WO2005042099A1 - Acupuncture device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an acupuncture device for performing acupuncture on the body of a patient. Said device comprises an optical fibre that is designed to come into contact with the body of the patient and a laser source for supplying laser illumination to the optical fibre. The invention is characterised in that the device is equipped with an additional laser source that is designed to supply pulsed laser illumination to the optical fibre.

Description

 Acupuncture device

The invention relates to a device for acupuncture the body of a patient, with an optical waveguide which is intended to come into contact with the patient's body, and with a laser source for feeding laser light into the optical waveguide.

A generic device is known from DE 200 19 703 Ul. The cross section of the optical waveguide is reduced in order to increase the power supplied to the patient.

It is the object of the invention to increase the possible uses and the variability of such a device.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a further laser source is provided, which is able to feed pulsed laser light into the optical waveguide.

The solution according to the invention results in several advantages which make it possible to significantly expand the area of use of acupuncture devices which work with laser light, that is to say non-invasive devices. On the one hand, the second laser source makes it possible to increase the power supplied to the patient's body, so that the acupuncture effect is advantageously increased. On the other hand, by feeding pulsed laser light, it is possible to do the same with certain frequencies in the body guide and thus stimulate certain points on the patient's body. With appropriate use of the device according to the invention, this can result in a greatly improved response of the patient to acupuncture, and shorter treatment times can also be achieved.

An alternative solution to the problem results from the fact that the optical waveguide is provided with a device that produces a magnetic effect, the optical waveguide and the device that produces the magnetic effect being rotatable relative to one another in such a way that the polarization plane of the laser light can be changed.

As a result of the change in the polarization plane of the laser light that can be implemented according to the invention by means of magnetic forces, it is possible to give the laser radiation introduced into the patient's body alternatively a toning or a sedative effect. With the toning effect, energy is supplied to the body, whereas with the sedating effect, harmful energy is derived from the body. The physical effect is used that, when a magnetic field is rotated, the polarization plane of the polarized laser light, which vibrates in one plane, on which the magnetic field has an influence also changes.

For the acupuncturist who works with the device according to the invention, this means that he can use it in a manner similar to that known from his acupuncture needles, so that the field of use of acupuncture devices working with laser light is considerably expanded by the present invention. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the two solutions according to the invention can also be combined with one another.

Advantageous refinements of the invention result from the remaining subclaims. In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in principle with reference to the drawing.

It shows:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention;

2 shows a front plate of a control device for the device according to the invention;

3 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention; and

Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a device 1 for acupuncture the body of a patient, not shown. For this purpose, the device 1 has an optical waveguide 2, which is intended to come into contact with the patient's body and can therefore also be referred to as a “laser needle”. The optical waveguide 2 is connected to a first laser source 3, which is used to feed in Laser light in the optical fiber 2 is used. The device 1 has a further laser source 4, which is likewise connected to the optical waveguide 2 which comes into contact with the patient's body. The laser source 4 is able to feed pulsed laser light into the optical waveguide 2 and for this purpose is connected to a frequency generator 5 which is able to generate a pulsation of the laser light in order in this way to determine the laser light emitted by the laser source 4 Frequency. Suitable frequencies will be discussed in more detail later.

The frequency generator 5 is connected to the laser source 4 via a control line 6 in order to generate a switching pulse and to apply the respective frequency to the laser source 4, i.e. switch them on and off with a frequency corresponding to the respective frequency. This can also be referred to as triggering or clocking the second laser source 4. In the present case, the laser source 3 is also connected to the frequency transmitter 5 via a control line 7. Although it would thus be possible, it is not provided in the present case to give the laser light emitted by the laser source 3 a certain frequency; rather, the laser source 3 should work continuously.

The connection of the two laser sources 3 and 4, which are preferably in the form of laser diodes and which emit laser radiation with a wavelength in a range of preferably 600-900 nm, to the one optical waveguide 2 which comes into contact with the patient's body takes place in that of the two Laser sources 3 and 4 emit respective optical fibers 8 and 9, which are in a coupler 10 are brought together to form one optical waveguide 2 which comes into contact with the patient's body. The two optical fibers 8 and 9 can be brought together to form one optical fiber 2 within the coupler 10 in a manner which is known from optics and / or communications technology. Both optical fibers 8 and 9 can have equal rights, but it is also possible to introduce a larger percentage of laser light into optical fiber 2 from one of optical fibers 8 or 9 than from the other. The mechanical termination of the optical coupler 10 is formed by a so-called SMA socket 11, in which the optical waveguide 2 is also held. The SMA socket 11 enables a simple connection and thus also a simple exchange of the optical waveguide 2, however, the SMA socket 11 could possibly also be dispensed with.

In order to obtain a coupling within the coupler 10 that is as simple and uncomplicated as possible, the laser light fed by the two laser sources 3 and 4 into the respective optical waveguides 8 and 9 should have a different polarization plane. It is preferable that the two polarization planes are aligned perpendicular to one another. In this context, it is preferable if the optical waveguides 2, 8 and 9 consist of polarization-maintaining optical fibers known per se.

In Fig. 1 it can also be seen that the two laser sources 3 and 4 are followed by respective collimators 12 and 13 with which, among other things, the respective polarization plane of the laser radiation can be set and which can be of a type known per se. In the present exemplary embodiment of the device 1, only one optical waveguide 2 is shown. Naturally, however, an almost arbitrary number of optical waveguides 2 can be provided, which are preferably connected in parallel and are supplied with laser light by respective laser sources 3 and 4. This is made clearer in the illustration according to FIG. 2, which will be discussed in the following.

FIG. 2 shows a front plate 14 of a control device 15 of the device 1, the connections of the eight optical fibers 2 in this case not being shown. Of course, more or fewer than eight optical waveguides 2 could also be provided. In a first area 16 on the left side of the front plate 14, a plurality of switches 17 are provided, with which each of the optical fibers 2 can be controlled. In the area 16 there are also two switches 18, with which it can be determined whether the optical waveguide 2 controlled in each case by the corresponding switch 17 is to be operated in continuous (cw mode) or in frequency mode (f mode). Further switches 19, 20 and 21 are used to set a clock, to start and to stop the device 1.

In a central area 22 of the front panel 14 there is a display which has an absolute time display 23, a remaining time display 24 and a display area 25. The display area 25 shows which optical waveguide 2 has been activated by means of the switches 17 in order, for example, to set the continuous or the frequency mode by means of the switches 18. Furthermore shows the Display area 25 the status of all optical fibers 2.

A plurality of switches or keys 27 are arranged in a right-hand area 26 of the front plate 14, with which the respective frequency with which the frequency transmitter 5 controls the laser source 4 can be set when the frequency mode is activated, in order to switch the output of the optical waveguide 2 set a laser radiation with the desired frequency.

In the present embodiment, the following frequencies can be set by means of the switches 27:

Bl (599.5 Hz), B2 (1199 Hz), B3 (2398 Hz), B4 (4196 Hz), B5 (9592 Hz), B6 (149.87 Hz), B7 (299.75 Hz).

Na (292 Hz), Nb (584 Hz), Nc (1168 Hz), Nd (2336 Hz), Ne (4672 Hz), Nf (9344 Hz), Ng (146 Hz). With these frequencies, the device 1 can be used, for example, to locate suitable acupuncture points.

Rl (824 Hz), R2 (553 Hz), R3 (471 Hz), R4 (702 Hz), R5 (497 Hz), R6 (791 Hz), R7 (667 Hz). In addition, it would be possible, if appropriate switches 27 were provided, to set the following frequencies: R8 (611 Hz), R9 (503 Hz), RIO (732 Hz), RII (583 Hz) and R12 (442 Hz). The frequencies mentioned are able to stimulate certain meridians on the patient's body. SI (2 Hz), S2 (7.8 Hz), S3 (10 Hz), S4 (20 Hz), S5 (40 Hz), S6 (100 Hz), S7 (200 Hz). These frequencies are considered therapeutically relevant.

