CA1264815A

CA1264815A - Field producing instrument for the electrotherapeutic self-treatment of pain and insomnia

Info

Publication number: CA1264815A
Application number: CA000465234A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Luciano Bacchelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-10-18
Filing date: 1984-10-10
Publication date: 1990-01-23
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-23
Also published as: JPH0419868B2; NO167845C; IL73199A0; EP0145673B1; BR8405249A; AU572204B2; IT8312019A0; DK496884D0; ES282048Y; US4616654A; ZA848030B; YU45669B; NO844151L; ATE39622T1; IL73199A; AU3417984A; ES282048U; DE3475875D1; DK163141B; JPS60108053A

Abstract

FIELD PRODUCING INSTRUMENT FOR
THE ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC
SELF-TREATMENT OF PAIN AND
INSOMNIA

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

Disclosed herein is an instrument for the electrotherapeutic self-treatment of pain and insomnia comprising a set of three plates, coplanar one with respect to the other and interspaced, the two outside ones of which are connected to the negative pole of a current generator constituted by a microbattery, while the one the generator constituted to the positive pole.
The outside plates and the one in the center define electrode made of metal of different characteristics, the former zinc and the latter brass.
In this way, two different electric fields are originated: one at the surface due to the diversity in the nature of the electrodes and one deep-seated due to the auxiliary generator.

Description

~ 26~
~AC~G~OUND 0~ ~E I~VEN~ION

~ he inve~tiQQ relates to a per~onal u9e ~ield produoi~g in~trument of a ~ew type for the.
elsotrotherapeutic sel~-trQa~ment o~ pain ~d i~omnia, con~titutQd by a very ~mall d ~ice ~hose dimen~io~ and lightne~s are such as to render it suitable to be applied directly, held in posi~ by mea2ls of a pla~ter or anything el~e able to maintain it in clo~e contact, to any painful part of th4 body for an unlimited amount o.~- time both durirlg the day and the night. lhe ~olubion evolved i~, in fact, the ~ruit o~ ambition whereby it be po9~ibla ~or all a;:Ld ~undr;sr to posses~ a perso~al i}~3tr~lment thab ~ into ~he pocket and has the ability to eliminate pains, ~roe o~e from an~iety and depres3ion, o~srcome in~o~ia, cur~ colds and proYide a remedy ~or the anaoyan~e of ~noring, without ~ncumbering leads or oth~r application depende~t item~.
~ hough falli~g with~n the cat~gory of electrio tra~c~t~neous nerve ~timulator~, the i~strumffnt ac~ordi~g to the in~e~tion i~ in no way ba~ed on the same pxinciplo as oth~r instrumants co~tructed to date, nor doe~ it have any of the problem~ that can be seen to arise there with.

-- 2 _ DESCRIPTI ON OF T~: PRIOR AR~ 5 ~ ran~cutan~ou~ electro~t~ lators curre~tly marketed are i~ ~aot, generally constit~ted b~ o~cillator~ or imp~L3e gsnerator~ that ~timulate the nerve~ by ~eans of plate~
re~ted on the skin, are co1nected by wire~ to the generator and with whicll tha folloYring main problems ari3e:
1 . it is not al~ay~ easy for the u~initiated to adju~t the frequency, voltage and currerLt interLsity appropriately;

2 - side e~ect~ that irritate the skin, though attributable to misuse of the i~trume~t;

3 - set, precise and limited periods of applioation for eaoh treatm~nt;

4 _ tediou~ess of the treatment;

5 _ high co~t.
~ urthermore, the dimen~ion~ and the weight of the said electro timulator prevent them from being put in the pocket, while the lead~ runni~g from the plate~ to the geQerator aO not permit unob~erved use in the daytime ~hen others are present.
In additi~ to v~hat has been stated above, tha 3aid plat0~ ca~not be applied properly onto the acupuncturo meridian points, they do not combat an~iety, depre~sion, in~omnia a~d snorm g, and they cannot be applied to the sk1n for an unlimlted period of timeO

~ 2 S~M~ARY OF THE INYENTIO~

~he ob~ect of the in~entio~ i~ not to prod~oe ~ide ~ o~ it ef~ect~ and/to b~ able to be used in acupres~ure or ~Schiatzu" applications, fa~ilitating, wit~ the e~pre~ly ~t~died plate~ therao~, the locating o~ the part of thQ pe~on;using the ~trument ~1 him or her~elf, the clas~ic points in acupuncture, and ridding him or her of the di~ic~lty o~ reg~lating the duratio~
a~d the more or le~ haa~ pres~ure of the fi~ger3 or of the massage prescribed ~or ¢ommon acupres~ure applicatiQns.
l~e instrument in question can be applied to pai~ul part~ o~ the body ~ order to cauoe ~he pain to disappear, dige ti~ to be e~couraged or to elimi~ate abdominal swelling, a~ well a~ to combat ~on~tipation;
it can ba re~ted on an~ part o~ the mu~culature or ~er~ou~ ti~sue~ to remove di~comfort and wearines~; it ca~ be held i~ the h~nd during the day and be applied to the ineide ox the out3ide o~ the a~kle,, or to the ~ t in bracelat ~orm to give back vigour and energy to the ~hole body, Yo~ter co~tact betwee~ the body a~d the mi~d a~d, there~ore, produce proYou~d rela~ation; to o~ercome 3y:~ldrome3 of te~ion, state~ of a~ciet~ houlder ache9 back aohe, migraine a~d ~light hypert~n~io~; to revitalize debilitated hypotonic mu~cle~ r~nd~red weak th~vugh ~;~64~
illne~s or ~ome other xea on, it can be applied to topical parts in order to arouse and enhance virility etcetera.
~ h~ instr~m~nt accoraing to the inventio~
there~ore7 totally di~ere~t from an~ other e~istIng electro~timulator because o~ the highly original principle on ~hich it is based9 because o~ the greatly reduced dim6nsion~ thereo~, beca~se of the s~trema lightne~ thereof 7 becau3e of the application simplicity ther~o~, becau~e of the modest C03t whereby the purcha~c thereo~ is possible for everyone and, above all, because of thc wider ra~ge of th~rapeuti¢ applications. Ev~
whe~ utilizi~g pul~ating ourrent it ¢reate~, at dermal level d~pth, two very weak double eloctromagnetic ~ield~, each of which generated by an electric ~ield.
~ he ab~olute no~elty on ~hich the instrum~t m que~tion i9 ba~ed con~istq, in fact, i~ the production of two very weak double electric ~ield~; one super~icial at corniflable level and the other at dermal level depth, each o~ which creates a~ electromag~etic field. T~ thi~
way, there i~ a union of the effect~ OI galv~ni~m a;rld ~lectrom~g~eti~m with the exceptional and stupefyirlg result~ that a va~t a~Lount OI data ha~ hown there to be.

~6~

~1 An embodiment of the invention is a field producing ~2 instrument for the electrotherapeutic self-treatment of pain and )3 insomnia, comprising a supporting body having a sealing element ~4 made of insulating material, and providing a compact instrument ~5 configuration. A first pair of metal electrocles is supported by ~6 the sealing element at opposite extremities thereoE. A second )7 metal electrode, insulated from the first pair of metal electrodes, ~8 is disposed centrally of the sealing element, and between the first ~9 pair of metal electrodes, wherein the second electrode is made of a metal different from that of the first pair of metal electrodes. A
Ll microbattery having a first pole is electrically connected with the L2 firsk pair of metal electrodes and has a second pole electrically L3 connected with the second metal e:lectrode. The supporting body has L4 a receptacle therein for housing the microbattery.

24 -5a-

6 ~ S

~RI~F DESCRIPTION 0~ DRAWI~GS

~ he in~trument ~orming the ~ubjeot o~ the invention i9 ill~strated on the aocompany ng drawqng~, ln which:
_ ~ig~ 1 3hows a~ example of the electric field~
gen~rated by the in3tr~ment I~ que tio~ on a dermal area illustrated in sec~ional ~orm;
_ ~ig~ 2 shows, in an exploded vie~, ths elements constituting tho i~strument m que~tio~ in a fir~t embodlment thereof;
- ~ig. 3 ~hows, ia a lateral vlew, the elements d~picted in ~ig. 2;
- ~ig. 4 ~how~ the instrument accordi~g to ~ig~. 2 Rnd 3 i~ the a~e~bl~ oonfiguratio~ a~d in a vie~ from above, from below ~nd in sectio~al ~orm;
_ Fig. 5 ~how~, in a longit~dinal sectional ~iew, the in~trument in question in a 9e~0nd embodim~

D ~

Dh~ a~oremention~d prinoiple i~ illu~trated in ~ig.
1 of the acCompa~yi~g tabl~ ~ith a poi~t of applioatib~
o~ a pair o~ electrode~ 1 on an area where at 2 i~

