NO342951B1 - Device for acupressure treatment - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for acupressure treatment of the human body, comprising a flexible sheet material (1) and at least one pressure element (3) attached or integrated with one face of said sheet material (1). The same face of the sheet material (1) having the at least one pressure element (3) attached to or integrated with, has an adhesive (2) applied thereto. The flexible sheet (1) may be elastic.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a device for acupressure treatment.

Background Art

It has been long known that putting pressure on certain points of the human skin can relieve pain, reduce muscular tension, increase circulation, enable deep relaxation, reduce nausea, and generally maintain good health. It has also been used as a beauty treatment to enhance muscle tone and lessen appearance of wrinkles.

Traditionally, the pressure has been applied by a person using his or her fingers to press against the healing points, also called trigger points. Self-application of pressure can also be done, albeit only being possible on the points that are accessible on the persons own body.

An overview of the acupressure techniques and possible results can be found at the official acupressure website www.acupressure.com.

Since acupressure by hand is both laborious and not always possible, mechanical devices have been developed for applying acupressure. These include mats with spikes, e.g., shown at www.spikemat.com. The mats are flexible sheets of plastic with spikes integrally formed thereon. The person being treated can lie on the mat and some smaller mats can be attached to the person by attachment straps.

Flexible strips with spikes are also being marketed on Ebay by HealthWorldMall, such as the Magnetic Pain Relief Acupressure Fat Burner Back/Belly Jeans Strap, which presently can be found at the web address http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Magnetic-Pain-Relief-Acupressure-Fat-Burner-Back-Belly-Jeans-Strap-12-Magnets-/321917341055?hash=item4af3c4cd7f:g:HVYAAOSwvUlWstpy.

This device combines magnets and spikes and can be fixed around a part of the body.

The web shop www.shubsurgicals.com sells acupressure mats, which also combine magnets and spikes. These are design so that the person can stand, lie or sit on the mats.

For several of the known devices, the person being treated will have to be inactive during the treatment, as he or she will have to lie, stand or sit on the mat. This greatly limits the usability of the acupressure devices. Moreover, it is difficult to apply the pressure on all desired points of the body.

From JP 5957643 is known an acupressure device comprising a disc with an adhesive. In the middle of the disc is a dome. The dome is turned inside out, so that the side that is to face the skin forms a concave hollow. When the disc is attached to the skin, the dome is first not in contact with the skin. After the application of the disc, the user or the treater pushes on the dome, so that it turns inward and gets into contact with the skin.

The dome is equipped with a nob at the apex, which concentrates a pressure on the skin when the dome is reversed against the skin.

Although the dome is elastic, this elasticity is only used to turn the dome inside out. This will provide some pressure to the skin, but this pressure is limited by the fact that the skin will attempt to push the dome outwards again. If the counterpressure from the skin becomes too large, the dome will “pop out” and the effect will disappear. This may happen for instance if the person flexes his or her muscles. Consequently, the person should be inactive when using this device.

It is therefore a need for an acupressure device where the pressure against the skin can be controlled to a greater extend, and which is not influenced detrimentally by the activities of the person being treated.

The known strips with spikes that can be attached to the body allows the person to be in activity while being treated. However, the devices have to be differently shaped to fit around various parts of the body. Moreover, they cannot be attached to all parts of the body because of difficulty to attach straps around many parts of the body. Moreover, the strap, which will extend around the body part, such as a leg or an arm, may hinder proper blood circulation to that body part. This may counteract the effect of the acupressure.

Hence, there is a need for an acupressure device that can be fitted to a wider range of the body and at the same time allow the person to be in activity, such as walking, bicycling, playing sport etc.

Summary of invention

The present invention fulfils this need by an acupressure device having a base material made of a flexible material onto one side of which an adhesive has been applied as well as one or a plurality of pressure elements to the same side as the adhesive, more specifically the invention is defined by a device for acupressure treatment of the human body, comprising a flexible sheet material and at least one pressure element attached to or integrated with one face of said sheet material, wherein the same face of the sheet material having the at least one pressure element attached to or integrated with, has an adhesive applied thereto, the flexible sheet material being elastic, the elasticity of the sheet material enables at least 10% extension by hand of the sheet in one direction. By these means, the pressure from the pressure element on the skin may be increased and the effect of the acupressure may be combined with the effects of lifting the skin and supporting weak joints of the body.

Preferably, the sheet material can be extended by 25% or more.

In a further embodiment, the device comprises a plurality of pressure elements, which enables treatment of an area of the skin.

In one variant, the pressure elements are evenly distributed across the face of the sheet. This enables treatment of an area of the skin without the need for accurate placement of the device.

In another variant, the pressure elements are grouped in clusters, which may be of an advantage when treating a larger area of the skin.

In a yet further embodiment, the at least one pressure element has a blunt apex, such as being a half sphere. This is convenient for putting pressure on a specific trigger point.

In a still further embodiment, the at least one pressure element has a pointy apex. This is convenient for general treatment without being associated with a specific trigger point.

The at least one pressure element may have a height of about 1 – 3 mm, which is particularly convenient for general treatment of the skin without being associated with a specific trigger point.

The at least one pressure element may have a height of about 3 – 10 mm, which is particularly convenient for treatment by putting a pressure on one or more specific trigger points.

Brief description of drawings

Figure 1a shows a first embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 1b shows the first embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 2a shows a second embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 2b shows the second embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 3a shows a third embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 3b shows the third embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 4a shows a fourth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 4b shows the fourth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 5a shows a fifth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 5b shows the fifth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 6 shows various alternative pressure elements according to the invention,

Figure 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the invention on roll,

Figure 8a shows a seventh embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 8b shows the seventh embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Figure 9a shows an eighth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in elevation view,

Figure 9b shows the eighth embodiment of the acupressure device of the invention in planar view,

Detailed description of the invention

The acupressure device of the present invention will comprise, in its most basic form, three elements: a flexible sheet, an adhesive and at least one pressure element.

The flexible sheet can be any type of flexible sheet, made of a non-woven or woven textile material, an environmentally conscious organic polymer, such as thermoplastic or thermosetting polymer, preferably a biodegradable material, or rubber, or any combinations of these materials. The material should preferably be permeable to moisture, to allow the skin underneath the acupressure device to breathe. Natural fibres, such as cotton, is favourable.

The sheet should be thin, preferably with a thickness less than 1 mm.

Preferably, the sheet is elastic.

The adhesive should be an adhesive that will attach to skin, even moist skin, but nevertheless easy to remove. Acrylic adhesives are favourable.

The pressure elements can be made of hard or semi-hard polymers, rubber or other types of organic or in-organic compounds. Preferably, the pressure elements are also biodegradable.

All of the above elements should be non-irritating to skin and contain no allergic compounds.

There are many different sports tapes, sometimes called kinesio tapes or therapeutic tapes, available on the market, which have a sheet and adhesive that is well suited for the purpose of the present invention, such as those supplied by KT Health, LLC under the trademark KT Tape.

Figure 1a and 1b shows a first embodiment of an acupressure device according to the invention in elevation view and planar view respectively. It comprises a flexible and, preferably, elastic sheet 1. On one side of the sheet 1 is a layer of adhesive 2 (which is too thin to be seen clearly in the drawings). A pressure element 3 is attached to the same side of the sheet 1 as the adhesive. The pressure element can be attached using the same adhesive 2 that is for attaching the acupressure device to the skin. The pressure element may conveniently have a thickness of 5 – 10 mm.

Alternatively, the pressure element 3 can be formed integrally with the sheet 1 or glued to the sheet 1 before the adhesive 2 is applied. In that case, the adhesive 2 can be applied also on top of the pressure element 3.

The pressure element 3 is in this case shaped as a half sphere with its apex facing away from the sheet 1 and towards the skin when the acupressure device has been applied thereto. Any other pressure element 3 with a blunt apex may also conveniently be used, especially with a rounded apex.

Figures 2a and 2b show a similar acupressure device as in figures 1a and 1b. The difference being that the sheet 1 has a smaller area.

Figures 3a and 3b show a third embodiment, where the difference from the two first embodiments is that the sheet 1 has the shape of a triangle with a cut-away 4 at one vertex. This provides a shape that facilitates the application of the sheet at difficult locations, such as the area at the corner between the thumb and the index finger, which contains a well-known trigger point.

