Patent Application
20120253236
The invention is in the field of external therapeutic stimulation or delivery of energy to animals or humans.
Today it is well known to provide humans and animals with vibrational therapy through massage chairs, hand massagers, whole body vibration plates, handheld lasers or similar apparatuses that are applied to different parts of the body, sometimes with or without heat. These devices have served to relax the individual by stimulating the nervous system and promoting blood flow and increased oxygen to a particular part of the body to help with conditions and areas such as anxiety, post-operative healing, athletic and general performance, pain, aging, injuries, obesity, and general health. It would be desirable to provide similar therapy options to pets, humans and animals that are convenient and easy to use on a frequent basis, as the brain, nervous system, and body are in a constant state of change and all benefit from new stimulation.
The teachings of the invention relate to simple and constant focused delivery of external stimulation or energy via vibration, tones, audio, electrical, pulse, light or other similar sources, through embedded leads, conductors or other similar methods and devices to certain portions of a body. The various example embodiments described herein incorporate the various stimulation therapies in convenient, easy to use form factors that include wearable, embeddable or attachable forms. Additionally, the invention can incorporate wireless, remote and direct communication technology to interact with and direct/control the therapeutic device that has already been placed on an animal. In various embodiments, the teachings of the invention are incorporated into an external clip, blanket, collar, harness, headband, wrap, shirt, bedding, crate or other similar delivery method with internal leads, extenders, conductors, or similar methods, to deliver a consistent and constant source of energy to animals. In a related embodiment, the invention also includes methods of delivering consistent forms of energy such as vibration, tones, audio, electrical, pulse, light or other similar sources. In yet another embodiment, the invention includes ways of remotely, directly, wirelessly or other similar ways of interacting and operating a device placed on an animal.
In one example embodiment, an apparatus and method of delivering focused or directional low magnitude, high frequency therapeutic energy or stimulation invariable, attachable and/or embeddable forms, that brings about high vibration in the subject's tissue or bone, including sources such as vibration, tones, audio, electrical, pulse, light or other similar forms, directly in forms including clips, attachments, collars, straps, blankets, wraps, shirts, beds, crates, or other similar methods, externally to animals, mammals or humans are disclosed herein.
In another example embodiment, an apparatus and method of remotely, wirelessly, directly, or through other similar handheld devices or technology, interacting and operating a device that brings about high vibration in the subject's tissue or bone located or placed on an animal or other mammals are disclosed herein.
In yet another example embodiment, an apparatus and method of delivering various sources of therapeutic or stimulation energy that brings about high vibration in the subject's tissue or bone such as vibration, tones, audio, electrical, pulse, light or other similar forms, constantly and consistently throughout materials placed on or around animals or mammals are disclosed herein.
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Inserted into the collar or strap, in various embodiments described herein, is a fully-enclosed, waterproof, safe, control panel 20 consisting of components such as a:
In the various embodiments, collar or strap 10 may have leads or other transmittal components 32 embedded into it to deliver energy from control panel 20 through entire device 10.
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In the various embodiments, the vibration, tones, pulse, laser, or audio functions will be available in multiple levels that can be controlled via mode button 26.
The construction details of the invention in
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In one example use, the control panel 120 with clip 112 was attached to a collar and placed behind the neck and over the spine of an anxious, aged dog with inflammation in her back, (as shown by thermograph generated by an infrared imager). Embedded into control panel 120 was a mini vibration speaker that delivers both tactile and audio sensory vibrational stimulation through a range of frequencies. Frequencies that have proven effective range between 15 Hz and 300 Hz, and mimic very closely to those that are generated by tuning forks. Melodic music and recorded heartbeats played through the speakers also has calming effects. Therapy times range between 2 minutes and 20 minutes, with an average treatment time of about 10 minutes.
In the above canine example, 10 minutes of therapy that incorporated a frequency of 128 Hz with a recorded heartbeat at 60 beats per minute was administered. A visual post assessment of this dog showed she was much calmer, while a thermograph indicated her back had reduced inflammation, as seen by reduced temperature. By using the therapy on a regular, daily or frequent basis, the dog will not only stay calmer, but through nervous system activation and neuroplasticity, her pain levels will decrease and her mobile performance will improve.
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In one example, the control clip was attached to a stretchable band and placed on a human behind the neck and over the spine. Embedded into the clip was a mini vibration speaker and audio control board to direct the therapy. The patient had recently strained his right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and had severe pain. Upon initial evaluation, he also demonstrated significant right-side weakness in his leg and arm, as well as high thermography images taken over his ACL.
After 5 minutes of applying the therapy of a frequency at 128 Hz and a relaxing melodic recording, a post review assessment was performed. A significant improvement in strength testing was observed, as well as decreased local thermograph temperature and reduction in pain. Continued daily or frequent use of the wearable therapy will help improve the ACL injury by helping and retraining the brain to send new healthy signals throughout the body.
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By delivering a consistent and focused source of ongoing vibration, tones, audio, or laser to animals and mammals via our external stimulation methods, the following advantages and benefits can be seen: whole body vibration, external spinal stimulation, vibrational tones, audio frequencies, pulse, light and other forms of external energy which can help improve the lives of animals and humans by:
The mammalian brain is receptor-activated and stimulated through various senses including touch, sound, light, smell and taste. The brain cortex having a large contribution of ipsilateral fibers that descend to synapse on the pontinemedulllary reticular formation and pontine areas explains one mode of operation for the invention in mammals. This area sends messages down to activate extensors and inhibit flexors. If this system fails, joints then loose support, flexors get too tight and nerve entrapment syndromes begin. This then leads to inflammation, which creates further weakness. When people or animals have chronic muscle pain, it is primarily in posterior muscle groups such as the extensors, triceps, trapezius, anterior legs and lower back. This then leads to more inflammation.
The brain again sends descending ipsilateral excitatory projections ultimately sending projections down to inhibit the sympathetic system, allowing for vasodilatation. Vibration follows peripheral sensory nerves to the dorsal horn of the spinal cord ascending with other sensory tracts to the medulla. From here the sensory information crosses over to the ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus and then is relayed to the samatosensory area of the brain in the parietal lobe that recognizes vibration. Information then crosses over to the motor strip of the cortex. By increasing activation or neuronal activity of the motor cortex, vibration energy transfers to electric energy increasing axonal output to the pontomedullary reticular formation in the brainstem. Activation of this area creates increased output to the extensor muscles creating increased strength to support muscles of legs, back, neck and shoulders. This will help with pain reduction and inhibit sympathetic output increasing vasodilation and parasympathetic activity. Added benefits include: increase oxygenation, better digestion, leading to faster recovery from injuries and surgeries.
Vibration therapy promotes the fracture healing in rabbits regardless of the frequency but in other mammals the frequency as well as the magnitude are important. Both bone strength and speed of fracture healing are better than those not receiving vibration therapy. In addition, bone strength is elevated by 20% approximately 30% by the best stimulation of stress. The best frequencies are 25 Hz and 50 Hz, while the second best are 12.5 and 100 Hz and then, 200 Hz. It has also been shown in rats that low magnitude, high frequency vibrational therapy promotes fracture healing (Clin Oral Implants Res. 2010 Oct 6. doi: 10.1111/j.I600-0501.2010.02020.x. [Epub ahead of print], which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).
