Patent Publication Number: US-2002007835-A1

Title: Method of treating opthalmalogical conditions using micro-acupuncture

Description:
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/184,872, filed Feb. 25, 2000. 
    
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002] The present invention is directed to a method of treating a patient suffering from one or more opthalmological conditions using micro-acupuncture. The opthalmological conditions include macular degeneration, myopia, hyperopia, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. The treatment comprises inserting needles in key trigger points on the patient&#39;s hands and feet for a prescribed period of time, then removing the needles. The key trigger points are specific to the condition(s) being treated. The micro-acupuncture treatment of the present invention significantly relieves the symptoms of macular degeneration, myopia, hyperopia, diabetic retinopathy and/or glaucoma.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0003] The present invention is directed to a micro-acupuncture method for treating patients suffering from opthalmalogical conditions, including macular degeneration, myopia, hyperopia, diabetic retinopathy and/or glaucoma and to reduce the symptoms thereof.  
       [0004] The method of treatment comprises the steps of placing needles in the patient at the particular locations specified for the conditions, leaving the needles in place for at least approximately 20 minutes, then removing the needles from the patient. Subsequent treatments can be provided over the course of a specified time period, such as days or weeks.  
       [0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for treating opthalmological conditions in a patient using micro-acupuncture.  
       [0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for treating macular degeneration in a patient.  
       [0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for treating myopia in a patient.  
       [0008] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for treating hyperopia in a patient.  
       [0009] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for treating diabetic retinopathy in a patient.  
       [0010] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for treating glaucoma in a patient.  
       [0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for significantly reducing the symptoms of macular degeneration in a patient.  
       [0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of acupuncture treatment for significantly reducing the symptoms of myopia in a patient.  
       [0013] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of acupuncture treatment that significantly reduces the symptoms of hypertopia in a patient.  
       [0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of acupuncture to treat diabetic retinopathy that significantly reduces the symptoms thereof in a patient.  
       [0015] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of acupuncture for treating glaucoma that significantly reduces the symptoms thereof in a patient.  
       [0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method of acupuncture treatment that improves the vision of a patient.  
       [0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a micro-acupuncture method of treating opthalmalogical conditions including macular degeneration, myopia, hyperopia, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0018] Reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which are shown illustrative embodiments of the invention and from which novel features and advantages will be apparent.  
     [0019]FIG. 1 is a schematic of a bottom view of a foot showing the key trigger points used in the preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 2 is a schematic of a patient&#39;s hands showing the key trigger points used in the preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0021]FIG. 3 is a schematic of a patient&#39;s foot and hand having needles placed in the key trigger points for treating macular degeneration in a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 4 is a schematic of a patient&#39;s foot and hand having needles placed in the key trigger points for treating myopia and hyperopia in a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0023]FIG. 5 is a schematic of a patient&#39;s foot and hand having needles placed in the key trigger points for treating diabetic retinopathy in a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0024]FIG. 6 is a schematic of a patient&#39;s foot and hand having needles placed in the key trigger points for treating glaucoma in a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is a shown a schematic diagram of a patient&#39;s foot  10  having five metatarsals, including a first metatarsal  11 , a second metatarsal  12 , a third metatarsal  13 , a fourth metatarsal  14 , and a fifth metatarsal  15 . Each metatarsal  11 - 15  has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal ends are located closer to the digits  16  of the foot and the proximal ends are located closer to the heel  17  of the foot. Each metatarsal  11 - 15  is further distinguished as having an inner side and an outer side. The inner side of each metatarsal  11 - 15  is disposed closer to the edge of the foot aligned with the first metatarsal  11  and the outer side is disposed closer to the edge of the foot aligned with the fifth metatarsal  15 .  
     [0026] The foot  10  has twelve key trigger points  20 - 31  as shown in FIG. 1. The key trigger points in the foot  10  are indicated by reference numerals as follows: KB at  20 , BB at  21 , GB at  22 , BA at  23 , GA at  24 , KA at  25 , STA at  26 , LIA at  27 , SPA at  28 , LIB at  29 , SPB at  30  and STB at  31 .  
     [0027] Still referring to FIG. 1, the key trigger points of the foot have the following locations. The key trigger point KB  20  is located on a proximal end of the third metatarsal  13  at the bottom of the foot  10 , while BB  21  is located on the outer side of the fifth metatarsal  15  at a proximal end thereof. GB  22  is located at an outer side near the proximal end of the fourth  14  metatarsal on the bottom of the foot  10 . The point BA  23  is located at an outer side near the distal end of the fifth metatarsal  15 . GA  24  is located at an outer side near the distal end of the fourth metatarsal  14  on the bottom of the foot  10 . KA  25  is located approximate the middle of the distal end of the third metatarsal  13 . STA  26  is positioned on the bottom of the foot at the outer side of the distal end of the second metatarsal  12 . The key trigger point, LIA  27 , is on the outer side of the first metatarsal  11  at a distal end thereof. SPA  28  is on the distal end of the first metatarsal  11  on the inner side thereof. Key trigger point, LIB  29 , is on the proximal end of the first metatarsal  11  on an outer side thereof. The point, SPB  30 , is positioned on the inner side of the proximal end of the first metatarsal  11 , while STB  31  is located at the proximal end of the second metatarsal  12 .  
     [0028] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a schematic diagram of a patient&#39;s hand  100  having five metacarpals  151 - 155 , including a first metacarpal  151 , a second metacarpal  152 , a third metacarpal  153 , a fourth metacarpal  154 , and a fifth metacarpal  155 . Each metacarpal  151 - 155  has a distal end and a proximal end. The distal ends are disposed closer to the digits  160  of the hand and the proximal ends are disposed closer to the heel  170  of the hand. Each metacarpal  151 - 155  is further distinguished as having an inner side and an outer side. The inner side of each metacarpal  151 - 155  is disposed closer to the edge of the hand  100  aligned with the first metacarpal  151  and the outer side of each metacarpal  151 - 155  is disposed closer to the edge of the hand  100  aligned with the fifth metacarpal  155 .  
     [0029] In the hand  100  as shown in FIG. 2, there are also twelve key trigger points  101 - 112  which are indicated by reference numerals as follows: CIRB at  101 , LB at  102 , CB at  103 , LA at  104 , CA at  105 , CIRA at  106 , EA at  107 , HA at  108 , TA at  109 , HB at  110 , TB at  111 , and EB at  112 .  
     [0030] The locations of the key trigger points on the hand  100  are as follows in FIG. 2. LA  104  is located adjacent an inner side of the hand  100 , near the distal end of the first metacarpal  151 . The key trigger point, EA  107 , is approximate the distal end of the fourth metacarpal  154  adjacent the outer side thereof. HA  108  is located approximate the distal end of the fifth metacarpal  155  on an inner side thereof. The point, TA  109 , is positioned approximate the distal end of the fifth metacarpal  155  on an outer side thereof.  
     [0031] It should be understood that the key trigger points of the foot  10  as shown in FIG. 1 are indicative of both the right and left feet of a patient. Although only the right foot is shown in the figures, the left foot and its key trigger points are mirrored images of the right foot. Likewise, the key trigger points of the right hand, as shown in FIG. 2, are also indicative of the key trigger points on the left hand with the left hand and its points being reversed to that of the right hand. Therefore, the foot and hand shown in FIGS.  1 - 6  are representational of both the left and right feet, and the left and right hands of a patient.  
     [0032] Reference is now made to FIG. 3 where the configuration of the needle placement is shown for a first embodiment of the invention which is a method for treating macular degeneration. In this first embodiment, needles  201 - 203  are placed in the left and right foot  10  at the respective key trigger points GA  24 , STA  26 , and LIA  27 , respectively. Additional needles  204 - 206  are placed in the left and right hand  100  at the respective key trigger points EA  107 , HA  108 , TA  109 .  
     [0033] In a second embodiment of the present invention for treating myopia and hyperopia, the needle placement for the feet  10  and hands  100  is shown in FIG. 4. Needles  207 - 209 ,  229  are placed in the left and right foot  10  at the key trigger points GA  24 , LIA  27 , GB  22 , and LIB  29 , respectively. In the left and right hand  100 , the needles  210 - 212  are placed at the respective key trigger points EA  107 , HA  108  and TA  109 , as indicated.  
     [0034] For treating diabetic retinopathy, the needle placement for a third embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 5. The needles  214 - 216 ,  230 ,  231  are placed in the left and right foot  10  at the key trigger points GB  22 , GA  24 , LIA  27 , KA  25  and LIB  29 , respectively. In addition, needles  217 - 220  are placed in the left and right hand  100  at the respective key trigger points of LA  104 , EA  107 , HA  108  and TA  109 .  
     [0035] In FIG. 6, the needle placement for a fourth embodiment for treating glaucoma, indicates needles  221 - 224 ,  232  placed in the left and right foot  10  at the key trigger points GB  22 , GA  24 , LIA  27 , KA  25  and LIB  29  respectively. Additional needles  225 - 228  are placed in the left and right hand  100  at the key trigger points of LA  104 , EA  107 , HA  108  and TA  109 .  
