TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION DEVICE AND METHOD USING MICROCURRENT

• US 20070016266A1
• Filed: 09/20/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: PAUL, Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/533,409
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016266A1
• 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 microcurrent transcutaneous electrical stimulation device 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 though 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 Hz, 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; and

(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.

2. The device of claim 1 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.

3. The device of claim 2 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.

4. The device of claim 3 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.

5. The device of claim 4 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.

6. The device of claim 5 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 270 seconds.

7. The device of claim 6 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 500 seconds.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said means for modulating further include means for applying said preset frequency in a square wave form.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said means for applying electrical current further includes means for reversing the polarity of said electrical current at a preset interval of time.

10. The device of claim 9 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.