Hand pressure device to diminish gag reflex response

• US 8,808,324 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2009
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miami University
• Original Assignee: Miami University
• Inventors: Van Kuren, Michael Bailey, Scarborough, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): Erezo, Darwin
• Assistant Examiner(s): STRANSKY, KATRINA MARIE
• Application Number:
  US12/471,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 606201-204, 601/84, 601/134, 601122-126, 601/46, 601/78, 601/79, 601/81, 601/97, 601/101, 601/107, 601/108, 607/2, 607/115, 600/15, 600/554, 310/23, 602/21, 602/22
• US Class Current: 606/201
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1325 with means for applying local pressure pressure pads A61F5/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/065 Hands
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/00 Devices for locating or stimulating specific reflex points of the body for physical therapy, e.g. acupuncture chiropodists' instruments A61B17/54; for radiation therapy A61N5/0619
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/04 Devices for pressing such points, e.g. Shiatsu or AcupressureMassage or pressure on general areas A61H9/00 - A61H23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/001 without substantial movement between the skin and the device

Abstract

A method and device for reducing gag reflex by applying pressure to a pressure point in the palm of the hand. A splint that holds the hand relatively immobile has a rigid member and an actuating pressure system, such as a solenoid, at the pressure point. The rigid member at least partially immobilizes the human user'"'"'s palm and fingers. The actuating pressure system is mounted at an inner side of the volar side of the enclosure adjacent to a pressure region of the palm. A power supply is connected to the actuating pressure system to apply an electrical current to the pressure system, which exerts pressure to the pressure region of the user'"'"'s palm in order to diminish or normalize the user'"'"'s gag reflex response.

Claims

1. A hand pressure device for diminishing a human user'"'"'s gag reflex response, comprising:

a. an enclosure having a dorsal member, a volar member, the volar member having a palm support region, a finger support region, and an opening in the palm support region;

wherein the palm support region comprises at least one substantially rigid member adapted to immobilize a palm of the user;

b. an actuating pressure system mounted on or in the opening of the palm support region so that the actuating pressure system is adjacent to a pressure region of the palm and is able to convert energy into linear motion to apply a pressure force consistently at about 1 lb or above to the pressure region of the palm, wherein the pressure region of the palm is a 1.0 inch generally circular region fading from each direction of a pressure point located at a middle of the palm at an intersection of two straight lines substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein one line extends from a middle of a volar distal edge of an intermediate phalange of a third finger to the middle of the palm and the other line extends from a volar center of a proximal phalange of a thumb to the middle of the palm; and

c. a power supply connected to the actuating pressure system, wherein the power supply provides an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to enable the actuating pressure system to exert a consistent pressure to the pressure region of the palm only in order to diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating pressure system is a voice coil actuating cylinder system, comprising a voice coil actuator attached to a pressure cylinder.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the enclosure is a splint adapted to conform to a palm region of the user'"'"'s hand and to extend over at least one portion of the user'"'"'s fingers, comprising:

a. a volar member,

b. a dorsal member, and

c. an opening at the volar side of the volar member sized to allow the voice coil actuating cylinder system to be removably mounted in the opening wherein the pressure cylinder protrudes slightly out of the inner side of the volar member adjacent to the pressure region of the palm.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a first strap adapted to at least partially immobilize the fingers and a second strap with a fastener system to conform the enclosure to a wrist or a lower portion of the hand to provide support to the enclosure.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure region is a 0.5 inch general circular region fading from each direction of the pressure point.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure region is the pressure point.

8. The device according to claim 3, wherein the voice coil actuator comprises a coil attached to the pressure cylinder, and a housing enclosing both the coil and the pressure cylinder, wherein the electrical current from the power source causes the housing to move relative to the fixed coil to enable the cylinder to exert pressure to the pressure region.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the voice coil actuator is a solenoid capable of converting electrical energy into linear motion so as to actuate the pressure cylinder.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the solenoid is capable of precise force control and being used in short stroke close loop servo applications.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the solenoid is capable of actuating a peak force of at least about 2 lbs.

12. The device according to claim 3, where the pressure cylinder is formed of plastic material.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the pressure cylinder is not more than 1.0 inch in length and not more than 1.2 inches in diameter.

