AU650188B1

AU650188B1 - Therapeutic magnetic ear ornament

Info

Publication number: AU650188B1
Application number: AU30256/92A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Marcus Breuning; Fritz E W Hieber
Original assignee: BREUNING FRANZ
Current assignee: BREUNING FRANZ
Priority date: 1992-11-25
Filing date: 1992-12-17
Publication date: 1994-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2012-12-17
Also published as: FI925423A0; EP0598938A1; CA2086571A1; ZA9210009B; FI925423A

Description

1- J0 8

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1 990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT P/00/01i1 Regulation 3.2 00 0 0 60 0 00 0 9* 0000 0 0000 00 *0 0 0 Invention Title: THERAPEUTIC MAGNETIC EAR ORNAMENT 00 0 0* 0 00 0000 00 00 0 00 0 00 0 00t 000 0 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: GH&CO REF: P22505-B:ADK:RK THERAPEUTIC MAGNETIC EAR ORNAilENT The present invention relates to an arrangement for attaching permanent magnets to a human body to provide for exposure of human tissue to magnetic forces and, particularly, to a therapeutic magnetic ear ornament for applying magnetic forces to the tissue of the outer ear which contains numerous acupuncture points and -lines.

Although not strictly scientifically researched and without scientific proof, acupuncture has been well established in the diagnosis and therapy of the human body. In the acupuncture of ancient origin, strictly limited areas of the human body are pierced by needles of various metals in order to generate certain desired effects. However, in order to avoid irritation of the tissue, particularly infectious at the piercing points as 15 much a's possible, the needles should remain inserted in the body for only short periods. Actually, depending on the method of treatment and the condition to be treated, the desired effects occur practically as soon as the tissue is pierced so that the needles do not need to remain 20 inserted over extended periods. However if the desired effect does not occur immediately, the needles must remain inserted for an extended period, with a concomitant increased risk particularly of infections. Especially in order to avoid this disadvantage and to simplify the acupuncture procedure altogether and, in any case, to make it unbloody, treatment c acupuncture points and -lines by electroacupuncture has been developed wherein the acupuncture points and -lines are stimulated by electric potentials or currents, In this procedure, the human body is generally connected to tne pole of an electric current source while an acupuncture specialist places the opposite pole onto an acupuncture point. With this procedure the poles may remain in contact with the body for an extended period of time.

In the classic acupuncture procedure which was acquired from Asia, acupuncture points and -lines are considered to be distributed over the whole body surface.

A special acupuncture methodology is concerned specifically with the acupuncture points on the outer ear since, in accordance with the teachings of this methodology, the outer ear contains acupuncture points for any of the body organs considered to have corresponding acupuncture points. This so-called ear acupuncture also utilizes invasive techniques, that is, needle-piercing of the outer ear as well as the application of electric currents.

It may be the result of the well-known electromagnetic effect, according to which a magnetic field generates an electric polarization which is proportional to the field strength of an electric field, that exposure of the acupuncture points to magnetic fields leads to the 25 same results as the stimulation of these points by electric currents. In any case, experience shows that such effects are indeed present, although those effects are generally not of a stimulating but rather of sedating nature. However, in many acupuncture applications such sedating effects are particularly desirable. Application of magnetic forces to such acupuncture points however is guided by laws and conditions which are different from those guiding electroacupuncture. For electroacupuncture a galvanic connection must be established with the tissue of the acupuncture point, to permit the flow of a current. The magnetic field lines, in contrast, are not dependent on the conductivity of the tissue and penetrate 0*o000 the tissue even if the magnetic poles are separated from the tissue by intermediate materials or by an air gap.

It is however necessary that the tissue is exposed to such magnetic forces over an extended period of time since their effect is of a very low level.

It is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement which permits exposure of the acupuncture points and -lines of the outer ear to magnetic fields over an extended period of time and in an aesthetically attractive manner.

With this object in view, the present invention resides in a therapeutic ear ornament comprising a decorative frame adapted for being supported on the outer ear of a person wearing the ear ornament has incorporated therein permanent magnets generating magnetic field forces to which acupuncture points and -lines in the outer tissue of the person wearing the ear ornament are exposed.

With this arrangement acupuncture points and -lines are no longer stimulated only for short periods of time as it is the case with needle or electroacupuncture but the acupuncture points and -lines are exposed to the magnetic forces over long periods since such ear orna- Sments can he constantly worn at least during the day.

25 Since perh-.)ent magnets are embedded in or integrated with the ear ornament or earring, the acupuncture points and -lines of the outer ear of a wearer are constantly exposed to the magnetic field lines generated by the permanent magnets so that the above-mentioned object of long-term exposure of the acupuncture points and -lines of the outer ear to magnetic forces is achieved.

In a first embodiment according to the invention the ear ornament has a frame in the shape of a decorative open-ended ring whose one end is supported in the 35 outer ear cavity and whose other end abuts the rear wall of the outer ear. In its most simple form such an earring is of circular shape.

0:*o• In another embodiment with high therapeutic effects the ear ornament is again an open-ended ring whose one end is supported in the outer ear cavity but which has a center portion extending upwardly behind the ear and a hook-shaped other end extending over the Jointure between the outer ear and the head skin.

In still another embodiment with similar therapeutic value the ear ornament consists of an open-ended ring structure extending behind the ear and having upper and lower hook-shaped end portions extending around the jointure of the ear with the head skin at the top of the outer ear and, at the lower end around the jointure of the ear to the head behind the earlobe.

