Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Description of the Prior Art
Electrical pulses in both low and high voltages and
current flow have been used to treat human aches and pains.
Aches and pains is the misery of arthritis and many attempts
to temporarily relieve the discomfort of arthritic pain have
been made and many are exernplified in patents specifically or
peripherally describing and/or claiming arthritis relief or
cure. In most of the electrotherapeutic devices, muscle
stimulation seems to be achieved and proof of the effective-
ness of such devices for muscular stimulation is found in thelocker rooms of athletic teams, health spas, etc. In many
instances, the electrical source is A.C. current from a wall
plug. The voltages may be from 2 to 5 and in some instances
up to 250 volts is approved by the American Medical Association
for physiotherapy treatment.
The present invention is unique in that the desired
arthritic suppression is achieved by providing a very small
current flow at a low voltage (18 v.d.c.). This current flow
is applied to give a pumping action to the nerve train between
the applied contact points. The impedance of the patient is
compensated for by the constant current circuit which is
automatically readjusted to the needs of the patient. The
pumping action current flow is achieved by applying at a cycle
rate between 10 and 40 hz., a seventy-five percent on and
twenty-five percent off a high carrier frequency from twenty
khz. to one megacycle. This high frequency is produced by
a fifty percent duty cycle multivibrator so that all cycles
are above the datum line. The modulation low frequency
vibrator provides a square wave output.
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10687~7
The selection of the modulation frequency to fall
within 10 to 40 cycles per second avoids causing any fugitive
signal transmission to the brain whose cycle frequency is eight
or less and the heart which is fifty or more. The control of
the voltage to 18 volt. d.c. at a current flow of eight-tenths
of a milliampere insures that repeated usage beyond the normal
three to four minute application is perfectly safe under any
and all circumstances. AS reduced to practice, the apparatus
including power supply is of a very small size. The application
may be personally applied by the one for whom the treatment is
required. Many patients are, or are expected to be, senior
citizens and for this reason the use of the app~ratus must be
absolutely foolproof as to possible misapplication, shorts in
the apparatus and even to the extent of immersion in water or a
similar medium. The low voltage supply and the use of solid
state electronics insures that the apparatus of this invention
is absolutely safe in all circum~tances.
Sum arv of_the Invention
This invention may be summarized at least in part with
reference to its objects.
It is an object of this invention to provide, and it does
provide, a small electronic device from which is controllably
discharge a one-way electrical current flow. This current is
controllably applied to a localized source of affliction for a
determined time period as for example three and one-half minutes.
This current flow is applied in the nature of a pumping action
which appears to assist the synaptic chain flow in the nerves
to cause the nerves to be relieved of their tepsion. The current
as applied has a base vibration of twenty k ~ cycles to one
megacycle hz., which current is modulated by an astable multi-
vibrator with a seventy-five percent duty cycle to present a
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1(~687~7
current flow of seventy-fivc percent on and twenty-five p~rccnt
off at a cycle of frequency ten to forty hz. with a current flow
automatically controlled not to exceed eight-tenths of a
milliampere.
It is a further object of this invention to provide,
and it does provide, both anapparatus and method wherein a very
low voltage such as eighteen volts d.c. is fed to a power 5Up-
ply control circuit and from thence to a gated multivibrator
circuit containing one astable multivibrator having a fifty
percent duty cycle. This high frequency current of twenty kilo
hertz to one mega hertz is gated by a second astable vibrator
with a seventy-five percent duty cycle in which the cycle is
between ten to forty hz. with the resulting local current flow
automatically restricted to eight-tenths of a milliampere when
applied to the afflicted area to provide arthritic pain sup-
pression. Tests have established that the pain suppression is
effective for periods of one to seven hours.
It has been found that since this controlled flow is
in the nature of a one-way current flow which is asymmetrical,
the placing of the contacts on the patient with or without the
use of a conductive jelly is extremely important in that the
current flow must be through the nerves associated with the
local pain area.
As reduced to practice, and under the controlled evalua-
tion by doctors it has been found that a very small current flow
such as eight-tenths of a milliampere or less of the dual fre-
quency current when applied to a local area for approximately
three and one-half minutes has reduced arthritic pains to sub-
stantially painless levels. Since the arthritic pain can occur at
any time the apparatus has been made portable and in a package
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1C~687B7
approximat~ly the size of two packs of cigarettes. Much of this
size is to accommodate in this apparatus two nine volt d.c.
batteries. In the circuit, to be hereinafter more fully des-
cribed, these batteries are of the rechargeable variety and
provision for recharging is shown in this circuit diagram.
