Appetite adjusting tool

• US 6,159,145 A
• Filed: 03/31/1998
• Issued: 12/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mieko Satoh
• Original Assignee: Mieko Satoh
• Inventors: Satoh, Mieko
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Application Number:
  US09/051,041
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 600/9-12, 128/897-99
• US Class Current: 600/12
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/00 Magnetotherapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/06 using magnetic fields produced by permanent magnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An appetite adjusting tool is composed of a piece having, at its front end, a stimulus giving section with a cross section that can be inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear of a person, for providing a magnetic stimulus to nerves which give an influence to the sense of taste and appetite from a predetermined position of an internal wall of the external auditory canal. A magnetism generated from the stimulus giving section stimulates the vagus nerve and the glossopharyngeal nerve, to restrict an appetite and to make a person sense a sweet taste as a bitter taste, to thereby achieve an effective dieting.

Claims

1. An appetite adjusting tool comprising:

a stimulus imparting section which has a cross section adapted to be inserted into the external auditory canal of the ear of a person, and having a magnetic unit that provides a magnetic stimulus to nerves which imparts an influence to the sense of taste and appetite from a predetermined position of an internal wall of the external auditory canal.

2. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein

a cross section of said stimulus imparting section is of a circular shape and a maximum value of the diameter of said circular shape that ranges from about 5 mm to 15 mm.

3. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein

said stimulus imparting section is composed of a non-magnetic hollow unit, and a thin and long magnet which extends inside said hollow unit along a direction of insertion within the external auditory canal and fixed to said hollow unit.

4. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said magnet has an N pole at its front end along a direction of insertion of said appetite adjusting tool into the external auditory canal and an S pole at the rear end.

5. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said magnet has an S pole at its front end along a direction of insertion of said appetite adjusting tool into the external auditory canal and an N pole at the rear end.

6. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein said magnet is formed of one thin and long bar-shaped unit.

7. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said magnet is formed of a plurality of laminated disk-shaped magnets.

8. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic force of said magnet is not lower than 1,000 gausses and not higher than 2,000 gausses.

9. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said hollow unit has a spherical or spheroidal shape.

10. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said hollow unit is formed of one of a crystal, a metal, a porcelain and a synthetic resin.

11. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said hollow unit is formed of cotton.

12. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein said hollow unit has substantially a shape of a circular cone.

13. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 3, wherein said hollow unit is formed with a plurality of small holes.

14. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 1, wherein a rear end of said stimulus imparting section, disposed in the direction of its insertion into the external auditory canal, is connected to a bar member of a predetermined length extending along said direction of insertion.

15. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 14, wherein said bar member is made of a material the same as that of said hollow unit and is integrally formed with said hollow unit.

16. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 14, wherein a through hole for inserting a chain for a pendant is formed at the rear end portion of said bar member.

17. An appetite adjusting tool according to claim 14, wherein the length of said bar member is about 30 mm.

18. A pair of appetite adjusting tools, each comprising:

a stimulus imparting section having a cross section adapted for insertion into the external auditory canal of the ear of a person and for providing a magnetic stimulus to nerves for influencing the sense of taste and appetite from a predetermined position of an internal wall of the external auditory canal, wherein

said stimulus imparting section of each of said appetite adjusting tools is composed of a non-magnetic hollow unit and a magnet fixedly arranged within said hollow unit,

said magnet in said stimulus imparting source of one of said appetite adjusting tolls has an N pole at a front end along a direction of insertion of said appetite adjusting tool into the external auditory canal, with an S pole disposed at a rear end, and

said magnet of said stimulus imparting source of the other appetite adjusting tool has an S pole at a front end along a direction of insertion of said appetite adjusting tool into the external auditory canal, with an N pole disposed at a rear end.