Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application – Light application
Reexamination Certificate
1996-01-17
2001-10-23
Lacyk, John P. (Department: 3739)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Light application
C600S548000, C128S907000, C606S002000, C606S013000, C606S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06306160
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a soft laser unit for biostimulation and acupuncture with an integrated point finder for localizing acupuncture points, said unit containing a probe electrode generally point-shaped in projection, a measuring circuit connected therewith and an optical display device connected to the latter.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DE-B-2 602 519 discloses a device for locating acupuncture points which is based on the principle of skin resistance measurement, acupuncture points being detected when the skin resistance value drops considerably. To permit the acupuncture points to be reliably defined, this known device is provided with self-adjusting means for the display so as to lay the display in the optimum display range with respect to the patient depending on his skin quality, for example dry or moist skin.
A similar device for localizing acupuncture points is disclosed in DE-C-3 048 358, where two coaxially nested, elastically interconnected and displaceable test electrodes are provided for indicating, in accordance with the position of the electrodes, whether gold needles or silver needles should be used for the acupuncture.
In the abovementioned devices, as in the device according to CH-A-573 747, it is disadvantageous that for performing the actual acupuncture the device with which the acupuncture points have been localized must be lifted off the localized points and the puncture then performed with needles in the conventional way. It is difficult to insert the needles at exactly the sites determined as acupuncture points since when the probe is removed the site of the determined acupuncture points can only be marked approximately. On the other hand the acupuncture points must be kept to with a precision of ½ mm or 1 mm if acupuncture is to be effective.
Further, it is known from EP-A-416 150 to use a laser unit with a diode laser unit for biostimulation of organic tissue, the laser beam being used for performing laser acupuncture or else a so-called laser shower for treating the area of a skin site with the laser beam, for example in the treatment of herpes simplex. With this laser unit formed as a hand-held device the laser beam emerges on one face through an opening within a sensor ring, it being possible to switch on the device only if this sensor ring is in contact with the patient's skin. In the case of laser acupuncture there is the difficulty of previously localizing the acupuncture points, marking them and then making the laser unit act at exactly these acupuncture points.
EP 0 495 757 A1 describes a treatment pin with which the acupuncture points are localized as usual by measuring skin resistance, the display being preferably realized by an LED band, and with which treatment takes place subsequently, without having to lift off the ring-shaped point finder, by switching on an electric power surge or alternatively by switching on a laser beam, the laser beam being produced by a laser diode and conducted awkwardly by a coaxial light guide which absorbs considerable laser energy during coupling-in and decoupling and moreover does not hit in focus. The light energy available on the skin surface is accordingly attenuated by the beam conduction by light guide, so that if a laser of laser protective class 3a (3 mW power) is used and there is no focusing on the skin surface the stimulating effect on the acupuncture point is insufficient in many cases.
However it is preferable to use a diode laser of protective class 3a since no expensive precautions are necessary for operating such lasers. This fact is especially important when the unit is designed as a hand-held device and to be used by the patient himself, who should be able to handle the unit easily and with no problem after being given basic instructions by the doctor.
The laser beam should cause optimum stimulation of the acupuncture point and also be applicable successfully for biostimulation, for example for treating herpes simplex or individual acne points.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These problems are solved if the inventive unit contains a biostimulation or therapy laser unit known in the art which is additionally suitable in particular for laser acupuncture, the laser beam being produced by a semiconductor laser with a wavelength of preferably 635 to 670 nm (nanometers), being focused by a corresponding optic, the focus coming to lie exactly on the skin surface due to suitable measures upon use as an acupuncture laser, the laser belonging to the category of laser protective class 3a, and the integrated point finder, which displays the localized acupuncture point by maximum length of a luminous bar, being switchable to the ranges dry, normal and moist skin to guarantee maximum reliability in the display for the particular case.
The present unit thus combines the function of acupuncture point localization with that of acupuncture treatment itself, with the help of a laser beam, whereby the unit does not have to be lifted off the particular acupuncture point between these two processes. Acupuncture treatment can therefore take place exactly at the site which was previously localized precisely as an acupuncture point, it also being of importance that the laser beam emerges directly through an opening in the probe electrode and the focus of the laser beam lies in the plane of this probe electrode, which is still in contact with the user's skin.
The unit can be designed as a self-contained hand-held device in the manner of a stylus with a built-in battery power supply and thus with no cable connection. The probe electrode further preferably forms a test prod for the skin resistance measurement, whereby the diameter can be small enough—at least on the face in contact with the skin—to permit acupuncture points to be localized with the necessary precision.
The unit is thus especially suitable for painless self-help in case of pain or diseases which respond to acupuncture treatment,and it is also of advantage that there is no risk of infection since no acupuncture needles are inserted in the skin. In comparison with electroacupuncture it is of advantage that there is no unpleasant electric shock, apart from the medically proven fact that excessive load on an acupuncture point by electric current leads to desensitization of the acupuncture point in question.
For reasons of production engineering as well as safety reasons it is of advantage if the laser unit is formed by a diode laser known in the art, preferably with a wavelength of 635 to 670 nm (nanometers). Such a diode laser is commercially available as a small handy unit which ensures an optimal effect for acupuncture in particular at the stated wavelength of 635 nm, since studies have shown that the penetration depth in skin or body tissue is especially great at this wavelength, that is to say, greater than for radiation of a different wavelength. The output of the diode laser can be limited advantageously to 3 mW (milliwatts) so that the laser falls within laser class 3a, i.e. is classified as fully harmless, so that no additional precautions are necessary.
A further safety function is to be seen in the fact that the laser beam diverges greatly directly after emerging from the unit, for which purpose the laser unit is preferably equipped with a short focal length optic. With such an arrangement the laser beam already fans out so far at a very short distance from the exit opening that the power per surface unit is low enough not to endanger the eyes, for example, should the laser beam be aimed directly into the eyes.
Relatively brief action of the laser unit is normally required for laser acupuncture, whereas longer-lasting operation of the laser unit, for example over several minutes, is desirable for other applications, for stimulation or therapy of organic tissue (including the so-called “laser shower”). To allow for both these functions easily, it is therefore of advantage if the laser unit has associated therewith a switching device for touch-key operation or continuous operation alternatively.
An esp
Hormann Karl
Kearney Rosiland
Lacyk John P.
Myles Limited
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