     [0036] In each of the four embodiments of the present invention, the patient undergoing treatment is preferably placed in a generally horizontal position with the feet and hands exposed. The needles are placed in the respective key trigger points of both feet  10  and hands  100  for the specified opthalmological condition. Preferably, these needles remain positioned at the respective key trigger points for the condition being treated for at least approximately 20 minutes. During the treatment with the needles placed in their respective positions, the patient remains relaxed in a generally horizontal position. After the elapsed time, the needles are removed from the patient.  
     [0037] Subsequent treatments with the needles inserted into their respective key trigger positions for the particular condition being treated can be administered, as needed. Each subsequent treatment comprises repeating the steps of the initial treatment after an amount of time has elapsed from the previous treatment. These additional treatments can be given over a course of time, such as days or weeks.  
     [0038] In the first embodiment of the present invention, the method for treating macular degeneration comprises the steps of placing needles  201 - 206  at the key trigger points in the feet and hands of a patient as shown in FIG. 3, waiting for a period of time, and then removing the needles  201 - 206 .  
     [0039] The steps comprise inserting a needle  201  into the key trigger points GA  24  on the respective left and right foot  100 ; inserting the needle  202  into the key trigger points, STA  26  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  203  into the key trigger points LIA  27  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  204  into the key trigger points at EA  107  on the respective left and right hands  100 ; inserting a needle  205  into the key trigger points at HA  108  on the respective left and right hands  100 ; inserting a needle  206  into the key trigger points at TA  109  on the respective left and right hands  100  of the patient. After the needles have been inserted, the step of waiting for a period of time equal to about  20  minutes is performed. When the period of time has elapsed, the needles  201 - 206  are removed from the patient&#39;s feet and hands.  
     [0040] In the second preferred embodiment, the method for treating myopia and/or hyperopia comprises inserting the needles  207 - 212 ,  229  in the patient at the key trigger points in the hands and feet of the patient, as indicated in FIG. 4; waiting for a period of time; and removing the needles.  
     [0041] The steps of the method include inserting the needles  207 - 209 ,  229  into the respective key trigger points GA  24 , LIA  27 , GB  22 , and LIB  29  of the patient&#39;s left and right feet  10 ; inserting the needles  210 - 212  into the respective key trigger points EA  107 , HA  108 , and TA  109  of the patient&#39;s left and right hands  100 ; waiting for a period of time of about 20 minutes; and removing all of the needles  207 - 212 ,  229  from the patient.  
     [0042] In the third embodiment, the method for treating retinopathy comprises inserting the needles  214 - 220 ,  230 ,  231  at the key trigger points in the feet and hands of a patient, as shown in FIG. 5, waiting for a period of time, and removing the needles from the patient.  
     [0043] Specifically, the method for treating retinopathy comprises the steps of inserting a needle  214  into the key trigger points GB  22  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  215  into the key trigger points GA  24  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  216  into the key trigger points LIA  27  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  230  into the key trigger points KA  25  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  231  into the key trigger points LIB  29  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  217  into the key trigger points LA  104  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  218  into the key trigger points EA  107  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  219  into the key trigger points at HA  108  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  220  into the key trigger points at TA  109  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; waiting for a period of time of approximately 20 minutes; and removing all of the needles  214 - 220 ,  230 ,  231  from the patient.  
     [0044] In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the method for treating glaucoma comprises the steps of inserting a needle  221  into the key trigger points GB  22  on the respective left and right foot  10  of a patient; inserting a needle  222  into the key trigger points GA  24  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  223  into the key trigger points LIA  27  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  224  into the key trigger points KA  25  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  232  into the key trigger points LIB  29  on the respective left and right foot  10 ; inserting a needle  225  into the key trigger points LA  104  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  226  into the key trigger points EA  107  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  227  into the key trigger points HA  108  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; inserting a needle  228  into the key trigger points TA  109  on the respective left and right hand  100 ; waiting for a period of time of approximately 20 minutes; and removing all of the needles  221 - 228 ,  232  from their respective key trigger points on the feet  100  and hands  10 .  
     [0045] In each of the four embodiments disclosed herein, the method can include a series of treatments provided for each patient. Subsequent treatments in the series would comprise waiting an amount of time, and repeating the steps which comprise inserting the needles into the key trigger points of the patient as specified in the particular embodiment, waiting for a period of time of approximately 20 minutes and removing the needles in the patient&#39;s hands and feet. The frequency of repeated treatments is generally over a time period of days or weeks.  
     [0046] It should also be appreciated that various needles and equivalents known in the art can be used to perform the treatments comprising the preferred embodiments of the present invention.  
     [0047] Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.