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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to an electrical massage apparatus and
method. More particularly, the present invention pertains to an apparatus
for and a method of treatment of animals, including humans, domesticated
animals, and other animals to promote healing and to lessen the likelihood
of injury, by applying a pulsating electrical potential across electrodes
positioned on the animal, thereby reducing inflammation and providing a
massaging effect.
Good circulation is an important factor in maintenance of good health. Good
circulation not only aids maintaining physical soundness and prevention of
injury but also aids swift repair of damaged tissue. Circulation includes
the flow of both blood and lymph fluids. More than simply increased blood
supply to a specific location is required for good circulation. Increased
blood supply alone might result merely in unwanted scar tissue. The
circulation of the blood is accomplished by the pumping action of the
heart. However, the heart cannot cause circulation to be increased in one
specific area without a corresponding increase in other areas, and
localized increased circulation in an area of injury is desirable to aid
healing. Such localized control of circulation can be accomplished by the
action of the adjacent muscles and can be induced by electrical impulses.
The equally important circulation of lymph fluids is not controlled by an
organ such as the heart; however, it, too, can be brought about by the
action of the muscles and by electrical impulses.
In animals other than humans, additional problems arise because the animals
have relatively fewer blood and lymph vessels particularly in their legs,
and because the animals cannot generally be inspired to exercise
particular muscles or limbs to aid in circulation in a specific area. In
some animals the problem is further aggravated by the normal routine of
the animal. A horse, for example, might be confined within a stall for
twenty or more hours of every day. During the majority of those twenty
hours, the horse remains standing, adding to circulation problems.
Localized muscular exercise can be induced by applying slight electrical
potential across selected locations on the animal. U.S. Pat. No.
2,623,525, for example, discloses apparatus for treating injuries in
animals by use of faradic currents which cause rhythmatic muscular
contractions. U.S. Pat. No. 3,893,462 discloses the use of alternating
signals having a frequency in the range of 10 hertz to 10 kilohertz with
electrodes placed on the surface of the animal remote from each other.
While these and other prior art teach the use of electrical currents to
induce healing in animals, generally each prior art device utilizes but a
single type of electrical current and involves actual muscular contraction
and relaxation of an individual muscle or group of muscles, rather than
stimulating cells or tissues themselves.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is thought that each body cell of an animal has a certain electrical
energy level which can vary greatly according to the health and activity
of the cell. The present invention seeks to maintain the balance of this
electrical energy to the desired degree, particularly prior to and
following periods of exertion. Further, the present invention seeks to
correct the imbalance of electrical energy occurring during injury or
disease. This also assists the increase in electrical energy that
naturally occurs during the healing process.
The present invention is well suited for healing of injuries, and it
likewise is well suited for maintenance of good health in animals not
presently suffering from injuries. In the following specification and
claims, then, the present invention is frequently referred to in
conjunction with "treatment" of animals, the term "treatment" encompassing
both healing of injuries and maintenance of sound health. Likewise, the
term "animal" is used in its broad sense to encompass humans, large and
small domesticated animals, and other animals. In general, the present
invention involves the treatment of animals with a pulsating electrical
potential having selected characteristics.
In one aspect of the present invention it has been found that improved
treatment of animals is obtained by use of an electrical potential of a
first characteristic for a first period of time followed by an electrical
potential of a second characteristic for a second period of time. As a
specific illustration of this aspect of the invention, it has been found
that healing of bone cells is promoted, and the maintenance of sound
health aided, when a first pulsating electrical potential in the range of
from about zero volts to about eight volts and a pulse repetition rate in
the range of from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per
second, preferably in the order of about 180 pulses per second, is applied
with a first polarity for a period of time in the range of from about
fifteen minutes to about three hours across a first electrode positioned
at one location on an animal and a second electrode positioned at a second
location on the animal, with the first electrical potential being followed
by a second pulsating electrical potential in the range of from about zero
volts to about eight volts and a pulse repetition rate in the range of
from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per second,
preferably in the order of about 180 pulses per second, applied with a
second polarity opposite the first polarity for a period of time in the
range of from about thirty minutes to about three hours, preferably in the
order of about one-and-a-half hours. Likewise, in accordance with this
aspect of the present invention, it has been found that healing of soft
tissue is promoted, and the maintenance of sound health aided, when a
first pulsating electrical potential in the range of from about zero volts
to about twenty volts and a pulse repetition rate in the range of from
about twenty-five pulses per second to about 150 pulses per second,
preferably in the order of about 100 pulses per second, is applied for a
period of time in the range of from about fifteen minutes to about three
hours across the two electrodes, followed by a second pulsating electrical
potential in the range of from about zero volts to about twenty volts and
a pulse repetition rate of up to about 150 pulses per second, preferably
in the order of about twenty-five pulses per second applied for a period
of time of up to about three or four hours. By "soft tissue" is meant
tendons and cartilage etc., but not muscle. In general, in this aspect of
the present invention, the electrical potential assumes a first
characteristic, having a first pulse repetition rate and a first pulse
amplitude, applied with a first polarity across the two electrodes for a
first period of time, and then a second characteristic, having a second
pulse repetition rate and a second pulse amplitude, applied with a second
polarity across the electrodes for a second period of time, any one or
more of the pulse repetition rate, pulse amplitude, and pulse polarity not
necessarily being different between the first characteristic of the
electrical potential and the second characteristic.
