Therapeutic method and apparatus

• US 20040044384A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey T. Samson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey T. Samson
• Inventors: Leber, Leland C., Smith, Robert, Samson, Jeffrey T., Mortensen, Nathan R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,860,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/88
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0001 Body part
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/00 Magnetotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0629 Sequential activation of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0645 Applicators worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0652 Arrays of diodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0659 infrared
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0619 Acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0622 Optical stimulation for exciting neural tissue

Abstract

An energy therapy device is provided that utilizes an array of energy-emitting elements to stimulate Qi energy flow along acupuncture meridians. Energy-emitting elements are activated and deactivated sequentially to produce an energy wave. The energy wave is brought into contact with, or in close proximity to, anatomical sites on a patient'"'"'s body that have underlying acupuncture meridians. The energy wave produced by the energy therapy device stimulates the flow of Qi energy resulting in a number of therapeutic benefits including pain relief, and reduction of inflammation.

Claims

1. An energy therapy device comprising:

a) a substrate;

b) a plurality of groups of energy-emitting elements attached to said substrate;

wherein, during operation, said substrate is positioned such that energy from said energy-emitting elements contacts a patient'"'"'s body, or portions thereof, and said energy-emitting elements are positioned over at least a portion of an acupuncture meridian;

c) a drive circuit in electrical connection with said groups of energy-emitting elements; and

d) a control unit in electrical connection with said drive circuit programmed to cause said drive circuit to pulse said energy-emitting elements on and off in a wave directed along said acupuncture meridian.

2. The energy therapy device of claim 1 further comprising a programming device in electrical connection with said control unit.

3. The energy therapy device of claim 1 wherein said substrate is flexible.

4. The energy therapy device of claim 3 wherein said flexible substrate is made from a material chosen from the group consisting of:

polymers, plastics, rubber, cloth, and fiberglass.

5. The energy therapy device of claim 3 wherein said flexible substrate is a flexible printed circuit board.

6. The energy therapy device of claim 3 wherein the flexible substrate can be made to conform, or is semi-rigid and molded to conform to one or more anatomical sites on the patient'"'"'s body.

7. The energy therapy device of claim 6 wherein said anatomical sites are chosen from the group consisting of:

elbow, knee, shoulder, ankle, wrist, neck, upper spine, lower spine, arm, leg, foot, hand, hip, jaw, chest, pelvic area, ears, and sinuses.

8. The energy therapy device of claim 1 further comprising one or more protective layers attached to said substrate and wherein at least the portion of the one or more protective layers aligned with the energy-emitting elements is transparent or semi-transparent to the energy emitted by the energy-emitting elements.

9. The light therapy device of claim 8 wherein said protective layers are flexible.

10. The energy therapy device of claim 8 wherein said protective layers are textured.

11. The energy therapy device of claim 8 wherein said protective layers are smooth.

12. The energy therapy device of claim 1 wherein said energy-emitting elements are chosen from the group consisting of thermal, magnetic, electric, acoustic, pressure, and X-ray emitting elements.

13. The energy therapy device of claim 1 wherein said energy-emitting elements are light-emitting elements.

14. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements emit light chosen from the group consisting of:

white light, broad spectrum light, monochromatic light, or polychromatic light.

15. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements emit monochromatic, non-coherent light.

16. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements are chosen from the group consisting of light-emitting diodes, incandescent bulbs, lasers, halogen gas bulbs, and electroluminescent sources.

17. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements are light-emitting diodes.

18. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements emit visible light.

19. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements emit infrared light.

20. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein each of said light-emitting elements emits at a common wavelength.

21. The energy therapy device of claim 13 wherein said light-emitting elements emit at different wavelengths.

22. The energy therapy device of claim 1 wherein said energy-emitting elements are arranged on the substrate in an array.

23. The energy therapy device of claim 22 wherein said array is a regular array.

24. A method for administering energy therapy to a patient comprising the steps of:

a) contacting one or more anatomical sites on a patient'"'"'s body with energy from an energy therapy device, said device comprising;

(i) a substrate;

(ii) a plurality of groups of energy-emitting elements attached to said substrate;

(iii) a drive circuit in electrical connection with said energy-emitting elements; and

(iv)a control unit in electrical connection with said energy-emitting elements; and

b) programming the control unit to cause the drive circuit to cause the groups of energy-emitting elements to create an energy wave aligned with one or more meridians underlying a contacted anatomical site.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said step of programming includes programming one or more of wave rate, direction, pulse rate, and treatment time.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said step of programming comprises programming the wave direction to follow the direction of flow of Qi energy in the one or more acupuncture meridians.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the wave rate is variable.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the wave rate varies according to a selected regimen.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising heating the patient'"'"'s body, or part thereof, underlying said light therapy device.

30. The method of claim 24 further comprising cooling the patient'"'"'s body, or part thereof, underlying said light therapy device.

31. The method of claim 24 wherein the energy-emitting elements are chosen from the group consisting of thermal, magnetic, electric, acoustic, pressure, and X-ray emitting elements.

32. The method of claim 24 wherein the energy-emitting elements are light-emitting elements of visible or infrared light.

33. A light therapy device comprising:

a) a flexible substrate designed to conform to a specific anatomical site on a patient'"'"'s body;

b) a plurality of groups of light-emitting elements attached to said flexible substrate;

wherein, during operation, said substrate is positioned such that the flexible substrate or said light-emitting elements attached to said flexible substrate contact an anatomical site on a patient'"'"'s body;

c) a drive circuit in electrical connection with said groups of light-emitting elements;

d) a control unit in electrical connection with said drive circuit;

e) a programming unit in electrical connection with said control unit such that said control unit is programmed to cause said drive circuit to pulse said light-emitting elements on and off in a wave pattern;

wherein said wave pattern is aligned with one or more of the patient'"'"'s acupuncture meridians.

34. The light therapy device of claim 33 wherein said programming unit is detachable.