Abstract:
An apparatus for stimulating acupuncture points on a human face comprises a mask and a plurality of light sources and control circuits. This apparatus projects optical energy onto the acupuncture points on the human face to stimulate them and promote health.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (a) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for stimulating acupuncture points on a human face, more particularly to an apparatus for stimulating acupuncture points on a human face by optical energy.  
         [0003]     (b) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     Acupuncture and moxibustion are holistically called acu-moxibustion for short (but the term “acupuncture” is used to refer to both acupuncture and moxibustion in the west.) Acupuncture is a method in which fine needles are inserted into a person&#39;s different acupuncture points (“acupoints” for short) at different depths, whereas moxibustion is a method in which different acupoints are smoldered by moxa. Acu-moxibustion gives people self-healing power, or can relieve pain or enhance a patient&#39;s resistance to diseases. According to conventional acu-moxibustion practices, filiform needles are applied on the acupoints located on the running course of meridians. When stimulation produces aching, numbness, and distension, this is called “arrival of qi” or “acuesthesia,” which can dredge qi and blood, regulate visceral functions, and treat diseases based on the arrival of qi. However, according to clinical practices, when needles are extracted after the treatment, the “arrival of qi” on the acupoints no longer exists, just like the expiration of drug potency. Therefore, patients are required to receive outpatient acupuncture treatment every other day to maintain therapeutic effects, thereby causing extreme inconvenience to the patients.  
         [0005]     Moreover, as acupuncture is required to be administered by professional acupuncturists, patients should continue acupuncture treatment in the hospital, which not only causes inconvenience to the patients but is also a burden to the health care system. Furthermore, acupuncture is an interventional therapy, and if needles are administered wrongly, this easily causes damages to the human body. Therefore, conventional acu-moxibustion is time-consuming and easily causes the fear of repeated acupuncture treatment.  
         [0006]     On the other hand, a lot of acupoints are clustered around the face. These acupoints are extremely helpful in promoting human health and enhancing human functions. Regarding major facial acupoints, for example, the stimulation of Tsuan Ochu acupoint can relieve eye fatigue, eliminate eye edema, and prevent wrinkles; the stimulation of Tayan acupoint can promote metabolism, can relieve eye fatigue and eliminate eye edema; the stimulation of Cheng Chi acupoint can enhance gastric functions and prevent the loosening of eye bags; the stimulation of Yi Ziang acupoint can relieve eye fatigue, eliminate eye edema, prevent skin loosening, relieve shoulder aching and nasal congestion, promote eye circulation and improve facial nerve palsy; the stimulation of Jia Che acupoint can effectively eliminate the fatness caused by the absorption of excessive saccharides; the stimulation of Di Cang acupoint can lower the temperature of the stomach and inhibit appetite; the stimulation of Ci Chiang acupoint can control hormonal secretion and treat stroke, facial nerve palsy, facial edema, tooth neuralgia, and neck aching; the stimulation of Chung Mei acupoint can refresh oneself, enhance vision, and improve eye hyperemia; the stimulation of Si Zhu Kong acupoint can eliminate facial edema and make the skin astringent; the stimulation of Tung Tzu Liao acupoint can eliminate edema; the stimulation of Si Bai acupoint can make the pupil clear and reduce the bloodshot condition; the stimulation of Lu Jiao acupoint can eliminate edema; the stimulation of Intang acupoint can relieve headache and dizziness and promote the health of nose; the stimulation of Xia Guan can eliminate wrinkles and relieve toothache; the stimulation of Chiuho acupoint can enhance the functions of small intestines; the stimulation of Yuyao acupoint can relieve eye fatigue and lessen ptosis (drooping eyelid); the stimulation of Guan Jiao acupoint can relieve eye fatigue and face neuralgia; the stimulation of Da Ying acupoint can eliminate edema.  
