Migraine Pain Mitigation Device

Abstract

A migraine pain mitigation device includes a headband which fits around the head of a user and at least one pressure-applying ball supported by the headband for applying pressure to a point on the head of the user. The tightness of the headband on the head of the user is adjustable. The position of each pressure-applying ball can be adjusted in the circumferential direction of the headband without the user having to remove the headband from the user's head.

Claims

1. A migraine pain mitigation device comprising a headband which fits around the head of a user and at least one hard pressure-applying ball supported by the headband for applying pressure to a point on the head of the user.

2. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the headband is made of a flexible material.

3. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the headband is made of an elastic material.

4. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the headband has an adjustable circumference.

5. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the circumference of the headband can be adjusted while the headband is worn by a user.

6. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 including two pressure-applying balls supported by the headband.

7. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pressure-applying ball is spherical.

8. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each pressure-applying ball is made of metal.

9. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 7 wherein each pressure-applying ball is made of stainless steel.

10. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the position of each pressure-applying ball in the circumferential direction of the headband can be adjusted by the user while wearing the headband.

11. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein each pressure-applying ball is disposed in a pocket of the headband.

12. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pocket includes an opening through which the pressure-applying ball can be inserted into and removed from the pocket.

13. A migraine pain mitigation device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pocket encloses the pressure applying ball to prevent the pressure-applying ball from coming out of the pocket.

14. A migraine pain mitigation method comprising: placing the migraine pain mitigation device of claim 1 on the head of a user; and adjusting a position of each pressure-applying ball to press against a point on the head of the user.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the point on the head of the user is selected from a point on the greater occipital nerve, a point on the lesser occipital nerve, and a point on the anterior of the user's head.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the migraine pain mitigation device includes two pressure-applying balls supported by the headband, and each of the pressure-applying balls contacts a point on the head of the user selected from a point on the greater occipital nerve, a point on the lesser occipital nerve, and a point on the anterior of the user's head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] FIG. 1 is a schematic axonometric view of an embodiment of a migraine pain mitigation device according to the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2A is an enlarged schematic axonometric view of the rear portion of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing a pocket for receiving pressure-applying balls and having an opening for inserting pressure-applying balls into the pocket, FIGS. 2B and 2C are cutaway schematic top views of the pocket of FIG. 2A with different spacing between pressure-applying balls disposed in the pocket, and FIG. 2D is an enlarged schematic axonometric view of a pocket which is entirely enclosed around its periphery.

[0017] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic side views showing examples of how the embodiment of FIG. 1 can be worn around the head of a user.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] An embodiment of a migraine pain mitigation device according to the present invention will be described while referring to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, which is a schematic axonometric view of this embodiment, the migraine pain mitigation device in this example includes a headband 10 and two hard pressure-applying balls 30 which are supported by the headband 10.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, the headband 10 comprises an elongated elastic (stretchable) band 15 and first and second length-adjusting fittings 20a and 20b of the type commonly referred to as tri-bar adjusters, tri-glide adjusters, 3-bar slides, or tri-bar slides, among other names, and referred to here simply as adjusters 20a and 20b. A tri-bar adjuster includes three rigid parallel bars separated from each other by openings through which a ribbon, strap, or other elongated flexible member can pass. Tri-bar adjusters are widely used to adjust the length of straps of luggage, backpacks, undergarments, purses, and other items.

[0020] The elastic band 15 is not restricted to a particular material. Typically it is made of a flexible material which can conform to the shape of the head of a user. One example of a suitable material is a woven elastic band of the type which is commonly used for waistbands of clothing and is made of nylon, polyester, or other fiber. The elastic band 15 will elongate when tension is applied to the elastic band 15 in its lengthwise direction, but it will contract towards its previous length when tension is released. However, many other materials are possible. The elastic band 15 is preferably washable and breathable. In this embodiment, the elastic band 15 is made of a single material over its entire length, but it is also possible to employ different materials for different portions of the elastic band 15. The width of the elastic band 15 can be selected based on the comfort of the user. A non-limiting example of a suitable width of the elastic band 15 is approximately 1.5 inches.

[0021] In this example, the elastic band 15 has first and second ends 15a and 15b, each of which is secured to itself by sewing, glueing, or other method to form a closed loop which surrounds one of the bars of one of the adjusters 20a and 20b. From the first adjuster 20a to which the first end 15a of the elastic band 15 is attached, the elastic band 15 extends in an arc to the second adjuster 20b, extends through the second adjuster 20b, continues in another arc to the first adjuster 20a, passes around one of the bars of the first adjuster 20a, and then extends in an arc back to the second adjuster 20b, where the closed loop at the second end 15b of the elastic band 15 surrounds one of the bars of the second adjuster 20b. The circumference of the headband 10 can be adjusted by varying the length of the elastic band 15 extending between the first and second adjusters 20a and 20b. The circumference of the headband 10 can be adjusted without it being necessary to remove the headband 10 from the head of the user. For reference purposes, the right-hand side of the headband 10 in FIG. 1 where two thicknesses of the elastic band 15 extend alongside each other between the adjusters 20a and 20b will be referred to as the front side 10a of the headband 10, and the left-hand side of the headband 10 in FIG. 1 where a single thickness of the elastic band 15 extends between the adjusters 20a and 20b will be referred to as the rear side 10b of the headband 10. However, the terms front and rear are used here merely for convenience and do not limit the orientation of the headband 10 with respect to the head of a user.

[0022] The adjusters 20a and 20b need not be tribar adjusters. For example, one of the adjusters 20a and 20b could be a simple ring, such as a D-ring or a rectangular ring, while the other adjuster could be a tribar adjuster or other type of adjuster. In addition, instead of a tribar adjuster in which the middle bar of the adjuster is fixed with respect to the other two bars of the adjuster, a conventional sliding bar adjuster having a middle bar which can translate with respect to the other two bars of the adjuster can be employed.

[0023] The headband 10 is not limited to the structure shown in FIG. 1. For example, the headband 10 may comprise a one-piece endless elastic band such as a conventional sports sweatband, or a multi-piece band having two or more sections connected to each other end-to-end to form a loop. In addition, connecting members other than tribar adjusters can be used to adjust the circumference of the headband 10, such as buckles or hook and loop connectors.

[0024] The pressure-applying balls 30 are not restricted to any particular material but are sufficiently hard to be able to apply a desired pressure to the head of the user without any perceptible deformation of the pressure-applying balls 30, in contrast to soft materials such as cork or foam rubber. For example, the pressure-applying balls 30 may be made of steel or other hard metal, hard plastic, hard rubber, wood, glass, ceramic, or artificial or natural stone. The pressure-applying balls 30 may be spherical, or they may be nonspherical, such as ovoid. Spherical pressure-applying balls 30 are particularly suitable because they can be easily positioned by a user in the circumferential direction of the headband 10 without any change in the curvature of the portions of the pressure-applying balls 30 pressed against the head of the user regardless of their orientation. The size of the pressure-applying balls 30 is also not restricted. One example of suitable pressure-applying balls 30 are spherical stainless steel balls with a diameter of around 16 mm. Use of stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant metal for the pressure-applying balls 30 is advantageous because it enables the headband 10 to be washed without corrosion of the pressure-applying balls 30. A material with a high heat capacity, such as steel or other metal, is useful for forming the pressure-applying balls 30 when it is desired to cool locations on the user's head to which pressure is being applied. For example, if cold therapy is helpful for a user of the headband 10, the pressure-applying balls 30 or the entire headband 10 including the pressure-applying balls 30 can be placed into a refrigerator prior to use. The pressure-applying balls 30 will become cold and provide an additional therapeutic effect when the headband 10 is worn on the head of a user.

[0025] The pressure-applying balls 30 can be supported by the headband 10 in a variety of ways. For example, the pressure-applying balls 30 can be housed in one or more pockets formed in or on the headband 10. The length of each pocket in the circumferential direction of the headband 10 is preferably greater than the total of the diameters of the pressure-applying ball(s) 30 housed in the pocket so that the user can shift the pressure-applying ball(s) 30 within the pocket to a desired location in the circumferential direction of the headband 10 without removing the headband 10 from the user's head.

[0026] In this embodiment, the headband 10 includes a single pocket 40 which can hold one or more pressure-applying balls 30 in the rear side 10b of the headband 10. FIGS. 2A-2C schematically illustrate an example of the pocket 40 in this embodiment. FIG. 2A is a schematic axonometric view of the rear side 10b of the headband 10, including the pocket 40, as viewed from the front of the headband 10, and FIGS. 2B and 2C are enlarged cutaway schematic top views of the pocket 40 with two pressure-applying balls 30 disposed inside the pocket 40. FIG. 2B shows a state in which the two pressure-applying balls 30 are spaced from each other in the circumferential direction of the headband 10, and FIG. 2C shows a state in which the pressure-applying balls 30 are in contact with each other.

