2376results about How to "Pain relief" patented technology

A method and apparatus particularly useful for pain control by selectively blocking the propagation of body-generated action potentials travelling through a nerve bundle by using a tripolar electrode device to generate unidirectional action potentials to serve as collision blocks with the body-generated action potentials representing pain sensations in the small-diameter sensory fibers. In the described preferred embodiments there are a plurality of electrode devices spaced along the length of the nerve bundle which are sequentially actuated with delays corresponding to the velocity of propagation of the body-generated action potentials through the large-diameter fibers to produce a "green wave" effect which minimizes undesired anodal blocking of the large-diameter fibers while maximizing the collision blocking of the small-diameter fibers.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for treating pain while minimizing or eliminating possible complications and undesired side effects, particularly the sensation of paresthesia. This is achieved by stimulating in proximity to a dorsal root ganglion with stimulation energy in a manner that will affect pain sensations without generating substantial sensations of paresthesia. In some embodiments, such neurostimulation takes advantage of anatomical features and functions particular to the dorsal root ganglion.

A method and apparatus particularly useful for pain control by selectively blocking the propagation of body-generated action potentials travelling through a nerve bundle by using a tripolar electrode device to generate unidirectional action potentials to serve as collision blocks with the body-generated action potentials representing pain sensations in the small-diameter sensory fibers. In the described preferred embodiments there are a plurality of electrode devices spaced along the length of the nerve bundle which are sequentially actuated with delays corresponding to the velocity of propagation of the body-generated action potentials through the large-diameter fibers to produce a "green wave" effect which minimizes undesired anodal blocking of the large-diameter fibers while maximizing the collision blocking of the small-diameter fibers.

Systems and methods are adapted to provide the relief of pain. The systems and methods make possible the percutaneous placement of one or more intramuscular leads, without the need for fluoroscopy, for providing electrical stimulation to activate a motor point innervating the muscle, to provide the therapeutic relief of pain. The one or more intramuscular leads may be placed in muscle(s) to resist migration. The target nerves and their motor points innervate the muscles in which the one or more leads are placed. The systems and methods can include a two-stage solution. The first stage may include temporary systems and methods, including the use of an external pulse generator. The second stage may include more permanent systems and methods, including the use of an implanted pulse generator.

The invention relates to an agent specific for peripheral sensory afferents. The agent may inhibit the transmission of signals between a primary sensory afferent and a projection neuron by controlling the release of at least one neurotransmitter or neuromodulator from the primary sensory afferent. The agent may be used in or as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of pain, particularly chronic pain.

A class of novel agents that are able to modify nociceptive afferent function is provided. The agents may inhibit the release of neurotransmitters from discrete populations of neurones and thereby reduce or preferably prevent the transmission of afferent pain signals from peripheral to central pain fibers. They comprise a galactose-binding lectin linked to a derivative of a clostridial neurotoxin. The derivative of the clostridial neurotoxin comprises the L-chain, or a fragment thereof, which includes the active proteolytic enzyme domain of the light (L) chain, linked to a molecule or domain with membrane translocating activity. The agents may be used in or as pharmaceuticals for the treatment of pain, particularly chronic pain.

Devices, systems and methods are provided for treating pain while minimizing or eliminating possible complications and undesired side effects, particularly the sensation of paresthesia. This is achieved by stimulating in proximity to a dorsal root ganglion with stimulation energy in a manner that will affect pain sensations without generating substantial sensations of paresthesia. In some embodiments, such neurostimulation takes advantage of anatomical features and functions particular to the dorsal root ganglion.

A blood withdrawal system for producing blood from a body part for diagnostic purposes, comprising a housing with a lancet guide capable of guiding a lancet on a predetermined puncturing path and a lancet drive for driving a puncturing movement of a lancet on the predetermined path. The lancet drive comprises a drive rotor driven by a drive spring and rotates about an axis during the puncturing movement, and a coupling mechanism which converts the rotational movement of the drive rotor into a puncturing movement, wherein the lancet is moved during a forward phase of the puncturing movement in the puncturing direction until its tip penetrates into the body part to create a wound and is retracted from the skin during a retraction phase of the puncturing movement. The coupling mechanism includes a translation element coupled to the lancet and guided by a guide on a movement path.

