Apparatus and method for electrically conductive weight reduction

• US 6,694,185 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin R. Orton
• Original Assignee: Kevin R. Orton
• Inventors: Orton, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US10/215,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20030032985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/40-42, 607/46, 607/48, 607/72-75, 607/142-144, 607/148, 607/149, 607/152-153, 128/898
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process

Abstract

An apparatus that aids in the loss of weight through the reduction of fatty body tissues. The apparatus is preferably in a garment configuration, provides electrically conducting portions and insulating portions configured in such a way that the potential of electrochemical signal messaging system in the patient'"'"'s body is altered. The re-directed currents trigger a release of stored fatty tissues, and a reduction of weight. The electrically conductive portions are configured and provided in a manner that permits safe and effective use. The device may be sold and marketed as a weight reduction or muscle building apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for weight reduction in a patient, comprising:

locating a subcutaneous fatty deposit in the patient;

identifying a first skin surface, proximal to the subcutaneous fatty deposit;

creating a current flow path for an electric charge naturally present in the patient;

maintaining the current flow path for a time period sufficient to cause significant electrically-triggered weight reduction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein creating a current flow path comprises applying a low-resistance electrically conductive material directly to the first skin surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein maintaining the current flow path comprises maintaining the low-resistance electrically conductive material in contact with the first skin surface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying a second skin surface, the second skin surface not being proximal to the fatty deposit, and avoiding application of the low-resistance electrically conductive material to the second skin surface.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second skin surface is proximal to a bone joint.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time period comprises at least four hours per day for at least three days.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising depilatating the first skin surface.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a conductivity enhancer to the first skin surface.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the low-resistance electrically conductive material once the fatty deposit subsides.

10. A garment for reducing weight in a patient, comprising:

a low-resistance electrically conductive material portion adapted to directly contact a first skin surface of the patient, the first skin surface being proximal to a fatty deposit in the patient; and

a support portion adapted to maintain the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion in direct contact with the first skin surfaces 1

wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion is adapted to conduct an electric charge naturally occurring in the patient.

11. The garment of claim 10, wherein the support portion comprises an electrically insulating material.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the support portion is adapted to minimize disruption of a potential gradient running from a central portion of the patient to an extremity of the patient.

13. The garment of claim 11, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion comprises one or more low-resistance electrically conductive material portions, wherein the support portion is adapted to electrically insulate the one or more low-resistance electrically conductive material portions from each other.

14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the one or more low-resistance electrically conductive material portions are located substantially proximal to one or more fatty deposits in the patient.

15. The garment of claim 13, wherein the support portion comprises a plurality of gaps between the one or more low-resistance electrically conductive material portions.

16. The garment of claim 14, wherein the gaps are about 0.5 to 1 inch wide.

17. The garment of claim 14, wherein the gaps are located approximately every 6 to 18 inches, measured outwards radially from a central portion of the patient towards an extremity of the patient.

18. The garment of claim 14, wherein one or more of the gaps is located substantially proximal to a bone joint.

19. The garment of claim 10, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material comprises a resistance less than about 10,000 ohms per square inch.

20. The garment of claim 10, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material is attached to the support portion with user-adjustable fasteners.

21. The garment of claim 10, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material comprises a flexible cloth-like material.

22. The garment of claim 21, wherein the cloth-like material comprises silver-plated woven nylon cloth.

23. The garment of claim 10, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion is sufficiently large enough to shunt enough of a naturally occurring potential gradient in the patient to trigger substantial weight reduction in the patent.

24. The garment of claim 10, wherein the garment is adapted to create a current flow path for an electric charge in the patient.

25. The garment of claim 10, wherein the garment is adapted to maintain the current flow path for a time period sufficient to cause significant electrically-triggered weight reduction.

26. The garment of claim 10, wherein the patient further comprises a second skin surface, the second skin surface not being proximal to the fatty deposit, and wherein the garment is adapted to avoid application of the low-resistance electrically conductive material to the second skin surface.

27. The garment of claim 10, wherein the garment comprises a liquid, adapted to be applied to the first skin surface.

28. The garment of claim 27, wherein the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion comprises a paint.

29. The garment of claim 27, wherein the support portion comprises a fixing agent.

30. The garment of claim 29, wherein the fixing agent is mixed with the low-resistance electrically conductive material portion and the combination is applied to the first skin surface.