WO2001041696A1

WO2001041696A1 - Electro-static stimulation of human body

Info

Publication number: WO2001041696A1
Application number: PCT/IL2000/000813
Authority: WO
Inventors: Noah Amit; Raphael Carasso; Yaron Har-Shai
Original assignee: Noah Amit; Raphael Carasso; Har Shai Yaron
Priority date: 1999-12-06
Filing date: 2000-12-04
Publication date: 2001-06-14
Also published as: IL133342A0; AU1729401A

Abstract

An adhesive bandage (B) carrying a lining of Silicone sheet (A) is provided, adapted to be applied to the Acupuncture Points of the human body. Friction applied to the Silicone lining causes the generation of a negative electro-static field having a healing effect of the organs associated with the Acupuncture Points.

Description

ELECTRO-STATIC STIMULATION OF HUMAN BODY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to medical treatment of the human body by electrical stimulation of pin-point selected locations on the skin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The healing effect of treating the body through accessing certain pre-selected points thereon is perhaps one of the oldest medical methods. It

started about 5000 years ago in China, known as Acupuncture. The

technique of Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into one or

more of desired points located along one or more "Meridians" (energy paths), followed by certain manipulation of the needles such as raising and thrusting;

twirling or rotating; plucking; vibrating; and others. The effectiveness of the method is nowadays beyond dispute.

The basic Acupuncture theory and technique have been further

extended in various directions that will be now briefly mentioned.

A. Electro- Acupuncture, which involves the application of electrical

pulses, of only a few microamperes, through the needles.

B. Moxibustion. which involves the heating of the Acupuncture points,

using certain glowing herbs or plants. C. Acupressure, which in fact is stimulation of the Acupuncture points by external pressure applied by the fingers or a pointed instrument.

D. Auricular (ear) Acupuncture. This is based on the theory that since the ear has a rich nerve and blood supply, it must have many

Acupuncture points which correspond to many organs of the body.

E. Cupping, namely applying sub-pressure to distinct locations of the patient's body (by placing heated cups), is also believed to be a derivative of the ancient Acupuncture method.

Turning now to a completely different context, reference is made to recently issued US Patent No. 5,895,656 (Hirshowitz et al., granted April 20, 1999), entitled "Gas or Gel-filled Silicone Cushion for Treatment of Keloid and Hypertrophic Scars". The Patent proposes utilization of a phenomena, discovered and studied only in the last decade, relating to the generation of negative electro-static charge by rubbing a sheet of Silicone. The scientific explanation to that is yet unknown, but it has been proved that the application of the electro-static field hasten the inhibitory healing process and shorten the time for involution of the scars.

To this end, the inventors developed an article basically made of Silicone (as defined in the Patent Specification), which is adapted to be placed in close proximity to the scarred location of the body.

It is thus the general object of the invention to exploit the combination of the Acupuncture theory and techniques with the Silicone electric field generation effect, in order to attain heeling not only of the injured skin to

which it has been applied, but to other, remotely located organs of the body as experienced and practiced by the Acupuncture "holistic" approach. .

It is a further object of the invention to provide inexpensive, even disposable means, that will be affordable by the public at large to purchase

and to self-practice the method of applying electric stimulation to selected

points of the body and enjoy the heeling effect thereby derived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus provided according to the invention is, in combination, an adhesive

bandage carrying a lining of Silicone sheet.

The Silicon lining may be placed over a substrate layer, preferably

made of a fibrous cloth such as cotton.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is exemplified, in a non-limiting manner by the following

description of a few preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the

accompanying drawings, wherein-

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an adhesive bandage with Silicone lining in its

most simple form;

Fig. 2 is a section taken along line ll-ll of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a more advanced version of bandage featuring the principles of the present invention;

Fig.4 is a section taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line VI-VI of Fig. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown an adhesive bandage tape or strip B of conventional type, in this example of a round shape. Obviously, the strip may be of other shapes such as square, rectangular, triangular and any other regular or irregular shape. In fact, it would be advisable that the bandages be supplied in different shapes (and colors) within a common packing, where there will be certain correlations between the shape/color and the recommended use as will be explained in the directions-for-use sheet. Such sheet will include the famous drawing of the "meridian" lines of the body, and the points most likely to be effectively treated for a given pain or other suffering.

