Method of measuring skin sensitivity to electrical stimulation

• US 5,020,542 A
• Filed: 04/16/1990
• Issued: 06/04/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles Rossmann, Tatiana Rossmann
• Original Assignee: Charles Rossmann, Tatiana Rossmann
• Inventors: Rossmann, Tatiana, Rossmann, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis
• Assistant Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US07/509,713
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 128/741, 128/742, 128/743, 128/421, 128/422
• US Class Current: 600/554
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/442 Evaluating skin mechanical properties, e.g. elasticity, hardness, texture, wrinkle assessment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4827 assessing touch sensitivity, e.g. for evaluation of pain threshold
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A method is set forth to detect, monitor, predetermine, and record a patient'"'"'s skin sensitivity to electrical stimulation to determine an individual patient'"'"'s threshold sensitivity to such stimulation. A first application of the invention utilizes a plurality of operators, wherein a first operator manually increases electrical current to an associated patient directed to the patient through an electrode, while the second operator records and charts the response of the aforenoted patient. A further version of the invention utilizes a single operator, wherein a tape recorder to effect recording or response of a patient relative to a stimulating electrical current directed to the patient through an amplified circuit is utilized. A further version of the invention utilizes an automatic step generator to direct current to the patient, wherein the patient utilizes an on/off switch to effect cessations of current subsequent to a threshold of skin sensitivity being attained.

Claims

1. A method of measuring skin sensitivity to electrical stimulation comprising,

providing and positioning a plurality of electrical directing electrode members at spaced orientations onto a preselected skin surface of an individual, and

providing an electrical directing grounding electrode on the individual spaced from the plurality of electrical directing electrode members, and

providing a nerve stimulating electrical amplifier member to direct a nerve stimulating electrical current at a predetermined amplitude to the individual through the electrode member and the grounding electrode to effect skin stimulation of the skin surface whereby the individual is made aware of the skin stimulation, and

directing a cycle of a predetermined impulse and amplitude of nerve stimulating electrical current to the individual over a predetermined time, and

repeating the cycle to provide a plurality of cycles, and

providing a recording means for plotting the cycles as a function of time, versus a current amplitude, and

plotting the cycles as a function of time versus current amplitude, and

wherein the step of providing a nerve stimulating electrical amplifier includes providing the amplifier with an adjustment control to adjust the current amplitude, and

whrein the amplifier member includes a manually manipulatable current amplifier and further providing an automatic step amplifier to automatically increase the current amplitude at predetermined incremental increases and amplitude, and

providing the individual with a first switch, wherein the individual selectively engages the switch to cease directing of the nerve stimulating electrical current to the individual upon the individual made aware of the skin stimulation and wherein the individual engaging the first switch simultaneously resets the amplifier member to permit repeating of the cycle.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of directing the nerve stimulating electrical current to the individual is in a pulse of a rectangular shape and 0.2 milliseconds long with a frequency one pulse per second.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 including the step of providing the amplifier member with a limit regulator to limit the amplitude of the nerve stimulating electrical current directed to the individual.