Surgery: light – thermal – and electrical application – Light – thermal – and electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-09
2002-10-08
Getzow, Scott M. (Department: 3762)
Surgery: light, thermal, and electrical application
Light, thermal, and electrical application
Reexamination Certificate
active
06461375
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for electromagnetic stimulation of the skin in order to modify a physiological condition or to treat a given pathological condition, and it also relates to electronic apparatus enabling the method to be implemented.
STATE OF THE ART
There exist numerous techniques for treating various pathological conditions by external stimulation of specific points or zones of the body. Presently known kinds of stimulation are performed by apparatuses using a variety,of techniques, amongst which mention can be made of the needles that are traditionally used in acupuncture, mechanical vibration, electrical currents, electromagnetic radiation, magnets, light radiation (non-coherent visible light, laser light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light, . . . ), optical filters, etc.
Numerous stimulation points or areas are used that are distributed over substantially over all of the surface of the body, and in this context, non-limiting mention can be made of the following: the points known for use in acupuncture, in reflexotherapy, in auriculo-medicine, and in podologcial apparatuses.
To illustrate the variety and the state of those techniques, various patents that are representative in this field can be mentioned:
1) The French patent filed on Feb. 10, 1975 under the No. 75 04116 by the German company ELMATRON GmbH relating to “Apparatus for encouraging the healing of cells of human or animal organisms by means of electromagnetic pulses”. That apparatus emits electromagnetic waves at a frequency that is not stated precisely (high frequencies), but in the form of repetitive pulses themselves at frequencies in the range 0 to 1000 Hz.
2) The German patent of Oct. 29, 1975, extended to France on Oct. 25, 1976 under the No. 76 32116 by MESSERSCHMITT-BOLKOW-BLOHM relating to “Apparatus making use of the action of light for therapeutic treatments similar to acupuncture”. It relates specifically to projecting low power laser radiation that is pulsed by means of a shutter at a frequency of 2 Hz to 20 Hz, thereby stimulating specified points (light spots that are about 1 mm in diameter), as determined in acupuncture and giving the same effects as are obtained using needles.
3) The French patent filed on Nov. 24, 1976 under the No. 76 32152 by Mr. Pierre NOGIER, concerning “A method and apparatus for local stimulation by electromagnetic radiation”. The radiation is produced by a beam of infrared radiation that is at least semicoherent, having a fundamental frequency of 73 Hz and including numerous harmonics, and illuminating selected points of the body (unspecified) and no details are given as to the effects obtained.
4) The French patent filed on Feb. 15, 1979 under the No. 79 04486 by Mr. P. NOGIER, describing “A method and apparatus for magnetic treatment of living organisms”. He describes a device of the Polaroid glass type that is suitable for polarizing light and that is interposed between a source of magnetic flux of the magnet type and the organism to be treated; the polarized flux then penetrates deep into the organism without losing its polarization, unlike polarized light.
Apparatuses using that method are sold under the name “POLARTRON” and act on the nervous system to calm pain (ears, scars, etc. . . . ).
5) The French patent filed on Oct. 28, 1980 under the No. 80 23007 by Mr. Christian C. MARET relating to “Light-emitting apparatus having a physiological effect via the skin”. That apparatus is quite complex, since it comprises a flashing light emitter having a period of 2 to 6 seconds, passing successively and in this order through a colored filter assembly, and then through layers of tissue impregnated with dilute active substances.
That device is suitable for fixing to the wrist or the ankle of the user and enables a plurality of therapeutic actions to be combined by an appropriate selection of filters associated with the active substances that are diluted and rendered dynamic by using the methods of HAHNEMANN.
6) The French patent filed on May 13, 1981 under the No. 81 09663 and extended to Europe under the No. 82430023.1 by Mr. Bernard BRICOT, describing “A foot device for treating reflex zones of the feet, and in particular troubles and affections due to rachidian unbalance”. The idea is to stimulate the reflex zones of the feet, and is rather general since the device claimed can cover the entire surface of the sole of the foot by means of a polarizer constituted by at least two plates or sheets of a material having a determined molecular or crystal orientation, the plates being superposed in such a manner that their polarization axes are crossed. That device makes use of the same therapeutic principle as the POLARTRON described in Mr. NOGIER's patent, but without an active magnetic source which is toxic if its intensity is too strong, in particular for use on the foot. The therapeutic results are obtained after several months by rebalancing of the spine and by improvement of various functional disturbances relating to statics.
7) The German patent filed on Jul. 22, 1983 under the No. 33 26 513.5 and extended to Europe, including France, by Mr. Volkmar TETZNER, relating to “Irradiation apparatus for photobiological and photochemical treatments”. That apparatus has a source of ultraviolet illumination illuminating the skin for treatments, in particular dermatological treatments, via a set of filters placed in pairs in a housing, and suitable for being easily interchanged depending on the treatment.
8) The French patent filed on Aug. 29, 1983 under the No. 83 14020 by Mr. Jean Bernard MOREZ, relating to “Apparatus for non-manual stimulation of points of the cutaneous covering known as acupuncture points”. That invention relates to acoustic stimulation modulated at low frequency.
9) The French patent filed on Jun. 17, 1988 under the No. 88 08347 by Messrs. Michel MARIGNAN, Philippe REBOUL, and Philippe SOUVESTRE, relating to “A podological device for correcting troubles and affections of neuromuscular tonus concerning posture”. That device is constituted by one or more films acting as optical filters and placed in a solepiece positioned in register with the reflex zone that is to be stimulated.
10) The French patent filed on May 18, 1990 under the No. 90 06241 and then extended internationally on May 14, 1991 under the No. WO 91/17737 by Mr. Sao VU-DINH, relating to “Portable self-contained acupuncture apparatus”. That small-sized apparatus contained in a housing of the watch-strap type performs electrical stimulation on points on the inside face of the wrist by applying voltages in the range 1 to 12 volts, for a duration of 0.1 seconds to 2 seconds, and at a repetition frequency of 0.5 Hz to 10 Hz.
11) The European patent filed on Oct. 2, 1990 under the No. 0 447 568 A1 by Messrs. Valery LOBAREV, Sergi SITKO, and Vadim LJUCHENKO and describing “Apparatus for therapy by microwave resonance”. That apparatus is constituted by an electromagnetic source operating in the millimeter band (25 GHz to 150 GHz) for stimulating the resonant frequencies of the organism.
Most of those apparatuses or methods make use of respective external active sources, thereby making them more complicated to use (size, weight) and making it impossible for them to be worn on a continuous basis since a power supply is required. In addition, the action thereof can be toxic since the intensity of the radiation can have harmful effects on the organism.
The stimulation is sometimes continuous, but is also often pulsed or modulated by a signal at low frequency.
None of those pieces of equipment has given rise to results that are statistically proven and repeatable.
Several of those apparatuses make use of electromagnetic emissions, particularly in the visible or infrared light spectrum.
Apparatuses of that type are sometimes associated with filters (polarizing or colored) for optimizing the positive effects of the said source, some of which are used directly on the organism (laser, ultraviolet lamp, magnetic field, etc. . . . ).
The fi
Baudry Alain
Marignan Michel
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Getzow Scott M.
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