Method of blood pressure moderation

• US 6,178,352 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ReliefBand Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Woodside Biomedical, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Grey, Thomas L., Gruzdowich, Gregory J., Swenson, David D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US09/307,272
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 607/44, 606/204, 600/554
• US Class Current: 607/44
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36117 for treating hypertension
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/907 Acupuncture

Abstract

A method of controlling the blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure or low blood pressure utilizing a non-invasive nerve stimulation device applied to the wrist.

Claims

1. A method of moderating blood pressure in a patient with abnormal blood pressure, said method comprising:

mounting a non-invasive nerve stimulation device onto the ventral side of the patient'"'"'s wrist;

generating a stimulation signal; and

delivering the stimulation signal to the ventral side of the wrist to moderate blood pressure of the patient.

2. A method of reducing blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a non-invasive nerve stimulation device onto the ventral side of the wrist;

generating a stimulation signal;

delivering the stimulation signal to the ventral side of the wrist to reduce blood pressure in a patient.

3. A method of moderating blood pressure in a patient with high or low blood pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting at least one electrode onto the ventral side of the wrist;

generating a stimulation signal; and

delivering the stimulation signal to said at least one electrode to stimulate the ventral side of the wrist to moderate blood pressure in a patient.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said mounting step includes providing a wristwatch-like housing carrying the electrodes, and providing securing means for mounting the housing onto the wrist, with the housing having a circuit means for generating the stimulation signal encased within the housing.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said delivering step comprises delivering an intermittent stimulation signal.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein said delivering step comprises delivering a continuous stimulation signal.

7. A method of controlling the blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure by remotely stimulating the patient'"'"'s median nerve and associated nerve structures with electrical energy.

8. A method of controlling the blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure comprising the steps of:

mounting a non-invasive nerve stimulation device onto the wrist;

generating an electrical stimulation signal; and

delivering the electrical stimulation signal to the wrist.

9. A method of controlling the blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

applying an electro-acupuncture device to the wrist;

stimulating the wrist with the electro-acupuncture device.