US4240437A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric massage apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-07-31
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Granted: 1980-12-23
•
Expires: 1998-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for and a method of treatment of animals, including humans, with a pulsating electrical potential that is applied across electrodes placed on the animals. In a first embodiment the pulsating electrical potential has a first characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, for a first period of time and then a second characteristic, again including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude and pulse polarity, for a second period of time. In a second embodiment, the electrodes and their placement on the animal are controlled so that the electrical potential has a voltage-to-current ratio within an optimum range.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles J. Church
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 11:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0452; A61N1/0472; A61N1/18; A61N1/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for treatment of animals comprising: first electrode means; a first flexible member adapted to be fastened on an animal to hold said first electrode means in contact therewith; second electrode means; a second flexible member adapted to be fastened on the animal to hold said second electrode means in contact therewith; circiuit means connected to said first electrode means and to said second electrode means and capable of assuming an off condition, in which no electrical potential is applied across said first and second electrode means, a first on condition, in which a pulsating electrical potential having a first pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, is applied across said first and second electrode means, and a second on condition, in which a pulsating electrical potential having a second pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, is applied across said first and second electrode means; and control means connected to said circuit means and activatable to cause said circuit means to assume its first on condition for a first preset time, to then assume its second on condition for a second preset time, and to then assume its off condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for treatment of animals comprising: first electrode means; a first flexible member adapted to be fastened on an animal to hold said first electrode means in contact therewith; second electrode means; a second flexible member adapted to be fastened on the animal to hold said second electrode means in contact therewith; circiuit means connected to said first electrode means and to said second electrode means and capable of assuming an off condition, in which no electrical potential is applied across said first and second electrode means, a first on condition, in which a pulsating electrical potential having a first pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, is applied across said first and second electrode means, and a second on condition, in which a pulsating electrical potential having a second pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, is applied across said first and second electrode means; and control means connected to said circuit means and activatable to cause said circuit means to assume its first on condition for a first preset time, to then assume its second on condition for a second preset time, and to then assume its off condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: third electrode means; and a third flexible member adapted to be fastened on the animal to hold said third electrode means in contact therewith, said third electrode means connected to said circuit means to be at substantially the same electrical potential as said first electrode means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first flexible member comprises a sock member adapted to be wrapped about a limb of the animal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said first and second flexible members are formed of sponge rubber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which each electrode means is formed of an electrically conductive rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a housing member attached to one of said flexible members, said circuit means and said control means being within said housing member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said circuit means includes a means for varying the pulse repetition rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said circuit means further includes means for varying the pulse amplitude.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said circuit means includes means for varying the pulse amplitude.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes means for changing the pulse repetition rate between said first pulse characteristic and said second pulse characteristic.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said control means further includes means for changing the pulse amplitude between said first pulse characteristic and said second pulse characteristic.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes means for changing the pulse amplitude between said first pulse characteristic and said second pulse characteristic.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes means for changing the pulse polarity between said first pulse characteristic and said second pulse characteristic.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said control means includes timer means activated when said circuit means assumes its first on condition to automatically cause said circuit means to assume its second on condition after the first preset time and then to automatically cause said circuit means to assume its off condition after the second preset time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of treatment of animals to promote healing of injuries and maintenance of sound health comprising the steps of: (a) placing a first electrode on a first location on the animal; (b) placing a second electrode on a second location on the animal; (c) applying across the first and second electrodes for a first period of time a pulsating electrical potential having a first pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity; and (d) applying across the first and second electrodes for a second period of time a pulsating electrical potential having a second pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, said second pulse characteristic being different from said first pulse characteristic in at least one of the pulse repetition rate, the pulse amplitude, and the pulse polarity.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
136 words
A method of treatment of animals to promote healing of injuries and maintenance of sound health comprising the steps of: (a) placing a first electrode on a first location on the animal; (b) placing a second electrode on a second location on the animal; (c) applying across the first and second electrodes for a first period of time a pulsating electrical potential having a first pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity; and (d) applying across the first and second electrodes for a second period of time a pulsating electrical potential having a second pulse characteristic, including pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity, said second pulse characteristic being different from said first pulse characteristic in at least one of the pulse repetition rate, the pulse amplitude, and the pulse polarity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which step (a) comprises placing the first electrode on a limb of the animal and step (b) comprising placing the second electrode on the trunk of the animal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising the steps of: (e) placing a third electrode on a second limb of the animal; and (f) maintaining the third electrode at substantially the same electrical potential as the first electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which step (a) comprises placing the first electrode on a leg of the animal and step (b) comprises placing the second electrode on the withers of the animal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 18 in which each of steps (a) and (b) comprises placing the electrode on a horse.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which step (a) comprises placing the first electrode on a foreleg of the animal and step (b) comprises placing the second electrode on the withers of the animal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 20 in which each of steps (a) and (b) comprises placing the electrode on a horse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which steps (a) and (b) comprises wetting said first and second locations on the animal, coating said first and second locations with electrode jelly, and fastening the electrodes in contact with said jelly coated locations to place the electrodes on the animal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the range of from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per second.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the order of about 180 pulses per second.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 24 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the order of about 180 pulses per second and a pulse polarity opposite the pulse polarity of the first pulse characteristic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the range of from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per second.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 23 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse amplitude of less than about eight volts.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim 27 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the range of from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per second, a pulse amplitude of less than about eight volts, and a pulse polarity opposite the pulse polarity of the first pulse characteristic.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse polarity opposite the pulse polarity of the first pulse characteristic.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 15 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse reptition rate in the range of from about twenty-five pulses per second to about 150 pulses per second.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 30 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the order of about 100 pulses per second.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 31 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the order of about 25 pulses per second.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 30 in which the first pulse characteristic has a pulse amplitude of less than about twenty volts.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 30 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse repetition rate in the range of less than about 150 pulses per second.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 34 in which the second pulse characteristic has a pulse amplitude in the order of about twenty volts.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-12-23 | 1984-06-23 | 1984-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-23 | 1988-06-23 | 1988-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-23 | 1992-06-23 | 1992-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |