Treatment device to aid in long-term cessation of smoking

Patent 5501697 Issued on March 26, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date:

March 26, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor

Fisher, Gary R.

Application

No. 902970 filed on 06/23/1992

US Classes:

606/204Acupressure device

Examiners

Primary: Pellegrino, Stephen C.
Assistant: Lewis, William

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Bissell; Henry M.

International Class

A61B 017/00

Abstract

A removeably attachable wrist band device for use in helping an addicted cigarette smoker permanently quit smoking. The device comprises an elastic section, a hook fastener section, a loop fastener section, and an acupressure stimulator. The device is placed on a user's wrist such that the acupressure stimulator is positioned proximal to the L-7 acupuncture point and the elastic section of the wrist band is positioned on top of the user's wrist. The elastic section of the wrist band is designed to limit the maximal energy that the user can transfer to a unit area of skin when the band is snapped against the wrist. This is so that snapping the wrist band will not be perceived as aversive to the user. The disclosed wrist band has the dual functions of providing a non-aversive behavioral modification device together with providing continuous and differential stimulation of the L-7 acupuncture point, which has therapeutic value in treatment of smoking addiction.