The adhesive is conveniently covered by a backing paper (not shown) that protects the adhesive 2 before the acupressure device is to be applied on the skin. A hole in the backing paper may accommodate the pressure element 3.

When the acupressure device is to be applied on the skin, the user peels off the backing paper and applies, possibly with the help of a friend, the device on the skin so that the pressure element 3 coincides with a desired trigger point or a painful area. When applying, it is an advantage to stretch the sheet somewhat in at least one direction, so that the sheet is tensioned. This will increase the pressure of the pressure element 3 against the skin, and hence the effect of the acupressure.

The stretching of the sheet can also provide the additional effect already known from therapeutic tapes, which is to wrinkle the skin somewhat, which in turn lifts the skin. This will relieve some of the pressure on the pain receptors in the skin. The tape of the invention may also be used to support weak joints in the same way as the therapeutic tapes. The combined effect with the acupressure may enhance the pain relief.

Figures 4a and 4b shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention in planar view and elevation view, respectively.

In this embodiment, the sheet is equipped with a plurality of pressure elements 3, dispersed evenly over the area of the sheet.

These pressure elements 3 have a somewhat different shape than the pressure elements of the previous embodiments. They are shaped like a half sphere, but have a small protrusion 3a at the apex. The small protrusion 3a provides a higher pressure at a small area of the skin.

Due to the multiple of pressure elements 3 the embodiment of figure 4a and 4b can put pressure on several trigger points in a limited area. Alternatively, the positioning of the acupressure device need not be as accurate as for the embodiments of figures 1 – 3.

Figures 5a and 5b show a fifth embodiment of an acupressure device according to the invention, in elevation view and planar view, respectively.

The pressure elements 3 are grouped together in six clusters 5. In the embodiments shown, each cluster form a Chinese sign. This shape does not as such have any technical significance, but for some people the sight of Chinese signs may build confidence in the product, as the acupressure technique is built on the same philosophy as acupuncture, which has its origin in ancient Chinese medicine.

The pressure elements 3 of the embodiment shown in figures 5a and 5b are pointy pyramids of a smaller height than in the previous embodiments, such as 1 - 3 mm. The elements 3 are integrated with a base 6, which forms an enlarged interphase with the sheet 1. Some of the pressure elements may be connected by the base 6.

Figure 6 shows various possible shapes of pressure elements 3. The pointy embodiments will be most suitable to relieve tensions, and these do not necessarily need to be accurately placed on specific trigger points to work satisfactorily. The half sphere elements is particularly suitable for exact placement on a specific trigger point to activate this and associated median channels.

Figure 7 shows an acupressure device on roll 7. This is similar to the known rolls of sports tape (kinesio or therapeutic tape), except that it contains pressure elements. The user can then tear off the required length before applying it on the body. This roll need not necessarily have a backing paper as the surface of the sheet facing away from the adhesive can be treated so that the adhesive may adhere only relatively weakly to this surface.

Figures 8a and 8b show yet another embodiment in elevation view and planar view, respectively. Here too are the pressure elements 3 grouped in clusters, but without being interconnected.

Figures 9a and 9b shows a final embodiment in elevation view and planar view, respectively. This shows one cluster of pressure elements 3, but is otherwise similar to the previous embodiment.

The device of the present invention may comprise any combination of different types of pressure elements depending on the use and effect sought.

Claims (8)

Claims

1.

Device for acupressure treatment of the human body, comprising a flexible sheet material (1) and at least one pressure element (3) attached to or integrated with one face of said sheet material (1), the same face of the sheet material (1) that has the at least one pressure element (3) attached to or integrated with, has an adhesive (2) applied thereto, characterized in that said flexible sheet material (1) is elastic, and that the elasticity of the sheet material (1) enables at least 10% extension by hand of the sheet material in one direction.

2.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of pressure elements (3).

3.

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure elements (3) are evenly distributed across the face of the sheet material (1).

4.

Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure elements (3) are grouped in clusters.

5.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure element (3) has a blunt apex, such as being a half sphere.

6.Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure element (3) has a pointy apex (3a).

Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure element (3) has a height of about 1 – 3 mm.

8.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one pressure element (3) has a height of about 3 – 10 mm.