[0027] The illustrated pocket 40 is formed by attaching a short piece of material 41 to the front or rear surface of the elastic band 15 (the front surface in FIG. 2A) to form one side of the pocket 40 (the front side in FIG. 2A). In this example, the piece of material 41 forming the front side of the pocket 40 is made of the same elastic material as the elastic band 15, but they need not be made of the same material. In FIG. 2A, the thickness of the elastic band 15 and the piece of material 41 have been exaggerated for clarity, and typically the thickness of any material disposed between the pressure-applying balls 30 and the head of the user will be smaller than the diameter of the pressure-applying balls 30 so that the user can feel the pressure-applying balls 30 against his head. The piece of material 41 forming the front side of the pocket 40 is secured to the elastic band 15 by sewing (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2A), glueing, riveting, heat sealing, or other convenient method around all or most of its periphery. In FIG. 2A, the piece of material 41 has been left unsecured to the elastic band 15 along a short portion of the periphery of the pocket 40 to form a small opening 42 through which the pressure-applying balls 30 can be inserted into the pocket 40. In FIG. 2A, the opening 42 is formed in the top of the pocket 40, but it may be formed in a different portion of the periphery of the pocket 40 or in a location other than the periphery.

[0028] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 2D, the piece of material 41 can be secured to the elastic band 15 around the entire periphery of the pocket 40 so that one or more pressure-applying balls 30 can be nonremovably enclosed inside the pocket 40. Forming the pocket 40 without an opening 42 for introducing the pressure-applying balls 30 prevents the pressure-applying balls 30 from inadvertently coming out of the pocket 40 during use or handling of the headband 10 and being lost or misplaced. On the other hand, providing the pocket 40 with an opening 42 through which the pressure-applying balls 30 can be introduced or removed enables a user to employ different types of pressure-applying balls 30 and to remove the pressure-applying balls 30 from the pocket 40 when cleaning the headband 10. Thus, both arrangements are advantageous. If an opening 42 is formed in the pocket 40, the opening 42 may, if desired, be provided with structure for opening and closing the opening 42 such as a zipper, a flap, a snap, or the like. However, the elasticity of the headband 10 may be sufficient to prevent a pressure-applying ball 30 from being squeezed out of the opening 42 even without structure for closing the opening 42.

[0029] When the pocket 40 is empty, it is preferably substantially flat with the opposing inner surfaces of the pocket 40 contacting each other. However, when one or more pressure-applying balls 30 are disposed in the pocket 40, at least the surface of the pocket 40 which contacts the head of the user bulges outwards as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C to form a protuberance which can apply pressure to the head of a user wearing the headband 10. The elasticity of the material(s) forming the pocket 40 is preferably such that once one or more pressure-applying balls 30 are inserted into the pocket 40, the front and/or back sides of the pocket 40 will hold the pressure-applying ball(s) 30 in place within the pocket 40. However, by squeezing the exterior of the pocket 40 between the user's fingers, the user can slide the pressure-applying ball(s) 30 to a different position within the pocket 40 in the lengthwise direction of the pocket 40, and the elasticity of the pocket 40 will maintain the pressure-applying balls 30 in the new position. The length of the pocket 40 in the circumferential direction of the headband 10 is not restricted but is preferably large enough that each pressure-applying ball 30 can be shifted within the pocket in the circumferential direction of the headband 10 so that each pressure-applying ball 30 can be positioned over a desired location on the user's head where the application of pressure will be effective in reducing migraine pain.

[0030] FIG. 2B shows an example in which two pressure-applying balls 30 are disposed in the pocket 40 with a separation between the pressure-applying balls 30 to enable the pressure-applying balls 30 to apply pressure to two discrete points on the head of a user. FIG. 2C shows an example in which two pressure-applying balls 30 are disposed in the pocket 40 with the two pressure-applying balls 30 moved into contact with each other by the user squeezing the exterior of the pocket 40 with the user's fingers to enable the pressure-applying balls 30 to apply pressure to a single small region on the head of a user. Other amounts of separation of the pressure-applying balls 30 within the pocket 40 are possible within the limits imposed by the length of the pocket 40 and the diameters of the pressure-applying balls 30. When the pocket 40 contains multiple pressure-applying balls 30, the pressure-applying balls 30 may be at the same height as each other or at different heights from each other in the vertical direction.

[0031] When the headband 10 includes two pressure-applying balls 30 and is worn with the pressure-applying balls 30 contacting the front or the rear of a user's head, the pressure-applying balls 30 may be disposed on the same or opposite sides of the median plane of the body (the vertical plane which divides the body into left and right halves) from each other. When the pressure-applying balls 30 are situated on opposite sides of the median plane from each other, they may be at the same or different distances from the median plane as each other.

[0032] In this embodiment, the pocket 40 is formed on the rear side 10b of the headband 10, but a pocket for pressure-applying balls 30 may instead be formed on the front side 10a of the headband 10.

[0033] Instead of pressure-applying balls 30 being disposed in a pocket 40 formed on the exterior of the elastic band 15 forming the headband 10, one or more pressure-applying balls 30 may be disposed inside the elastic band 15. For example, the elastic band 15 could be formed from an elastic material having a hollow interior, and the interior of the elastic band 15 could define a pocket containing one or more pressure-applying balls 30. Alternatively, two elastic bands 15, neither of which is hollow, could be disposed face to face and then joined to each other along their edges to define a pocket between the opposing elastic bands 15.

[0034] FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic side views of the headband 10 of FIG. 1 showing examples of how it can be mounted on the head of a user. In these examples, the headband 10 is positioned so that the pressure-applying balls 30 are positioned against the rear of the user's head. FIG. 3A shows an example in which the two pressure-applying balls 30 are positioned on opposite sides of the median plane of the user with respect to each other, so the other pressure-applying ball 30 is hidden in this figure. FIG. 3B shows an example in which the headband 10 has been rotated about the user's head with respect to its position in FIG. 3A so that both pressure-applying balls 30 are situated on the same side of the median plane of the user. If the user feels pain referred to the eyes, the headband 10 can be rotated about the head of the user from the positions shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B so that the pressure-applying balls 30 press against the anterior of the user's head above the eye sockets. As another unillustrated alternative, the headband 10 can be positioned on the user's head so that the pressure-applying balls 30 are pressed against the side of the user's head where migraine specific points may be targeted. In order to make it unnecessary for the user to rotate the headband 10 around his head to change the position of pressure-applying balls 30 in the circumferential direction, the headband 10 may be equipped with a plurality of pockets 40 spaced around the circumference of the headband 10, and the user can insert one or more pressure-applying balls 30 into whichever of the pockets 40 is located where the user desires to apply pressure.

[0035] The pressure-applying balls 30 can be positioned to apply pressure to any location which provides migraine pain mitigation to the user. The pressure-applying balls 30 can be used to apply pressure to locations on the head defined as acupressure points by traditional acupressure, but the locations where pressure is applied are not restricted to such acupressure points. Some specific examples of possible locations against which the pressure-applying balls 30 can be pressed are points on the greater occipital nerves in the rear of a user's head, points on the lesser occipital nerves in the rear of a user's head, points above the eye, or other areas of referred pain. After the pressure-applying balls 30 are positioned in the desired areas, the tightness of the headband 10 can be adjusted to achieve a comfortable level of pressure. The tightness of the headband 10 is preferably tolerable but high enough to offer relief at the points of contact. The headband 10 can be worn for whatever length of time provides relief. As an example, the headband 10 can be worn tight for five minutes at a time in a given position. The user may shift the position of the headband 10 on the user's head to apply pressure to different points. For example, the user could wear the headband 10 for 5 minutes with the pressure-applying balls 30 applying pressure to the lower occipital nerves, and then the headband 10 could be shifted to then apply pressure for up to 5 minutes to the greater occipital nerves.

[0036] Frequently the headband 10 will be used with two pressure-applying balls 30 in order to apply pressure to two points on the head of a user at once. However, if pressing against two points at once is uncomfortable for the user, one of the pressure-applying balls 30 can be removed from the headband 10, and a single pressure-applying ball 30 can apply pressure to a single point on the head of the user at a time. It is also possible for the user to insert more than two pressure-applying balls 30 into a pocket 40 so that the pressure-applying balls 30 can apply pressure to the user's head at more than two locations at a time.