Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-10-02
Getzow, Scott M. (Department: 3762)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical therapeutic systems
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298265
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of raising and harvesting antler-bearing animals, such as deer and elk.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Antlered animals such as deer and elk are raised on farms in the United States and other countries to harvest the growing antlers. The growing antler, also called the velvet antler, is sold as a food supplement around the world, particularly in Asia.
Pain control during harvesting or cutting of the antler is of concern since the velvet antler has an abundant nerve supply. The two primary nerves innervating the pedicle are the infratrochlear and zygomaticotemporal branches of the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve. Sensory branches of the first cervical nerves innervate the posterior aspect of the pedicle, as is shown schematically in FIG.
1
.
Traditional methods of pain control include injections of local anesthetics and electroimmobilization. The local anesthetics used are those commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. A few to several injections are made around the pedicle (the base of the antler) and near the nerves supplying the antler. The local anesthetic provides a nerve block, which prevents the pain information from reaching the brain. The shortcoming of this procedure is that a number of subcuticular injections have to be made in the proximity of the nerves around the pedicle and then a wait of five minutes must be made for the local anesthetic to take full effect. The injections must be given at the base of the large antlers in a technique that is known as a ring block. Precise injections are difficult, however, since the deer and elk are large and frequently move their heads.
A second traditional method, electroimmobilization, involves placing a first electrode on the nose and a second on the tail or in the anus. The electrical stimulation causes all the animal's muscles to contract, thus immobilizing the animal. The shortcomings of this procedure relate to the stress induced in the animal by immobilizing all body muscles, including those related to breathing. Studies show that the animals appear to experience more stress related to the electroimmobilization than to the cutting of the antlers. Also, the level of stimulation is difficult to adjust so that the animal is immobilized but still the animal can breathe. This method is not used on people so there are no studies on people to determine if this method provides pain control.
A new method of controlling pain during the harvesting of antlers is the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). This technique has been used in people to control pain associated with medical and dental treatments as well as with muscles and joints. The mechanism of action of TENS is most likely based on the blocking of pain at the first nucleus or first neural relay junction. This mechanism is based on the experimental finding of Melzack, R. and Wall, P. D., Pain Mechanisms: a new theory,
Science
, 150: 971-979 (1965). By this mechanism, the electrical stimulation of the sensory nerve fibers works to block pain and prevent the nerve impulses representing pain from reaching the brain. The pain control is most effective when the electrical stimulation is delivered to the area of the pain; this is true for TENS as well as local anesthetics.
When TENS is used today spring clamps are placed at various points on the head. One electrode can be placed on the animal's lip and the other on the ear. Alternatively, one electrode can be placed anterior and the other electrode posterior to the pedicle. Another electrode placement puts one clip on each ear. Then the stimulation is increased slowly over a one to three-minute period until muscle contractions cause the ear to lay down against the neck and/or the eye closes. The antler is then surgically cut and removed. For maximum pain control, the electrodes are repositioned and the unit level of stimulation is increased over one to three minutes before cutting the other antler.
While TENS has proved a viable and effective mechanism for anesthetizing the animals during antler harvesting, the process of attaching and disconnecting the various electrodes is difficult. A need exists for an improved TENS system for applying electrical stimulation to antlered animals that is more effective and more convenient to use than the systems that are presently in use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved TENS system for applying electrical stimulation to antlered animals that is more convenient to use than the systems that are presently in use.
In order to achieve the foregoing and other objects of the invention, an article according to a first aspect of the invention for use in applying an electrical stimulus to the pedicle area of an antlered animal includes a clamping structure for securely attaching the article to a pedicle area of an antlered animal, the clamping structure further being for at least partially for occluding blood flow in the pedicle area; and electrode structure, attached to the clamping structure, for establishing electrical contact with the pedicle area when the clamping structure is attached to the pedicle area.
According to a second aspect of the invention, a system for anesthetizing a pedicle area of an antlered animal includes generator structure for generating an electrical current that is suitable for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of a pedicle area of an antlered animal; clamping structure for securely attaching to a pedicle area of an antlered animal; and electrode structure, attached to the clamping structure and in communication with the generator structure, for establishing electrical contact with the pedicle area when the clamping structure is attached to he pedicle area.
According to a third aspect of the invention, a system for stimulating the growth and quality of an antler on an antlered animal includes generator structure for generating an electrical current that is suitable for promoting increased flow of blood within a pedicle area of an antlered animal; clamping structure for securely attaching to a pedicle area of an antlered animal; and electrode structure, attached to the clamping structure and in communication with the generator structure, for establishing electrical contact with the pedicle area when the clamping structure is attached to the pedicle area.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a process of anesthetizing a pedicle area of an antlered animal through the use of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) includes steps of (a) clamping an article that has at least one electrode mounted thereon to the pedicle area in such a manner as to additionally restrict blood flow through the pedicle area; and (b) applying a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation current to the pedicle area via the electrode.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, a process of stimulating blood flow through a pedicle area of an antlered animal includes steps of (a) securing an article that has at least one electrode mounted thereon to a pedicle area of an antlered animal such that the electrode is placed into electrical contact with the pedicle area; and (b) applying a electrical stimulation current to the pedicle area via the electrode.
These and various other advantages and features of novelty that characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, its advantages, and the objects obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4014323 (1977-03-01), Gilmer et al.
patent: 4781197 (1988-11-01), Fukuda
patent: 5366489 (1994-11-01), Burgio et al.
patent: 5496363 (1996-03-01), Burgio et al.
Melzack, R. and P.D. Wall, Pain mechani
Getzow Scott M.
Knoble & Yoshida LLC
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