Electro-acupuncture device with compressible gasket

Abstract

An electro-acupuncture device for controlling nausea. The device includes a wristwatch like housing, circuitry for generating electro-acupuncture stimulus disposed within the housing, and a strap for securing the housing to the wrist. The device also includes a pair of D-shaped electrodes disposed on the bottom outer surface of the housing. A gasket made of an electrically non-conductive material is applied to the bottom outer surface of the housing. The gasket has apertures which are sized and shaped to receive the D-shaped electrodes. When the device is strapped to a patient's wrist, the electrodes contact the wrist and provide electric stimulation to the wrist.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A nerve stimulation device for applying electrical stimulation to a nerve in a patient, through the skin of the patient, the course of said nerve establishing a line along the patient's body, said device comprising: 
 a housing adapted for application to the body of the patient over the nerve, said housing having an inner surface for application to the skin of the patient;    a pair of electrodes located on the inner surface of the housing, said electrodes being substantially D-shaped and having a straight edge and an arcuate edge, said electrodes being arranged on the housing with the straight edges of each opposing each other, said straight edges having a length of about one inch, and said arcuate edges having an inner diameter of about one half inch;    a band attached to the housing, said band adapted to secure the housing to the body, said band arranged relative to the housing and the electrodes such that, when the housing is secured to the body, the electrodes are disposed longitudinally along the line established by the nerve; and    pulse generating circuitry housed within the housing, said pulse generating circuitry operably connected to the electrodes to provide electrical pulses to the nerve through the electrodes.    
     
     
         2 . An electro-acupuncture device for applying electro-acupuncture stimulation to a nerve in a patient, through the skin of the patient, the course of said nerve establishing a line along the patient's body, said device comprising: 
 a housing adapted for application to the body of the patient over the nerve, said housing having an inner surface for application to the skin of the patient;    a pair of electrodes located on the inner surface of the housing, said electrodes being substantially D-shaped and having a straight edge and an arcuate edge, said electrodes being arranged on the housing with the straight edges of each opposing each other, said straight edges having a length of about one inch, and said arcuate edges having an inner diameter of about one half inch;    pulse generating circuitry housed within the housing, said pulse generating circuitry operably connected to the electrodes to provide electrical pulses to the nerve through the electrodes, said electrical pulses being supplied in a pulse pattern effective to create an electro-acupuncture effect on the nerve.    
     
     
         3 . An electro-acupuncture device for applying electro-acupuncture stimulation to the P6 acupuncture point on the wrist of a patient, said device comprising: 
 a housing adapted for application to the inside of the wrist of a patient over the P6 acupuncture point, said housing having an inner surface for application to the wrist;    a pair of electrodes located on the inner surface of the housing, arranged such that, when applied to the wrist, one of said electrodes is located distally on the housing, relative to the wrist, and the other of said electrodes is located proximally on the housing, relative to the wrist, said electrodes being substantially D-shaped and having a straight edge and an arcuate edge, said electrodes being arranged on the housing with the straight edges of each opposing each other, said straight edges having a length of about 1 inch, and said arcuate edges having an inner diameter of about 0.5 inches; and    pulse generating circuitry housed within the housing, said pulse generating circuitry operably connected to the electrodes to provide electrical pulses to the wrist through the electrodes, said electrical pulses being supplied in a pulse pattern effective to create an electro-acupuncture effect on the P-6 acupuncture point.    
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  further comprising: 
 a gasket having a first aperture and a second aperture, said first and second apertures being sized and dimensioned to receive the electrodes, said gasket disposed about the electrodes on the inner surface of the housing.  
 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein in gasket comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein in gasket comprises silicone.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  further comprising: 
 a gasket having at least one aperture, said aperture being sized and dimensioned to receive the electrodes, said gasket disposed about the electrodes on the inner surface of the housing.  
 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein in gasket comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 6  wherein in gasket comprises silicone.  
     
     
         10 . An electro-acupuncture device for providing electro-acupuncture stimulation to a nerve or acupuncture point of patient, through the skin of the patient, said device comprising: 
 a housing having a surface adapted to be applied in contact to the skin of the patient near a nerve or acupuncture point;    a pair of electrodes carried by said housing in spaced relation to each other;    pulse generating circuitry housed within the housing, said pulse generating circuitry operably connected to the electrodes to provide electrical pulses to the nerve or acupuncture point through the electrodes; and    a gasket adapted to be positioned between the housing and the skin of the patient, said gasket having at least one aperture, wherein the electrodes are positioned within the aperture when the gasket is applied to the housing, and the electrodes contact the skin of the patient when the housing and gasket are placed in contact with the skin.    
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the gasket comprises neoprene.  
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the gasket comprises silicone.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 a band secured to the housing, said band adapted to secure the housing to the skin of the patient.  
 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the band comprises an elastic material adapted to resiliently bias the housing against the skin of the patient.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the band comprises an elastic material adapted to resiliently bias the housing against the skin of the patient and the gasket comprises a resilient material.