WO2001005464A1

WO2001005464A1 - Bio-regeneration bracelet

Info

Publication number: WO2001005464A1
Application number: PCT/IB2000/001008
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nevio Barnabe'; Teresa Guidi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-07-21
Filing date: 2000-07-20
Publication date: 2001-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2002-01-21
Also published as: IT1310418B1; AU5838100A; ITBO990413A1

Abstract

A bio-regeneration bracelet to be worn on a wrist (5) essentially including: contact means (7) linked to said bracelet (1) and fit to contact said wrist (5) and to be movable in respect to said bracelet (1) in order to be moved from an operative condition (O), in which said bracelet (1) is worn on said wrist (5) and said contact means (7) contacts said wrist (5), to an inactive condition (I), in which said contact means (7) does not touch with said wrist (5); stimulation means (8), fixed to said bracelet (1), fit to generate a current or a magnetic flow inducing into said wrist (5) salutary effects respectively due to the electrostimulation and the acupressure or due to the electromagnetic therapy and the acupressure in correspondence of the operative condition (O).

Description

BIO-REGENERATION BRACELET.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to devices used for the bio-stimulation of the human body and particularly refers to a bio-regeneration bracelet, used for reliving the fatigue or stress phenomena which can affect the human body.

BACKGROUND ART

Due to the always faster life rhythms and always less available free time, it is more and more difficult for the human body to recover the necessary energies for a balancing biological life and so more and more frequently stressed situation occurs, with the consequence of having higher risk of psycho-physical problems such as anxiety, depression and insomnia.

There are some known treatments like the acupressure, the transcutaneous electric stimulation (known as T.E.N.S.), and the magnetic stimulation, with the purpose of relieving stress phenomena.

Particularly the acupressure consists in the central nervous stimulation, through acuminate spikes, having relaxing effects on the body.

The transcutaneous electric stimulation is effected by means of two electrodes, contacting the skin, between which a current passes that, acting on nervous, helps the endorphins production and has biological calming effects.

At last, there are some known regenerating effects relative to the cellular membranes, which occur by means of current or magnetic flows generated on the skin by means of an electromagnet. The main drawback of said techniques is that they must be carried out when the patient is absolutely physically available. In the practice, the patient subjected to said treatments cannot move freely at all, sometimes he is stopped near the apparatuses or the devices for carrying out said treatments.

Further drawback is that the electric stimulation currents and the magnetic currents must be low, so the treatments require long time to get beneficent effects. Because of that the patient has a further inconvenience since he is forced to a very long sitting treatment or, in case he has no enough time available for a complete sitting, to take a partial sitting with the consequence of having partial beneficent effects.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to propose a device fit to provide bio- regeneration effects allowing the patient at the same time to move freely and completely independence from unmovable apparatuses.

Further object is to propose a device fit to combine and provide at the same time at least two of the salutary principles such as acupressure and electric stimulation currents, or acupressure and magnetic currents.

A further object is to provide a device of simple production, of safe and easy usage, and also of low cost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention are forward highlighted with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

- figure 1 shows a front view of the bio-regeneration bracelet, subject of the present invention;

- figures 2 and 3 show perspective views of wrists, respectively left and right, in which are highlighted the stimulation points of the bracelet;

- figure 4 shows a front view of a second embodiment of the bracelet, subject of the invention;

- figure 5 shows a front view of a variant of the bracelet.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to figure 1, numeral 1 indicates a bracelet with toroidal shape including an opening 4, contact means 7, an adjustment hinge 2 and stimulation means 8.

The opening 4 is fit for allowing the wearing of the bracelet 1 around a hand wrist 5, and defines the two bracelet ends.

The contact means 7 is rotationally engaged to one end of the bracelet 1 by means of the adjustment hinge 2 and supports a plurality of relieves 3, displaced on the internal part of the contact means 7, or namely the part faced to the wrist 5.

Said relieves 3, that in the preferred embodiment are two, have a rounded or slightly sharpened profile.

The stimulation means 8, fixed in correspondence of the bracelet portion facing the opening 4, is essentially constituted by an electric stimulator 9, preferably powered with a battery or an accumulator, and is provided with switch means, know but not shown, in order to switch off the power. The battery or the accumulator is inside the bracelet 1 or fixed thereto.

The bracelet 1 is made preferably of plastics, that is insulating in correspondence of the portion contacting the skin, while the relieves 3 are made of conductor material and are electrically connected with the stimulation means 8, so being electrodes for the output of a stimulating current or electrostimulation.

The hinge 2 allows the movement of the contact means 7 in the approaching or removing directions with respect to the wrist 5, respectively in correspondence of an operative condition O, in which the bracelet 1 is worn on the wrist 5 and the relieves 3 of the contact means 7 are pressed against the wrist 5, and in correspondence of an inactive condition I, in which the relieves 3 are faced to the wrist 5 without touching this latter and, therefore, without pressing the wrist.

In the figures 2 and 3, the number 6 indicates the optimal stimulation points on the wrist, so-called "trigger", which, according to the known principles of the acupuncture and the reflexology techniques, are the main confluence points of the nervous endings of the wrist. For said reason, points 6 are the main application positions of the bracelet because they are generally the positions of the acupuncture needles or of the electrodes for the electrostimulation.

It is simple to operate the bracelet 1, because when worn around the wrist 5, the contact means 7 are positioned in correspondence of the wrist 5 portion where are located the trigger points 6 and thus, by means of the hinge 2, the contact means 7 are positioned into operative condition O, paying attention that the relieves 3 push properly onto the trigger points 6.

In this way the relieves 3, besides performing the electrode function to deliver the stimulation current from the stimulation means 8, for instance, opportunely activated through the switch means, having also the function of pressure members fit to effect the acupressure and therefore to induce in the body a second salutary effect.

Therefore, the bracelet 1, in correspondence of operative condition O, carries out in continuos way two salutary effects and namely the electrostimulation and the acupressure.

It is advantageous to underline that the hinge 2 adjustment depends on the dimensions of the wrist 5 and that, once adjusted the hinge position and consequently the pressure of the contact means 7 onto the wrist 5, this latter pressure keeps the preset position of the contact means 7 in stable position until when the user looses the hold and removes the contact means 7 from the wrist 5. Preferably the impulses sent by the electrostimulator 9 are rectangular shaped, modulated in frequency with negative peak or spike or with vaπable frequency, for instance such as TENS biphase, and also adjustable by means of a regulator, known and not shown, in order to guarantee an appropπate customization of the electrical stimulation

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of the bracelet, in which the stimulation means 8 is constituted by a generator 10 of magnetic field fit to produce a magnetic flow

The magnetic field, and the consequent flow, is "channeled" and thus "irradiated" by means of an antenna 11 positioned inside the bracelet 1, toward the wπst 5, fit to induce into the wπst some stimulation currents magnetically oπginated helpful for the whole body of the user

In this case, the relieves 3 are not electπcally connected to the stimulation means and have only the function of pressure members and thus carry out the acupressure effect

The magnetic field made by the generator 10 is preferably of the type having high frequency with vaπable modulation to facilitate the energy absoφtion by the human tissues, so favoπng an optimal bio-regeneration effect

The magnetic field mtensity does not damage the bracelet user and is adjustable by means of a regulator, not shown, in order to guarantee an appropπate customization of the stimulation coming from the same magnetic field

In this way the bracelet 1 provides a double helpful effect to the user, but in this case said effects are caused by the acupressure and the electromagnetic therapy

In figure 5 is underlined a vaπant of the bracelet 1, either in the preferred or the second embodiment, in which a further timing device 12 is included, such as watch and/or timer, through which, for instance, it is possible to program or anyhow to keep under control comfortably the time interval when the bracelet is worn or is kept in operative condition O.

It is advantageous to underline that the bracelet 1 in any way let the user to move freely, allowing this latter to do all the daily normal activities, wearing the bio-regeneration bracelet and thus enjoying the benefit effects.

Besides it is possible to supply in simple and controlled and therefore customized way the intensity of the electric or magnetic stimulation.

The bio-regeneration bracelet has no counterindication and so whoever can use it, including the patients who cannot use the electrostimulation or the magnetic currents, for instance, who have pacemaker or who suffer epilepsy. These categories of patients in fact can profit anyway, being able to move freely, by the beneficent effect coming from the acupressure, switching off the other function of the bracelet.

It is advantageous to note that the bracelet 1 can be also worn around a foot ankle or shaped as a collar and worn consequently around the neck. Such bracelet 1 can also be miniaturized as a finger ring.

Therefore, the main advantage of the present invention is to provide a bracelet fit to supply bio-regeneration effects allowing at the same time the user to move freely and to be independent from unmovable apparatuses.

Other advantage is to provide a bracelet fit to combine and to supply at the same time at least two of the salutary principals, namely the acupressure and the electrostimulation currents, or the acupressure and the magnetic currents.

Further advantage is to provide a bracelet of simple production, safe and easy usage, and of low-cost.

Claims

1) Bio-regeneration bracelet to be worn on a wrist (5) characterized in that includes:

- contact means (7) linked to said bracelet (1) and fit to contact said wrist (5) and to be movable in respect to said bracelet (1) in order to be moved from an operative condition (O), in which said bracelet (1) is worn on said wrist (5) and said contact means (7) contacts said wrist (5), to an inactive condition (I), in which said contact means (7) does not touch with said wrist (5);

- stimulation means (8), fixed to said bracelet (1), fit to generate a current or a magnetic flow inducing into said wrist (5) salutary effects respectively due to the electrostimulation and the acupressure or due to the electromagnetic therapy and the acupressure in correspondence of said operative condition (O).

2) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises an opening (4) fit to facilitate the positioning of said bracelet (1) around said wrist (5).

3) Bracelet according to claims 1 or 2 characterized in that said contact means (7) is rotationally engaged with an end of said bracelet (1) through an adjustment hinge (2), fit to allow the movements of contact means (7) in the approaching or removing directions with respect to said wrist (5), in correspondence respectively of said operative condition (O) and said inactive condition (I).

4) Bracelet according to claim 3 characterized in that said hinge (2) is fit to keep the stable contact of said contact means (7) with said wrist (5), at least in correspondence of said operative condition (O).

5) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said contact means (7) has at least one relief (3) made of conductor material connected to said stimulation means (8) and fit to contact said wrist (5) at least in correspondence of said operative condition (O).

6) Bracelet according to claim 5 characterized in that said at least one relief (3) has a rounded or slightly shaφened profile. 7) Bracelet according to claim 5 characterized in that said at least one relief (3) is pressed onto said wrist portion comprising at least a trigger point (6) in correspondence of said operative condition (O).

8) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said stimulation means (8) is essentially constituted by an electrostimulator (9) fit to send rectangular impulses, modulated in frequency with negative peak or spike, such as the TENS biphase, also adjustable by means of a regulator.

9) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said stimulation means (8) is powered by means of at least a battery and is provided with power switch means.

10) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said stimulation means (8) is constituted by a generator (10) of magnetic field irradiated into said wrist (5) by means of an antenna (11) fixed on said bracelet (1) in order to induce magnetically originated current into said wrist (5).

11) Bracelet according to claim 10 characterized in that the magnetic field generated by said generator (10) is of the type having high frequency with variable modulation.

12) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said bracelet (1) is carried out preferably in plastics, insulating, at least in the portion contacting the skin of said wrist (5).

13) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that said bracelet (1) is shaped in such a way that is worn on the wrist, or on the finger, or on the neck or on the ankle.

14) Bracelet according to claim 1 characterized in that it further comprises a timing device (12) fit to control the activation of said operative condition (O).