Apparatus for providing nerve stimulation and related methods

• US 20100152794A1
• Filed: 12/11/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Marinelli, Claudio, Ryhanen, Tapani, Beecher, Paul, Radivojevic, Zoran, Andrew, Piers
• Granted Patent: US 8,805,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0464 Specially adapted for promoting tissue growth
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

An apparatus comprises an optically transparent electrode configured to provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to a user contacting a portion of an exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to said optically transparent electrode.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising an optically transparent electrode configured to provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to a user contacting a portion of an exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to said optically transparent electrode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating layer, a surface of said electrically insulating layer constituting said portion of said exterior surface of said apparatus such as to prevent a user being able directly to touch said electrode.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optically transparent electrode comprises a first electrode element and a second electrode element electrically insulated from one another.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said optically transparent electrode constitutes part of a two-dimensional array of optically transparent electrodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said two-dimensional array of optically transparent electrodes comprises a plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements, and a plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent second electrode elements crossing said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements and electrically insulated therefrom.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first and second electrode elements are located in substantially the same plane, and wherein an optically transparent first electrode element is electrically connected to an adjacent electrode element in its string by a first connecting element, and wherein an optically transparent second electrode element is electrically connected to an adjacent electrode element in its string by a second connecting element, and wherein said first connecting element is in a different plane to said second connecting element.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first electrode element surrounds a perimeter of said second electrode element in substantially the same plane.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is flexible.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, comprising a stimulation circuit configured to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between said first electrode element and said second electrode element.

10. The apparatus of claim 5, comprising a stimulation circuit configured to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements and one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent second electrode elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured to provide a first potential to said one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements, to provide a second potential to said one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent second electrode elements and to apply a potential intermediate said first and second potentials to others of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements and said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent second electrode elements.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference to ones of said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent first electrode elements and said plurality of strings of electrically connected optically transparent second electrode elements under control of a processor.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising a detection circuit configured to detect a user contacting said portion of said exterior surface of said apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said detection circuit is configured to detect a user contacting said portion of said exterior surface of said apparatus by detecting a change in capacitance at first and second electrode elements forming part of said electrode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a or said stimulation circuit is configured to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between said first and second electrode elements in response to said detection circuit detecting a user contacting said portion of said exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to said electrode.

29. A device comprising:

the apparatus of claim 1; and

a display panel.

30. The device of claim 29, configured to provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to a user contacting a portion of an exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to an or said electrode in conjunction with displaying an image at a location on said display panel corresponding to an or said electrode.

16. Apparatus comprising:

a substrate;

a two-dimensional array of electrodes supported on said substrate; and

a stimulation circuit configured such as selectively to provide a nerve stimulation potential to one or more of said electrodes.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising an electrically insulating layer located on said two-dimensional array of electrodes so as to provide an exterior surface.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, each electrode comprising a first electrode element and a second electrode element, said first and second electrode elements being electrically insulated from one another.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured such as selectively to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between said first and second electrode elements of said one or more of said electrodes.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, said two-dimensional array of electrodes comprising:

a plurality of strings of first electrode elements each electrically connected to each other first electrode element in said string; and

a plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements each electrically connected to each other second electrode element in said string, said plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements crossing said plurality of strings of electrically connected first electrode elements, and wherein said stimulation circuit is configured such as selectively to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected first electrode elements and one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said first and second electrode elements of an electrode are located substantially in the same plane, and wherein a first electrode element is electrically connected to an adjacent electrode element in its string by a first connecting element, and wherein a second electrode element is electrically connected to an adjacent electrode element in its string by a second connecting element, and wherein said first connecting element is in a different plane to said second connecting element.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured such as selectively to provide a first potential to said one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected first electrode elements, to provide a second potential to said one or more of said plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements and to apply a potential intermediate said first and second potentials to others of said plurality of strings of electrically connected first electrode elements and said plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured such as selectively to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference to ones of said plurality of strings of electrically connected first electrode elements and said plurality of strings of electrically connected second electrode elements under control of a processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first electrode element of an electrode surrounds a perimeter of said second electrode element of said electrode in substantially the same plane.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said substrate and said two-dimensional array of electrodes are flexible.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, comprising a detection circuit configured to detect a user proximal to one of said electrodes.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, where each electrode comprising a first electrode element and a second electrode element, said first and second electrode elements being electrically insulated from one another, wherein said detection circuit is configured to detect a user proximal to one of said electrodes by detecting a change in capacitance at first and second electrode elements of said electrode.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein said stimulation circuit is configured such as selectively to provide a nerve stimulation potential difference between said first and second electrode elements in response to said detection circuit detecting a user contacting said portion of said exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to said electrode.

31. A method comprising using an optically transparent electrode to provide transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to a user contacting a portion of an exterior surface of said apparatus proximal to said optically transparent electrode.

32. A method of operating a two-dimensional array of electrodes supported on a substrate, comprising selectively providing a nerve stimulation potential to one or more of said electrodes.

33. A method comprising:

providing a first substrate layer;

forming a plurality of depressed regions in said first substrate layer;

forming a first plurality of conducting tracks on said first substrate layer;

providing a second substrate layer in said depressed regions;

forming a second plurality of conducting tracks on said second substrate layer;

providing a third substrate layer on said second substrate layer and on said second plurality of conducting tracks.

34. A method comprising:

providing a mould with a plurality of protuberances formed thereon;

forming a first plurality of conducting tracks on said mould;

providing a first substrate layer on regions of said mould between said protuberances;

forming a second plurality of conducting tracks on said first substrate layer;

providing a second substrate layer on said first substrate layer and on said second plurality of conducting tracks;

removing said mould;

providing a third substrate layer in a volume vacated by said removed mould.