NONINVASIVE DELIVERY AND CONTROL OF STIMULATION SIGNALS

• US 20150012066A1
• Filed: 09/22/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wendell Martin Underwood
• Original Assignee: Wendell Martin Underwood
• Inventors: Underwood, Wendell Martin
• Application Number:
  US14/492,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20150012066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/59
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5002 Means for controlling a set of similar massage devices acting in sequence at different locations on a patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/501 connected to external computer devices or networks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5035 Several programs selectable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5038 freely programmable by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 39/002 Using electric currents electrotherapy A61N1/32
• 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 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/323 Interference currents, i.e. treatment by several currents summed in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37217 characterised by the communication link, e.g. acoustic or tactile
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37235 Aspects of the external programmer

Abstract

System and method for the non-invasive, wireless generation, delivery, and control of electrostimulation signals. The system contains a circuit board with a plurality of components protected by a silicone housing disposed in overlying relation to form a hollow interior therein. Collectively, this is one electrode. A plurality of electrodes are attached to an individual'"'"'s body via leads on the underside of the electrodes. The electrodes are structured and adapted to transmit an electrical impulse into the individual'"'"'s body, thereby performing a treatment (e.g., for pain relief). An electronic device can be used to activate or deactivate each electrode, along with control the length and strength of impulses, depending on the protocol used for the individual'"'"'s treatment. Each impulse is made up of a plurality of bursts, and each burst is made up of a plurality of pulses, which are higher voltage signals transmitted from the circuit board through the leads.

Claims

1. A wireless electrostimulation system for generating and controlling stimulation signals delivered to the skin of an individual, comprising:

at least one electrode including a housing having a contact portion and a non-contact portion forming a closed hollow interior therein, said contact portion being substantially planar and having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a circuit board disposed on said inner surface of said contact portion, said circuit board having a battery and a plurality of components that receive an incoming electrical signal containing data and transmit an outgoing electrical signal in the form of an electrical impulse on said skin of said individual;

said plurality of components including a controller component that manages operation of said plurality of components;

said plurality of components further including a stimulator component that generates a high voltage charge that is delivered as said electrical impulses;

said electrical impulses formed of a plurality of bursts, each of said plurality of bursts formed of a plurality of pulses corresponding to said high voltage charge;

said each burst having a predetermined interval and each of said plurality of pulses having a predetermined waveform, a predetermined voltage level, and a predetermined interval, collectively forming parameters included in said data in said incoming electrical signal received by said controller component;

said plurality of components further including a plurality of low voltage signals transmitted between said controller component and said stimulator component to monitor and control said outgoing electrical signal, said plurality of low voltage signals including one or more signals selected from the group consisting of a stimulating signal, a pulse width modulated signal, and a variation potential signal,

said stimulating signal generated by said controller component and providing notification to said stimulator component of when said outgoing electrical signal is to be delivered to said electrode from said stimulator component,

said pulse width modulated signal generated by said controller component and providing increase and decrease of voltage within said each burst,

said variation potential signal generated by said stimulator component and providing notification to said controller component to increase or decrease output of said pulse width modulated signal;

one or more electrical leads disposed on said outer surface of said contact portion;

a conductive adhesive gel disposed in housing relation to each of said one or more electrical leads to adhere to said skin of said individual, said outgoing electrical signal outputted from said circuit board and transmitted to said skin of said individual through said each electrical lead and said conductive adhesive gel; and

an electronic device configured to wirelessly transmit said incoming electrical signal from said electronic device to said at least one electrode.

2. A wireless electrostimulation system as in claim 1, further comprising:

an activation button positioned within said closed hollow interior of said housing for activating said at least one electrode when depressed.

3. A wireless electrostimulation system as in claim 1, further comprising:

said parameters following an acupuncture protocol.

