Patent ID: 8682452

Claim:
Facial stimulation apparatus for applying an electrical current to human facial nerves, the apparatus comprising: (i) a C-shaped headband ( 22 ); (ii) two electrode carriers ( 20 ) nonadjustably attached to the headband ( 22 ); (iii) a pair of stimulating electrodes ( 16 a , 16 b ) provided on each electrode carrier ( 20 ); (iv) a stimulation device connectable to the electrodes ( 16 a , 16 b ) for providing a stimulating current thereto; and (v) a location feature associated with each electrode carrier for repeatable anatomical positioning of the apparatus with respect to an anatomical feature of each ear ( 14 ) of a human; characterized in that: the headband ( 22 ) is non-adjustable in length and resilient; the electrode carriers ( 20 ) are connected to respective opposing distal ends of the headband ( 22 ), such that both electrodes of each electrode pair ( 16 a , 16 b ) are configured to be urged against skin overlapping facial nerve branches ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) just anteriorly of each ear ( 14 ); wherein the location features are defined by respective non-adjustable bends or deviations ( 24 ) at said respective opposing distal ends of the headband ( 22 ), said bends or deviations ( 24 ) non-adjustably connecting the headband ( 22 ) to each electrode carrier ( 20 ) and extending out of the general plane within which the remainder of the headband ( 22 ) lies, thus ensuring inevitable positioning of each electrode pair ( 16 a , 16 b ) over facial nerve branches just anteriorly of each ear ( 14 ), with respect to said anatomical feature.