A lining A, made of Silicone being about 0.5 -1.0 mm thick, is placed at the center of the strip B. The term "Silicone" as herein used should be widely construed, encompassing, for example polydimethylsiloxane or related polysiloxane materials (represented generally by the structure R.sub.2 — Si — O", where R is a monovalent organic radical, including for example, a methyl, ethyl, propyl or phenyl group, among others and which may be several or thousands of -Si — O — units or more in length). The physical properties of the silicones depend on the size and type of the monovalent radical used, as well as the molecular configuration of the polymer (linear, cyclic, degree of crosslinking, etc.).

The use of the bandage B is pretty much the same as of the conventional so called "Plasters", only that they are not applied to an injured portion of the skin but to well-defined locations, selected - possibly by the patients themselves- in accordance with the Acupuncture "map":

Measurements conducted by Static Fieldmeter have shown that after rubbing a Silicone carrying bandage between the index finger and the thumb for 10 times, a negative electro-static charge of as high as (-1) KV/inch has been measured (directly over the Silicone), against a charge of +2 KV/inch that was developed around it over the bandage cloth material.

The rubbing of the Silicone lining A over the underlying skin is of major importance. Therefore, the bandage should not be tight - but rather loosely adhered to the skin, leaving space for relative movement attained by the exercising of natural movements of the person during everyday activities; alternatively or in addition, the users will be instructed to externally apply such friction from time to time. The further advanced example illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 includes a

cotton pad C underlying the Silicone lining A. This has proved to increase the electro-static developed charge and prolong the decay of the static field

(e.g. due to excessive humidity of the ambient air).

In the example of Figs. 5 and 6, the Silicone lining A is provided with a

series of elevated pointed bulges denoted a. These bulges enhance the

Acupressure effect of the bandage, on top of and in combination with the

electric charges as in the former embodiments.

SUMMARY OF CLINICAL TESTS

Preliminary, experimental tests have been conducted on eight patients,

evaluated by visual analog scale for pain, for one week.

Three patients suffering neuropathic pain showed an improvement of,

respectively, 80%, 60% and 50%.

Two patients with tension type headaches and cervical pain - 80% and

70% reduction of pain was achieved.

One patient with postoperative abdominal pain - 60% reduction of pain

was achieved.

One patient with low-back pain showed 100% improvement.

One patient showed no improvement.

In summary, the invention can be described as based on a synthesis

between two different disciplines, namely the Acupuncture method on one hand, and the Silicone electro-static field generation on the other hand, thus

offering a unique solution for the benefit of the public health in general.

While the above description contains many specificities, these should

not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as exemplification of the preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art will

envision other possible variations that are within its scope. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments

illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. In combination, an adhesive bandage carrying a lining of Silicone sheet.

2. The combination of Claim 1 further comprising a substrate layer to the Silicone lining sheet.

3. The combination of Claim 2 wherein the substrate layer is of a fibrous material.

4. The combination of Claim 3 wherein the fibrous material is cloth.

5. The combination of Claim 4 wherein the cloth comprises cotton.

6. The combination of Claim 5 wherein the Silicone sheet is formed with bulging portions.

7. A method of applying electric stimulation to selected points over the human body, such as Acupuncture Points, by annexing to the points an adhesive bandage with a lining of Silicone sheet.

8. The method of Claim 7 wherein the adhesive bandage comprises a substrate layer to the Silicone lining sheet.

9. The method of Claim 8 wherein the substrate layer is of a fibrous material.

10. The method of Claim 9 wherein the fibrous material is cloth.

11. The method of Claim 10 wherein the cloth comprises cotton.

2. The method of Claim 10 wherein the Silikone sheet is formed with bulging portions.