Electrical tongue stimulator and method for addiction treatment
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus for applying an electrical impulse to the mouth of a person having a tongue comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for applying an electrical current to a tongue of a person for treating a substance addiction comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of treating a substance addiction of a person comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of treating an addiction of a person comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus for applying a current to the mouth of a person to treat a substance addiction comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. An apparatus for applying an electrical stimulus to the tongue of a person comprising:
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(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.
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38. A method of delivering an electrical stimulus to treat a malady of a person comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A method of delivering an electrical stimulus to treat an eating disorder of a person comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. A method of treating an addiction of a person comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification