Michael A Mocny

US Patent:

52244695, Jul 6, 1993

Filed:

Dec 22, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/455228

Inventors:

Michael A. Mocny - Santa Barbara CA

International Classification:

A61H 2300

US Classification:

128 55

Abstract:

A device for applying therapeutic or analgesic pressure quantitatively which includes a sensor for continuously measuring the pressure on a patient's skin and underlying tissue. The instrument includes a hand-held force sensitive transducer having a blunt tip extending therefrom. When the blunt tip of the device is pressed against the skin thereby compressing the underlying tissue, the transducer yields an electrical signal proportional to the applied pressure. This signal is then fed to a resettable digital display. When the pressure applied to the skin reaches a threshold value, an actuator switch is actuated starting a timer which measures the elapsed time period during which the skin and underlying tissue is exposed to the measured pressure. An optional alarm indicates when the combination of pressure and elapsed time has reached a previously determined level.