In any of these embodiments the permanent magnets may be disposed in the ear ornament or ring in the form of small discs or platelets with their poles directed toward the tissue or the magnets may be rodlets arranged so that the tissue is exposed to the magnetic forces of both of their poles. If the earring includes more than one permanent magnet they may be so arranged that the polarity of adjacent poles is the same or opposite. It also has been found to be quite beneficial to arrange two or more magnets in such a manner that the outer ear tissue is disposed therebetween so that the tissue in between is exposed to a relatively high magnetic field density.

It can generally be assumed that the types of ear ornaments with integrated permanent magnets as described provide for exposure to magnetic forces of relatively large areas of the outer ear and consequently of the acupuncture points and -lines which are present there so that the desired stimulating or sedating effect is safely achieved.

The invention will become more readily apparent 35 from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof shown by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: r Figure 1 shows an open-ended earring whose one end is supported in the outer ear cavity; Fig. 2 shows an ear ornament which also has one end received in the outer ear cavity and which extends around the rear of the outer ear; Fig. 3 shows an ear ornament which extends behind the outer ear and around its top and bottom; Fig. 4 shows an ear ornament which, similar to the one of Fig. 2 has one end supported in the outer ear cavity and its other end embracing the upper outer ear; Fig. 5 shows an earring with magnets incorporated therein; and Fig. 6 shows an ear embracing earring with magnets incorporated therein.

An ear ornament in the form of an open-ended ring-like frame 1 as shown in Fig. I is supported with its front end received in an outer ear cavity 2, it extends around the outer ear 4 and abuts the back wall of the outer ear 4. The ear ornament 3 as shown in Fig. 2 also has a front end received in the outer ear cavity 2 but extends around the bottom end of the outer ear 4 and upwardly behind the outer ear 4 and, at its top, is hooklike engaged with the outer ear 4. The embodiment of Fig. 4 is similar although the ring is C-shaped so as to 25 have a portion 6 disposed behind the ear in the groove formed between the outer ear 4 and the skin 5 of the o" head. This is also the case for the arrangement as shown .in Fig. 3 wherein the ear ornament extends hook-like over the top as well as the bottom of the outer ear, Of course, the forwardly facing exposed portions of the ear ornament 1, 3, 7, 8 may be provided with decorations including precious stones, etc.

Fig. 5 shows an open-ended earring 1 provided with permanent magnets. It includes disc-like magnets 9, 10 as well as rod-like magnets 1i, 12 and they may be arranged such thak opposite or the same poles are disposed adjacent one another. In the arrangement as shown in $4 Fig. 5 opposite poles are disposed adjacent one another such that a strong magnetic field is generated between the faces of adjacent magnets 9, 10 which penetrates the outer ear tissue disposed therebetween. In the arrangement of Fig. 6, on the other hand, the adjacent faces of the rod-like magnets 13 have the same polarity such that a strong stray flux is generated along the center portion 6 thereof which extends into the adjacent outer ear tissue. In addition a strong magnetic force field is generated between the magnets 14 disposed in the hook-like end portions and those disposed in the center portion 6 which provides for a relatively large flux through the outer ear areas disposed therebetween.

o 9 9* 9.9° *°0•0 a

Claims

1. A therapeutic ear ornament comprising a decorative frame adapted for being supported on the outer ear of a person wearing the ornament, said frame having incorporated therein permanent magnets generating mag- netic field forces to which acupuncture points and -lines in the outer ear tissue of the person wearing the ear or- nament are exposed.

2. An ear ornament according to claim 1, wherein said frame is an open-ended decorative earring having one end arranged so as to be received in an outer ear cavity while the other end abuts the back wall of the outer ear.

3. An ear ornament according to claim 2, wherein said earring is of circular shape. 15

4. An ear ornament according to claim 1, wherein said frame is an open-ended decorative ring structure having one end arranged so as to be received in an outer ear cavity, a center portion to extend behind the outer ear upwardly and another hook-like end portion extending around and over the Jointure between the outer ear and the head skin of a wearer.

5. An ear ornament according to claim 1, wherein said frame is an open-ended decorative C-shaped structure having a center portion adapted to be disposed 25 behind thc ear and having upper and lower hook-like end portions extending over the top and, respectively, the bottom of the Jointure between the outer ear and the head of a wearer. 9 8

6. An ear ornament according to claim 1, wherein said permanent magnets are discs oriented in said frame such that the poles of said magnets are directed toward the ear tissue of a wearer.

7. An ear ornament according to claim 1I wherein said permanent magnets are rodlets disposed in said frame so as to extend adjacent the outer ear of a wearer.

8. An ear ornament according to claim 1, wherein said magnets are so arranged in said frame that adjacent faces of the magnets have opposite polarity.

9. An ear ornament according to claim 7, wherein said magnets are so arranged in said frame that adjacent faces of adjacent magnets have the same polar- ity.

An ear ornament according to claim 6, wherein permanent magnets are disposed in said frame such that a wearer's outer ear tissue is disposed between the faces of opposite polarity of such magnets so as to ex- pose such tissue to the magnetic flux between the magnet faces.

11. A therapeutic ear ornament substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 15th day of December 1992 FRANZ BREUNING By his Patent Attorney GRIFFITH HACK CO. 0 9 ABSTRACT THERAPEUTIC MAGNETIC EAR ORNAMENT In a therapeutic ear ornament comprising a decorative frame adapted for being supported on the outer ear of a person wearing it, the ear ornament has incorporated therein permanent magnets generating magnetic field forces to which acupuncture points and -lines in the outer ear tissue of the person wearing the ear ornaments are exposed. S. *r S S *5 5*r S