A tip portion or endcap for a lancing device having a non-circular opening to provide tension and pressure upon the patient's skin before and / or during lancing of the skin for sample collection. In example embodiments, the endcap is shaped to prevent the lancet body from sticking within the hole or passing through the hole. The endcap may also be shaped to allow it to be used at various lancing sites on the body without changing the endcap.

A method and apparatus for reducing user anxiety in the taking of a sample of blood. The apparatus comprises a lancing device that includes a housing and a disposable cartridge. The disposable cartridge is replaceably installed in the housing and includes a plurality of lancets within an outer shell which is effective for keeping the lancets hidden from view during loading and unloading of the disposable cartridge to and from the housing and during use of the lancing device.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the treatment of pain through activation of select neural fibers. The neural fibers may comprise one or more afferent neural fibers and / or one or more efferent neural fibers. If afferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with efferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate afferent pathways in a manner approximating natural afferent activity. The afferent fibers may be associated with primary receptors of muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, secondary receptors of muscle spindles, joint receptors, touch receptors, and other types of mechanoreceptors and / or proprioceptors. If efferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with afferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate intrafusal and / or extrafusal muscle fibers, which results in an indirect activation of afferent fibers associated therewith.

The invention relates to an agent specific for peripheral sensory afferents. The agent may inhibit the transmission of signals between a primary sensory afferent and a projection neutron by controlling the release of at least one neurotransmitter or neuromodulator from the primary sensory afferent. The agent may be used in or as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of pain, particularly chronic pain.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the treatment of pain through activation of select neural fibers. The neural fibers may comprise one or more afferent neural fibers and / or one or more efferent neural fibers. If afferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with efferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate afferent pathways in a manner approximating natural afferent activity. The afferent fibers may be associated with primary receptors of muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, secondary receptors of muscle spindles, joint receptors, touch receptors, and other types of mechanoreceptors and / or proprioceptors. If efferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with afferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate intrafusal and / or extrafusal muscle fibers, which results in an indirect activation of afferent fibers associated therewith.

A delivery unit (2) of a drug delivery device (1), the delivery unit (2) comprising a subcutaneous delivery mechanism (9) having a subcutaneous delivery member (92), and a subcutaneous delivery member actuation mechanism (10) being operable to move the subcutaneous delivery member (92) between a retracted position and an extended position. The actuation mechanism (10) comprises a rotary member (102) having an engagement member (104) rotatable relative a support member (14), and an actuator (106) comprising a pivot portion (10A) and an engagement portion (10B) pivotally connected to the support member via the pivot portion. The engagement member (104) and engagement portion (10B) are configured to engage upon rotation of the rotary member to pivot the actuator between first and second positions and to thereby move the subcutaneous delivery member (92) between the corresponding retracted and extended positions. In an embodiment, the needle actuation mechanism may comprise a reuse protection.

Systems and methods are adapted to provide the relief of pain. The systems and methods make possible the percutaneous placement of one or more intramuscular leads, without the need for fluoroscopy, for providing electrical stimulation to activate a motor point innervating the muscle, to provide the therapeutic relief of pain. The one or more intramuscular leads may be placed in muscle(s) to resist migration. The target nerves and their motor points innervate the muscles in which the one or more leads are placed. The systems and methods can include a two-stage solution. The first stage may include temporary systems and methods, including the use of an external pulse generator. The second stage may include more permanent systems and methods, including the use of an implanted pulse generator.

An ultrasonic medical treatment device has a probe, a transducer for mechanically vibrating the probe at an ultrasonic frequency, a voltage source for energizing the transducer, and another electrical voltage source for feeding to the probe a high-frequency alternating waveform of limited current and limited voltage to be conducted into a patient through the operative tip of the probe after placement of the operative tip into contact with the patient. The alternating waveform has a current and a voltage so limited as to prevent damage to organic tissues while stimulating nerves to reduce or suppress pain.

A handheld apparatus for delivering optical energy to fractionally resurface skin of a consumer is configured to be used by the non-physician consumer. The handheld apparatus includes a housing dimensioned for manual grasping and manipulation. The housing encloses a laser and an optical pattern generator having a rotatable component with a plurality of reflective segments that rotate through an optical beam from the laser to deflect and divide the optical beam into pulses that propagate from the housing and form a fractional pattern at the skin surface. The handheld apparatus also includes a transducer associated with fins on the rotatable component to generate signals for each pulse of electromagnetic radiation, the signals being monitored by a controller to enable an end of dose indication for the consumer when the treatment is completed.

A method of training a biological neural network using a controller, comprising:applying a cycle comprising:stimulating a neural network by said controller applying at least an input signal to the network;detecting an output response of the network by said controller; andmodifying said stimulation by said controller for at least a period of time if said response matches a desired at least approximate response; andrepeating said cycle of stimulation, detection and modification at least one more time until said neural network is trained to generate a desired output response for said input signal.

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for the treatment of pain through activation of select neural fibers. The neural fibers may comprise one or more afferent neural fibers and / or one or more efferent neural fibers. If afferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with efferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate afferent pathways in a manner approximating natural afferent activity. The afferent fibers may be associated with primary receptors of muscle spindles, golgi tendon organs, secondary receptors of muscle spindles, joint receptors, touch receptors, and other types of mechanoreceptors and / or proprioceptors. If efferent fibers are stimulated, alone or in combination with afferent fibers, a therapeutically effective amount of electrical stimulation is applied to activate intrafusal and / or extrafusal muscle fibers, which results in an indirect activation of afferent fibers associated therewith.

The invention relates to a traditional Chinese medicine composition for treating burn, comprising an oral medicine and an externally applied medicine, wherein the oral medicine is prepared from angelica sinensis, hemlock parsley, astragali, pseudo-ginseng, sanguisorba, safflower, radix rehmanniae, spatholobus stem, baikal skullcap root, giant knotweed, oldenlandia diffusa, dangshen, tuckahoe, white atractylodes rhizome and red peony root; and the externally applied medicine is prepared from myrrh, mastic, rhubarb, pseudo-ginseng, safflower, draconis sanguis, natural indigo, gromwell, fried sanguisorba, giant knotweed, carpet bugle, borneol and phellodendron bark. The traditional Chinese medicine composition provided by the invention is convenient to use and coat on an affected part for skin absorption, is easy to wash off and convenient to change dressing, can keep the surface of a wound wet, can prevent bacterial invasion, is capable of quickly alleviating pain, diminishing inflammation and relieving itching, and can promote the surface of a wound to heal quickly and reduce scar. In addition, the traditional Chinese medicine composition has short period of treatment, an obvious curative effect and no obvious toxic or side effect, has obvious efficacies of antibiosis, alleviating pain, subduing swelling, diminishing inflammation, adsorbing, converging, removing necrosis and promoting granulation, and is used through oral administration and external application with quite good effect.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating selected conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems employing non-synaptic mechanisms. More specifically, one aspect of the present invention relates to methods and materials for treating seizure and seizure disorders, epilepsy, status epilepticus, migraine, spreading depression, intracranial hypertension; for treating the pathophysiological effects of head trauma, stroke, ischemia and hypoxia; for treating or protecting from the pathophysiological effects of neurotoxic agents such as ethanol; and for treating neurophsyciatric disorders and central nervous system edema by administering agents that modulate ionic concentrations and / or ionic gradients in the brain, particularly ion-dependent or cation-chloride cotransporter antagonists. Electrolyte cotransport antagonists and combinations of such compositions with other agents for treating various conditions are disclosed. The present invention also relates to methods and compositions for treating pain by administering ion-dependent cotransporter antagonists. Methods and compositions for enhancing cortical function, for example, in centers of cognition, learning and memory, by administering ion-dependent cotransporter agonists are disclosed.

The present invention relates to methods and compositions for treating selected conditions of the central and peripheral nervous systems employing non-synaptic mechanisms. More specifically, one aspect of the present invention relates to methods and materials for treating seizure and seizure disorders, epilepsy, status epilepticus, migraine, spreading depression, intracranial hypertension; for treating the pathophysiological effects of head trauma, stroke, ischemia and hypoxia; for treating or protecting from the pathophysiological effects of neurotoxic agents such as ethanol; and for treating neuropsychiatric disorders and central nervous system edema by administering agents that modulate ionic concentrations and / or ionic gradients in the brain, particularly ion-dependent or cation-chloride cotransporter antagonists. Electrolyte cotransport antagonists and combinations of such compositions with other agents for treating various conditions are disclosed.

The invention provides an external traditional Chinese medicine preparation for treating chronic wounds, which is prepared from the following raw medicines in parts by weight: 10-20 parts of draconis sanguis, 10-20 parts of chuanxiong rhizome, 10-20 parts of notoginseng, 10-20 parts of fried sanguisorba, 10-20 parts of safflower, 10-20 parts of spatholobus stem, 10-20 parts of giant knotweed, 10-20 parts of oldenlandia, 10-20 parts of red sage root, 10-20 parts of herba patriniae, 10-20 parts of moutan bark, 10-20 parts of myrrh, 10-20 parts of mastic, 10-20 parts of rhubarb, 10-20 parts of natural indigo, 10-20 parts of gromwell, 10-20 parts of catechu, 10-20 parts of borneol, 10-20 parts of phellodendron bark and 10-20 parts of boneset. The external traditional Chinese medicine preparation provided by the invention can promote healing of infectious wounds, increase pus, enhance qualitative viscosity and regenerate granulation to enable the wounds to quickly heal, has an obvious effect on treating wound infection, and can be used for treating partial ulcer, removing necrotic tissue and promoting granulation, accelerating the degeneration process of the necrotic tissue, promoting dilation of capillary vessels, accelerating microcirculation of the capillary vessels and filling the wounds.

A vibrating tourniquet is disclosed in which one or more vibrating devices are coupled within a pliable strap portion and are activated to interrupt nerve transmissions, and supply an alternative stimulus, that decreases the sensation of pain as the needle or IV are introduced through the skin and into a vein. The vibration devices are electrically coupled to a controller mechanism and the controller mechanism may be turned on or off after the tourniquet is applied to the arm. In alternative versions, the frequency and amplitude of the vibration may be selectively increased or decreased cooperatively or separately by adjusting the controller mechanism as needed.

The present invention relates to a method of altering the refractive properties of the eye, the method including forming a pocket in a cornea of an eye of a patient so as to gain access to tissue bounding the pocket; after the pocket in the cornea has been formed, applying a photosensitizer inside the pocket so that the photosensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue bounding the pocket, the photosensitizer facilitating cross-linking of the tissue bounding the pocket; inserting a lens implant into the pocket so as to change the refractive properties of the eye; and irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue bounding the pocket and thereby stiffen the cornea and prevent corneal ectasia of the cornea.

The present invention relates to a method of altering the refractive properties of the eye, the method including forming a pocket in a cornea of an eye of a patient so as to gain access to tissue bounding the pocket; after the pocket in the cornea has been formed, applying a photosensitizer inside the pocket so that the photo sensitizer permeates at least a portion of the tissue bounding the pocket, the photosensitizer facilitating cross-linking of the tissue bounding the pocket; inserting a lens implant into the pocket so as to change the refractive properties of the eye; and irradiating the cornea so as to activate cross-linkers in the portion of the tissue bounding the pocket and thereby stiffen the cornea and prevent corneal ectasia of the cornea.

An injection aid for a syringe includes a disk with a central orifice and a flange. The flange is located on the top of the disk, and surrounds the central orifice. The outlet end or needle hub of a syringe or insulin pen fits in the flange, with the syringe needle extending through the orifice, thereby securing the disk to the syringe. The bottom surface of the disk is generally flat. The bottom surface of the disk makes contact with the skin when the needle is inserted to the proper depth. In other words, the needle lies perpendicular to the disk and is arranged to project past the disk's flat bottom surface by a set, pre-determined length. When the disk is pressed flat against a patient's skin, the needle is at the proper depth for the substance being injected.