deodorant which has been applied to the skin by the user can be determined with the aid of a sensor.

Again, the sensor may be an optical sensor or an odor sensor, for example a gas sensor or a smelling cell.

Alternatively or additionally, with the aid of a sensor, the amount and in particular the decrease of a perfume content, an antimicrobial content, a bacteriostat content, a masking agent content, a prebiotic content, a probiotic content, a Enzyme inhibitor content, an absorber content, a complexing agent content and / or an antiperspirant content, which are constituents of a deodorant or antiperspirant applied by the user in the form of the skin.

Antimicrobial agents are substances that reduce the ability to multiply or infect microorganisms or kill or inactivate them.

Bacteriostats are substances that inhibit the growth of bacteria.

Prebiotics are substances that specifically stimulate the growth and / or activity of one or more microorganisms, in particular bacteria, and positively influence, for example, the bacterial flora of the armpit.

Probiotics are viable microorganisms, such as bacteria, or yeasts that positively affect the bacterial flora of the armpit.

Enzyme inhibitors include substances such as aminoacylase, cystathionine β-lyase, lipase, lipoxygenase, β-glucurinase; Inhibit arylsulfatase and other enzymes involved in the development of body odor.

Absorbers are substances that absorb and largely retain moisture and / or odors.

Complexing agents are substances which form complex compounds with odorous substances and thereby largely retain them.

Masking agents are substances that influence the odor perception of the odor receptors in the nose, for example by blocking the odor receptors for certain malodor odors.

It is preferred that the dispensing unit has a cavity for receiving at least one substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness selected from the group consisting of fragrances, antimicrobials, bacteriostats, prebiotics, probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, complexing agents, masking agents, antiperspirants and Mixtures thereof and a dispenser selected from the group consisting of fans, nozzles, ultrasonic nebulizers, diffusers, evaporators and combinations thereof.

The portable device has a dispensing unit capable of dispensing a substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness. The dispensing unit points to it preferably a cavity for receiving the substance for controlling the body odor and / or underarm wetness. The substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness is preferably selected from the group consisting of fragrances, antimicrobials, bacteriostats, prebiotics, probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, complexing agents, masking agents, antiperspirants and mixtures thereof. The substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness may be used alone or in combination with other ingredients. The substance for controlling the body odor and / or underarm wetness is preferably in one portion, such as a capsule, a bag or a liquid-soaked pad. The capsule, the bag and the liquid-soaked pad may be disposable or refilled become. The substance for controlling the body odor and / or the underarm wetness and possibly other ingredients can be placed directly in the cavity of the delivery unit. Alternatively, the portion containing the body odor control and / or underarm wetness and optionally other ingredients may be placed in the lumen of the delivery unit. The dispensing unit further comprises a dispenser in contact with the contents of the portion. The dispenser is selected from the group consisting of fans, nozzles, ultrasonic nebulizers, diffusers, evaporators, and combinations thereof.

The dispensing unit, and in particular the dispenser, may be controlled via the electronic circuit device.

For example, the electronic circuit device may send the transmitted value controlling the body odor and / or underarm wetness to the dispenser unit for control of the dispenser.

The electronic circuit device may, for example, be able to send data for controlling the dispenser to the dispensing unit depending on the value relevant to the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness.

Alternatively, the electronic circuit device passes data received from the data processing device to the dispenser for controlling the dispenser.

It is preferred that if at least one limit value for a lipid content, a fatty acid content, an aldehyde content, a sulfanyl alcohol content, a steroid content, a bacterial content and / or below at least one limit value for a fragrance content, an antimicrobial content, a content of bacteriostat , a content of prebiotic, a content of probiotic, a content of masking agent, a content of absorber, a content of complexing agent, a content of enzyme inhibitor or an antiperspirant content, the dispensing unit is controlled such that at least one substance for Control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, preferably on the skin of a user, is delivered. The respective limit value can be set individually by the user.

The data exchange between the electronic circuit device and the data processing device preferably takes place wirelessly, for example via Bluetooth, WLAN (WiFi), thread, near field communication technology (NFC technology) or another wireless data exchange method. Alternatively, the data exchange between the electronic circuit device and the data processing device can be effected by means of USB interfaces.

In various embodiments, the device is further provided on at least one side on its surface with an adhesive layer. By means of the adhesive layer, the device can be releasably attached to the skin or on the clothing of a user.

In various embodiments, the device further comprises a clip attached to or attached to the device, which is adapted for clamping the device to a user's clothing.

Another object of the invention is a method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprising:

during the optical and / or physical contact with the skin of a user, acquiring a value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness with the aid of a portable device according to the invention,

Passing on of the value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness to an electronic circuit device which is coupled to the at least one sensor, and providing the value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness to the dispensing unit and / or to the user and / or to a data processing device.

In various exemplary embodiments, the method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness further comprises the determination of a recommendation based on the transmitted value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness and provision of the recommendation to the user.

The determination of a recommendation can be made by the electronic circuit or by the data processing device.

In various exemplary embodiments, the sensor value (s) transmitted to the data processing device can / can be determined by means of an app and / or a program which is based on Data processing device can be installed, be evaluated, and the user a (personalized) recommendation can be provided.

The recommendation may include the recommendation to control the dispensing unit such that at least one substance for controlling the body odor and / or the underarm wetness, preferably on the skin of a user, is delivered. The recommendation may be provided to the user by means of, for example, an acoustic signal or a vibration. In this embodiment of the method, the user may, for example, accept or reject the recommendation via a data processing device which is in data exchange contact with the electronic circuit device.

Alternatively, the recommendation may be provided by the electronic circuit device to the data processing device and displayed by it via a display device. This can be done with the help of an app and / or a program that can be installed on data processing device. The user can accept or reject the recommendation by means of an input, for example via a touch-sensitive display device. If accepted, the data processing device may transmit data to the electronic circuit which causes the electronic unit to drive the dispensing unit to dispense at least one body odor control and / or underarm control fabric, preferably onto a user's skin

In various embodiments, the method of controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness further comprises determining a recommendation based on the transmitted value relevant to the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness and control of the dispensing unit by the electronic circuit device.

In this embodiment of the invention, if at least one limit value for a lipid content, a fatty acid content, an aldehyde content, a sulfanyl alcohol content, a steroid content, a bacterial content, a water content and / or below at least one limit value for a perfume content, an antimicrobial content, a content of bacteriostat, a content of prebiotic, a content of probiotic, a content of masking agent, a content of absorber, a content of complexing agent, an enzyme inhibitor content or an antiperspirant content automatically, that is without interaction with the user and / or Data processing device, the dispensing unit controlled such that at least one substance for controlling the body odor and / or underarm wetness, preferably on the skin and / or clothing of a user, is delivered.

With regard to further preferred embodiments of the method, what has been said about the portable device applies mutatis mutandis.

Claims

claims

A portable device for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprising at least one sensor arranged in or on the device for detecting at least one sensor value which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness;

at least one dispensing unit arranged in or on the device for dispensing at least one substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, preferably selected from the group consisting of fragrances, antimicrobials, bacteriostats, prebiotics, probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, complexing agents, masking agents, Antiperspirants and mixtures thereof; and an electronic circuit device disposed in or on the device body, wherein the electronic circuit device is coupled to the at least one sensor for receiving the at least one sensor value, and

2. Portable device according to claim 1, characterized in that

in that the electronic circuit device is further set up to determine a recommendation based on the determined sensor value and to provide the recommendation to a user and / or data processing device and / or to control the dispensing unit.

3. Portable device according to claim 1, characterized

that the data processing device is further configured to determine a recommendation based on the determined sensor value and to provide the recommendation to a user.

A portable device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic circuit device is further arranged to receive data from the data processing device.

5. Portable device according to claim 4, characterized

the electronic circuit device is further configured to control the dispensing unit based on the data received from the data processing device.

6. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electronic circuit device has a wireless data exchange device.

7. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the sensor is selected from the group consisting of optical sensors, odor sensors and mixtures thereof.

8. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sensor value, which is relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness, is selected from the group consisting of

a lipid content,

a fatty acid content,

an aldehyde content,

a sulphanyl alcohol content,

a steroid content,

a bacterial content,

a water content,

a fragrance content,

an antimicrobial content,

a content of bacteriostat,

a content of prebiotic,

a probiotic content,

a content of masking agent,

a content of absorber,

a content of complexing agent,

a content of enzyme inhibitor,

an antiperspirant content and

a combination of them.

9. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the dispensing unit has a cavity for receiving at least one substance for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, preferably selected from the group consisting of fragrances, antimicrobials, bacteriostats, prebiotics , Probiotics, enzyme inhibitors, absorbers, chelants, sequestrants, antiperspirants and mixtures thereof, and a dispenser selected from the group consisting of fans, nozzles, ultrasonic nebulizers, diffusers, evaporators, and combinations thereof.

10. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the device is further provided on its surface with an adhesive layer on at least one side and is adapted to be detachably fastened on the skin or on the clothing of a user by means of the adhesive layer.

1 1. Portable device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the device further comprises a device attached to the device or formed on the device clamping device, which is adapted for clamping the device to the clothing of a user.

12. A method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness, comprising:

during visual and / or physical contact with a user's skin, detecting a value relevant to the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness by means of a portable device according to one of claims 1 to 11,

Transfer of the value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness to an electronic circuit device which is coupled to the at least one sensor, and

Providing the value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness to the dispensing unit and / or to the user and / or to a data processing device.

13. A method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness according to claim 12, further comprising

Determining a recommendation based on the transmitted value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness and providing the recommendation to the user or to the data processing device by the electronic circuit device.

14. A method for controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness according to claim 12, further comprising

Determining a recommendation based on the transmitted, for the control of body odor and / or underarm values relevant value and control of the dispensing unit by the electronic circuit device.

15. A method of controlling body odor and / or underarm wetness according to claim 12, further comprising

Determining a recommendation based on the transmitted value relevant for the control of body odor and / or underarm wetness and control of the dispensing unit by the data processing device.