Apparatus and method for alleviating nausea

A method and apparatus for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting by the simultaneous electrical stimulation of the pericardium meridian six point and pericardium meridian seven point on the ventral side of the wrist of a patient. The meridian stimulator comprises a wrist-band like housing that is worn on the ventral side of the human wrist and contains a circuitry means included within the said housing and electrically coupled to the electrodes. A negative electrode is positioned on the pericardium meridian six point and a positive electrode is placed on the pericardium meridian seven point and a low amperage current is passed through these points via electrodes positioned at these points. A liquid crystal display unit reads the current supplied to the electrodes and indicates via an indicator light when current is being supplied to the meridian stimulator and further comprises a touch screen for a power on and off button and for increasing the rate of electrical stimulations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nausea and vomiting are typically induced following the administration of general anesthesia and certain drugs, for example, narcotic pain alleviation and chemotherapy drugs. Also, conditions such as vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, motion sickness and sea-sickness cause nausea. Anti-nausea remedies currently available in the market today include anti-nausea drugs, chemotherapy, acupuncture, acupressure and electro-acupuncture.

Stimulation of various areas on the body is known to be an effective treatment method for various medical conditions. Acupuncture and acupressure are existing Chinese therapeutic techniques that involve the stimulation of certain meridians and small, finite size points on the meridians known as acupuncture points. The current acupressure treatment for the alleviation of nausea and vomiting induced by general anesthesia, narcotic pain medications, chemotherapy, vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus and motion sickness consists of stimulation of an acupuncture point on the pericardium meridian known as the PC6point in a single therapeutic session.

Electro-acupuncture devices use non-invasive point stimulation whereby electricity is passed through two electrodes along the acupuncture meridians or channels. An example of an electro-acupuncture device is an electrode housed in a wrist-band that is positioned on the PC6acupuncture point and powered by a local battery to energise the PC6acupuncture point of the patient for the relief of nausea and vomiting. When administered properly, electro-acupuncture devices generally cause no physical injury to the patient and provide a non-chemical, non-invasive, painless and inexpensive method of alleviating nausea.

This invention comprises the stimulation of two acupuncture points on the pericardium meridian on the ventral side of the wrist known as the pericardium meridian six point (PC6) and pericardium meridian seven point (PC7) by the application of an electrically generated stimulus by a negative electrode positioned on the PC6point and a positive electrode positioned on the PC7point. The PC6acupuncture point is located on the pericardium meridian between the palmaris longus and flexor capri radialis tendons on the PC3and PC7line. The PC7point is located on the pericardium meridian at the middle of the wrist crease between palmaris longus and flexor carpi radialis tendons. It was found that the simultaneous electrical stimulation of both PC6and PC7is much more effective for the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting compared to the stimulus of the area around only the PC6point.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1illustrates the position of the electrodes in the pericardium meridian stimulator200used for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting. The positive electrode101and the negative electrode102housed within the pericardium meridian stimulator200are powered by a local battery to provide a pulsed or a continuous electro-stimulation signal at the PC6and PC7points.

The positive electrode101and negative electrode102are made of an electrically conducting material. In one embodiment of the invention, the electrodes are coated with a gel during manufacture of the pericardium meridian stimulator200and a removable plastic sheet is placed over the gel to hold the gel in place. Prior to the use of the pericardium meridian stimulator200, the medical practitioner peels the plastic sheet off the electrodes101and102and positions the electrodes that are covered by a layer of gel on the pericardium meridian points PC6and PC7on the wrist303of the patient. In another embodiment of the pericardium meridian stimulator, the gel is not provided with the electrodes during the assembly of the pericardium meridian stimulator200but is applied on the electrodes before the electrodes are positioned on the PC6and PC7points of the patient303. The positive electrode101and the negative electrode102are electrically insulated from each other. The bottom of the pericardium meridian stimulator200is made of an electrically insulating material, for example, a plastic.

The spacing between the pericardium meridian six point (PC6)301and pericardium meridian seven point (PC7)302varies with age and body structure. To accommodate this variance, the present invention allows the relative movement and positioning of one electrode with respect to the other electrode along a guide or track in the housing of the pericardium meridian stimulator200.

In one embodiment of the invention, the position of the positive electrode101is fixed with respect to the negative electrode102in the pericardium meridian stimulator with the position of negative electrode102adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the pericardium meridian defined by the line connecting points PC6and PC7. The positive electrode101is positioned on the PC7point302and the negative electrode102is positioned on the pericardium meridian six point (PC6)302via a distance adjustment means, for example, a guide or track in the housing along which the negative electrode102can move.

In another embodiment of the invention, the position of the negative electrode102is fixed with respect to the positive electrode101in the pericardium meridian stimulator with the position of positive electrode101adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the meridian defined by the line connecting points PC6and PC7. Electrode102is positioned on the PC6point301and the position of the positive electrode101is positioned on the pericardium meridian seven point (PC7)302via a distance adjustment means, for example, a guide or track along which the positive electrode101can move.

The pericardium meridian stimulator200includes a wrist-band like housing that contains a strap103for strapping the pericardium meridian stimulator200onto the wrist of the patient. The housing of the pericardium meridian stimulator200which holds the electrodes and electrical circuitry is made of an electrically non-conductive material, for example, a plastic. The strap103is also made of an electrically non-conductive material. The strap103is flexible and is made of either adhesive packing or Velcro®, thereby allowing non-invasive contact of the pericardium meridian stimulator200with the body.