In a second aspect of the present invention, it has additionally been found
that improved healing and enhanced health maintenance are obtained by use
of an electrical potential coupled across an appropriate portion of the
animal with optimum coupling characteristics, such that the ratio of the
applied voltage to the applied current, as measured at the output of the
electrical potential source, falls within an optimum range. By way of
example, for horses it has been found that optimum healing and health
maintenance are achieved when the voltage-to-current ratio is maintained
less than about 2500 volts per ampere.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are more
apparent in the following detailed description and claims, particularly
when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which
like parts bear like reference numerals. In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an animal having fastened thereon apparatus
in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a first flexible member suitable to form a part of
the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a second flexible member suitable to form a part
of the apparatus of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrative of one embodiment of circuitry
suitable for incorporation into apparatus for treatment of bone in
accordance with a first aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a diagram depicting an output voltage waveform realizable from
the apparatus of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrative of another embodiment of
circuitry suitable for incorporation into apparatus for treatment of soft
tissue in accordance with this aspect of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagram depicting an output voltage waveform realizable from
the apparatus of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of apparatus in accordance with the
present invention utilized in treatment of a horse and illustrating the
measuring of circuit parameters;
FIG. 9 is a similar diagrammatic representation of apparatus in accordance
with the present invention utilized in treatment of a human and likewise
illustrating the measuring of circuit parameters;
FIG. 10 depicts a slightly modified form of the apparatus of FIGS. 8 and 9;
and
FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams depicting voltage waveforms usable in
treatment of animals in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 1 depicts apparatus in accordance with the present invention attached
to an animal, illustratively depicted as a horse 10. The apparatus
includes first and second flexible sock members 12 which are wrapped and
fastened about the forelegs 14 of horse 10. The apparatus of the present
invention further includes a flexible member 16 which is fastened on the
trunk of horse 10 by means of a strap 18. A housing 20 is fastened to
flexible member 16 to be positioned on the withers of horse 10. Housing 20
encloses the electrical circuitry utilized in the apparatus of the present
invention, and that circuitry is electrically connected by leads 22 to
electrodes within sock members 12 and is electrically connected to an
electrode within flexible member 16.
Each sock member 12 is formed of a suitable flexible material, for example
a sponge rubber, enclosed within a casing of, for example, nylon. As
illustrated in FIG. 2, each sock member 12 includes a flexible body
portion 24 and a suitable fastening means such as straps 26 for fastening
the sock member about a limb of an animal. Alternatively, other fastening
means, for example Velcro strips, or a flexible bandage, could be used.
A first electrode 28 is provided on one surface of flexible body portion 24
to contact the animal when sock member 12 is positioned on the animal.
Electrode 28 might be formed of suitable flexible material such as an
electrically conductive rubber or other suitable material. Electrode 28 is
electrically connected to a lead 22. FIG. 2 depicts a single rectangular
electrode 28, but plural electrodes and other shapes could be utilized,
for example two or more electrodes which might be circular, oval or any
other desired shape.