4. A wireless electrostimulation system as in claim 1, further comprising:

said electronic device including a master component;

said plurality of components within said hollow interior of said housing including a slave component;

said master component and said slave component being in wireless, electrical communication with each other to monitor and control said outgoing electrical signal.

5. A wireless electrostimulation system as in claim 4, further comprising:

said wireless, electrical communication being a BLUETOOTH connection between said master component and said slave component.

6. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals to an individual in need, comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of electrodes each having a housing, a circuit board with components imbedded within an interior of said housing, one or more electrical leads on the exterior of said housing, and conducting adhesive gel disposed in overlying relation to said one or more electrical leads,

said each electrode capable of receiving an incoming electrical signal and transmitting an outgoing electrical signal that is associated with an electrical impulse delivered to said individual, said electrical impulse formed of a plurality of bursts. said bursts formed of a plurality of pulses;

providing an electronic device that can monitor and control said plurality of electrodes;

evaluating said individual to determine a treatment needed;

determining a treatment protocol for said individual based on said treatment needed by said individual;

wirelessly transmitting said incoming electrical signal to said circuit board from said electronic device, said incoming electrical signal including said treatment protocol that contains one or more parameters corresponding to said electrical impulse, said one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of waveform of each of said plurality of pulses, voltage level of said each pulse, interval of said each pulse, and interval of each of said plurality of bursts,

said components including a controller component and a stimulator component in electrical communication with each other, said electrical communication including one or more low voltage signals selected from the group consisting of a stimulating signal, a pulse width modulated signal, and a variation potential signal, said stimulating signal generated by said controller component and providing notification to said stimulator component of when said outgoing electrical signal is to be delivered to said electrode from said stimulator component, said pulse width modulated signal generated by said controller component and providing increase and decrease of voltage within said each burst, said variation potential signal generated by said stimulator component and providing notification to said controller component to increase or decrease output of said pulse width modulated signal;

attaching said plurality of electrodes to an exterior skin surface of said individual by contacting said skin surface with said conducting adhesive gel to permit contact between said skin surface and said one or more electrical leads;

activating said each electrode to initiate said treatment, transmit said electrical impulse to said individual;

monitoring and controlling said each burst and said each pulse through said electronic device.

7. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals as in claim 6, further comprising:

said steps of determining said treatment protocol and wirelessly transmitting said incoming electrical signal achieved automatically by a software application installed on said electronic device upon selection of said treatment needed by said individual.

8. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals as in claim 6, further comprising:

positioning a push activation button within said hollow interior of said housing;

said step of activating said each electrode performed by depressing the exterior of said housing to depress said push activation button.

9. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals as in claim 6, further comprising:

said treatment protocol corresponding to an acupuncture protocol.

10. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals as in claim 6, further comprising:

said electronic device including a master component;

said components within said interior of said housing including a slave component;

said master component and said slave component being in wireless, electrical communication with each other to monitor and control said outgoing electrical signal.

11. A method for controlling delivery of stimulation signals as in claim 10, further comprising:

said step of wirelessly transmitting said incoming electrical signal to said circuit board performed via a BLUETOOTH connection between said master component and said slave component.

12. An electrode system for generating and delivering stimulation signals to an individual in need, comprising:

a circuit board containing a controller component and a stimulator component;

a flexible housing snugly fitted in overlying relation to said circuit board to form a hollow interior therein, said controller component and said stimulator component secured within said hollow interior, said controller component and said stimulator component both in communication with an electrical device external to said flexible housing;

a push button positioned on said circuit board and in electrical communication with said stimulator component to activate transmission of said stimulation signals to said individual;

a battery disposed in overlying relation to said push button, whereby when said housing is depressed, a force is applied to said battery causing said push button to be depressed, thus activating said electrode system;

a plurality of copper contacts attached to and disposed in underlying relation to said circuit board; and

conductive adhesive gel disposed in housing relation to each of said plurality of copper contacts, said gel conducting said stimulation signals from said circuit board to said individual.