NEUROSTIMULATION FOR TREATING PAIN, IMPROVING FUNCTION AND OTHER NERVOUS SYSTEM RELATED CONDITIONS

• US 20150012079A1
• Filed: 07/24/2014
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teodor Goroszeniuk
• Original Assignee: Teodor Goroszeniuk
• Inventors: Goroszeniuk, Teodor, Chan, Christopher, Scibor-Rylski, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,308,363 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/148
• 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 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/328 for improving the appearance of the skin, e.g. facial toning or wrinkle treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

Various aspects of this disclosure relate to a patch for treating a patient for chronic pain and for cosmetic treatment. As consistent with one or more embodiments, neurostimulation is carried out via stimulating electrodes and one or more reference electrodes applied externally to a region of pain (e.g., by applying current between 0.2 and 60 mA to skin). The area to be treated is located either by a stimulating device, or by using at least one of the stimulating electrodes on the device itself to locate the pain prior to treatment. The electrodes are applied to the patient'"'"'s skin as located using firm pressure while a stimulating pulse is applied as treatment. This action produces a remarkable and unexpected level of pain relief over a wide area. Aspects of the disclosure extend to a method for the treatment of chronic pain using the above-mentioned parameters and procedures.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating a patient, the apparatus comprising:

an insulating support;

at least one rounded or substantially hemispherically-shaped or parabolically-shaped electrically-conducting stud projecting from one side of the insulating support, the at least one stud being configured and arranged with the insulating support to indent the patient'"'"'s skin via the stud, in response to the insulating support being held against the patient'"'"'s skin; and

an electrical connector connected to the at least one stud and configured and arranged with the stud to connect the stud to a power source and to a signal generator of electrical stimulating signals.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the insulating support comprises a flexible strip, band or patch, and includes, for each stud, a stiff or rigid surrounding backing plate or washer configured and arranged to support the stud and having a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the stud and less than 3 times the diameter of the stud.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises an elasticated fabric having an adhesive surface on the side from which the at least one stud projects, the elasticated fabric being configured and arranged to stretch over the patient'"'"'s skin in an area to be treated and to conform the apparatus to the area to be treated with the at least one stud held and exerting pressure against the patient'"'"'s skin.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including the power source and the signal generator mounted on the insulating support and connected to the stud(s) via the electrical connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the signal generator is configured and arranged to be controlled or adjusted by an external input.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the electrical connection with the at least one stud incorporates one or more light emitting diodes so that in use a patient can visually identify when an electrical stimulating signal is being applied to the at least one stud or to selected studs.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least one stud has a diameter of one of between 3 and 6 mm and between 8 and 12 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises an elongated strip having three or more studs, the strip being configured and arranged with regions that promote separation of portions of the strip at predefined locations for cutting of the strip to a desired length for an intended application.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises several parallel strips each having a plurality of electrodes, the strips being configured and arranged for implementation either to be used as a single, multi-strip support, or to be torn or cut to form discrete strips for separate applications via regions of the insulating support that promote separation of the parallel strips at predefined locations, each location utilising one or more strips.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises a band, strip, belt or bracelet configured and arranged for attachment around a limb, wrist, ankle, head or torso of a patient and to bring the at least one stud into and maintained in contact with the patient'"'"'s skin.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the at least one stud includes at least two studs, and

the insulating support is configured and pre-formed so as to fit closely around a part of a patient'"'"'s anatomy where treatment is to be applied, and is configured and arranged with the at least two studs to hold and maintain the respective studs in firm contact with the patient'"'"'s skin along differently-aligned surfaces of the skin.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support and the at least one stud have interlocking hook-and-loop fasteners configured and arranged to engage with one another via the hooks engaging with the loops and to secure the at least one stud and the insulating support to one another.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support has an interlocking hook-and-loop fastener configured and arranged to engage another hook-and-loop fastener on the patient to secure the insulating support to the patient.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises a formed pad or device configured and arranged to treat rectal, urological or gynaecological pain, by conforming to regions of a patient'"'"'s anatomy and wherein the electrically-conducting stud includes a compliant material base configured and arranged to flex upon contact with the patient and a conductive surface on the base and configured and arranged to interface with the patient'"'"'s anatomy.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the insulating support comprises a shell configured and arranged to clip or clamp around a part of a patient'"'"'s anatomy that is to be treated.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least one stud has a diameter of between 4 and 10 mm.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the at least one stud has a diameter of between 6 and 8 mm.

18. A method for treating a patient, the method comprising:

applying at least one electrically-conducting stud mounted on an insulating support, the stud being rounded or substantially hemispherically-shaped or parabolically-shaped, the stud projecting from one side of the insulating support;

indenting the patient'"'"'s skin via the stud by holding the insulating support against the patient'"'"'s skin; and

applying an electrical stimulating signal to the at least one stud at a frequency within the range 1 to 50 Hz or 5 kHz to 10 kHz and a current in the range 0.2 mA to 60 mA, using a power source and a generator of the electrical stimulating signals that is connected to the stud by an electrical connector.

19. The method of claim 18 in which the pulse width is from 0.05 to 1 ms.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrical stimulating signal is in the frequency range 2 to 10 Hz.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the electrical stimulating signal is in the frequency range 5 to 10 kHz.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the current of the electrical stimulating signal is in the range 2 to 10 mA.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one stud is located on the patient by applying a stimulating signal to pre-determine an optimum position for treatment.