Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N1/00—Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
  • A61N1/18—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
  • A61N1/32—Applying electric currents by contact electrodes alternating or intermittent currents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
  • A61H39/00—Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture
  • A61H39/002—Using electric currents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61N—ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
  • A61N2/00—Magnetotherapy
  • A61N2/002—Magnetotherapy in combination with another treatment

Definitions

• the invention relates to an electrical device for treating different diseases, particularly rheumatic diseases, malignant tumours and liver diseases, by skin surface stimulation of acupuncture points.
• the device including a pulse generator with variable frequency.
• the pulse generator has electrical connecting points providing body potential and a pulse output.
• One common electrode or two separate electrodes are attached to these connecting points.
• One of the electrodes or a given part of the common electrode is formed as an electrical contacting surface, preferably as a metal surface providing body potential, whereas the other electrode or the end part of the common electrode is electrically connected to the electrical connecting point providing the output pulses.
• Acupuncture as a well known treatment takes influence in order to reach a desired therapy purpose by stimulation of certain points of skin surface. Most common way of application when stimulation is reached by sticking thin needles into the skin. A recently developed method, so called electropuncture is also known. Electropuncture provides an effect similar to the needle-sticking treatment by means of electrical voltage pulses. This method is advantageous due to its enhanced hygiene, and eliminates the necessity of needle sterilisation.
• Pulses of variable frequency, amplitude and amperage are applied on acupuncture needles as it has been described for example in patent specification US 3,908,669, while suitable electrodes can be used for instance according to US 5,385,150. In both cases a method or a device increasing the efficiency of the acupuncture treatment or yielding extra effect has not been applied beyond the above mentioned methods. Although it can be found reference to the advantage of applying magnetic and electric field simultaneously in US 4,508,119 but, however, it is definitely about needles stuck through skin.
• the object of the present invention a simple and easy to use device for the stimulation of acupuncture points which device is applicable without special medical skills to the own individual self-treating use of the person to be treated.
• Another object of the present invention is to replace the electrical electrodes known from the prior art by more effective ones.
• the skin touching end part of the electrode connected to the connecting point of the pulse output is formed with a disc shaped permanent magnet of electrically conducting material.
• the invention is based on an experience that the magnetic property of the electrode part being in contact with the skin surface enhances the effectiveness of a given treatment. Accordingly, fewer treatments can be sufficient to reach the same result, than using any state of art electrode. Furthermore it was found that using an electrode provided with a disc shaped, plane end part of relatively great diameter is more advantageous because the person carrying out the treatment must not maintain as sharp positional accuracy as necessary with needles or needle-like electrodes.
• Figure 1 is a preferred electrical arrangement of the electrical device according to the invention in a simplified functional block diagram
• Figure 2 shows a possible output pulse form of the pulse generator device
• Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the electrode according to the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows the arrangement of a preferred embodiment of the electrical device according to the invention in a simplified functional block diagram.
• Power supply 11 is advantageously one or more dry cell or battery, which serves as a power source for the pulse generator 12.
• the output frequency can be adjusted on input F and the output voltage amplitude can be adjusted on input U.
• Embodiments of inputs F and U can be of any known electrical component, such as potentiometers, or multiple switches selecting preferred fix frequencies and the voltage amplitude values.
• the pulse generator 12 in itself is of known circuitry and is provided with two outputs. Through electrical connecting point 13 the necessary body potential has been ensured for establishing the ground zero level of the pulses to be formed.
• An electrode constituting a grounding point in contact with the body surface of the person to be treated, is connected electrically to the connecting point 13.
• a single electrode can also be used with the apparatus, in which case an electrically conducting part of the single electrode is adapted to get into contact with the skin of the person to be treated. This part can be formed for gripping and connected to point 13 through a cable or wire.
• the connecting point 13 is also connected by means of a cable to an electrode having a relatively large metal surface ensuring a good contact with the body surface. This can be reached obviously by using an electrode fitting in palm.
• the other electrode or in case of a single electrode the remote end part of the electrode is attached to the connecting point 14.
• the skin touching end part of the active electrode, i.e. of the electrode attached to the connecting point 14 receives the pulses generated by the pulse generator 12 regardless the number of electrodes.
• the above mentioned pulses serve to exert an effect on the corresponding acupuncture points of the person to be treated, to stimulate them.
• the pulse amplitude, i.e. the voltage U was between 5 and 300 V of negative polarity relative to the body potential.
• the adjusted voltage U can be determined partly in connection with the applied frequency, and also depending on the individual sensitivity of the person to be treated. It is obvious that in some embodiments of the device according to the invention, particularly in the embodiments dedicated for self-treatment for persons without special medical and acupunctural skills, some voltage amplitude values lower than said voltage range, and preferably set to some fixed values must be determined. This lower voltage limit can be sufficient to obtain the desired result. For instance in the case of a given embodiment it is possible to choose between two amplitude-values where e.g. U equals to 40 V, and U equals to 110 V respectively.
• Fig. 2 illustrates a possible output pulse shape generated by the pulse generator 12.
• the time interval between the leading edge at T1 and the trailing edge at T2 was 0.3 ms.
• pulses of different length can be used taken into account that the pulse ratio at a given frequency is preferably less than 50 %. It must be noted that the pulse is negative in relation to the body potential. This has been indicated by the -U designation of the coordinate axis.
• the amplitude value of the applied voltage is to be decreased with the increase of the frequency.
• the relationship can't be exactly determined and depends mainly on the individual sensitivity of the persons to be treated.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrode being the substantial element of the device according to the invention.
• Electrode 30 is formed in a housing 31 made of electrically non-conductive material in which at least one conductor 34 connected to connecting point 14 enters.
• Conductor 34 is attached to a bolt 33 made of metal and fastened in the housing 31.
• Fastening can be carried out in any known way.
• Housing 31 can be provided for example with thin walls, and fastening can be formed for example by means of an intermediate element.
• housing 31 is a solid piece of isolating material, it can contain a longitudinal threaded bore in which bolt 33 can be screwed in, and conductor 34 connected to it can be lead out on the top.
• housing 31 is shown schematically by its outer contours. Connection of bolt 33 and conductor 34 fastened to it can be a pressed or welded or soldered joint.
• another similar element can be formed however the most simple solution is an iron or steel bolt 33 having a large flat head.
• the place of bolt 33 in housing 31 of electrode 30 is designed as to have a circular cavity over the plan head of the bolt after screwing it in. Said cavity is circularly defined by raised edge 35 at the end part 36 of housing 31.
• a disc shaped permanent magnet 32 fits in said cavity. Permanent magnet 32 is fastened magnetically to the bolt 33 of iron or steel material. Raised edge 35 of corresponding cavity in housing 31 prevents lateral displacement of permanent magnet 32.
• the pulses are to be applied to the skin surface of the person to be treated through permanent magnet 32, it must possess high electrical conductivity.
• a further requirement on permanent magnet is the great magnetic field strength, that is the magnetic flux density B at the surface exceeds the 0,6 T (Tesla) value.
• the preferred magnetic flux density B is greater than 1 T.
• the skin touching end part 36 of the illustrated electrode 30 differs from the prior art usual electrodes in that it is not point like, sharp or needle like, but has a relatively large flat front face making possible the effective treatment also in the case when the person making the treatment does not find quite exactly the given acupuncture point on the skin surface.
• permanent magnet 32 should have a sufficiently large disc shaped, plan or substantially plan surface in contact with the skin surface.
• the size of the magnet 32 is the best when its diameter is between 10 and 24 mm.
• the electrical contacting surface ensuring the body potential is disposed on the upper mantle surface of electrode 30, that is higher than end part 36, in direction of the conductor 34.
• a part of the surface of housing 31 can be provided with a coating of metal or of a material of high conductivity, which is connected to the connecting point 13 of the pulse generator 12 by means of a further wire similar to conductor 34, but differing from it. This is not illustrated.
• the two wires can constitute a common cable for the electrode 30.
• the design of the electrode according to the invention preferably makes possible the easy gripping and therefore it can be easily directed to the desired skin surface.
• the frequency and the amplitude are set on inputs F and U of pulse generator 12. In practice a smaller value is to be chosen, and then gradually increased.
• the electrode ensuring body potential or in case of the embodiment with a single electrode the part of housing 31 of electrode 30 where the contacting surface is formed, is held or gripped by hand. With the end part of the electrode a slight pressure is exerted on the corresponding acupuncture point of the skin surface and stimulated for a time recommended in the treatment instruction.
• the appropriate acupuncture points and the selection between them are not in the scope of the invention.
• the active treatment electrode 30 formed with a the described end part 36 including disc shaped 32 magnet exerts a greater effect by the simultaneous use of electrical stimulation and magnetic field than solely electrical stimulation.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Therapy (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Biomedical Technology (AREA)
• Nuclear Medicine, Radiotherapy & Molecular Imaging (AREA)
• Radiology & Medical Imaging (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Pain & Pain Management (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Electrotherapy Devices (AREA)

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• 2000
  • 2000-06-27 EP EP00944117A patent/EP1320404A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2000-06-27 AU AU2000258352A patent/AU2000258352A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-06-27 WO PCT/HU2000/000062 patent/WO2002000294A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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