METHOD AND DEVICE APPLYING ACUPRESSURE AT TARGETED FACIAL POINTS TO DILATE INTERNAL NASOPHARANX PASSAGEWAYS

• US 20200129375A1
• Filed: 12/30/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: James P Viken
• Original Assignee: James P Viken
• Inventors: Viken, James P.
• Application Number:
  US16/730,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20200129375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0192 Specific means for adjusting dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/14 Special force transmission means, i.e. between the driving means and the interface with the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1604 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1607 Holding means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1654 Layer between the skin and massage elements, e.g. fluid or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/023 Nose
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/026 Mandible
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00

Abstract

A nasal dilation device and method of use for applying an acupressure force at targeted cheek tissue to provide enhanced inhalation and exhalation via the remote relaxation and dilation of internal nasal passageways away from the targeted areas. The device may be used to enhance respiration during a variety of activities by indirect dilation of protected nasopharanx passageways. The device includes a support element coupled to the pads to maintain the pads at the targeted areas during use.

Claims

1. A method dilating nasal tissue of the normally inaccessible nasopharynx by application of acupressure at a remote facial acupressure site, said method comprising:

providing a pad at a cheek acupressure point located between a jawbone and a zygomatic bone of a user;

pressing against said pad at the cheek acupressure point with a head-worn spring, with said spring applying an inward spring force through the pad to the acupressure point; and

dilating nasal passageways of the nasopharynx by application of said inward spring force to said pad.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing an adhesive layer between the pad and the cheek acupressure point for securing the pad in place.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the pad is gas-filled.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the inward spring force applied through the pad to the acupressure point ranges from about 0.5 pounds-force to 1.0 pounds-force.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising pressing with an upward spring force, Fz, in addition to the inward spring force through the pad to the acupressure point.

2. (canceled)

7. A method for applying facial acupressure using a head-worn spring and a pair of pads connected at ends of the spring, said method comprising the steps of:

the user choosing acupressure points on said user'"'"'s face located between a jawbone and zygomatic bones on either side of the face;

the user grasping the acupressure apparatus by the spring and applying an opening force to outwardly bias the spring to allow the pads to pass over a portion of the user'"'"'s head;

the user positioning said acupressure apparatus on the user'"'"'s face until the pads are at the acupressure points; and

the user releasing the opening force to allow said pads to engage the acupressure points and to apply spring forces to the acupressure point using the said acupressure apparatus.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising placing an adhesive layer between the pads and the acupressure points for securing the pads in place.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the pads are gas-filled.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein the inward spring force applied through the pads to the acupressure points ranges from about 0.5 pounds-force to 1.0 pounds-force.

12. The method of claim 7 further comprising an upward spring force, Fz, in addition to the inward spring force through the pads to the acupressure points.

8. (canceled)

13. An apparatus for applying acupressure to targeted pressure points on a human user'"'"'s face, the apparatus comprising:

a head-worn, generally C-shaped spring with an opening being expandable by the human user; and

a pair of pads attached at ends of the spring, with the pair of pads being positioned by the human user to engage cheek acupressure points located between a jawbone and zygomatic bone of the human user, and with the spring pressing the pair of pads inwardly at the cheek acupressure points so as to indirectly dilate nasal passageways of the nasopharanx of said human user.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an adhesive layer between the pads and the acupressure points for securing the pads in place.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the pads are gas-filled.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the inward spring force applied through the pads to the acupressure points ranges from about 0.5 pounds-force to 1.0 pounds-force.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an upward spring force in addition to the inward spring force through the pads to the acupressure points.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an elastic strap attached to the spring and adapted to engage around the user'"'"'s head.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the elastic strap is secured to the spring near the pads.

14. (canceled)