FIG. 3 depicts flexible member 16 which is provided with two electrodes 30
on one surface thereof. While FIG. 2 illustrates two rectangular
electrodes 30, a single electrode member, or a larger number of electrode
members, and other shapes, might be utilized, if desired. Again,
electrodes 30 are formed of a suitable flexible material such as an
electrically conductive rubber and are electrically connected to the
electrical circuitry within housing 20. The one or more electrodes 28
within sock member 12 might have a total surface area in the range of from
about four square inches to about 40 square inches, and the one or more
electrodes 30 within flexible member 16 might have a total surface area in
the same range.
In the treatment of an animal, such as horse 10, in accordance with the
present invention, one or more sock members 12 are positioned on the
animal, for example wrapped about one or more of the limbs 14 of the
animal, and flexible member 16, with housing member 20 attached thereto,
is likewise positioned on the animal, for example, on the trunk of the
animal with electrodes 30 contacting the withers during utilization of the
present invention on a horse. It is not required that the electrodes 28
and 30 contact the leg and the withers of the animal; one electrode should
be at a first location adjacent the area to be treated, while the second
electrode is at a second location remote from the first location. The
locations on the animal which are to contact electrodes 28 and 30 are
first wetted and coated with a contact jelly or electrode jelly. Once the
one or more sock members 12 and the flexible member 16 are fastened in
position, the circuitry within housing 20 is activated to cause a
pulsating electrical potential between electrodes 28 and 30.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the pulsating
electrical potential applied across electrodes 28 and 30 has a first
characteristic for a first preset time and a second characteristic for a
second preset time, following which the electrical circuitry is
deactivated.
In the treatment of bones in accordance with this aspect of the invention,
the electrical potential applied across electrodes 28 and 30 has a first
characteristic, preferably with a pulse repetition rate in the range of
from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses per second, more
preferably in the order of about 180 pulses per second, and a pulse
amplitude in the range of from about zero volts to about eight volts for a
period of time in the range of from about fifteen minutes to about three
hours during which the electrode that is applied adjacent the area of
treatment is electrically positive with respect to the other electrode,
followed by a second characteristic, preferably with a pulse repetition
rate in the range of from about 50 pulses per second to about 200 pulses
per second, more preferably in the order of about 180 pulses per second,
and a pulse amplitude in the range of from about zero volts to about eight
volts for a period of time in the range of from about thirty minutes to
about three hours, preferably in the order of about one-and-a-half hours
during which the electrode that is applied adjacent the area of treatment
is electrically negative with respect to the other electrode. If the
foreleg of the horse is being treated in FIG. 1, then, of course,
electrode 28 within sock member 12 is "the electrode that is applied
adjacent the area of treatment."
In the treatment of soft tissue in accordance with this aspect of the
present invention, the electrical potential applied across electrodes 28
and 30 has a first characteristic, preferably with a pulse repetition rate
in the range of from about twenty-five pulses per second to about 150
pulses per second, more preferably in the order of about 100 pulses per
second, and a pulse amplitude in the range of from about zero volts to
about twenty volts, for a period of time in the range of from about
fifteen minutes to about three hours, followed by a second characteristic,
with a pulse repetition rate of up to about 150 pulses per second,
preferably in the order of about twenty-five pulses per second, and a
pulse amplitude in the range of from about zero volts to about twenty
volts, for a period of time in the order of about three hours. For
maintenance of good condition, two or more legs might be treated
simultaneously by two or more sock members 12, as depicted in FIG. 1, with
the electrodes 28 within the several sock members 12 maintained at
substantially the same electrical potential. To promote healing, a single
sock member 12 might be utilized on an injured limb of an animal.
FIG. 4 illustratively depicts circuitry suitable for use in an apparatus in
accordance with the present invention for treatment of bone. A source 40
of D.C. potential has its positive terminal connected to one contact of a
switch 42 and its negative terminal tied to ground. Preferably, a
capacitor 44 is connected across electrical potential source 40. Source 40
might be a battery, and, preferably, it provides a voltage in the order of
about fifteen volts. The second terminal 45 of switch 42 is connected to
one contact of an indicator 46 such as a light. The second contact of
indicator 46 is coupled through a resistor 48 to ground. Indicator 46 is
therefore energized whenever switch 42 is closed. Controller 50 is
connected between contact 45 and ground. Once switch 42 is closed to
energize controller 50, the controller causes switch 42 to open after a
predetermined time, as more fully set forth hereinafter. Variable resistor
55 has its first terminal connected to switch contact 45 and its other
terminal connected to one terminal of pulsing circuit 58. Lead 60 connects
a second terminal of pulsing circuit 58 to ground. Lead 62 connects switch
contact 45 to another terminal of pulsing circuit 58 to provide electrical
potential thereto. Variable resistor 67 couples a fourth terminal of
pulsing circuit 58 to ground.
