Electrical tongue stimulator and method for addiction treatment

• US 5,792,210 A
• Filed: 06/10/1996
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Environmental Behavior Modification Incorporated, Kira Henschel, Kira Medlin-Henschel
• Original Assignee: Environmental Behavior Modification Incorporated, Kira Henschel
• Inventors: Henschel, Kira, Wamubu, K'uu Lama Sa
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAYNO, CARL HERNANDZ
• Application Number:
  US08/664,998
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/45, 607/58, 607/75, 607/76, 607/134, 607/900, 128/848
• US Class Current: 607/58
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 607/90 Substance abuse therapy

Abstract

A method and therapeutic apparatus for treating addictions and maladies, such as cocaine addiction and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus has a housing with a pair of exposed electrodes in communication with a current source that preferably is a battery. To provide suggestive reinforcement, the apparatus can have an indicia representative of the type of addiction or malady being treated. To further provide suggestive reinforcement, the housing of the apparatus can be constructed to visually appear suggestive of the addictive substance. During use, the apparatus is grasped by a user and brought toward the mouth until the electrodes engage a portion of the mouth that preferably is the tip of the tongue. In operation, electrical current flows through the tongue between electrodes and stimulates a nerve, that preferably is a hypoglossal nerve, in communication with the brain. As a result, cravings associated with an addiction or symptoms of a malady are curbed or disrupted thereby providing relief. Preferably, the cravings or symptoms diminish with repeated use of the apparatus. For an addiction, such as cocaine addiction, the treatment is administered using the apparatus every time a craving for the substance arises.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying an electrical impulse to the mouth of a person having a tongue comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a source of electrical current;

(c) a pair of spaced apart electrodes carried by said housing and which are electrically connected to said electrical source for delivering an electrical impulse to the mouth when both of said electrodes are in contact with the mouth;

(e) wherein said housing and electrodes form an assembly of unitary construction that is grasped by hand during use; and

(f) wherein said electrodes and housing are constructed and arranged to deliver said electrical impulse to the tongue of the person.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing has a hollow compartment for receiving said electrical current source and further comprising a cover for engaging said housing to retain said electrical current source within said compartment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said electrical current source comprises a direct current battery.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said housing is comprised of an electrically insulating plastic.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrodes are spaced apart at least about one millimeter and no greater than about two centimeters for enabling said electrical impulse to be administered to the tip of the tongue of the person.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a label secured to said housing by 1) a hook and loop fastener, or 2) a generally transparent sheet or tube of shrink wrapping.

7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said electrical current source comprises a nine volt battery.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a circuit in electrical communication with said electrical current source and said electrodes.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for switching electric current flow to the electrodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said switching means comprises an electric switch carried by said housing that is in electrical communication with said electrical current source and said electrodes.

11. An apparatus for applying an electrical current to a tongue of a person for treating a substance addiction comprising:

(a) a battery for providing a source of electrical current;

(b) a housing having a compartment for receiving and retaining said battery therein;

(c) a pair of spaced apart electrodes carried by the housing which are in electrical communication with said battery for delivering an electrical current to the tongue when both of said electrodes are in contact with the tongue, and wherein said housing, battery, and electrodes form an assembly that is grasped by hand during use; and

(d) wherein said electrodes are constructed and arranged to contact the tip of the tongue to provide electrical current to the tongue for stimulating at least one hypoglossal nerve of the tongue.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said battery comprises a nine volt direct current battery.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said housing has an exterior surface with said electrodes being exposed through said exterior surface and further comprising the indicia "cocaine" carried by said exterior surface adjacent said electrodes.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a circuit in electrical communication with said battery and said electrodes for (1) pulsing current applied to the tip of the tongue, or (2) oscillating current applied to the tip of the tongue for helping to treat cocaine addiction.

15. A method of treating a substance addiction of a person comprising:

(a) providing an apparatus having a housing, an electrical current source in operable communication with the housing, and a pair of spaced apart electrodes carried by the housing;

(b) applying the electrodes to the tongue of a person; and

(c) applying an electrical current to the tongue.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising stimulating the tip of the tongue during application of current to treat an addiction to a substance that is one of the following:

cocaine, food, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, nicotine, caffeine, marijuana, morphine, heroin, amphetamines, barbiturates, alcohol, and psychedelic drugs.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising the further steps of 1) constructing the housing to appear suggestive of the substance or nature of the addiction being treated and 2) the person viewing the housing before step (b).