Osteocytes are well evidenced to be the major mechanosensor in bone, responsible for sending signals to the effector cells (osteoblasts and osteoclasts) that carry out bone formation and resorption. Consistent with this hypothesis, it has been shown that osteocytes release various soluble factors (e.g. transforming growth factor-beta, nitric oxide, and prostaglandins) that influence osteoblastic and osteoclastic activities when subjected to a variety of mechanical stimuli, including fluid flow, hydrostatic pressure, and mechanical stretching. Recently, low-magnitude, high-frequency (LMHF) vibration (e.g., acceleration less than <1×g, where g=9.81 m/s(2), at 20-90 Hz) has gained much interest as studies have shown that such mechanical stimulation can positively influence skeletal homeostasis in animals and humans. (Bone. 2010 June; 46(6): 1508-15. Epub 2010 Mar 6. Effect of low-magnitude, high-frequency vibration on osteocytes in the regulation of osteoclasts. Lau E, Al-Dujaili S, Guenther A, Liu D, Wang L, You L. which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety).
All of the following publications, literature and U.S. patent publications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety: U.S. Pat. No. 8,123,707 Method and apparatus for connective tissue treatment; U.S. Pat. No. 8,121,696 Topical analgesia using electrical and vibration stimuli; U.S. Pat. No. 8,086,318 Portable assemblies, systems and methods for providing functional or therapeutic neurostimulation; U.S. Pat. No. 7,993,381 Method and apparatus for treating the body; U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,965 Therapeutic methods using electromagnetic radiation; U.S. Pat. No. 7,862,529 Neuromusculoskeletal knee support device; U.S. Pat. No. 7,860,573 Focused stimulation in a medical stimulation device; U.S. Pat. No. 7,783,348 Stimulation device for treating osteoarthritis; U.S. Pat. No. 7,762,953 Systems and methods for non-invasive physiological monitoring of non-human animals; U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,704 Apparatus and method for the treatment of tissue with ultrasound energy by direct contact; U.S. Pat. No. 7,416,536 Chest vibrating device; U.S. Pat. No. 7,340,874 Horse halter; U.S. Pat. No. 7,335,170 Therapeutic micro-vibration device; U.S. Pat. No. 7,252,051 Neck motion detector and method for bark control device; U.S. Pat. No. 7,211,055 System and method providing directional ultrasound therapy to skeletal joints; U.S. Pat. No. 7,207,953 Massage therapy vest; U.S. Pat. No. 7,108,663 Method and apparatus for cartilage growth stimulation; U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,305 System for locating and sending messages to pets; U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,385 Pet bed having orthopedic properties; U.S. Pat. No. 6,839,443 Bone conduction speaker; U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,473 Therapeutic laser device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,837 Therapeutic light device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,925 Thunderstorm fear-reducing cape for dogs; U.S. Pat. No. 6,620,117 Vibrational device for stimulating tissue and organs; U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,079 Method for performing lipoplasty using external laser radiation; U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,992 Dog behavior monitoring and training apparatus; U.S. Pat. No. 6,338,347 Blood circulation stimulator; U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,497 Magnetic therapy device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,589 Stimulation device and technique; U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,597 Method and device for healing bone fractures; U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,096 Hand-held laser light generator device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,077 Electronic collar for locating and training animals; U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,269 Bone and tissue lengthening device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,207 Electrostimulator with light emitting device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,327 Vibrostimulative device; U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,769 Vibrator; U.S. Pat. No. 5,101,810 Apparatus and method for therapeutic application of vibro-acoustical energy to human body; U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,235 Music vibration table and system; U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,966 Headphone type illuminating device with massage; U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,893 Neuromuscular therapy device; U.S. Pat. No. 2,715,901 Vibrating contour chair; U.S. Pat. No. 2,694,394 Mechanical vibrator for therapeutic use; U.S. Design Pat. No. D520,894 Collar-mounted bark limiting device; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0174217 Point vibration therapy device; U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0077192 System and method for neuro-stimulation; and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2008/0249439 Treatment of inflammation by non-invasive stimulation.
This written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently described. A person of ordinary skill should understand and appreciate that there are variations and combinations to the methods described herein, and should therefore not limit the invention to what is described, but by all the embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61471379 | Apr 2011 | US |
