FI112173B - Piezo patches for pain relief - Google Patents

Description

1 112173

Piezo patch for relief of pain

Background to the sensation.

The human body as well as the animal's leg body have piezoelectric properties, ie electrical voltages (potential differences) arise as a result of mechanical deformation. An alternating voltage coupled to a piezoelectric material produces mechanical vibrations (movement). Recent research has shown that even human skin possesses piezoelectric properties. The property is found in some crystals without a center of symmetry, e.g. quartz, barium titanate, tourmaline, siegnettsah and are used in a wide range of technical applications (watches, pressure sensors, microphones, etc.). Other materials are certain ceramics, e.g. lead zirconate, which is polarized in high temperature electric filament. The piezoelectric phenomenon was discovered in 1880 by Pierre and Jacques Curie. Fukada, Yasuda (1957) describes the basic research on bone piezoelectricity (PE). Herbst (1983) studied electrically stimulated bone healing. Nordell (1988) has linked this research with experiences from stroke research and folk medicine.

In the reverse case (piezoelectric effect), an electrical voltage across the crystal gives rise to mechanical deformation. Nordell (1988) has measured piezoelectric voltages of up to 5 V. with pulsating loads of pork bones. electrically stimulated bone healing. An electrically pulsating voltage is then placed over a bone fracture whereby the electric currents transport bone material to the fracture surface which is there faster to heal.

At a static load, F, of a piezoelectric material in an electromagnetic fault, a mechanical and an electrical voltage, V, rises above the input points. PICTURE 1

Electromagnetic fields are found everywhere in our environment, both natural and artificial. Example ·. on electromagnetic attachments that can affect piezoelectric materials are e.g. box weather, earth radiation, power lines, power lines, computers and high voltage installations. In addition *, · 1, the bone structure is affected by the electrical Sit generated in the body.

* »•«! When the human body is statically loaded, e.g. a physical load alternatively an *. · Muscle tension, and the person is in an electromagnetic load, an electrical is generated:.: Voltage Over the tension points in the leg body. Depending on the size of the physical t ·. [the parameters and outline generate a corresponding electrical voltage.

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Nordell (1988) showed that there is a strong link between rheumatic pain and the stroke. It: ·. ·. there are a number of methods in folk medicine that relieve the problems of rheumatic pain, e.g. by • · stick of bees, jellyfish and burns br. The link to PE is that the bee's spine (not fully studied), the jellyfish's silicon cells and the nettle's nails have piezoelectric properties. It is these findings. which inspired us to make a piezo patch, a patch whose piezoelectric properties'. · · Relieves (or prevents) of, among other things, rheumatic pain. The use of materials such as: 1 µ has piezoelectric properties to cure e.g. Rheumatic pain is thus known but not that their inaction is directly dependent on the piezoelectric properties of the material.

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Regardless of whether the pain-relieving piezoelectric function can be demonstrated scientifically or because it is a consequence of the placebo effect, the height of the invention is the same.

At an early stage in the testing of the material, it was found that patients suffering from various types of rheumatoid arthritis were particularly susceptible to the pain-relieving effect of the product. The most common comment was that the patient was relieved of his pain, was able to relax and sleep. In several tests, the patient has been able to reduce the amount of pain medication, either partially or partially

Various types of piezoelectric material have been tested on patients for several years to find out how the material would be applied to the patient without causing side effects or being uncomfortable to use.

Applications in the form of various garments such as socks, knee warmers, t-shirts etc work but are cumbersome for the patient to use and can cause side effects such as skin irritation and are also expensive to manufacture. Likewise, other designs such as necklaces, bracelets, footbands have been tried. These too can cause skin irritation and are also comparatively expensive to manufacture.

The new method according to the invention to apply the piezoelectric material directly to a skin-friendly adhesive resin has proven to be very good, see FIGURE 2. These plastics are usually made of non-woven material of e.g. rayon / polyester and with a polyacrylate adhesive. It is technically and economically a very profitable method if you first compare the piezoelectric material to a carrier, cut suitable sizes of the active material and then apply it to a plastics material.

Detailed explanation.

The product for attenuating piezoelectric induced stresses consists of a piezoelectric material of, for example, ceramic or mineral, preferably quartz. The material should be applied when or preferably to the skin near or to the area where the pain occurs.

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The piezoelectric material may lie freely in a matrix which allows the individual crystals or agglomerates to pivot freely in micro-movements or be preferably elastically attached to it. a carrier.

The carrier may be a film or foil made of a polymer, paper, foamed polymer, woven or knitted cloth or non-woven.

The carrier with the piezoelectric material may be attached to a patch or other surface which may ·; attached to the skin. Preferably, however, the piezoelectric material should be attached directly to the patch's own adhesive surface.

The adhesive may consist of organic or inorganic binders, preferably one; '' Polyacrylate type adhesive.

_: The piezoelectric material applied to a surface can be applied electrostatically so that they, facing their sharp tip toward the surface where the material is pressed against ahematically sprinkled on the surface. The surface, which is occupied by the piezoelectric material, may be any square millimeter to several square meters, preferably 1 to 2 square centimeters.

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Claims (6)

1. A patch, characterized in that crystals having pizzoelectric properties are attached to a portion of the adhesive surface of the patch so that when the patch is applied to the skin, contact is made between the skin and the crystals. A patch according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystals are attached directly to the same adhesive surface with which the patch is applied against the skin. A patch according to claim 1, characterized in that the crystals are attached to a separate substrate which in turn is attached to the patch. The patch according to claims 1-3, characterized in that the crystals having piezoelectric properties consist of crystals without center of symmetry, barium titanate, tourmaline, signet salt, ceramic lead zirconate or, primarily, quartz. A patch according to claims 1-4, characterized in that the patch body may consist of conventional patch material, however, primarily of staple fiber type surgical tape. A patch according to claims 1-5, characterized in that the patch can be shaped like traditional patches, i.e., pre-punched patches or per unit cut or perforated for tearing, however primarily in the form of skin colored patches per metric roll. t · t · * · 'Ml