18. The method of claim 17 comprising shaping the housing like a rock of cocaine.

19. The method of claim 17 comprising shaping the housing like a package of cigarettes.

20. The method of claim 17 comprising shaping the housing like a tin of chewing tobacco.

21. The method of claim 15 comprising holding the housing by hand during steps (b) and (c).

22. The method of claim 15 comprising during step (c) stimulating a hypoglossal nerve of the person by applying current to the tip of the tongue.

23. The method of claim 15 comprising during step (c) applying current to the tip of the tongue so as to stimulate a vagus nerve of the person to curb cravings for the substance of addiction.

24. The method of claim 15 comprising providing a housing with an exterior appearance suggestive of the substance of the addiction being treated and capable of being viewed by the person grasping the housing.

25. The method of claim 24 comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) upon the person experiencing a craving for the substance to which they are addicted.

26. A method of treating an addiction of a person comprising:

(a) providing an electrical power source and at least two spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with the electrical power source;

(b) urging the electrodes into contact with the tongue of the person; and

(c) administering an electrical stimulus to the tongue.

27. The method of claim 26 comprising during step (a) providing only two electrodes, and during step (b) urging the electrodes into contact with the tip of the tongue of the person.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising during step (c) administering direct current to the tongue.

29. The method of claim 27 comprising during step (c) administering alternating current to the tongue.

30. The method of claim 26 comprising during step (c) administering an electrical stimulus to the tip of the tongue.

31. The method of claim 26 comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) upon the person experiencing a craving for that to which they are addicted.

32. The method of claim 26 comprising providing a housing carrying the electrodes having an appearance suggestive of the addiction being treated and the step further comprising the person looking at the housing before contacting the electrodes to the tongue to associate the electrical stimulus with the addiction being treated.

33. An apparatus for applying a current to the mouth of a person to treat a substance addiction comprising:

(a) a housing having an appearance suggestive of the substance being treated;

(b) a source of electrical power;

(c) a pair of spaced apart electrodes carried by the housing and which are electrically connected to said electrical source for delivering an electrical stimulus to the mouth when both of said electrodes are in contact with the mouth to treat the substance addiction.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising a label having an appearance suggestive of the addiction being treated wherein said label is carried by said housing.

35. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein 1) said electrical power source comprises a battery having a pair of output terminals, 2) said housing and electrodes are of unitary construction that is grasped by hand during use, and 3) further comprising a compartment in said housing for receiving said battery and a pair of electrically conductive wires with i) one of said wires in electrical communication with one of said terminals of said battery and one of said electrodes and ii) the other of said wires in electrical communication with another of said terminals of said battery and the other of said electrodes.

36. The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising means for switching current flow to said electrodes.

37. An apparatus for applying an electrical stimulus to the tongue of a person comprising:

(a) a housing having a compartment;

(b) a battery received in said compartment and providing a source of electrical power;

(c) a pair of electrodes spaced apart between one millimeter and two centimeters carried by said housing and which are electrically connected to said electrical power source for delivering an electrical stimulus to the tip of the tongue when both of said electrodes are in contact with the tip of the tongue; and

(d) wherein said housing, battery and electrodes form a unitary assembly that is grasped by hand during use.

38. A method of delivering an electrical stimulus to treat a malady of a person comprising:

(a) providing an electrical power source and at least two spaced apart electrodes in electrical communication with the electrical power source;

(b) urging the electrodes into contact with the tongue of the person; and

(c) administering an electrical stimulus to the tongue for treating an ulcer, gastritis, heartburn, excess stomach acid, stomach pain, or another stomach or gastric disorder.

39. The method of claim 38 comprising during step (c) administering the electrical stimulus to the tip of the tongue of the person.

40. A method of delivering an electrical stimulus to treat an eating disorder of a person comprising:

(a) providing an electrical power source and at least two spaced apart electrodes receiving electrical power from the electrical power source;

(b) urging the electrodes into contact with the tongue of the person; and

(c) administering an electrical stimulus to the tongue.

41. The method of claim 40 comprising during step (c) administering the electrical stimulus to the tip of the tongue of the person.

42. A method of treating an addiction of a person comprising:

(a) providing an apparatus having a housing, a pair of spaced apart electrodes carried by the housing, and a source of electricity electrically connected to the electrodes;

(b) urging the pair of electrodes into contact with the tip of the tongue of the person; and

(c) applying an electrical current to the tip of the tongue.

43. The method of claim 42 comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) upon the person experiencing a craving to smoke.

44. The method of claim 43 comprising providing a housing carrying the electrodes having an appearance suggestive of a tobacco product that is smoked and the step further comprising the person looking at the housing before contacting the electrodes to the tongue to associate the application of electrical current with tobacco.

45. The method of claim 42 comprising repeating steps (b) and (c) upon the person experiencing a craving for cocaine.