Method of blood pressure moderation

• US 6,393,324 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Reliefband Medical Technology 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:
  US09/767,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020177A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 128/907, 600/548, 606/204, 607/44, 607/46, 607/149
• 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 for moderating blood pressure in a patient comprising non-invasively stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-invasively stimulating comprises non-invasively electrically stimulating.

3. A method of moderating blood pressure in a patient with abnormal blood pressure;

said method comprising;

mounting a non-invasive stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the stimulating comprises electrically stimulating.

5. A method of moderating blood pressure in a patient with abnormal blood pressure;

said method comprising;

mounting a non-invasive stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point;

generating a stimulation signal; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

6. A method of moderating blood pressure in a patient comprising the steps of:

mounting at least one electrode onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point;

generating a stimulation signal; and

delivering the stimulation signal to the at least one electrode to stimulate the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the mounting step comprises:

providing a wristwatch-like housing carrying the at least one electrode and a circuit for generating the stimulation signal; and

providing securing means for mounting the at least one electrode near the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said delivering step comprises delivering an intermittent stimulation signal.

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

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

mounting a non-invasive stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

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

applying an electro-acupuncture device to the pericardium-6 acupuncture point; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point with the electro-acupuncture device.

12. A method for reducing the blood pressure in a patient with high blood pressure comprising the steps of:

mounting a non-invasive electrical stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point;

generating an electrical stimulation signal; and

delivering the electrical stimulation signal to the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

13. A method for increasing the blood pressure in a patient with low blood pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

mounting a non-invasive stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.

14. A method for increasing the blood pressure in a patient with low blood pressure, said method comprising the steps of:

applying an electro-acupuncture device to the pericardium-6 acupuncture point; and

stimulating the pericardium-6 acupuncture point with the electro-acupuncture device.

15. A method for increasing the blood pressure in a patient with low blood pressure comprising the steps of:

mounting a non-invasive electrical stimulation device onto the pericardium-6 acupuncture point;

generating an electrical stimulation signal; and

delivering the electrical stimulation signal to the pericardium-6 acupuncture point.