ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATOR

• US 20110202121A1
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shin-Heng Wen
• Original Assignee: Shin-Heng Wen
• Inventors: WEN, SHIN-HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/706,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202121A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/145
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625

Abstract

An electrical nerve stimulator includes a main probe device receiving a current signal generated by a current generator. The main probe device includes a probe disposed in a housing and having a tip extending outwardly of a tubular end portion of the housing, and a cover mounted detachably on the end portion of the housing and having a flexible absorbent cap portion for covering the tip of the probe. The main probe device is operable so as to generate a stimulating signal based on the current signal from the current generator and to output the stimulating signal through the probe.

Claims

1. An electrical nerve stimulator comprising:

a current generator for generating a current signal; and

a main probe device connected electrically to said current generator for receiving the current signal therefrom, and including

a housing having a tubular end portion,

a probe disposed in said housing, and having a tip extending outwardly of said end portion of said housing, and

a cover mounted detachably on said end portion of said housing and having a flexible absorbent cap portion for covering said tip of said probe;

wherein said main probe device is operable so as to generate a stimulating signal based on the current signal from said current generator and to output the stimulating signal through said probe.

2. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said absorbent cap portion of said cover is made of a cotton material.

3. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cover is connected threadedly to said end portion of said housing.

4. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said end portion of said housing has an annular outer surface formed with at least one protrusion; and

said cover further has a sleeve portion connected to said absorbent cap portion, sleeved on said end portion of said housing, and having an annular inner surface formed with at least one first positioning groove that engages releasably said protrusion of said end portion of said housing, thereby positioning said cover on said end portion of said housing.

5. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said sleeve portion of said cover has a rim flange;

said main probe device further includes an actuator mounted movably on said housing, and having an operating end portion, and a pushing end portion opposite to said operating end portion, and pushing said rim flange of said sleeve portion of said cover in response to movement of said operating end portion to move said cover away from said end portion of said housing such that said protrusion of said open end of said housing disengages said first positioning groove in said sleeve portion of said cover.

6. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said annular inner surface of said sleeve portion of said cover is further formed with a second positioning groove;

said end portion of said housing is defined by an annular wall that is formed with a through hole corresponding to said second positioning groove; and

said main probe device further includes a driving rod disposed in said housing, and having a connecting end connected to said operating end portion of said actuator such that said driving rod is movable with said operating end portion of said actuator, and an engaging end opposite to said connecting end, extending outwardly of said through hole in said end portion of said housing, engaging releasably said second positioning groove in said sleeve portion of said cover, and moving away from said second positioning groove in said sleeve portion of said cover in response to movement of said operating end portion of said actuator to thereby disengage said second positioning grove in said sleeve portion of said cover.

7. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current generator separates from said housing of said main probe device, is wiredly-connected to said main probe device, and is detachable from said main probe device.

8. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 7, further comprising an auxiliary probe unit wiredly-connected to said current generator, and including

a handle body having a tubular end portion,

a probe disposed in said handle body, and having a tip extending outwardly of said end portion of said handle body, and

a cover mounted detachably on said end portion of said handle body and having a flexible absorbent cap portion for covering said tip of said probe of said auxiliary probe unit.

9. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main probe device further includes:

an amplitude adjusting unit connected electrically to said current generator for receiving the current signal therefrom, including a control member mounted on said housing, and adjusting amplitude of the current signal in response to operation of said control member so as to generate the stimulating signal; and

a switch mounted on said housing, connected electrically between said amplitude adjusting unit and said probe, and operable between an ON-state, where the stimulating signal is outputted from said amplitude adjusting unit through said switch and said probe, and an OFF-state, where output of the stimulating signal is terminated.

10. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 9, wherein said main probe device further includes:

a processing unit disposed in said housing, coupled to said amplitude adjusting unit and to a common node between said switch and said probe, receiving the stimulating signal from said amplitude adjusting unit so as to generate amplitude information associated with the stimulating signal, and calculating duration of the ON-state of said switch based on detection of output at said common node so as to generate therapy duration information associated with the duration of the ON-state of said switch; and

a display unit mounted on said housing, and coupled to said processing unit for displaying the amplitude information and the duration information thereon.

11. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said main probe device further includes a temperature sensor disposed in said housing, coupled to said processing unit, and sensing temperature of said probe so as to output an output signal associated with the temperature of said probe to said processing unit;

said processing unit receives the output signal from said temperature sensor so as to generate temperature information corresponding to the temperature of said probe and displayed on said display unit.

12. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 10, wherein said main probe device further includes a connecting port mounted on said housing, coupled to said processing unit, and adapted to be wiredly-connected to an external electronic device.

13. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 10, wherein said main probe device further includes said current generator, and said current generator is disposed in said housing.

14. The electrical nerve stimulator as claimed in claim 13, further comprising an auxiliary probe unit wiredly-connected to said processing unit of said main probe device, and including

a handle body having a tubular end portion,

a probe disposed in said handle body, and having a tip extending outwardly of said end portion of said handle body, and

a cover mounted detachably on said end portion of said handle body and having a flexible absorbent cap portion for covering said tip of said probe of said auxiliary probe unit.