The treating current produced by this circuit through
two multivibrators operating as a combination provides a pulsing
action of current to the afflected area. The forward going
current is "on" seventy-five percent and "off" twenty-five
percent and is a square wave derived by a seventy-five percent
duty astable multivibrator. This square wave further controls
a fifty percent duty cycle astable multivibrator. The result-
ing applied current is at twenty kilocycles to onemegacycle at
a modulated frequency of ten to forty hz. A current control
limits the current flow to a maximum of eight-tenths of a
milliampere with a maximum applied voltage nominally of eighteen
volts, but independent of the actual voltage across the contacts.
This current output is carried to two contacts, one identified
as a positive and one as a negative or common electrode.
In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, an
electronic apparatus for temporarily arresting at local areas a
patient's arthritic pain and the like, said apparatus having
conducting leads for carrying the output of the apparatus to
contact ends to conductively apply to the skin of the patient
and at a localized area a square wave pulse which is auto-
matically continued for a short period, said apparatus includes:
a) a power source providing a d.c. voltage to the apparatus;
b) switch means which when closed at least momentarily initiates
a flow of d.c. voltage from the power source to a pulse forming
apparatus; c) means for limiting the time duration of the d.c.
current flow to the pulse forming apparatus; d) a first astable
square wave multivibrator having an asymmetrical duty cycle which
may be as little as two-thirds of the cycle and as great as five-
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" 1~687~71
sixths of the cycle and operatin~ at a selected rate of not
less than ten and not more than forty hz., said vibrator connected
to and providing a gate control for; e) a second astable square
wave multivibrator having a duty cycle of fifty percent and
operating at a selected rate of not less than twenty khz. and
notmore than one mhz., the combined forward going pulsed wave
being fed to; f) an automatic current control by which the out-
put of the pulsed wave is maintained at a selectively set level
not exceeding eight-tenths of a milliampere, and (g) means for
conducting said output to two contact members in local contact
on the skin of the patient, the automatic current control main-
taining the selected set level no matter what changes in
impedance occur in the transmission of said current locally
through the skin of the patient.
Brief_Description of the Circuit Dia~am
The circuit diagram i5 in the form of a block diagram
in which is represented the various functions of the components
forming the circuit and providing the special current flow out-
put of the arthritic pain suppression device. In this circuit
diagram and in the description hereinafter the same identifying
numbers are applied to like components for the sake of conven-
ience and not necessarily in a limiting sense.
Descript1on of the Preferred Circuit
Referring now to the electronic arthritic pain suppress-
ion
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10687t~7
apparatus as shown in the accompanying and above-identified
circuit diagram the desired current flow is initiated by an
on-off switch 1 which is preferably spring biased to the
normally "off" condition. When the switc~ is actuated it
causes the circuit to be turned on with the rest of the
functions being performed in an automatic nature. With the
actuating of the switch a timer circuit 2 is turned on. This
timer circuit when initiated has a predetermined set timing
cycle and, as reduced to practice, through monitored tests is
preferably three to four minutes in duration. At the same
time that the timer circuit is turned on the power supply
control circuit 3 is also turned on. This power supply control
circuit 3 is interconnected to timer circuit 2 by means of
conductors 4 and 5 and its actuation results from the closing
of switch 1 with this signal carried through conductor 6.
Power for this apparatus is fed to the power supply control
circuit by and from an eighteen volt d.c. source 8 which is
contemplated to be two nine volt rechargeable batteries. This
voltage source identified as 8 is connected by conductor 9 to
the positive side of the battery 8 and to the power control
circuit 3. From this power control supply circuit 3 the
current is fed thrvugh conductor 10 simultaneously to three
interconnected and related components. An astable multivibrator
12 which produces square waves is quite familiar to those
skilled in the art. This astable ~ultivibrator has a seventy-
five percent duty cycle and is adjusted to produce a cycle of
ten to forty hz. and is connected by means of conductor 14 to
another astable multivibrator 16 which has a fifty percent duty
cycle and functions anywhere from twenty kilo hz. to one mega hz.
~687~37
The resulting vibrating current from astable
multivibrator 16 is connected by conductor 18 to a current
control apparatus 20 which in the present device is anticipated
to allow adjusting the current flow to a maximum of eight-
tenths of a milliampere. The amount of current also i~
indicated to the user or supervisor of the apparatus by connect-
ing the output of the current control through conductor 22 to
and through a microampere meter 24 which is connec-ted to a
positive outlet female receptor 26 by means of a conductor 28.
This receptor 26 is a female receptor sized to receive a male
jack 29 which is inserted into the female jack receptor to make
an electrical connection. This, of course, is merely a conve-
nience and the use of a jack connection as far as the circuit
is concerned may be eliminated by connecting the output of the
microampere meter 24 directly to the conductor 28 and thence to
a contact member 30. This contact retaining member 30 prefer-
ably is a spring clip such as is used with the flexible
conductors normally used in apparatus for taking ekg's. ~n
this member 30 is mounted a contact 32 having an adhesive outer
retaining means. These contacts are replaceably mounted in the
member connector 30. To improve the conductivity between the
conducting portion of the contact 32 and the skin of the
patient a jell 34 is indicated as being applied to the contact
before and at the time of the mounting of the contact on the
skin of the patient. The negative or ground side of battery 8
is connected preferably to a female receptor 40 which is
connected by means of a male jack 42 and a conductor 44 to a
spring clip retaining member 46. A discardable adhesive
contact 48 is removably retained by this retaining member 46
and the conductivity from and to the skin is enhanced by using
a dab of jell 34. This commercially available jell 34 is
applied to the contact as is customary in the taking of an ekg.
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1Ci 687~'7
In order to insure versatility of the equipment and
eliminating the replacement of the battery power source a
recharging means is contemplated. A charger circuit is there-
fore incorporated into the present apparatus. This charger is
contemplated as only being employed when contacts 30 and 46
are disconnected with the withdrawal of jacks 29 and 42.
Charging orientation is insured by making jacks 29 and 42
different in size. Correspondingly sized jacks 60 and 62 are
adapted for insertion into the female receptacles 26 and 40 in
the manner of the jacks 29 and 42. Jacks 60 and 62 by means
of conductors 64 and 66 are connected to a charger 68 of
conventional known design. These chargers convert 120 volts
A.C. current to the required d.c. voltage and charge conven-
tionally rechargeable batteries. The charger 68 is connected
by means of conductors 70 to outlet plug 72 connectable to
available A.C. house current. To prevent damage to the current
source control 20 and the multivibrators 12 and 16 a diode 74
is inserted into the conductor 28. The positive current flow
is then carried by conductor 76 from the female receptor 26 to
a charging circuit 78 and thence by means of a conductor 80 to
the positive side of the battery 8 for recharging the battery
at the needed intervals.
Use and Opera-tion of the Apparatus
The llonll switch 1 is depressed to start the timing
circuit 2 and activate the power supply control circuit 3 to
the several components forming the vibrating pulse which is
applied locally for a determined time period to stimulate the
nerves in the ~fflicted area in a desired orientation. The
timer circuit 2 limits the flow of current from power supply
3 to a determined time interval such as three and one-half
minutes after the power from the battery 8 is turned off. The
~06878~
eighteen volt d.c. battery supply 8 supplieq the electromotive
force for all of the circuitry and from the power supply
control circuit 3 there is a distribution of function of this
power force not only to the timer circuit and back to the power
supply control circuit but also to the variou,s other items such
as the multivibrators and the current controlling circuit.
The astable multivibrator 12 is special insofar as it
has a seventy-fivs percent duty cycle which means it has a
twenty-five percent "off" time and a seventy-five percent "on"
time. For the purpose of safety and use by the patient this
particular multivibrator has a cycle time of from ten to forty
hz. This cycle is set at the factory and usually is about
twenty-five hz. The multivibrator 12 is connected by means of
a conductor 14 to the astable multivibrator 16 and is a modu-
lator for this high frequency vibrator 16 which functions at
anywhere from twenty kilo hz. to one mega hz. The signal from
vibrator 12 is gated at its input side to multivibrator 16.
