Electrotherapy Apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to the electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse, wherein the mean pulse width Pw is 10 μ
- s or less, and wherein Vp2.Pw.Fp is at least 200, where Vp is the mean pulse voltage, and Fp is the number of forward and reverse pulses per second.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied through electrodes to a patient'"'"'s body, and methods of treating patients using the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a signal generator arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse.
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Citations
80 Claims
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1. An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to the electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse, wherein the mean pulse width Pw is 10 μ
- s or less, and wherein Vp2.Pw.Fp is at least 200, where Vp is the mean pulse voltage, and Fp is the number of forward and reverse pulses per second.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 43)
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23. A method of inducing analgesia in a patient'"'"'s body through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, using an apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to said electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse, the method comprising:
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applying the electrodes to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body such that at least one of said locations on the patient'"'"'s body does not overlie the central nervous system;
providing said biphasic electrical waveform so as to induce analgesia at said site. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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- 44. An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to the electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse, and wherein the apparatus comprises a control element for varying the spacing between the positive and negative pulse.
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52. A method of inducing analgesia through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the induction of analgesia comprises
providing an apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator connected to said electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to provide a biphasic electrical waveform comprising successive cycles each having a positive and negative pulse, applying the electrodes to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body; - and
providing said biphasic electrical waveform;
wherein the spacing between the positive and negative pulse is modulated during the treatment. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A method for pre-setting the operating parameters of an apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to said electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to provide a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each having a positive and negative pulse, the method comprising
selecting the voltage and pulse width, and selecting the interpulse spacing with reference to a predetermined relationship between sensation and interpulse spacing at said voltage and pulse width.
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60. A method of selecting treatment parameters during the induction of analgesia through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, wherein said therapy comprises:
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providing an apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator connectable to said electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising a successive cycles each containing a forward and reverse pulse, applying the electrodes to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body;
and providing said waveform at a starting voltage and pulse width;
the method of selecting treatment parameters comprising varying the voltage and/or pulse width until the patient experiences a comfortable level of sensation, and selecting the voltage and pulse width at which comfortable sensation is felt.
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61. An apparatus for producing analgesia in a patient through electrical signals applied by electrodes to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising electrodes for application to the patient'"'"'s body and a signal generator which is connectable to the electrodes, wherein the signal generator is arranged to generate a biphasic waveform comprising successive cycles each containing a positive and negative pulse, and comprises:
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a converter for producing a desired voltage from a power supply;
a first capacitor which is in electrical connection with said converter and which is arranged to provide the positive pulse to one of said electrodes;
a second capacitor which is in electrical connection with said converter and which is arranged to provide the negative pulse to one of said electrodes;
wherein said first and second capacitors are respectively connected to an output by a corresponding pathway, the pathways including respective switches, and wherein the signal generator includes a controller arranged to control the operation of the switches to cause alternate discharge of the first and second capacitors through the corresponding pathway to generate said positive and negative pulses. - View Dependent Claims (62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. (canceled)
Specification