The output terminal of pulsing circuit 58 is coupled by resistor 72 to the
base of NPN transistor 74. Transistor 74 also has its base coupled to
switch contact 45 by resistor 75, its emitter tied to switch contact 45,
and its collector coupled to ground by the primary winding of transformer
76. The secondary winding of transformer 76 is coupled between the two
moving contacts 77a and 77b of a double-pole-double-throw switch which is
controlled by controller 50. Moving contact 77a has its first fixed
contact connected to electrode 28 and its second fixed contact connected
to electrode 30. Likewise, moving contact 77b has its first fixed contact
connected to electrode 30 and its second fixed contact connected to
electrode 28. Preferably, a capacitor 78 is connected between electrodes
28 and 30, and an indicator 80, such as a light bulb, has one of its
contacts connected to electrode 28 and its other contact coupled by
resistor 82 to electrode 30.
Pulsing circuit 58 is a conventional pulsing circuit such as a unijunction
transistor pulsing circuit or such as a commercially available circuit,
for example a suitably adapted NE555 circuit available from Signetics
Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif. Variable resistor 55 permits control of
the output pulse repetition rate, while variable resistor 67 permits
control of the output pulse amplitude.
Each output pulse from pulsing circuit 58 is applied by resistor 72 to the
base of transistor 74, and so each output pulse from circuit 58 results in
a pulse across the primary winding of transformer 76. A corresponding
electrical potential pulse is induced in the secondary winding of
transformer 76 and appears across electrodes 28 and 30, as depicted by
pulses 84 in FIG. 5. With moving contacts 77a and 77b closed against their
respective first fixed contacts, as depicted in FIG. 4, these pulses are
applied across electrodes 28 and 30, with electrode 28 positive with
respect to electrode 30. The pulses are not sharp but are more nearly
sinesoidal. The pulses are, however, only of one polarity, as seen in FIG.
5. With contacts 77a and 77b closed against their respective second fixed
contacts, the pulses 84 are applied across electrodes 28 and 30 with
electrode 30 positive with respect to electrode 28.
Controller 54 includes suitable timing circuitry to cause switch contacts
77a and 77b to change position after a first preset time and to open
switch 42 after a second preset time. Accordingly, once switch 42 is
manually closed with moving contacts 77a and 77b closed to their
respective first fixed contacts, pulses 84, of a first pulse repetition
rate, determined by the setting of variable resistor 55, and of a first
amplitude, determined by the setting of variable resistor 67, are applied
across electrodes 28 and 30, with electrode 28 positive with respect to
electrode 30, for the first preset time, and then moving contacts 77a and
77b are closed to their respective second fixed contacts so that pulses
84, of the first pulse repetition rate and first pulse amplitude, are
applied across electrodes 28 and 30, with electrode 30 positive with
respect to electrode 28, for the second preset time, following which
switch 42 is opened to deactivate the circuit. Indicator 80 is energized
by each pulse.
FIG. 6 illustratively depicts similar circuitry suitable for use in an
apparatus in accordance with the present invention for treatment of soft
tissue. Again, source 40 of D.C. potential has its positive terminal
connected to one contact of a switch 42 and its negative terminal tied to
ground, and capacitor 44 is preferably connected across electrical
potential source 40. Indicator 46 and resistor 48 are connected in series
between the second terminal 45 of switch 42 and ground so that indicator
46 is energized whenever switch 42 is closed. Controller 50 is connected
between contact 45 and ground to be energized when switch 42 is closed,
and so once switch 42 is closed to energize controller 50, the controller
causes switch 42 to open after a predetermined time.
Controller 50 controls the first moving contact 52a and the second moving
contact 52b of a double-pole-double-throw switch. Contact 52a has its
first fixed contact coupled by variable resistor 54 to switch contact 45
and its second fixed contact coupled by variable resistor 56 to switch
contact 45. Moving contact 52a is connected to one terminal of pulsing
circuit 58, which has a second terminal connected to ground by lead 60.
