Patents Examined by Stephen C. Rellegrino
  • Patent number: 5381806
    Abstract: A method of measuring the itch sensitivity of a skin surface of a subject patient comprises applying a unitarily formed elongated stimulating monofilament having a curved, textured stimulating tip at a free end thereof to contact the skin surface of the subject patient. The stimulating monofilament is dragged both distally and proximally across the skin surface, and a degree of itch rating of the subject patient is recorded. An apparatus for delivering such pressure-induced sensations to a subject skin surface includes a handle having a distal portion for applying a stimulus and a proximal portion grippable by a user. The apparatus further includes a plurality of heads coupled to the distal portion of the handle, and a plurality of elongated stimulating monofilaments of varying diameters each attached to a respective one of the plurality of heads for contacting the subject skin surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Neurocommunication Research Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney Weinstein, Curt Weinstein, Ronald Drozdenko