:~Z~4~
indicated the stratum corneum of the ~ki~; at 3 -the ~tratu~ ger~Inativum; at 4 the de~mi3; an~ at 5 the hypodermis.
Dhe bar~ or horizontal plate~ numbered 1 repre~ent, a~ ~tated, tha ele~trodes rested on the ~kin, whila the horizo~tal dashes thsre in between, i~dicated with the letters CES, repre~ent the molecule~ of the electrically activated diaphoreti~ solution.
The sinu~oidal sectio~ terminating at the electrode~, indicated with the letters C~P, shows the hypothetical direction of each artificial electric ~ield ge~erated b~
t~e said electrode~, while the ~ertical black seotions between the 3uper~icial electrio ~ield CES and the artificial electric field C~P at dermal level d~pth sho~
the lines o~ the double electromagnetic ~ield CED that is produ~ed between the t~o electric fieldR.
S~bata~tially, the ~uperficial electric ~ields CES
are obtai~ed by tho electri~ation of the diaphoretic ~oluti~n 9 while the de~p~seated artificial olectric field CEP ar0 produced b~ a battery operated current ganerator that operates in betwe~ the t~o plates 1.
The ~oregoing ~orm of realization i~ shown in a ~ir3t embodiment illustrated In ~igs. 2, 3 and 4 Indicated i~ the ~aid figure~ at 10 are a pair o~
negative electrodes obtained from the terminal part~ of 648~

the bending of a metal bar (that can be made o~ ir~n, zinc ~ nickel or 90me other common metal), while at 11 i~
shown the po~itivs cle¢trode (m~ae o~ gold, br~s~ or ~ome othsr precious metal).
In the center o~ the negati~e elsctrode~ 10 fa~hioned out o~ the bar (that can be pla~tified or in ~ome way have the upp~r part thereo~ in~ulated) i~ placed a ga~ket of rubber or some other insulating ~ateriQl, shown at 12, dest~ned to hou~e in the central part 12a thereof, a microbattery 13, the negative po}e of which i~ placed in contact with the central bend in the metal bar 10 (se~
also ~ig~ 4)~ ~he positive pole o~ the microbattsry i~, in~tead, inserted and placed in co~tact with the po~itive eleotrode 11 aud thi~ turn, i9 ~ erted i~ ~he ap~rture 14a in the cent~r of a support 14 mad~ o~
pdlyethylene or ano~her plastic material or, at a~g rate, on~ that ins~lates.
l~e i~strument is then a~s~mbled b~ erting the ~wo negative el~ctrode~ of the bar 10 into the lateral ~lit~ 14b pro~ided i~ the ~upport 14 (see ~ig. 2) i~ 3uch a way a~ to achieve tho re~ult illustr~ted in Fig, 4.
I~ particular it i~ po~sible, i~ the la3t menlio~ed ~igure, to ~0e: a) a lo~gitudinal ~ectional ~ie~ o~ the in~trument; b) a view ~rom belo~, that i3 to say, th0 utilization side o~ the i~t.rume~; c) a view ~rom above/