The vibrations of the second astable multivibrator 16 is pulsed
by the output or flow control of multivibrator 12 which
literally turns the second of high frequency multivibrator 16
"on" and "off`' as the case may be depending upon the function
of the astable multivibrator 12. The combined output of the
astable multivibrators 12 and 16 is then presented to the
current source control 20 through conductor 18 as a square
wave function. A11 of the wave vibrations are above a minimum
or medium line and occur as a seventy-five percent "on" and a
twenty-five percent "off" flow. As a square wave signal this
current is fed to and through the current control source 20
so that a maximum current flow of eight-tenths of a milli-
ampere is maintained and this is read by the indicator signalof the micro ampere meter 24. This flow is fed to the output
1068'787
receptor 26 and eventually to the contact member 30 and the
conductor pad 32 and then to the skin of the patient.
Although the source has been established to a maximum limit of
eight-tenths of a milliampere the particular ampere flow level
generally through the afflicted area of a patient is from
three- to six-tenths of a milliampere. Provision may be made
to permit the doctor or the user of the device to adjust the
current source control by a variable control. This adjustment
is generally set at the factory but may be adjusted to a parti-
cular patient and if necessary for a particular afflicted
portion.
During the time the apparatus is not in use the
battery may be charged. Jacks 29 and 42 are removed from
receptors 26 and 40 and jacks 60 and 62 mounted therein.
Charger 68 is then connected to A.C. power through plug 72 and
the charging circuit 78 feeds the required charging power to
battery 8. Diode 74 is a one-way gate preventing current from
charger 68 from flowing to the vibrating and current flow
limiting components.
The above-described apparatus has recited specific
limitations which are deemed significant. First, the astable
multivibrator limits the forward going pulses to a ten to forty
cycle range. This limitation is deliberate. The ten cycle low
limit prevents any stray pulse signals in the nerves to affect
the human brain function which is at eight or less cycles. The
high limit of forty cycles is established to prevent any stray
pulse signals from affecting heart signals of sixty or more.
The square wave signal insures that the "pulses" when "on'` are
alike and regular. The fifty percent duty cycle insures that
all pulses are forward going and no alternating or reversing
tetanizing current flows to the afflicted nerve area.
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1~687~17
The current source control 20 automatically compen-
sates for the impedance in the skin of the patient at the
particular time of use. It was recognized that there are many
variables in the effecting of a localized electrical contact
with the skin. The impedance in the skin appears to vary ~rom
day-to-day and even from hour-to-hour. It is impractical, if
not impossible, to apply the contacts to the exact same skin
locations time after time. In addition the contact pressure
varies from time to time and particularly with and during the
patient's movement. Hence, to apply a precise forward going
vibrating current of a very low controlled amount to the
afflicted area an automatic impedance control is needed and is
provided. The apparatus can only be connected to a potentially
dangerous power source during the battery recharging period.
As arranged, contacts 30 and 46 with jacks 29 and 42 must be
removed before jacks 60 and 62 are inserted to carry converted
current from the charger 68 to battery 8.
The above-described apparatus provides a nerve
stimulator which although battery powered employs such a small
current that it often requires a viewing of the meter 24 to be
sure that treatment is in process. This is in sharp contrast
to apparatus such as that employing twenty-five milliampere at
120 volts. This type of apparatus requires a manual control
by which the patient can reduce the input to his own tolerant
levels until repeated use builds up a conditioning acceptance.
Most of the prior art apparatus known to the Applicants permit
the applying of the contacting electrodes to the patient's skin
without a definitive arrangement of the positive and negative
contacts. This is not true of the present apparatus, as above
noted, the orientation of the contacting electrodes on the
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1()687t37
patient iq extr~mely important. The orientation i9 aligned to
augment the nerve flow and is achieved with the positive
electrode nearer the heart so that the applied pulse is only
forward going and when "on" the frequencies are only on one
side of a datum line.
It is also to be noted that although the astable
multivibrator is shown as a seventy-five percent duty cycle,
other ratios provide to varying degrees success in the arrest-
ing of pain as long as the pulse vibrations are forward going.
Ratios of two to one, four to one and even five to one have
produced temporary pain relief. The most effective ratio with
the several patients treated under a doctor's evaluation and
supervision has been the three to one ratio produced by multi-
vibrator 12.
While a particular circuit diagram has been shown and
described it is to be understood the invention is not limited
thereto and modifications may be made within the scope of the
accompanying claims and protection is sought to the broadest
extent the prior art allows.
