Soft laser with an integrated point finder for acupuncture points

• US 6,306,160 B1
• Filed: 01/17/1996
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Myles Limited
• Original Assignee: Myles Limited
• Inventors: Nidetzky, J. Leopold
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROLLINS, ROSILAND STACIE
• Application Number:
  US08/587,617
• Time in Patent Office: 2,106 Days
• Field of Search: 128/735, 128/907, 607/88, 607/89, 606/2, 606/13, 606/42, 606/9, 600/548
• US Class Current: 607/89
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/203 applying laser energy to the outside of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00452 Skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0532 specially adapted for acupuncture or moxibustion
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/0644 Handheld applicators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0619 Acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/067 using laser light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/907 Acupuncture

Abstract

A soft laser unit is described with a housing and a skin resistance measuring device for localizing acupuncture points which contains a probe electrode, a measuring circuit connected therewith and a display device connected to the latter. The unit additionally contains a biostimulation or therapy laser unit, in particular for laser acupuncture, and an exit opening for the laser beam of the laser unit with a focusing optic is provided within the probe electrode, whereby in the state mounted on the patient'"'"'s skin the laser beam focus of the laser unit comes to lie generally in the plane of the face of the probe electrode, i.e. on the skin surface.

The soft laser unit can also be utilized in continuous operation as a so-called “laser shower”, without touching the skin, by fixing the probe electrode in the pressed-in state.

Claims

1. An apparatus for locating an acupuncture point by measuring characteristics of skin and for performing acupuncture and biostimulation, comprising:

an elongate housing comprising a counter electrode;

a substantially conical test electrode tapering from the housing to an end portion of reduced diameter and having in the interior thereof a tapered channel terminating in an aperture in the end portion to form an annular electrode surface;

a source of laser light for selectively sending a beam of light through the channel; and

a lens intermediate the source of laser light and the test electrode for focusing the beam of light in a plane coinciding with the annular electrode surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the aperture has a diameter of about 1 mm.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of laser light is a class 3a laser diode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source of laser light is mounted in the housing for selective movement relative to the lens.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lens has a short focal length.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a circuit connected to the test electrode for measuring the skin characteristics and for generating a signal representative thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the circuit measures the resistance of the skin.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising means for rendering the signal perceptible.

9. The apparatus of claims 8, wherein the means for rendering the signal perceptible is a plurality of laser diodes.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the test electrode is mounted for telescoping movement between first and second positions relative to the housing.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the test electrode is resiliently biased into the first position.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first switch actuable in response to movement of the test electrode from the first towards the second position for selectively energizing the circuit for measuring the skin characteristics.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a second switch actuable in response to movement of the test electrode into the second position for selectively energizing the source of laser light.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a third switch actuable independently of movement of the test electrode and connected in series with the first and second switches.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first switch deenergizes the circuit in response to the second switch energizing the source of laser light.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising selectively releasable means for arresting the test electrode in the second position.