_ 8 _ In this 9imple embodiment it i~, therefore~ po~ible to obQarve tkat the in9trument illuqtr~ted il:l, for e~ample, ~ig. 4b, h~.~ the t~o electrodes 10 ~nd 11 separated 0~3 from the other b~ the in~ula1iiQg 3~pport 14 ~ n ~uch a w y that two double electric ~ields are gen~rate~ between the two extremit~ t~rmi~als o~ the negative electrode 10 a~d the central te~minal of the positive electrode 11.
More preci~ely, between the po~itive alectrode and each negative electroae (a~ can be~seen in ~ig, 1), ~hen these are r~sted on the skin, a super~i¢ial circulation of direct ourre~t is originated i~ a very short ~pace o~
time due to an ele¢trochemical proce99 resulting ~rom the different chemical nature o~ the said electrode~ which~
as stated, are made o~ metal ~ho~e characteristics are di~imilar a~d are ~uited to the purpo~e.
~ hi~ ~uperficial electric ourrent CES determine~ the electrolytic di~sooiatio~ of the 3ali~e solution contai~ed in and con~tituted by the ~sat, and thu9 th~ ion~ migrate and deposit their charges onto the eleotrodes (from the positive o~e to the negative one and vic~ ver~a) giving rise to t~o circulatio~s o~ current at ~ur~ace level.
Co~t0mporaneou~1y, agal~ a~ stratea in Fig~ 1, the direct currsnt generated and circulat~Qg between the electrode~, due to the microbattery 13, creates an 64~
arti~icial electric -~leld C~P at dormal level depth a~d thi~ 9 with the preceaing Quperficial electric ~ield C~S, produces a double electromag~etic field indicated with the letter~ ~ED.
In thi~ way, there i9 a multiplication (also on account of the pre~e~ce of the two negative electrodes) of the hyperaemic e~fectQ of the galvanis~ a~d, therefore, reas~orption o~ the product3 o~ eventual inflammatory processes determined by the improved sirculation o~ blood i~ the organism, a~ well as nervous stimulatiQn, highly important for ~olving a ~erie~ o~ acute and chronic inflammatory ~tates, suoh a9 contusions, ~prams, fibro~iti~, arthritls, neuritls and neuralgla; the forogoing i~ addition to the thermal and analgesic effect~, as well as the oon~i~tent.meohanical e~fect, that exert a direction action on the nerves, in a sort of micromas_age produced by the doubl~ eleotromag~etio fields.
~ he instrument in questionj therefore~ e~sentially make3 use, on one hand, of the properties of each element or metallic ~ompound that are called the "normal potential o~ the electrode~" ~hich wh~ di~erent i~ nature and placed i~ ¢~ntact with a saline solutio~, generate a flow of ourrent aQd, in particular, a flow of ionic charges;
on the other hana, the said instrument utili~e~ in the most rational and functional way7 the depth field _ 10 _ generated b~ the di~ference in arti~ioial potential exi~ting between the said electrode~.
In conclu~ion, illustrated in ~ig. 5 i~ another e~ample o~ an embodiment for the instrume~t m que~tio~
wherei~ the said instrume~t i9 con~tituted sub~ta~tially by a~ external containm~t casing composed o~ an u~der~eath pla~tic material part 22 and an upper covering part 20, the lattsr also made of plas-tic material.
Protruding ~rom the top of the said casing are three plates that constitute the electrode~ o~ the instrument, ~nd more preci~ely there are t~o out~ide plates 10 rivated to the c4ver 20, and a plate 11 in the centar that Qonstitues the poqitive electrode.
Ihe out~ide plates 10 are i~terconnected alectrically by me~n9 of a wire 21 and the underneath part thereof is placed in contact ~ith a spring 23 connected electrically to t~e ~egatiYe polo of the mic~obatter~ 137 the positi~e pole of thi~ ba m g placed in direct contact with the plate 11 that c~nstitute~ the poeitive elèctrod~. In particular, it i9 envisaged that the said cent~al plate be removably 9l0tted into the cover 20 i~ such a wa~ that the substituti~Q be possible of the microbattexy 13 wheQ
discharged.
~ umerous modification9 of a practical nature may be made to the in3t~ument according to the i~ention without, s because of this, in any way deviating from the framework of protection afforded thereto, as described herein and claimed hereunder.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Field producing instrument for the electrotherapeutic self-treatment of pain and insomnia, comprising: a supporting body having a sealing element made of insulating material, and providing a compact instrument configuration, a first pair of metal electrodes supported by said sealing element at opposite extremities thereof, a second metal electrode, insulated from the said first pair of metal electrodes, and disposed centrally of said sealing element and between said first pair of metal electrodes, wherein the said second electrode is made of a metal different from that of the said first pair of metal electrodes; and a microbattery having a first pole electrically connected with said first pair of metal electrodes and having a second pole electrically connected with said second metal electrode; said supporting body having a receptacle therein for the housing of said microbattery.

2. Instrument according to claim 1, wherein the first pair, and second metal electrodes are constituted by a set of metal plates, that are coplanar and slightly apart from one another.

3. Instrument according to claim 1, wherein the potential of said first pair of metal electrodes is lower than that of said second metal electrode, the first pole of the microbattery being a negative pole and the second pole of the microbattery being a positive pole.

4. Instrument according to claim 1, wherein at least said second metal electrode is removable in such a way that the microbattery can be replaced.

5. Instrument according to claim 1 wherein the first pair of metal electrodes are formed by the extremities of a centrally U-bent metal plate, which centrally defines a portion of the receptacle for the housing of said microbattery.

6. Field producing instrument for the electrotherapeutic self-treatment of pain and insomnia, comprising a low potential source of current, electrodes made of metallic materials that differ one from the other, connected electrically to the low potential source of current, said source of current having a positive pole and a negative pole, and said electrodes comprising a central electrode connected electrically to the positive pole of the source of current, and a pair of outside electrodes, placed bilaterally to the central electrode, and connected electrically to the negative pole of said source, wherein said source is constituted by a microbattery having said positive pole and said negative pole and the instrument itself provides a receptacle containing said microbattery and comprises an underneath supporting body and an upper sealing element, both made of insulating material and designed to cooperate in securing the central electrode and the outside electrodes and the microbattery as a unit therewith, the upper sealing element being provided at the extremities thereof with a pair of zinc plates that constitute the outside electrodes, and being provided in the center with receiving means for the reception of a brass central plate that constitutes the central electrode and, underneath, is placed in contact with the positive pole of said microbattery.