2. A hand pressure device for diminishing a human user'"'"'s gag reflex response, comprising:

a. an enclosure having

i. a dorsal member,

ii. a volar member, the volar member having a palm support region and a finger support region, and

iii. an opening in the palm support region, which is adjacent to a pressure region of the palm, wherein the pressure region is a 1.0 inch generally circular region fading from each direction of a pressure point located at a middle of the palm at an intersection of two straight lines substantially perpendicular to each other;

wherein one line extends from a middle of a volar distal edge of an intermediate phalange of a third finger to the middle of the palm, and the other line extends from a volar center of a proximal phalange of a thumb to the middle of the palm;

 

wherein the palm support region comprises at least one substantially rigid member adapted to immobilize the palm;

b. an actuating pressure system having a pressure cylinder, wherein the actuating pressure system is mounted in the opening of the palm support region so that the pressure cylinder protrudes slightly out of the opening to convert energy into linear motion to apply a constant pressure directly on the pressure region of the palm, and the pressure is consistently at about 1 lb or above; and

c. a power supply connected to the actuating pressure system, wherein the power supply provides an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to enable the actuating pressure system to exert a consistent pressure of about 1 lb or above to the pressure region of the palm only in order to diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response.

22. The device according to claim 2, wherein the solenoid is capable of actuating a peak force of at least about 2 lbs.

23. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pressure cylinder is not more than 1.0 inch in length and not more than 1.2 inches in diameter.

24. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a first strap adapted to at least partially immobilize the fingers and a second strap with a fastener system to conform the enclosure to a wrist or a lower portion of the hand to provide support to the enclosure.

25. The device according to claim 2, wherein the pressure region is a 0.5 inch general circular region fading from each direction of the pressure point.

14. A method of using a hand pressure device for diminishing gag reflex response, the method comprising:

a. providing a hand pressure device comprising

i. an enclosure surrounding at least a portion of a human user'"'"'s hand, said enclosure having a palm support region with at least one substantially rigid member adapted to immobilize the user'"'"'s palm;

ii. an actuating pressure system mounted at an inner surface of a volar side of the enclosure, and the actuating pressure system is able to convert energy into linear motion to apply a constant pressure force at about 1 lb or above a pressure region of the palm, which a 1.0 inch generally circular region fading from each direction of a pressure point located at a middle of the palm at an intersection of two straight lines substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein one line extends from a middle of a volar distal edge of an intermediate phalange of a third finger to the middle of the palm and the other line extends from a volar center of a proximal phalange of a thumb to the middle of the palm; and

iii. a power supply connected to the actuating pressure system, wherein the power supply provides an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to exert pressure to the pressure region of the palm in order to diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response;

b. disposing the hand pressure device onto a hand of a user;

c. positioning the actuating pressure system against the pressure region of the palm;

d. securing the hand pressure device to the hand, thereby immobilizing the palm region of the hand; and

e. applying an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to exert pressure to the pressure region only and thereby diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pressure region is the pressure point.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step e further comprises increasing the pressure exerted onto the pressure region to at least about 2 lbs.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising a step of stopping the application of the force to the pressure region of the palm for fifteen to thirty minutes and then a subsequent step of reapplying an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to enable it to exert another pressure force on the pressure region.

18. A method of using a hand pressure device for diminishing gag reflex response, the method comprising:

a. providing a hand pressure device comprising

i. an enclosure for surrounding at least a portion of a human user'"'"'s hand, said enclosure having a palm support region with at least one substantially rigid member adapted to immobilize the user'"'"'s palm;

ii. an actuating pressure system mounted at an inner surface of a volar side of the enclosure, and the actuating pressure system is able to convert energy into a linear motion to apply a constant pressure force at about 1 lb or above to a pressure region of the palm, which is a 1.0 inch generally circular region fading from each direction of a pressure point located at a middle of the palm at an intersection of two straight lines substantially perpendicular to each other, wherein one line extends from a middle of a volar distal edge of an intermediate phalange of a third finger to the middle of the palm and the other line extends from a volar center of a proximal phalange of a thumb to the middle of the palm; and

iii. a power supply connected to the actuating pressure system, wherein the power supply provides an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to exert pressure to the pressure region of the palm in order to diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response;

b. positioning the actuating pressure system against the pressure region of the palm;

c. mounting the actuating pressure system onto the inner side of the volar side of the enclosure adjacent to the pressure region of the palm;

d. fitting the hand pressure device onto the hand;

e. securing the hand pressure device to immobilize the palm region of the hand; and

f. applying an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to exert pressure to the pressure region only so as to diminish the user'"'"'s gag reflex response.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the pressure region is the pressure point.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step f further comprises increasing the pressure exerted onto the pressure region to at least about 2 lbs.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising a step of stopping the application of the force to the pressure region of the palm for fifteen to thirty minutes and then a subsequent step of reapplying an electrical current to the actuating pressure system to enable it to exert another pressure force on the pressure region.