It is possible to assign each of the eight optical waveguides 2 with the same frequency, but also with every other one. Of course, any number of optical fibers 2 can be operated in continuous mode. Furthermore, it is possible to operate the optical waveguide 2 with laser light of different wavelengths.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the device 1 for acupuncture the body of a patient, which can be used both additionally and alternatively to the embodiment of the device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Here, the optical waveguide 2 is provided with a device 28 which produces a magnetic effect. In order to change the polarization plane of the laser light, the optical waveguide 2 and the device 28 which produces the magnetic effect can be rotated relative to one another. This twisting changes the polarity of the device or the magnet 28 which does not show the magnetic effect, which has a corresponding effect on the plane of polarization of the laser light.

In the embodiment shown, the optical waveguide 2 is provided with a handpiece 29 which can be attached to the patient's body and which has a magnetic region 30 which forms the device 28 which produces the magnetic effect. The optical waveguide 2 can be rotated relative to the handpiece 29. By such twisting the user of the device 1 changes the polarization plane of the laser light and gives the laser radiation introduced into the patient's body alternatively a toning effect when turning to the left and a sedative effect when turning to the right. With the toning effect, energy is supplied to the body, whereas with the sedating effect, harmful energy is derived from the body.

As shown in FIG. 4, as an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the device 28 which causes the magnetic effect can also be formed in that the optical waveguide 2 is provided with an element 31 which has the magnetic region 30 and which has the magnetic effect causing device 28 and which is rotatable relative to the optical fiber 2. It is only necessary for the user of the device 1 to twist the element 31 with respect to the optical waveguide 2 in order to achieve the toning or sedating effect. In this embodiment too, the optical waveguide 2 and the device 28 which produces the magnetic effect can be rotated relative to one another in such a way that the plane of polarization of the laser light can be changed. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, as shown, the handpiece 29 can nevertheless be provided.

In both cases, the magnetic region 30 can have magnetic particles and / or a magnetic powder.

Claims

Godfather claims 1. Device for acupuncture the body of a patient, with an optical waveguide which is intended to come into contact with the patient's body, and with a laser source for feeding laser light into the optical waveguide, characterized in that a A further laser source (4) is provided, which is able to feed pulsed laser light into the optical waveguide (2). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the further laser source (4) is connected to a frequency transmitter (5) which is able to generate a pulsation of the laser light. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the two laser sources (3,4) each emit optical fibers (8,9), which in a coupler (10) to the one that comes into contact with the patient's body (2) are merged. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized ge z zi chnet that the laser light fed by the two laser sources (3, 4) into the respective optical waveguide (8, 9) has a different polarization plane. 5. The device according to claim 4, since it indicates that the two polarization planes are aligned perpendicular to one another. 6. Device according to claim 4 or 5, so that the respective optical waveguides (2, 8, 9) consist of polarization-maintaining optical fibers. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the optical waveguide (2) is provided with a device which causes a magnetic effect (28), the optical waveguide (2) and the device (28) causing the magnetic action in such a way ' are rotatable relative to one another such that the polarization plane of the laser light can be changed. 8. Device for acupuncture the body of a patient, with an optical waveguide, which is intended to come into contact with the patient's body, and with a laser source for feeding laser light into the optical waveguide, characterized in that the ge Optical waveguide (2) is provided with a device (28) causing a magnetic effect, the optical waveguide (2) and the magnetic one Effect-producing device (28) can be rotated relative to one another in such a way that the plane of polarization of the laser light can be changed. 9. The device according to claim 8, so that the optical waveguide (2) is provided with a handpiece (29) which can be attached to the patient's body and which has a magnetic region (30) which has the magnetic effect producing device (28). 10. The device according to claim 9, since it is known that the optical waveguide (2) can be rotated relative to the handpiece (29). 11. The device according to claim 8, so that the optical waveguide (2) is provided with an element (31) which has a magnetic region (30) and which forms the device (28) which produces the magnetic effect and which can be rotated relative to the optical waveguide (2). 12. The apparatus of claim 9, 10 or 11, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t ,, that the magnetic region (30) has magnetic particles. 13. Device according to one of claims 9 to 12, since you rchgek characterized in that the magnetic region (30) comprises a magnetic powder. 4. Device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that a further laser source (4) is provided, which is able to feed pulsed laser light into the optical waveguide (2).