         [0007]     Unfortunately, as one&#39;s face is related to one&#39;s appearance, conventional acupunctural practices may hurt the skin on the face. Consequently, patients are mostly unwilling to apply needles on their face. Moreover, some patients are afraid of needle application, and if acupuncturists apply the needles on the face, these patients can hardly accept this, thereby making the application of the acupoints on the face difficult.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face. The present invention projects optical energy onto the acupoints on the face to stimulate them and promote human health.  
         [0009]     To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides an apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face, comprising a mask and a plurality of light sources and control circuits, wherein the mask has an outer case and an inner case. The outer case is made of transparent materials whereas the inner case comprises a plurality of pores. The plurality of light sources is disposed inside the pores, such that when the light sources emit light, light rays can be projected onto a plurality of corresponding target regions. Then the control circuits are coupled to the corresponding light sources and output at least one control signal to the corresponding light sources, such that the light sources emit light at the target wavelength. When the light sources emit light, light rays enter the inner case by optical actions because the inner case is made of transparent materials. As light rays are propagated inside the inner case, they can be evenly projected onto the face by the reflection, diffusion, and transmission of light rays.  
         [0010]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the target regions are the acupoints for Tsuan Ochu, Tayan, Cheng Chi, Ying Ziang, Jia Che, Di Cang, Ci Chiang, Chung Mei, Si Zhu Kong, Tung Tzu Liao, Si Bai, Lu Jiao, Intang, Xia Guan, Chiuho, Yuyao, Guan Jiao, and Da Ying.  
         [0011]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control signal is a pulse wave.  
         [0012]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frequency of the pulse wave lies between 140 Hz and 300 Hz.  
         [0013]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light sources are INFRARED, RED, Blue, or Green light.  
         [0014]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the wavelength of the light sources lies between 360 nm and 1200 nm.  
         [0015]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control circuit outputs the control signal to the corresponding light source, such that the light source first emits light for 10 to 60 minutes and then stops emitting light. The duration of light emission can be adjusted based on needs.  
         [0016]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transparent materials are polycarbonate (PC.)  
         [0017]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mask comprises an anti-reflective layer, which is disposed between the is inner case and the outer case and reflects the light rays emitted from the light source onto the inner case.  
         [0018]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anti-reflective layer is made of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS.)  
         [0019]     According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LED.)  
         [0020]     In summary, the present invention provides an apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face such that one&#39;s acupoints on the face can be stimulated without applying needles according to conventional acupunctural practices for health promotion. In this way, patients do not have to worry about the damages to the skin on the face caused by the stimulation of acupoints on the face and relieve the patients&#39; fear of needle application. Moreover, they do not necessarily have to go to the hospital, but can have the stimulation of acupoints on the face at any time and place, thereby greatly lowering patients&#39; burden. Therefore, the present invention can overcome the drawbacks caused by conventional acupunctural practices on the acupoints on the face, thereby facilitating the effective use of acupoints on the face.  
         [0021]     To enable a further understanding of the objectives and the technological methods of the invention herein, the brief description of the drawings below is followed by the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of an apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 2A  shows a schematic view of a mask according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 2B  shows a schematic view of a mask according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2C  shows a schematic view of a mask according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 3  shows a circuit diagram depicting the stimulation of acupoints on a human face according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 4  shows an acupoint diagram corresponding to the pores on an inner case according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face  100  includes a mask  102 , a signal cable  104 , and a controller  106 . The mask  102  is coupled to the signal cable  104 , which is then coupled to the controller  106 .  
         [0029]     Referring to  FIG. 2A, 2B , and  2 C, the mask  102  includes an outer case  202 , an anti-reflective layer  204 , and an inner case  206 , wherein the outer case  202  intercalates or binds the anti-reflective layer  204  and the inner case  206 , such that the outer case  202 , the anti-reflective layer  204 , and the inner case  206  are combined to form the mask  102 , wherein the anti-reflective layer  204  is made of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS.) The anti-reflective layer  204  is disposed between the inner case  206  and the outer case  202  and can project the light source onto the inner case  206 . Moreover, the inner case is made of polycarbonate (PC) and comprises a plurality of pores depicted as dots according to  FIG. 2C . The plurality of light sources is LEDs (not shown in the drawing), which are coupled to the signal cable  104 . These light sources are disposed inside the pores such that when these light sources emit light, the light rays are projected onto the plurality of corresponding target regions.  
