Process and device for alleviation of non-muscular pain

Abstract

A process and device for alleviation of non-muscular pain and discomfort by applying the device containing a plurality of small rigid objects to produce pressure at designated acupuncture points.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new and improved process and device for alleviation of non-muscular pain and discomfort.

2. Prior Art

Acupuncture hitherto has been limited to the use of needles inserted into the various points along one or more of the fourteen meridians that run lengthwise through a person's body from head to toe and up and down each arm, thereby alleviating non-muscular pain and discomfort. Applicant is unaware of the application hitherto of a plurality of small rigid objects with a plaster backing instead of needles to produce a similar effect at various points along said meridians.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises the combination of a plurality of small rigid objects affixed to an adhesive base material, such as conventional surgical plaster or the like. The objects may range in size from about one millimeter to about six millimeters and may be made from any suitable rigid material, that retains its rigidity under moderate pressure. The base material of each device preferably has a minimum size of about one inch wide and about three inches long and preferably contains a minimum of three or more objects.

The process of using the device comprises affixing it with the objects contacting the surface of a person's body at a known acupuncture location where acupuncture needles would otherwise be inserted. As many devices are affixed as necessary to substitute for acupuncture needles in the alleviation of the non-muscular pain and discomfort involved.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a process and device as a substitute for acupuncture needles otherwise used for symptomatic relief of non-muscular pain and discomfort.

Another object of this invention is to provide a process and device relating to acupuncture concepts that a person can make use of by himself without special training.

A further object of this invention is to provide a process and device using acupuncture concepts and which is relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

These and other objects will be more readily understood by reference to accompanying drawing in which

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of my invention

FIG. 2 is a section taken along Line 2--2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of a portion of FIG. 1 showing an individual object.

The device 10 is constructed by using a base material 12 having adhesive properties such as surgical plaster or the like. A plurality of rigid objects 14 is then affixed to the surface of the base material 12 in a random arrangement or in a symmetrical cashion. Although not necessay, it is preferable to have a cover 16 of any suitable material placed over the objects. The cover 16 preferably may be of some adhesive material which can be readily peeled off. The objects 14 may range in size from about one millimeter to about six millimeters in thickness.

The objects 14 may take various forms. The objects 14 may be polygonal in form, such as rhombic, cubic, pentagonal, hexagonal, octagonal, and the like, or even irregularly shaped, as well as being circular. The objects 14 may be solid or hollow provided that the objects remain sufficiently rigid to maintain their shape and their pressure when applied to an area at an acupuncture point.

Moreover, various forms of the objects 14 may be used within one device, or they may all be the same form. Thus, the device 10 may have a plurality of one shape such as cubic of the objects 14, or one device 10 may have a plurality of objects 14, each of which is different in shape from the other. Thus a device 10 may have one cubic object 14, one rhombic object 14, one pentagonal object 14, one hexagonal object 14, one irregularly shaped object 14, and other different forms.

In use, the device 10 is applied to a person's body so that at least one of the objects 14 produces pressure against one or more points along at least one acupuncture meridian of a person's body for a suitable period of time. A suitable period of time may range from two to four hours up to one day or more, during which time the device 10 will alleviate non-muscular pain and discomfort. The device may be used at various acupuncture points to alleviate pain that is non-muscular in accordance with known acupuncture concepts without using acupuncture needles, as well as discomfort.

Although I have described my invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and with reference to a preferred embodiment of the process of using the device 10, it is understood that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A process for alleviating non-muscular pain and discomfort by applying a piece of adhesive material having a plurality of small rigid objects affixed thereon to at least one point along an acupuncture meridian so that at least one of said objects is in contact with said point and produces pressure on said point, and

maintaining said adhesive material and said objects in position for a

2. A process according to claim 1 in which the adhesive material and objects is maintained in contact for at least 2 hours.