The positive electrode101and the negative electrode102are located on the lower surface of the pericardium meridian stimulator200and in indirect contact with the patient's skin through the gel medium. The positive electrode101and the negative electrode102are detachably attached to the housing. The battery208and the control electronics are located in the housing of the pericardium meridian stimulator200. When electric power is supplied to the positive electrode101and to the negative electrode102, the pericardium meridian points PC6301and PC7302are simultaneously stimulated.

The positive electrode101and the negative electrode102are each coupled via an electrical connector on the electrical circuit to the battery208located in the pericardium meridian stimulator200. The electrically conducting sheath around the positive electrode101and the negative electrode102and the straps103are disposable. The electrically conducting sheath is fabricated from a polymer conducting material, for example a material comprising a metal bonded or impregnated to a polymer. In another embodiment of the invention, the sheath comprises a mesh or foil constructed of a high conductivity metal, for example silver, copper, etc. The LCD and electric circuit assembly are non-disposable.

FIG. 2Aillustrates the top view of the pericardium meridian stimulator200as seen by the patient when the pericardium meridian stimulator is strapped onto the wrist of the patient. The pericardium meridian stimulator200is provided with a female connector206and male connector207for the wire-line connection from the battery to the electrodes, and a liquid crystal display (LCD)203read out located on the upper face of the pericardium meridian stimulator200in view of the patient. The LCD203displays the current supplied to the electrodes101and102and for indicating via an indicator light when electric power is being supplied to the electrodes101and102. The LCD203touch screen202interface is provided with a power on-off button201and a switch205for increasing the electric pulse rate and thereby the electrical stimulation rate. The LCD203displays the current supplied to the electrodes. The power supplied to the electrodes101and102from the local battery is a low ampere, low voltage current, for example a 10, 20 or 30 milliampheres at 3 volts. The touch screen202button204increases or decreases the stimulus signal at the PC6and PC7points by increasing or decreasing the current flow from the local battery to the electrodes101and102. The LCD203also displays the pattern of current flowing between the electrodes, for example the electric pulse interval. The electric pulse rate is adjustable by an oscillator contained in the pericardium meridian stimulator200housing. The electric pulse rate can be adjusted by the patient or the medical practitioner using button205on the touch screen202from about 0.1 hertz to about 10 hertz For example, using button205, the patient can set the cycle frequency at 1 hertz and receive a 1 pulse per second stimulus at the PC6point and the PC7point. The current flow through the electrodes101and102also produces an audible beep or click at the pericardium meridian stimulator. An audible disconnect alarm is provided in the electronic circuit of the pericardium meridian stimulator200.

The electric circuit of the pericardium meridian200can output either a continuous current, or a pulsed current to the positive electrode101and the negative electrode102positioned at the PC7and PC6points respectively. The electrically insulated base of the pericardium meridian stimulator200and the electrically insulated material of the straps105ensure that the only path for the current flow in the now closed output circuit from the positive electrode101to the negative electrode102through the flesh of the wrist along the pericardium meridian. In general, increasing the current amperage using button204, or increasing the electric pulse rate using button205up to a certain point increases the anti-nausea effect of the invention.

FIG. 2Billustrates the lower surface view of the pericardium meridian stimulator. The electrode assembly is detachably attached to the lower surface of the housing and is adapted for contact with the ventral side of the wrist of the patient. The electric circuitry in the pericardium meridian stimulator200is powered by the local battery source208located in the housing of the stimulator200. The local battery208is a low voltage battery, for example, a 3 volt or 9 volt battery.

FIG. 3illustrates the position of pericardium meridian six point301(PC6) and the pericardium meridian seven point302(PC7) on the ventral side of the patient's304wrist303. The positive electrode101is positioned at the PC7point and the negative electrode102is positioned at the PC6point prior to passage of the electric power through the electrodes.

FIG. 4illustrates the method of applying electro-acupuncture at the pericardium meridian six point and the pericardium meridian seven point. The pericardium meridian six point and the pericardium seven point is located on the ventral side of the patient's304wrist303. The pericardium meridian stimulator is strapped402onto the wrist303of the patient304. The negative electrode102is positioned on the pericardium meridian point six and the positive electrode101is positioned on the pericardium meridian seven point by adjusting402the distance between the electrodes along a guide or track housed in the wrist band housing. A continuous or pulsed current of selected amplitude is applied to the positive electrode101and to the negative electrode102, whereby the pericardium six point (PC6) and the pericardium seven point (PC7) is simultaneously stimulated404along the pericardium meridian.

FIG. 5illustrates shows the pericardium meridian stimulator200strapped on the ventral side of the patient's wrist303. The simultaneous electrical stimulation of both the PC6point301and PC7point302is much more effective in prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting compared to the stimulus of only one point, such as PC6301. The simultaneous stimulation of both PC6301and PC7302helps in the prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting induced by general anesthesia and by medication, for example, narcotic pain alleviation drugs and chemotherapy. The pericardium meridian stimulator system of this invention can also be used to treat vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, motion sickness and similar conditions.

The simultaneous electro-stimulation procedure at the PC6and PC7acupuncture point, described above, has been used to effectively treat patients considered high risk for post-operative nausea and vomiting, for example, in procedures such as laparoscopies, sinus surgeries, thyroidectomy, etc. The simultaneous PC6and PC7electro-stimulation procedure of this invention has also been used to treat patients who have a history of severe post-opeartive nausea and vomiting after receiving general anesthesia, and for patients who developed severe post-operative nausea and vomiting in the post-anesthetic recovery room and failed to respond to conventional medical therapies, for example the administration of drugs such as Metoclopromide and/or Ondansetron.