Method and apparatus for the electric stimulation of skin receptors
First Claim
1. A device for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, said device comprising:
- a shapable electrode plate;
a plurality of electrodes which are fixed in the electrode plate and extend through the plate, the electrodes terminating, at respective free ends, in electrode tip portions for skin penetration;
stop means surrounding the electrode tip portion of each electrode at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip, the stop means separating the electrode plate from a skin portion; and
the electrodes are electrically connected to a control unit designed to activate the electrodes consecutively, so that when pressure is applied on the electrodes the electrode tip portions will penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, includes a shapable electrode plate (1) through which extend a plurality of electrodes (2) fixed in the electrode plate (1) and terminating, at their respective free ends, in electrode tip portions (7) for skin penetration. The electrode tip portion (7) of each electrode (2), at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip (8), is surrounded by stop means (9) separating the electrode plate (1) from the skin portion (10). The electrodes (2) cooperate with a collector electrode (6) of opposite electrical polarity to the electrodes (2), and the electrodes (2) and the collector electrode (6) are electrically connected to a control unit (4) designed to activate the electrodes (2) consecutively, so that when pressure is applied on the electrodes (2), the electrode tip portions (7) will penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A device for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, said device comprising:
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a shapable electrode plate; a plurality of electrodes which are fixed in the electrode plate and extend through the plate, the electrodes terminating, at respective free ends, in electrode tip portions for skin penetration; stop means surrounding the electrode tip portion of each electrode at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip, the stop means separating the electrode plate from a skin portion; and the electrodes are electrically connected to a control unit designed to activate the electrodes consecutively, so that when pressure is applied on the electrodes the electrode tip portions will penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, comprising;
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applying with pressure to a skin portion to be stimulated a device which comprises a shapable electrode plate through which extend a plurality of electrodes which are fixed in the electrode plate and terminate, at their respective free ends, in electrode tip portions for skin penetration, the electrode tip portion of each electrode being surrounded, at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip, by a stop means separating the electrode plate from the skin portion, the electrodes cooperating with a collector electrode of opposite electrical polarity to the electrodes, and the electrodes and the collector electrode being electrically connected to a control unit designed to activate the electrodes consecutively; the device being applied so that the electrode tip portions penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin; and activating the electrodes consecutively by the control unit at a frequency of about 1-300 Hz, a current intensity not exceeding about 6 mA and a pulse duration of about 0.01-5 ms during a stimulation period of up to about 1 hour.
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23. The use of a device for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, the device comprising a shapable electrode plate through which extend a plurality of electrodes fixed in the electrode plate and terminating, at their respective free ends, in electrode tip portions for Skin penetration, the electrode tip portion of each electrode being surrounded, at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip, by a stop means separating the electrode plate from the skin portion, the electrodes being electrically connected to a control unit designed to activate the electrodes consecutively, comprising the steps of applying the device to a selected area Of the skin so that the electrode tip portions penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin, and activating the device to electrically stimulate the skin.
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24. The use of a device for relieving chronic and acute states of pain as well as itch, for affecting the motor activity of disabled people, or for increasing the flow-through of blood in underlying tissue, the device comprising a shapable electrode plate through which .extend a plurality of electrodes fixed in the electrode plate and terminating, at their respective free ends, in electrode tip portions for skin penetration, the electrode tip portion of each electrode being surrounded, at a distance of about 0.1-2.0 mm from the electrode tip, by a stop means separating the electrode plate from the skin portion, the electrodes cooperating with a collector electrode of opposite electrical polarity to the electrodes, the electrodes acting as cathodes and the collector electrode acting as an anode, and the electrodes and the collector electrode being electrically connected to a control unit designed to activate the electrodes consecutively, comprising the steps of
applying the device to the skin so that the electrode tip portions penetrate the isolating outer layers of the epidermis to stimulate the receptors of the skin; - and
activating the electrodes consecutively by the control unit to stimulate an area of the skin.
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Specification