Fitted, integrally molded device for stimulating auricular acupuncture points and method of making the device

• US 4,098,277 A
• Filed: 01/28/1977
• Issued: 07/04/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Original Marketing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sherwin Mendell
• Inventors: Mendell, Sherwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowe, James B.
• Application Number:
  US05/763,411
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 264/222, 264/DIG. 30, 264/132, 128/303 R, 128/329 A, 128/24 R, 128/24.2, 128/24.3, 128/151, 128/152, 179/107 E, 179/107 BC, 181/130-135
• US Class Current: 606/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/027 Ears
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/30 Use of anatomy in making a mold or using said mold

Abstract

A method is provided for making a device for selectively applying pressure to discrete selected acupuncture pressure points on the auricular surface of the ear without penetrating skin. The selected acupuncture points are first marked with a marking substance, and then an impression is made by inserting malleable material into the ear. When the impression is removed from the ear, it has a surface which is complementary to the auricular surface and is marked by the marking substance to identify the selected acupuncture points. Projections are provided to the surface of the impression, and a mold is then formed from the projection bearing impression. The mold is filled with a moldable substance, which is hardened; and thereafter removed from the mold and polished as the device of the present invention. This device is preferably polished, provided with an earhole to allow unimpeded hearing, and may be worn in fitted, self-retaining pressure on the selected acupuncture points.

Claims

1. A method for forming a device for selectively applying pressure to discrete selected auricular acupuncture pressure points without penetrating skin, comprising:

marking selected acupuncture points on the auricular surface by depositing thereon a transferable marking substance;

forming an impression of the auricular surface of the ear by impressing on the auricular surface a malleable material capable of being marked by contact with the marking substance deposited on the selected acupuncture points, and applying pressure to the malleable material to form a surface of complementary configuration to the auricular surface, the points on the complementary surface of the malleable material contacting the marked pressure points being marked by the marking substance;

removing the marked impression from the auricular surface and supplying projections to the marked points on the complementary surface to form a projection-bearing surface;

forming a mold having a molding surface complementary to the projection-bearing surface of the impression;

filling the mold with a moldable substance;

hardening the moldable substance to form a solid device having a surface generally complementary to the auricular surface and having projections located in correspondence with the selected acupuncture pressure points; and

removing the solid device from the mold.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one hearing canal is provided in the area of the solid device which is situated opposite the ear canal when the device is disposed in fitted relationship in the auricular cavity.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the malleable material is a thermoplastic substance.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the liquid substance with which the mold is filled is an acrylic resin.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mold is formed by placing the projection-bearing impression in semi-solid plaster of paris, hardening the plaster of paris, and removing the projection-bearing impression therefrom.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the marking substance is ink.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein each projection is sized to apply pressure to a single acupuncture point on the auricular surface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the moldable substance is capable of forming a solid mass in the mold, which solid mass has a surface substantially identical to the surface of the projection bearing impression.

12. The product of the process of claim 1.

9. A method for forming a device for selectively applying pressure to discreet selected auricular acupuncture pressure points without penetrating skin, comprising:

marking selected acupuncture points on the auricular surface by depositing thereon a transferable marking substance;

forming an impression of the auricular cavity of the ear, by impressing on the auricular surface of the ear a malleable material, and applying pressure to the malleable material to form a surface of complementary configuration to the auricular surface, the points on the complementary configuration to the auricular surface, the points on the complementary surface of the malleable material contacting the marked pressure points being marked by the marking substance;

removing the marked impression from the auricular cavity and supplying projections to the marked points on the surface of the impression complementary to the auricular surface to form a projection-bearing surface;

forming a mold having a molding surface complementary to the projection-bearing surface of the impression;

filling the mold with a moldable substance capable of forming a solid mass in the mold, which solid mass has a surface substantially identical to the surface of the projection-bearing impression;

hardening the moldable substance to form a solid device having a surface generally complementary to the auricular surface and having projections located in correspondence with the selected acupuncture pressure points; and

,

removing the solid device from the mold.

13. The product of the process of claim 9.

10. A fitted, self-retaining integrally molded device for stimulating auricular acupuncture points,

(a) the device having a surface generally conformable with the auricular surface of a human ear;

(b) the surface of the device having one or more integrally molded projections disposed thereon in an arrangement such that when the device is in fitted, self-retaining disposition in an ear, each projection exerts stimulating pressure on a selected acupuncture point without penetrating the skin of the ear.

11. The device in accordance with claim 10 wherein at least one hearing canal is provided in the area of the device which is situated opposite the ear canal when the device is disposed in fitted relationship in the auricular cavity.