         [0030]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a control circuit  300  comprises a control unit  302  and a drive unit  304 . The control circuit  300  is disposed inside the controller  106 . A luminescent unit  306 , which is formed by a plurality of LEDs, is disposed inside the pores on the inner case. The control unit  302  can be taken as a microprocessor or a pulse wave generator to output at least one pulse signal. A pulse signal input drive unit is used to supply power to the light source (This part is deemed conventional circuit technology so that it will no longer be mentioned here.)  
         [0031]     When the user is using the apparatus for stimulating acupoints on a human face  100 , the mask  102  is first placed on the face such that the mask  102  covers the hollows on one&#39;s eyes, nose, and mouth, and is flatly attached onto the surface of the face. When the user turns on the power of the controller  106 , the light source starts to emit light. Then the light rays emitted by the light source are projected onto the target region. As the inner case  206  is made of transparent materials, light rays enter the inner case  206  by optical actions. Due to the transmission of light rays inside the inner case  206 , light rays can be emitted from the inner case  206  by light reflection, refraction, and scattering. Then the light rays emitted from the inner case  206  are reflected to the inner case  206  via the anti-reflective layer  204 , such that optical energy is not lost, but is collected in the inner case  206  and projected onto the face. Therefore, by means of the above actions, light rays can be evenly projected onto the target region on the face.  
         [0032]     The control signal is a pulse wave with frequency between 140 Hz and 300 Hz. The light source is INFRARED, RED, BLUE, or GREEN light with wavelength between 360 nm and 1200 nm. The control circuit  302  outputs control signals to the corresponding light source via the drive unit  304  such that the light source emits light for 10 to 60 minutes and then stops emitting light in order to prevent the light from hurting the skin. The light source is formed by a plurality of LEDs (not shown in the drawing.)  
         [0033]     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the dots depict the location of the pores on the face. Dot  1  denotes the Tsuan Ochu acupoint; dot  2  denotes the Tayan acupoint; dot  3  denotes the Cheng Chi acupoint; dot  4  denotes the Ying Ziang acupoint; dot  5  denotes the Jia Che acupoint; dot  6  denotes the Di Cang acupoint; dot  7  denotes the Ci Chiang acupoint; dot  8  denotes the Chung Mei acupoint; dot  9  denotes the Si Zhu Kong acupoint; dot  10  denotes the Tung Tzu Liao acupoint; dot  11  denotes the Si Bai acupoint; dot  12  denotes the Lu Jiao acupoint; dot  13  denotes the Intang acupoint; dot  14  denotes the Xia Guan acupoint; dot  15  denotes the Chiuho acupoint; dot  16  denotes the Yuyao acupoint; dot  17  denotes the Guan Jiao acupoint; dot  18  denotes the Da Ying acupoint. Other dots also denote pores on the face, and LEDs can also be disposed in the pores. Referring to the above-mentioned, each of the pores on the inner case  206  corresponds to a specific acupoint on the face. When the user uses the apparatus for stimulating acupoints on the human face  100 , the corresponding acupoints (that is the target regions) on the face will absorb more optical energy, which can stimulate the acupoints on the face for health promotion.  
         [0034]     The dots disclosed in  FIG. 4  are only cited as examples. However, for those who are skilled in the prior art, the location of the target region for optical energy projection can change with reference to different designs, so that those who are familiar with the prior art can adjust their embodiment accordingly.  
         [0035]     It is of course to be understood that the embodiment described herein is merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.