Patent US3938526A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3938526A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical acupuncture needle heater
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-20
•
Granted: 1976-02-17
•
Expires: 1994-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for electrically heating an acupuncture needle that has been inserted into a subject is disclosed. An applicator unit contains an electrical heating element thermally coupled to an acupuncture needle and directly to the skin adjacent to the acupuncture needle. Regulation and control of the heat supplied by the applicator unit is achieved through the control of electrical power supplied to the heating element. Either temperature or power control can be selected, and temperature indication is provided. In use, after the acupuncture needle has been inserted through the subject's skin, the applicator unit is attached to the acupuncture needle and regulated electrical power is applied to produce controlled heat.
Inventors
- 👤 Weston A. Anderson
- 👤 Bruce E. Waller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:46
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61H; A61H39/00; A61H39/06; A61H39/08; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/907
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of heating an inserted acupuncture needle comprising the steps of: thermally coupling said acupuncture needle to an electrical heating means, detachably coupling said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle for support and positioning, of said electrical heating means by said needle, supplying electrical power to said electrical heating means thereby to generate heat, controlling said electrical power supplied to said electrical heating means to control the amount of heat generated.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
73 words
The method of heating an inserted acupuncture needle comprising the steps of: thermally coupling said acupuncture needle to an electrical heating means, detachably coupling said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle for support and positioning, of said electrical heating means by said needle, supplying electrical power to said electrical heating means thereby to generate heat, controlling said electrical power supplied to said electrical heating means to control the amount of heat generated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of controlling said electrical power comprises changing said electrical power in response to the temperature of said acupuncture needle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of indicating temperature of said acupuncture needle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of supplying heat to the skin adjacent to said inserted acupuncture needle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of thermally coupling said electrical heating means to the skin adjacent to said inserted acupuncture needle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 including the step of mechanically clamping said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
54 words
The method of heating a plurality of inserted acupuncture needles comprising the steps of: thermally coupling each said acupuncture needle to a separate electrical heating means, detachably supporting each of said electrical heating means by each of said acupuncture needles, separately supplying and controlling electrical power to each of said separate electrical heating means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
54 words
The method of heating a plurality of inserted acupuncture needles comprising the steps of: thermally coupling each said acupuncture needle to a separate electrical heating means, detachably supporting each of said electrical heating means by each of said acupuncture needles, separately supplying and controlling electrical power to each of said separate electrical heating means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 7 including the step of supplying heat to the skin adjacent to each of said inserted acupuncture needles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
71 words
An instrument for acupuncture therapy of animal tissue comprising: an acupuncture needle, electrical heating means for thermally supplying heat to said acupuncture needle, means mechanically detachably coupling said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle for supporting and positioning of said electrical heating means by said needle, and regulating means for regulating the amount of heat supplied by said heating means to said acupuncture needle for supply to said animal tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
An instrument for acupuncture therapy of animal tissue comprising: an acupuncture needle, electrical heating means for thermally supplying heat to said acupuncture needle, means mechanically detachably coupling said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle for supporting and positioning of said electrical heating means by said needle, and regulating means for regulating the amount of heat supplied by said heating means to said acupuncture needle for supply to said animal tissue.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including a thermal coupling means for providing a thermal pathway between said acupuncture needle and said electrical heating means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said electrical heating means comprises resistance wire wound upon an electrically insulating tube, and said thermal coupling means comprises said electrically insulating tube.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the combined weight of said electrical heating means and said thermal coupling means is less than 5 grams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 10 including a second thermal coupling means providing a thermal pathway between said electrical heating means and the skin adjacent to said acupuncture needle.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said regulating means controls the electrical power supplied to said electrical heating means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said regulating means comprises an electrical power transformer, a potentiometer having two electrical ends and a movable arm, said two ends being coupled to the secondary winding of said transformer, and said movable arm of said potentiometer and one of said ends of said potentiometer being coupled to said electrical heating means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including a temperature sensing means thermally coupled to said acupuncture needle, and means coupled to said temperature sensing means for indicating the temperature of said acupuncture needle.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including a temperature sensing means thermally coupled to said acupuncture needle, said temperature sensor means electrically coupled to said regulating means thereby to maintain said acupuncture needle at a predetermined temperature.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said electrical heating means comprises an electronic circuit resistor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including means for supplying heat to the skin adjacent to said acupuncture needle.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 9 including clamping means mechanically fixing said electrical heating means to said acupuncture needle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
88 words
An instrument for acupuncture therapy of animal tissue comprising: a plurality of acupuncture needles, a plurality of electrical heating means, each said electrical heating means thermally coupled to one of said acupuncture needles, supporting means mechanically detachably fixing each said electrical heating means to one of each said acupuncture needles for supporting and positioning each of said electrical heating means by one of each said needles, and a plurality of regulating means, each said regulating means controlling the electrical power supplied to one of said electrical heating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
88 words
An instrument for acupuncture therapy of animal tissue comprising: a plurality of acupuncture needles, a plurality of electrical heating means, each said electrical heating means thermally coupled to one of said acupuncture needles, supporting means mechanically detachably fixing each said electrical heating means to one of each said acupuncture needles for supporting and positioning each of said electrical heating means by one of each said needles, and a plurality of regulating means, each said regulating means controlling the electrical power supplied to one of said electrical heating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1948075A
Cited
US2477887A
Cited
US3308823A
Cited
US3483869A
Cited
US3634652A
Cited
US3625202A
Cited
US3875944A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-16 | 1979-08-18 | 1980-02-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-16 | 1983-08-18 | 1984-02-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-16 | 1987-08-18 | 1988-02-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |