US3908669A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for use by physicians in acupuncture research
Assignee: AMERICAN ACUPUNCTURE MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-17
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1993-12-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for use in research into acupuncture anesthesia or analgesia and other acupuncture therapy having means to vary the amplitude, frequency and amperage of electrical impulses applied to pairs of acupuncture needles. A frequency variable relaxation oscillator is utilized to trigger at selectively variable intervals of time a monostable multivibrator which determines the output pulse interval. The multivibrator output pulse train is shaped and amplified before being applied to a separate pulse generator and isolation transformer for each output channel to generate the output waveform. Each channel includes an attenuator which is used to vary the amplitude of the output waveform and thereby vary the output current. Each channel is also protected against power surges thereby limiting the maximum output current. The output waveform which has been found to produce the most effective results is a steep positive-going pulse having a generally rounded crown followed in 0.5 millisecond by a steep negative-going pulse of approximately the same magnitude of negative voltage and abruptly decaying exponentially to zero in about the same time interval.
Inventors
- 👤 Pang L Man
- 👤 Calvin H Chen
- 👤 William T Donofrio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:25
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for generating electrical impulses to be applied to acupuncture needles placed in selected portions of the body, comprising: means for generating a train of trigger pulses; means for responsive to each of said trigger pulses for generating a control pulse having a pulse width of a predetermined time interval; means responsive to each of said control pulses for generating an output pulse having a first portion of one polarity with a steep leading edge and a generally rounded crown initiated at the origin of said predetermined time interval and a second portion of the opposite polarity with a steep leading edge initiated at the end of said predetermined time interval; and means connecting said output pulse generating means to the acupuncture needles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus for generating electrical impulses to be applied to acupuncture needles placed in selected portions of the body, comprising: means for generating a train of trigger pulses; means for responsive to each of said trigger pulses for generating a control pulse having a pulse width of a predetermined time interval; means responsive to each of said control pulses for generating an output pulse having a first portion of one polarity with a steep leading edge and a generally rounded crown initiated at the origin of said predetermined time interval and a second portion of the opposite polarity with a steep leading edge initiated at the end of said predetermined time interval; and means connecting said output pulse generating means to the acupuncture needles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said second output pulse portion has an exponential, rapidly decaying form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said trigger pulse generating means includes means for varying the rate of generation of said trigger pulses.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said rate varying means limits the rate of generation of said trigger pulse generating means to a range of 2 to 150 hertz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 including means responsive to said control pulses for generating an audible representation of said rate of generation of said trigger pulses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating a train of trigger pulses is a relaxation oscillator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 including a source of direct current power having positive and negative terminals and wherein said relaxation oscillator includes a unijunction transistor having a first base connected to said negative terminal, a second base connected to said positive terminal and an emitter; a resistor connected between said positive terminal and said emitter; and a capacitor connected between said negative terminal and said emitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating control pulses is a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating output pulses includes means for limiting output current below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said limiting means includes a Darlington pair amplifier.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said limiting means limits said output current below approximately 50 microamps.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating output pulses includes means for protecting against power surges.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for generating output pulses includes an isolation transformer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for generating output pulses includes attenuator means connected in parallel with the secondary winding of said isolation transformer for varying the amplitude of said output pulses.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said attenuator means is a resistor having an adjustable tap point.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for generating electrical impulses to be applied to acupuncture needles placed in selected portions of the body, comprising: means for generating a train of trigger pulses; means responsive to each of said trigger pulses for generating a control pulse having a pulse width of a predetermined time interval; a plurality of means each responsive to each of said control pulses for generating output pulses having a first portion of one polarity with a steep leading edge and a generally rounded crown initiated at the origin of said predetermined time interval and a second portion of the opposite polarity with a steep leading edge initiated at the end of said predetermined time interval; and means connecting said output pulse generating means to the acupuncture needles.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
126 words
An apparatus for generating electrical impulses to be applied to acupuncture needles placed in selected portions of the body, comprising: means for generating a train of trigger pulses; means responsive to each of said trigger pulses for generating a control pulse having a pulse width of a predetermined time interval; a plurality of means each responsive to each of said control pulses for generating output pulses having a first portion of one polarity with a steep leading edge and a generally rounded crown initiated at the origin of said predetermined time interval and a second portion of the opposite polarity with a steep leading edge initiated at the end of said predetermined time interval; and means connecting said output pulse generating means to the acupuncture needles.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said trigger pulse generating means includes means for varying the rate of generation of said trigger pulses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said means for generating control pulses is a monostable multivibrator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 including means responsive to said control pulses for generating an audible representation of said rate of generation of said trigger pulses.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said plurality of means for generating output pulses includes first, second and third output channels.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first, second and third output channels each include means for limiting output current below a predetermined maximum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said first, second and third output channels each include attenuator means for individually varying the amplitude of said output pulses.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said plurality of means for generating ooutput pulses includes first, second and third output channels each having means for protecting against power surges.
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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) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |