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.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 16, 1988
Date of Patent:
May 15, 1990
Assignee:
Sion Technology, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael W. O'Neill, Leon M. Silverstone, Michael E. Halleck