Dental anesthesia apparatus
US4924880A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 15, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/36021
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Apparatus is disclosed for achieving improved dental anesthesia utilizing electronic stimulation applied through electrodes positioned inside the mouth of a patient. Each electrode includes an insulating base of foam material with an adhesive at one side thereof to retain one end of an electrical lead in contact with an electrically conductive elastomer, which elastomer has a surrounding outer layer of adhesive for maintaining the elastomer positioned inside the mouth of a patient. A transcutaneous nerve stimulator is utilized to generate the stimulating output signal, which signal may be a pulsed DC signal, an AC signal, a pulsed DC signal followed by an AC signal, or various other combinations of such signals, and the pulsed DC signal is offset to a fixed quiescent DC level above a zero voltage reference when applied to the patient. A threshold intensity for application of the stimulating output signal may be selected at the main unit of the apparatus by the operator, and increases in intensity of the stimulating output signal may be controlled remotely from the main unit by the patient, with the selected intensity being displayed at the main unit both digitally and by a bar grap…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.