Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device and method using microcurrent

• US 20030233137A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Paul, Edward L. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,187,977 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/50
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device and method using a microcurrent with a carrier signal and a square wave form for promoting cell repair and/or healing. It has been found that applying particular wave forms of direct current with a carrier wave signal with specified intervals promotes cell healing especially in treatment of macular degeneration. This method and nerve stimulation device is packaged to require no input from a user and a user must only apply the electrodes to the correct part of the body and start the preprogrammed sequence of electrical currents. The method involves applying bursts of direct current at higher frequencies for shorter periods of time followed by lower frequency bursts of electrical current for longer periods of time.

Claims

1. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching at least a first electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching at least a second electrode on the body at a point away from said specific body part;

(b) applying a microcurrent across said first and said second electrode wherein said microcurrent is less than 1 milliampere;

(c) using a direct current carrier signal for said microcurrent, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz;

(d) modulating said carrier signal on and off at a specified frequency, said specified frequency less than said carrier signal frequency;

2. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 1 wherein said step of modulating said carrier signal on and off at a specified frequency further includes applying said modulation frequency in a square wave form.

3. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 2 includes the steps of applying a first modulation frequency more than 200 Hz but less than or equal to 300 Hz for a period from one second up to 120 seconds.

4. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 3 wherein further includes steps for applying a second modulation frequency, said second modulation frequency more than 10 Hz but less than or equal to 200 Hz, said second modulation frequency applied for a period from one second up to 240 seconds.

5. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 4 wherein further includes steps of applying a third modulation frequency, said third modulation frequency more than 1 Hz but less than or equal to 10 Hz, said third modulation frequency applied for a period from 10 seconds up to 800 seconds.

6. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 5 further includes steps of applying a fourth modulation frequency, said fourth modulation frequency greater than 0.1 Hz but less than or equal to 1 Hz, said fourth modulation frequency applied for a period from 10 seconds up to 500 seconds.

7. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 6 further including steps of sequentially applying said first modulation frequency, said second modulation frequency following said first modulation frequency, said third modulation frequency following said second modulation frequency, and said fourth modulation frequency following said third modulation frequency.

8. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 7 wherein said first modulation frequency is approximately 292 Hz, said second modulation frequency is approximately 30 Hz, said third modulation frequency is approximately 9.1 Hz, and said fourth modulation frequency is approximately 0.3 Hz.

9. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 8 wherein further includes said step of reversing the polarity of said microcurrent at an interval from one to three seconds.

10. A method for providing microcurrent electrical stimulation treatment of claim 9 wherein said step of reversing the polarity of said microcurrent occurs at an interval of two seconds.

11. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair comprising:

(a) at least a first and a second electrode for making surface contact applying an electrical current through a user'"'"'s skin.;

(b) means for applying an electrical current across said first electrode and said second electrode, said electrical current applied using a direct current carrier signal frequency from 10,000 to 20,000 Hz, said electrical current in a range from 1 microamp to 1,000 microamps;

(c) means for modulating said electrical current on and off at a preset frequency for a preset period of time, said preset frequencies from 0.1 Hz to 400 Hz;

(d) said preset frequency starting at a first frequency for a first period of time with at least a second frequency less than said first frequency and applied for a second time said second time longer than said first time;

(e) means for controlling said means for applying and said means for modulating so that said first and said second preset frequencies are applied automatically by said means for controlling without requiring input from a user.

12. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 11 wherein there is a third preset frequency, said third preset frequency lower than said second preset frequency and a third preset period of time, said third preset period of time longer than said second preset period of time.

13. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 12 wherein there is a fourth preset frequency and a fourth preset period of time, said fourth preset frequency lower than said third preset frequency and said fourth period of time longer than said third period of time.

14. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 13 wherein said first frequency is more than 100 Hz but less than or equal to 400 Hz and said first period of time is more than 30 seconds but less than 90 seconds.

15. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 14 wherein said second frequency is more than 10 Hz but less than or equal to 100 Hz and said second period of time is more than 90 seconds but less than 150 seconds.

16. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 15 wherein said third frequency is more than 1 Hz but less than or equal to 10 Hz and said third period of time is more than 180 seconds but less than or equal to 270 seconds.

17. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 16 wherein said fourth frequency is more than 0.1 Hz but less than or equal to 1 Hz and said fourth period of time is more than 270 seconds but less than or equal to 500 seconds.

18. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 17 wherein said means for modulating further include means for applying said preset frequency in a square wave form.

19. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 18 wherein said means for applying electrical current further includes means for reversing the polarity of said electrical current at a preset interval of time.

20. A microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation for promotion of healing and cell repair of claim 19 wherein said reversal of polarity happens at a frequency no greater than one reversal per second but no less than one reversal of polarity every five seconds.