Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Electrical therapeutic systems
Patent
1998-02-27
2000-02-15
Kamm, William E.
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Electrical therapeutic systems
607 50, 607145, 607150, A61N 132, A61N 118
Patent
active
06026327&
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to devices providing pain relief by means of electric pulses applied to the user's skin, and particularly to a high efficiency device of this type providing no discomfort to the user, whatever the position of the device against the skin.
PRIOR ART
We already know pain relief devices based on the application of electric pulses wherein the electric current is produced by a piezoelectric discharge. The patent application EP-0214136 issued to Dervieux on Mar. 18, 1987, describes a pain relief device based on piezoelectric sparks. The application head is made up of a double-pole electrode wherein either one pole is in direct contact with the skin and the other one is located at a distance from the skin, or both poles are located at a distance from the skin. When the piezoelectric crystal is compressed, a discharge of static electricity warm electrons occurs and hit the skin, with salutary effects.
According to another type of device, the electric discharges are not produced through piezoelectric components, but through a "relaxing" type generator. The patent application FR-2624748 issued to Kogan on Jun. 23, 1989 describes such a type of device wherein electric discharges applied on the user's skin are produced by a "R.C." type generator.
Other devices of the same type, also based on electric pulses applied to the user's skin, are described in patents FR-A-2.621.827, ES-A-0.603.451 and EP-A-0.387.176.
All these devices comprise a head that must be kept in contact with the skin for applying electric pulses. Since the skin's surface is not flat, it is very difficult for the user to permanently keep the head in contact with the skin. The slightest tilting of the head increases the distance between the electrodes and the skin, increases the pulse voltage and intensity, especially on wet skin or into damp air. This way, one-tenth millimeter gap produces a 100 volts voltage increase, and one millimeter gap leads to a 1000 volts increase. This voltage is doubled if both poles of the double-pole electrode are set back from the application head. Finally, untimely discharges occur on these devices, particularly when approaching or removing the device.
The electrodes used in all these devices generally have a complex application surface with many pits capable of retaining various dirty elements that might be detrimental to hygiene or cause infections. Furthermore, such surfaces are not suited for sticking renewable hygienic protective covers.
Finally, for using the device on wet skins, one electrode must be in contact with the skin while the other one must not touch the latter, at the risk of cancelling its efficiency, and be kept at a distance of about one millimeter from it (that corresponds to a 1000 volts voltage). Thus, the lower limit of the operating voltage is high for this kind of device.
All this contributes to a painful and unpredictable use of these devices, due particularly to the intensity increase when their flat head is tilted against the skin surface, the occurrence of untimely discharges, the bad distribution of discharges that decreases the efficiency, leading to fear and most often reject reactions from the user.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
This is why the object of the invention is to provide a pain relief device through electric pulses that has none of the above drawbacks whatever its operating position.
Another object of the invention is to provide a pain relief device through constant voltage electric pulses, whatever the skin is dry or wet and whatever the tilting angle of the application head against the skin.
The invention relates therefore to a portable device for relieving pain and contractures, and for skin rejuvenation comprising a handle held by the user's hand and a head for applying electric pulses to the skin of the user, having the shape of a cylinder portion whose directrix has a convex shape. The head for applying electric pulses comprises at least one electrode for generating the pulses, located on the outer surface of th
REFERENCES:
patent: 1532463 (1925-04-01), Winterfield
patent: 4033356 (1977-07-01), Hara
patent: 4175551 (1979-11-01), D'Haenens et al.
patent: 4920981 (1990-05-01), Dervieux
patent: 5203349 (1993-04-01), Kogan
patent: 5514167 (1996-05-01), Smith et al.
Kamm William E.
Layno Carl H.
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