Lead 62 connects switch contact 45 to another terminal of pulsing circuit
58 to provide electrical potential thereto. Contact 52b has its first
fixed contact coupled to ground by variable resistor 66 and its second
fixed contact coupled to ground by variable resistor 68. Moving contact
52b is tied to a further terminal of pulsing circuit 58.
The output terminal of pulsing circuit 58 is coupled by resistor 72 to the
base of NPN transistor 74. Transistor 74 also has its base coupled to
switch contact 45 by resistor 76, its emitter tied to switch contact 45,
and its collector coupled to ground by the primary winding of transformer
76. The secondary winding of transformer 76 is coupled between electrode
28 and electrode 30. Likewise, capacitor 78 is coupled between electrodes
28 and 30, and indicator 80 and resistor 82 are connected in series
between electrode 28 and electrode 30.
Variable resistors 54 and 56 and switch contact 52a permit control of the
output pulse repetition rate of pulsing circuit 58, while variable
resistors 66 and 68 and switch contact 52b permit control of the output
pulse amplitude. Switch contacts 52a and 52b permit utilization of either
a first pulse repetition rate, determined by the setting of variable
resistor 54, and a first pulse amplitude, determined by the setting of
variable resistor 66, or a second pulse repetition rate, determined by the
setting of variable resistor 56, and a second pulse amplitude, determined
by the setting of variable resistor 68. The variable resistors can, of
course, be set to cause either the same or different pulse repetition
rates and either the same or different pulse amplitudes, as desired for
the two positions of the switch contacts 52a and 52b.
Again, each pulse from pulsing circuit 58 controls transistor 74 so that
each output pulse from circuit 58 results in a pulse across the primary
winding of transformer 76, inducing a corresponding electrical potential
pulse in the secondary winding of the transformer which appears across
electrodes 28 and 30, as depicted by pulses 86 in FIG. 7. By way of
example, electrode 28 can be positive with respect to electrode 30 during
each pulse 86, but, again, the pulses are not sharp, and some ringing
occurs, with electrode 28 briefly swinging negative with respect to
electrode 30, as depicted in FIG. 7.
Controller 54 includes suitable timing circuitry to cause switch contacts
52a and 52b to change position after a first preset time and to open
switch 42 after a second preset time. Accordingly, once switch 42 is
manually closed with moving contacts 52a and 52b closed to their
respective first fixed contacts, pulses 86 of a first pulse repetition
rate, determined by the setting of variable resistor 54, and a first pulse
amplitude determined by the setting of variable resistor 66, are applied
across electrodes 28 and 30 for a first preset time. Then controller 50
closes moving contacts 52a and 52b to their respective second fixed
contacts, and pulses 86 of a second pulse repetition rate and a second
pulse amplitude are applied across electrodes 28 and 30 for the second
preset time, following which switch 42 is opened to deactivate the
circuit.
While the switch contacts 52a, 52b, 77a and 77b have been depicted as
mechanical switches, preferably they are electronic devices so that no
mechanical switching is necessary when the pulse characteristics are
switched. Likewise, while a single switch 42 has been depicted, which is
closed manually and opened by controller 50, a series-connected set could
be utilized, including a manually-actuable switch and an
electronically-actuable switch operated under control of controller 50.
Although the bone treatment circuitry and the soft tissue treatment
circuitry have been shown separately in FIGS. 4 and 6, they have many
common components, and by optimising the design, they might be combined
into a single, dual-purpose apparatus. While FIG. 1 shows the animal 10
having two sock members 12 on its two forelegs 14, the sock members might
be utilized on the hind legs or on a foreleg and a hind leg, or three or
four socks might be utilized simultaneously on the animal. Additionally,
rather than being positioned on legs of the animal one or more flexible
sock members 12 could be positioned elsewhere on the animal, for example
in a flattened condition.
It has been found that optimum treatment of animals in accordance with the
present invention is achieved when the ratio of the applied voltage to the
applied current is within an optimum range. This voltage-to-current ratio
can be determined by measuring the two parameters separately or by
measuring the load resistance seen by the electronic circuitry in housing
20, across terminals 28 and 30. FIG | | |
