(12) United States Patent
`(10) Patent N0.:
`US 6,267,721 B1
`9
`
`Welles
`(:45) Date of Patent:
`Jul. 31 2001
`
`USOO6267721B1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRESS
`RELIEF SYSTEM
`.
`.
`.
`,
`.
`Inventor'
`3321:2113 gilasjsiagfglggmhfll BIVd"
`y’
`
`(76)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject. to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`J“11- 18: 1999
`
`(21) App1.N0.:09/335,969
`.
`F1169:
`(22)
`A61M 21/00
`Int (:17
`(51)
`.
`"""""""""""""""""""""""""
`I
`I
`600/26’ 202/45.’ 602/88
`(52) UIS' 0' """"
`
`(58) Field Of Search
`600/‘6_28> 607/45>
`607/88’ 46’ 93
`
`(56)
`
`.
`References Clted
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`+
`
`16 CI
`..
`.
`If; :9ng ““““““““““““““““““
`“1990 Gleegson HI
`. 600/28
`4’892’106 *
`
`9/1992 Robinson
`600/27
`5,149,317 *
`5,577,990 * 11/1996 Widjaja et a1.
`...................... .. 600/28
`
`5,643,173 *
`
`7/1997 Welles .................................. .. 600/26
`
`.
`.
`* cued by exannner
`Primary Examiner—Samuel G. Gilbert
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Charles C. Logan, II
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Astress relief system having a headset to be removably worn
`on a person’s head and a portable electrical wave generator
`
`assembly. The left andright speakers of the headset are
`connected to an electr1c1ty powered dev1ce for playing
`recorded music. The electrical wave generator assembly is
`powered by a 9 volt DC. battery and it has two closed
`electrical circuits for transmitting that receive an electrical
`wave from the electrical wave generator. Each of these
`circuits has a light emitting diode (LED) that radiates light
`in the infrared and Visible nanometer range. The structure for
`supporting the respective LED’s would be a predetermined
`length of double stranded wire having sufficient flexibility so
`that it can be bent to direct the light at preselected points on
`a patient’s hands that are identified by the Koryo Hand
`'
`:
`Therapy Meridians. Afinger loop strap is used to locate and
`support the lights on the user s fingers.
`
`6 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`0001
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`US. Patent No. 8,652,040
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1060
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1060
`U.S. Patent No. 8,652,040
`
`0001
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`US. Patent
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`Jul. 31, 2001
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`US. Patent
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`US 6,267,721 B1
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`1
`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRESS
`RELIEF SYSTEM
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a method and apparatus for
`providing stress relief for humans. In industrial nations, the
`pressure of one’s job, the requirement for sufficient money
`to support one’s self and one’s family and the desire for
`material wealth has placed an increased stress level on many
`individuals. Smoking and drinking alcohol and other vices
`tend to increase the stress level. Increased stress levels can
`
`in heart
`to a person’s health and can result
`be harmful
`attacks, strokes and assorted other ailments. Some ways to
`reduce stress are exercise and meditation.
`
`Traditional American medicine has recently been supple-
`mented with alternative types of treatments. ()ne of the
`alternative treatments is acupuncture, which is a traditional
`form of treating people used in the Far East for thousands of
`years. Books about acupuncture describe numerous merid-
`ians that pass through the human body. Along the meridians
`are points that can be stimulated to promote healthful results.
`Three of the meridians that travel along the arm of a
`person to their head are the triple warmer (TW), the small
`intestine (SI) and the large intestine (LI) meridians. Each of
`these meridians has a beginning point (BP) and an end point
`(EP). These points are also called sing points or acubane
`points. The reason the triple warmer meridian, the small
`intestine meridian and the large intestine meridian have
`special neurological significance is they all begin in the
`hands and end in the head. The fact that they end in the head
`means that they have input into the brain or neurology. Any
`point on these meridians can be used to positive advantage,
`especially if directed up the head, but for convenience the
`following points are most important for each meridian.
`TW1 and TW23 are the respective beginning and end
`points on the triple warmer meridian. TWl (also known as
`GUANCHONG) is located on the ulnar side of the ring
`finger, 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the fingernail. When
`this acupuncture point is actuated, headaches and hysteria
`and other symptoms can be alleviated. TW3 (also known as
`ZHONGZHU) is on the dorsum of the hand between the
`forth and fifth metacarpal bones. Activation of this point
`often helps to alleviate headaches. TW23 ends at the end of
`the eyebrow.
`Small intestine point 1 (S11) is located at the ulnar side of
`the small finger, about 0.1 cun posterior to the corner of the
`fingernail. Activation of this point helps to alleviate head-
`aches and other symptoms. The small intestine point 3 (SI3)
`is located at the end of the transverse crease proximal to the
`5th metacarpi-phalangeal
`joint when the hand is half
`clinched. Activation of this point helps to alleviate stiffness
`or rigidity of the neck and also headaches. Small intestine
`point 19 ($119) ends in front of the ear.
`(also known as
`The large intestine point 1 (LI1)
`SHANGYANG) is located on the radial side of the index
`finger, 0.1 inch posterior to the fingernail. The large intestine
`point 4 (LI4), (also known as the HEGU), is located on the
`middle of the second metacarpal bone, on the radial aspect.
`Actuation of this point alleviates headaches and other symp-
`toms. Large intestine point 20 (LI20) ends lateral to the base
`of the nose.
`
`Some of the prior art stress control structures and methods
`are illustrated in US. Pat. No. 5,064,410 of Frenkel et al and
`US. Pat. No. 5,242,376 of Shealy et al. The Frankel et al
`patent uses a pair of eyeglasses having a circuit for moni-
`toring a physiological function of the eyeglass wearer cor-
`
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`responding to a predetermined stress level. The circuit
`contains an alarm which emits an auditory and/or visual
`signal in response to a change in said physiological function.
`The Shealy et al patent includes a relaxation device that
`includes a portable mask having a flashing light source.
`When the mask is positioned on the subjects head a flashing
`light, having a preselected color is emitted into the subject’s
`eyes. The color is selected to increase beta endorphins into
`the blood stream of the subject.
`Another method and apparatus for stress relief is
`described in applicant’s previous US. Pat. No. 5,643,173. It
`has a square wave generator that
`is connected to two
`separate closed circuits each having a light emitting diode at
`their ends. Each of these circuits has a human body ground
`member electrically connected to the wave generator. When
`the respective human body ground members are in contact
`with the human body, the square wave electrical signal will
`pass through the person’s body between the respective
`human ground members.
`In a second embodiment,the
`human ground member is the temple member of an eyeglass
`frame.
`
`It is an object of the invention to provide a novel method
`and apparatus that is for stress relief that does not require the
`electrical circuits to use the human body as a ground.
`It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel
`method and apparatus for stress relief that has been designed
`to function on a patient’s hands where the points are on the
`Koryo Hand Therapy Meridians.
`It is another object of the invention to provide a novel
`method and apparatus for stress relief that utilizes Koryo
`Hand Therapy meridians that are approximately three times
`as powerful as the conventional acupuncture point of the
`body utilized by US. Pat. No. 5,643,173.
`It is an additional object of the invention to provide a
`novel method and apparatus for stress relief that is portable
`and easily used by a patient.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel
`method and apparatus for stress relief that doesn’t introduce
`electricity into the body. Electricity introduced into the body
`has disadvantages (i.e. for pacemakers in the heart).
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates broadly to the field of systems and
`machines that employ minute illumination impulses for
`stimulating or inducing therapeutic action for health minded
`individuals.
`
`the electrical wave
`In using the stress relief system,
`generator assembly would have the male terminal of the
`flexible wire inserted into the output jack of the electrical
`wave generator assembly housing. The free ends of the wires
`would have their respective finger loop straps secured to the
`respective left and right ring fingers of the patient’s hands.
`The LED’s would be positioned where they direct their light
`rays either on the triple warmer, small intestine, or large
`intestine points as they are identified on the Koryo Hand
`Therapy Meridian chart. The most effective points are L3,
`H3 and D3. These are source points and are efl'ective for
`balancing the energy of the micro meridians. The headset
`would be placed on the patient’s head. Concurrently, the
`switch on the wave generator housing would be actuated
`along with turning on the switch of the CD player. The light
`rays from the LED’s stimulate the micromeridian points on
`the patient’s hands and seem to resonate into the person’s
`mind to allow a state of ease and relaxation to come over the
`body. At this same time the music on the CD disk will be
`
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`US 6,267,721 B1
`
`3
`transmitting sound to the patient’s left and right ears. on the
`(H) small intestine meridian the primary statement used is “I
`deeply accept myself just the way I am” or “I deeply accept
`myself in spite of .
`.
`.
`. The inputing of self-acceptance
`allows past trauma of all sorts to be released by the indi-
`vidual. The technique used for this is based on the work of
`Roger Callahan, Phd.
`Using the (L) Triple Heater meridian allows the brain to
`be more directly accessed. People can think of a memory
`while the light is on L3 and they circle their eyes, hum or
`count. These techniques help clear the memory.
`Another novel application of this product and the (L) or
`Triple Heater meridian is to establish a whole brain connec-
`tion. The technique involves having the light on
`while
`the individual anchors his fingers in his ears with his index
`fingers and alternatively taps the temporal region of the head
`with the middle finger and then taps the thumb with the
`middle finger (See FIG. 4). This tapping is accompanied
`with circling the eyes and walking in place with or without
`the music. This technique establishes whole brain connec-
`tions. Once the brain is whole and connected this connec-
`
`is
`tiveness can be built on by stressing the body that
`dis-connected in any way and then tapping as described
`before. This technique of stressing and reconnecting by
`tapping can be demonstrated effective by checking and
`rechecking muscle strengths before and after the tapping. A
`weak muscle that is created after stressing that becomes
`strong after tapping is evidence of a neural re-connection.
`Other statements such as those below would be received
`
`from the CD player: (1) I let go of all anxiety worry and fear
`and take in peace, rest, and calm, (2) I want to be 100%
`healthy on all levels, (3) it is all right if I am 100% healthy,
`(4) it is safe to be 100% healthy on all levels, (5) I deserve
`to be 100% healthy on all levels, (6) It is okay to be 100%
`healthy on all levels, etc.
`By repeating these statements while having the light input
`from the LED’s, these statements quickly become congru-
`ous with the belief nature of the individual. Statements 2—6
`
`above fall into a category of statements of incongruence
`with health that are called reversals. Reversals are negative
`reverse beliefs that we hold onto to the detriment of our
`
`mental and physical health.
`irritability, and blurring
`The symptoms of headaches,
`vision associated with the aforementioned micromeridians
`
`are definitely mental symptoms which is why stimulating
`these micromeridian points in combination with voice
`reinforcement, seem to have a synergistic effect to work
`most effectual for clearing stress and negative mental
`beliefs.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an exploded front perspective view of the
`components of the novel stress relief apparatus;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic electrical diagram of the electrical
`wave generator assembly circuit;
`FIG. 3 illustrates the Koryo Hand Therapy Meridians of
`a hand; and
`FIG. 4 illustrates a person using the finger loop straps on
`her ring fingers to establish a whole brain connection.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`The novel stress relief system will now be described by
`referring to FIGS. 1—3 of the drawings. The stress relief
`apparatus is generally designated numeral 10. A second
`
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`major component of the system is the headset 12. Headset 12
`has a left ear speaker 14 and a right ear speaker 16. An
`electrical wire 18 connects headset 12 to an electric powered
`device for playing a recorded music, such as a CD player 20.
`Electrical wave generator assembly 30 has a housing 32
`with output jacks 34 and 36. Apair of LED’s each having a
`body portion 4811 are illuminated when switch 40 is actuated.
`A pair of electric conductor wires 42 have a male terminal
`44 on one end that is detachably inserted into output jack 34.
`The conductor wires 42 have a length L1 that is in the range
`of 24 to 56 inches. Electrical wires 42 each make a closed
`loop circuit with a red light emitting LED 48 at each of their
`outer ends. LED 48 emits light only in the infrared and
`visible light spectrum range. Knob 37 is used to adjust the
`frequency of the flashing lights and it is detachably inserted
`into socket 39.
`
`Wires 42 have a tubular sleeve 56 on them adjacent LED
`48. AVelcro attachment tab 51 has a front end 50 and a rear
`end 52. Rear end 52 is secured to tubular sleeve 56. Finger
`loop straps 54 have an alignment sleeve 55 secured to their
`inner surface for removably receiving the LED’s 48 and
`keep them aligned on the respective X-axes. Velcro tab 51 is
`pressed against Velcro material on the outer surface of finger
`loop straps 54 to hold the LED’s 48 in alignment sleeves 55.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of the electrical
`circuit of the electrical wave generator assembly 30. It has
`a PC board 70 having an electrical wave generator circuit
`mounted thereon that is powered by a 9 volt DC battery 72.
`The electrical wave pattern can be varied from a frequency
`range of 2 cycles per second to 200 KHZ per second and still
`be effective. Output jacks 34 and 36 are electrically con-
`nected to circuit board 70. Male terminal 44 is detachably
`inserted into output socket 34 to provide current for the two
`LED’s 48. A potentiometer (not shown) could be plugged
`into output socket 36 in order to vary the shape of the
`electrical wave. A knob 37 is shown plugged into output
`socket 39 in order to vary the frequency of the flashing
`lights.
`FIG. 3 illustrates the Koryo Hand Therapy Meridians. The
`L (Triple Warmer), H (Small Intestine) and D (Large
`Intestine) all begin on the hand and end in the head. The end
`digit of the ring finger is analogous to the hand and the end
`digit of the middle finger is analogous to the head. These
`micromeridian points from the Koryo chart are approxi-
`mately three times more powerful than traditional acupunc-
`ture points because the hand has huge representation in the
`brain mapping (homongulous). Because of the fact these
`points have huge representation in the brain, it is possible to
`accomplish more with less stimulation. Thus only light
`stimulation of acupuncture points on L (Triple Warmer) H
`(Small Intestine), and D (Large Intestine) combined with
`sound stimulation through the ears or a piezo electric
`transducer right on the skin. Light stimulation of the L,H,D
`micromeridians with sound stimulation of the brain accom-
`
`plishes a synergism that allows statements such as “I deeply
`accept myself’ to be received more readily by the body. The
`sound therapy we feel is stimulating the hypothalamus or the
`brain body interface. Sounds that work best are high fre—
`quency sounds or pieces of music with high frequency
`sounds.
`
`FIG. 4 also illustrates a person using the finger loop straps
`54 on their ring fingers to establish a whole brain connec-
`tion.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. The stress relief system comprising:
`an electrical wave generator assembly having means for
`emitting an electrical wave pattern in the 2 cycles per
`
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`US 6,267,721 B1
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`5
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`5
`second to 200 KHZ cycles per second range; said
`electrical wave generator assembly having a housing
`with an output jack;
`a source of electrical power connected to said electrical
`wave generator assembly;
`a first elongated light emitting diode (LED) having a front
`end, a rear end, a body portion, an elongated first
`tubular sleeve connected to said rear end of said first
`LED; said first tubular sleeve having an outer diameter
`greater than the outer diameter of said first elongated
`LED to form a shoulder at their juncture;
`first closed loop electrical circuit having a front end for
`transmitting an electrical current from said output jack
`of said electrical wave generator to said rear end of said
`first LED and back to said output jack; said first closed
`loop electrical circuit having a preselected length L1;
`a transversely extending first finger loop strap having a
`first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner
`surface;
`a longitudinally extending elongated first
`alignment sleeve having a front end and a rear end is r
`secured to said inner surface of said first finger loop
`strap; said first alignment sleeve removably receiving
`said body of said first LED until said rear end of said
`first alignment sleeve rests against said shoulder of said
`first tubular sleeve; first hook and loop fastening means
`on said first and second ends of said first finger loop
`strap for removably attaching said first loop fastening
`means to a patient’s finger; a first elongated attachment
`tab having a front end, a rear end, attached to said first
`tubular sleeve; and a second hook and loop fastening
`means located adjacent said front end of said first
`elongated attachment tab that is detachably secured to
`said first hook and loop fastening means on said first
`finger loop strap for preventing said first LED from
`pulling out of said alignment sleeve;
`a second elongated light emitting diode (LED) having a
`front end, a rear end, a body portion, an elongated
`second tubular sleeve connected to said rear end of said
`second LED; said second tubular sleeve having an
`outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of said
`second elongated LED to form a shoulder at
`their
`juncture;
`a second closed loop electrical circuit having a front end
`for transmitting an electrical current from said output
`jack of said electrical wave generator to said rear end
`of said second LED and back to said output jack; said
`second closed loop electrical circuit having a prese-
`lected length Ll;
`a transversely extending second finger loop strap having
`a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an inner
`surface; a longitudinally extending elongated second
`alignment sleeve having a front end and a rear end is
`secured to said inner surface of said second finger loop
`strap; said second alignment sleeve removably receiv-
`ing said body of said second LED until said rear end of
`said second alignment sleeve rests against said shoulder
`of said second tubular sleeve;
`third hook and loop
`fastening means on said first and second ends of said
`second finger loop strap for removably attaching said
`second loop fastening means to a patient’s finger; a
`second elongated attachment tab having a front end, a
`rear end, attached to said first tubular sleeve; and a
`second hook and loop fastening means located adjacent
`said front end that is detachably secured to said first
`hook and loop fastening means on said first finger loop
`strap for preventing said first LED from pulling out of
`said alignment sleeve; and
`a head set having a left ear speaker and a right ear speaker;
`said head set adapted to be worn on a person’s head; an
`
`6
`electrically powered device for playing recorded songs;
`and means for electrically connecting said electrically
`power device to said speaker of said head set.
`2. A stress relief system as recited in claim 1 wherein said
`source of electrical power is a battery.
`3. A stress relief system as recited in claim 2 wherein said
`battery is a 9 volt D.C. battery.
`4. A stress relief system as recited in claim 1 wherein said
`first and second LED’s are unidirectional lights.
`5. A stress relief system as recited in claim 1 wherein said
`10 LED’s are red light emitting LED’s.
`6. A method for reducing the stress level of a patient
`comprising the steps of:
`a) connecting an electrical wave generator assembly to a
`first closed loop electrical circuit for transmitting an
`electrical current to a first LED that only emits an
`electrical wave pattern in the 2 cycles per second to 200
`KHZ cycles per second range; said first closed loop
`electrical circuit being entire outside the body of said
`patient; a transversely extending first finger loop strap
`having a first end, a second end, an outer surface and an
`inner surface; a longitudinally extending elongated first
`alignment sleeve having a front end and a rear end is
`secured to said inner surface of said first finger loop
`strap; said first alignment sleeve removably receiving
`said body of said first LED until said rear end of said
`first alignment sleeve rests against said shoulder of said
`first tubular sleeve; first hook and loop fastening means
`on said first and second ends of said first finger loop
`strap for removably attaching said first loop fastening
`means to a patient’s finger; a first elongated attachment
`tab having a front end, a rear end attached to said first
`tubular sleeve; and a second hook and loop fastening
`means located adjacent said front end of said first
`tubular sleeve that is detachably secured to said first
`hook and loop fastening means on said first finger loop
`strap for preventing said first LED from pulling out of
`said first alignment sleeve;
`b) connecting an electrical wave generator assembly to a
`second closed loop electrical circuit for transmitting an
`electrical current to a second LED that only emits an
`electrical wave pattern in the 2 cycles per second to 200
`KHZ cycles per second range; said second closed loop
`electrical circuit being entire outside the body of said
`patient; a transversely extending second finger loop
`strap having a first end, a second end, an outer surface
`and an inner surface; a longitudinally extending elon-
`gated second alignment sleeve having a front end and
`a rear end is secured to said inner surface of said second
`finger loop strap; said second alignment sleeve remov-
`ably receiving said body of said second LED until said
`rear end of said second alignment sleeve rests against
`said shoulder of said second tubular sleeve; third hook
`and loop fastening means on said first and second ends
`of said second finger loop strap for removably attaching
`said first loop fastening means to a patient’s finger; a
`second elongated attachment tab having a front end, a
`rear end, attached to said second tubular sleeve; and a
`fourth hook and loop fastening means located adjacent
`said front end of said second tubular sleeve that
`is
`detachably secured to said third hook and loop fasten-
`ing means on said first finger loop strap for preventing
`said second LED from pulling out of said second
`alignment sleeve;
`c) directing said first LED and said second LED at
`preselected Koryo Hand Therapy Meridian points on
`the hands of a patient;
`d) placing a headset on the head of a patient with the left
`and right speakers of the headset being positioned on
`the ears of a patient; said headset being connected to an
`electrically powered device for playing recorded
`music;
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`US 6,267,721 B1
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`7
`e) turning on the power of the electrically powered device
`for playing recorded music so that a patient hears the
`mUSiC§ and
`f) turning on the power of the electrical wave generator to
`send electrical current to said first and second LED’s
`causing them to emit an electrical wave pattern in the
`
`8
`2 cycles to 200 KHZ cycles per second range at the
`preselected points on the Koryo Hand Therapy Merid-
`ian points of a patient’s hands to reduce their stress
`level.
`
`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`*
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`0009
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`0009
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