High voltage transcutaneous electrical stimulation device and method

• US 20070055337A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 03/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naim Tanrisever
• Original Assignee: Naim Tanrisever
• Inventors: Tanrisever, Naim
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/154
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/44 Applying ionised fluids ion generators H01J37/00

Abstract

The invention comprises a system for treating a medical disorder using transcutaneous electrical stimulation. The system includes an apparatus that supplies voltage to one or more glass electrodes that is shaped to treat a particular tissue or disorder and that is applied to an affected area of the patient'"'"'s body. Voltage is applied in a range of about 500-2000 volts and a constant frequency in a range of about 10-100 kHz. The electrode may also be used to sterilize the surface of a tissue through the production of ozone. The system may be used to treat a variety of medical disorders including edema and dermatological, neurological, intestinal, vascular, and orthopedic disorders. In addition, the system may be used to improve drug delivery to specific sites by locally increasing blood circulation.

Claims

1. A system for treating a medical disorder in a patient in need thereof comprising a source of variable AC voltage having a frequency in a range of about 10-100 kHz and a voltage in a range of about 500-2000 volts, and one or more glass electrodes connected to the source, wherein at least one glass electrode is shaped to treat a particular tissue or disorder, and the system is sized such that the one or more glass electrodes emits a corona discharge when applied to an area of the patient and energized with the variable AC voltage, wherein the source of variable AC voltage is adapted to apply the variable AC voltage at a constant frequency during energization of the electrode with the variable AC voltage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the source of variable AC voltage is sized to provide voltage to the one or more glass electrodes sufficient to reduce the concentration of calcium ions in tissue in the area of at least one glass electrode such that the reduction in the concentration of calcium ions relaxes blood vessels in the area of the at least one electrode.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical disorder is edema.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the glass electrode comprises electron tube glass, kovar wire, and a nickel chromium plate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the glass electrode comprises a bulbous application region with an outermost surface and a tubular structural region, the application region having a larger diameter than the tubular structural region, and the outermost surface of the bulbous application region is flat, convex, or concave.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the glass electrode comprises an application region and a structural region, wherein the application region comprises a single layer of glass and the structural region comprises a double layer of glass.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the application region and the structural region of the glass electrode are tubular, and wherein the application region is shorter than the structural region.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the application region and the structural region of the glass electrode are tubular, and wherein the application region is longer than the structural region.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the application region and the structural region of the glass electrode are tubular, and wherein the application region is shorter than the structural region and is positioned at an angle to the structural region.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the application region of the glass electrode is shorter than the structural region and wherein the application region is spatulate.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein a metal wire is affixed to the electrode at the point of application.

12. The system of claim 1, comprising two glass electrodes, wherein one glass electrode is grounded and the other glass electrode is charged.

13. A method of treating a medical disorder in a patient in need thereof using the system of claim 1, comprising the steps of (a) applying electrical voltage to the one or more glass electrodes in contact with an area of skin or mucosa of the patient for a period of time sufficient to initiate an improvement in the disorder;

and (b) repeating the application of voltage at appropriate intervals.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the frequency of the voltage signal is in a range of 20-50 kHz.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the frequency of the voltage signal is 25 kHz.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the voltage is applied continuously.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the voltage is applied in bursts.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is selected from the group consisting of edema, burns, lesions, and wounds.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a neurological disorder.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a skin, hair, or nail disorder.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a disorder of genital organs.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is an orthopedic disorder.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a disorder of ear, nose or throat.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a disease of an internal organ.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a disorder of the circulatory system.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical disorder is a disorder of the intestinal tract.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein tissue regeneration is stimulated.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein treatment of the medical disorder further comprises producing ozone from the corona discharge and sterilizing the area of skin or mucosa to which the electrode is applied.

29. A method for improving delivery of a drug to a specific site in a patient in need thereof using the system of claim 1, comprising the steps of (a) administering a drug to the patient and (b) applying an electrical voltage to the glass electrode in contact with an area of skin or mucosa of the patient in proximity to the specific site for a period of time sufficient to stimulate blood circulation in the specific site, wherein the drug is delivered to the specific site by the stimulated blood circulation.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the frequency of the voltage signal is in a range of 20-50 kHz, and the frequency is substantially constant during application of the electrode.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the frequency of the voltage signal is 25 kHz.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the voltage is applied continuously.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the voltage is applied in bursts.

34. A method for detecting edema in a patient'"'"'s body comprising:

(a) applying to the patient'"'"'s body a charged electrode;

(b) monitoring current drawn by the charged electrode as it is moved across the patient'"'"'s body;

(c) observing a first current level with the charged electrode positioned adjacent a first area of the patient'"'"'s body;

(d) observing a second, higher current level with the charged electrode positioned adjacent a second area of the patient'"'"'s body having similar tissue structure to the first area of the patient'"'"'s body; and

(e) identifying the second area of the patient'"'"'s body as having the edema.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising in step (a) applying the charged electrode to the patient'"'"'s body in combination with a grounded electrode, wherein a portion of the patient'"'"'s body is located between the charged electrode and grounded electrode;

in step (c) observing the first current level with a first portion of the patient'"'"'s body located between the charged electrode and the grounded electrode;

in step (d) observing the second current level with a second portion of the patient'"'"'s body located between the charged electrode and the grounded electrode, the second portion comprising similar tissue to the first portion; and

in step (e) identifying the second portion of the patient'"'"'s body as having the edema.