Pain-blocking bandage

• US 4,398,545 A
• Filed: 06/16/1981
• Issued: 08/16/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stephen A. Michelson
• Original Assignee: Cyclotechnical Medical Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Wilson, J. A. Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US06/274,302
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 128/783, 128/791-793, 128/798, 128/799, 128/802, 128/803, 128/379-381, 128/383, 128/384, 128/389, 128/390, 128/391, 128/420-423, 128/640, 128/207.21, 604/20
• US Class Current: 607/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/24 with built-in power source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A bandage to be applied adjacent to an injured portion of a patient'"'"'s body contains electronic circuitry which delivers electric pulses into the body to block or mask the pain arising from the injury. The bandage includes an inner unit adapted to be applied directly onto the patient'"'"'s skin and an outer unit adapted to be removably applied upon the inner unit. The inner unit includes spaced apart conductive portions which contact the patient'"'"'s skin. The outer unit includes a power source and an electronic circuit which applies a voltage output to the conductive portions of the inner unit. The voltage output is transmitted through the conductive portions to the patient'"'"'s skin to cause low current electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body to block or mask the pain arising from the injury.

Claims

1. A flexible self-contained bandage adapted to be applied adjacent to an injured portion of a patient'"'"'s body, said bandage comprising:

a first unit adapted to be applied to the patient'"'"'s body;

a second unit removably applied upon said first unit;

said second unit including means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit;

said first unit having separated conductive portions;

said voltage output being transmitted through said conductive portions to the patient'"'"'s body to cause low current electrical pulses within the patient'"'"'s body to block or mask the pain arising from the injury.

2. A bandage as defined in claim 1 wherein said first unit includes a container with separated openings formed therein and an electrolyte disposed in said openings to form said conductive portions.

3. A bandage as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit includes first and second electrodes which contact against the electrolyte in said openings when said second unit is applied upon said first unit.

4. A bandage as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit includes a power cell and a circuit, said power cell being electrically connected with said circuit and said circuit being electrically connected with said first and second electrodes.

5. A bandage as defined in claim 4 wherein said power cell is removable and rechargeable.

6. A bandage as defined in claim 4 further including adjustment means connected with said circuit to permit digital adjustment of the magnitude of the voltage output to said first unit.

7. A bandage as defined in claim 6 further including digitally operable switch means which in one position interrupts the electrical connection between said power cell and said circuit to thereby deactivate the bandage and which in another position establishes the electrical connection between said power cell and said circuit to thereby activate the bandage.

8. A bandage as defined in claim 7 further including signal means connected with said circuit to provide a signal when said bandage is activated.

9. A bandage as defined in claim 8 wherein said signal means provides an audible signal.

10. A bandage as defined in claim 8 wherein said signal means provides a visual signal.

11. A bandage as defined in claim 4 wherein said second unit includes

a member having an underside and an upper side;

and

a cover overlying said upper side;

said first and second electrodes being attached to the underside of said member;

said power cell and said circuit being positioned between said upper side of said member and said cover.

12. A bandage as defined in claim 11 wherein said first and second electrodes are formed of dissimilar metals whereby an electrolytic reaction occurs as said voltage passes through said electrolyte;

said reaction providing an added voltage component which is transmitted to the patient'"'"'s body.

13. A bandage as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit comprises circuit means which generates a pulsing voltage superimposed upon a constant voltage with the resultant voltage being applied to said first unit.

14. A bandage as defined in claim 13 wherein said first unit includes a container with separated openings formed therein and an electrolyte disposed in said openings to form said conductive portions.

15. A bandage as defined in claim 14 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit includes first and second electrodes which contact against the electrolyte in said openings when said second unit is applied upon said first unit.

16. A bandage as defined in claim 15 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit includes a power cell electrically connected with said circuit means, and wherein said circuit means is electrically connected with said first and second electrodes.

17. A bandage as defined in claim 16 wherein said power cell is removable and rechargeable.

18. A bandage as defined in claim 16 further including adjustment means connected with said circuit means to permit digital adjustment of the magnitude of the voltage output to said first unit.

19. A bandage as defined in claim 18 further including digitally operable switch means which in one position interrupts the electrical connection between said power cell and said circuit means to thereby deactivate the bandage and which in another position establishes the electrical connection between said power cell and said circuit means to thereby activate the bandage.

20. A bandage as defined in claim 19 further including signal means connected with said circuit means to provide a signal when said bandage is activated.

21. A bandage as defined in claim 20 wherein said signal means provides an audible signal.

22. A bandage as defined in claim 20 wherein said signal means provides a visual signal.

23. A bandage as defined in claim 16 wherein said second unit includes

a member having an underside and an upper side;

and

a cover overlying said upper side;

said first and second electrodes being attached to the underside of said member;

said power cell and said circuit means being positioned between said upper side of said member and said cover.

24. A bandage as defined in claim 23 wherein said first and second electrodes are formed of dissimilar metals whereby an electrolytic reaction occurs as said voltage passes through said electrolyte;

said reaction providing said constant voltage.

25. A bandage as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating and applying a voltage output to said first unit includes a first voltage producing circuit means which generates a constant voltage and a second voltage producing circuit means which generates a pulsing voltage which is superimposed upon said constant voltage.

26. A bandage as defined in claim 25 wherein said first and second voltage producing circuit means are electrically coupled.

27. A bandage as defined in claim 26 wherein said circuit means are inductively coupled.

28. A bandage as defined in claim 27 wherein said inductive coupling is provided by a primary coil attached to one of said circuit means and a secondary coil attached to the other of said circuit means, said coils being arranged in confronting arrangement with one another.

29. A bandage as defined in claim 26 wherein said circuit means are directly coupled.

30. A bandage as defined in claim 26 wherein said circuit means are capacitively coupled.

31. A bandage as defined in claim 26 wherein said circuit means are opto-electronically coupled.