TREATMENT OF HEADACHES BY ELECTRICAL STIMULATION

• US 20170368344A1
• Filed: 01/11/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Theranica Bio-Electronic Limited, Theranica Bio-Electronics, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Theranica Bio-Electronics, Ltd.
• Inventors: IRONI, Alon, JASHEK, Ronen, RAAB, Hamutal, HARPAK, Amnon, GOLDFISHER, Shmuel, OVADIA, Ilan, TAIEB, Avner, VOLOKH, Lana, YABLONKA, Tomer
• Granted Patent: US 10,213,602 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36031 using physiological parameters for adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware

Abstract

Systems and methods are described including a system for electrostimulation. The system includes a patch (22), including a plurality of electrodes (24a, 24b), and a mobile device (28). A processor (30) of the mobile device is configured to receive an input from a subject (20) that indicates that the subject is experiencing a headache, and, in response to the input, while the patch is coupled to the subject, wirelessly communicate a control signal that causes the electrodes to stimulate the subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a patch, comprising a plurality of electrodes; and

a mobile device, comprising a processor configured to;

receive an input from a subject that indicates that the subject is experiencing a headache,

in response to the input, while the patch is coupled to the subject, wirelessly communicate a control signal that causes the electrodes to stimulate the subject,

obtain a physical location of the subject, and

in response thereto, present, on the mobile device, a migraine-related forecast that is specific to the physical location of the subject.

23. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to receive weather information regarding the physical location of the subject, and to present the migraine-related forecast that is specific to the physical location of the subject, based upon the received weather information.

2. (canceled)

3. A method, comprising:

coupling a plurality of electrodes to a location of a body of a subject selected from the group consisting of;

skin of an upper arm of the subject, and skin of a leg of the subject; and

using a computer processor, in response to the subject experiencing a headache, without using any element that is implanted in the subject, and without using any element that penetrates skin of the subject, treating the headache, by transcutaneously stimulating the subject, by applying an electrical current to the selected location, via the electrodes.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein coupling the electrodes to the selected location comprises coupling the electrodes to the upper arm of the subject.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein coupling the electrodes to the upper arm of the subject comprises coupling the electrodes transversely to the upper arm of the subject.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein transcutaneously stimulating the subject comprises applying a plurality of electrical pulses to the selected location, via the electrodes.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein applying the electrical pulses comprises applying the electrical pulses at a non-constant rate.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein applying the electrical pulses comprises applying the electrical pulses at a rate of between 100 and 120 pulses per second.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein applying the electrical pulses comprises applying the electrical pulses, each of the electrical pulses having a duration of between 90 and 410 microseconds.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein transcutaneously stimulating the subject comprises transcutaneously stimulating the subject using a stimulation program having a total duration of between 1200 and 2600 seconds.

12. The method according to claim 3, wherein the electrodes are coupled to an adhesive patch, and wherein coupling the electrodes to the selected location comprises adhering the adhesive patch to the selected location.

13. The method according to claim 3, wherein, using the computer processor, transcutaneously stimulating the subject comprises wirelessly communicating a control signal that causes the coupled electrodes to transcutaneously stimulate the subject.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein wirelessly communicating the control signal comprises wirelessly communicating the control signal from a mobile device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone, and wherein wirelessly communicating the control signal comprises wirelessly communicating the control signal from the mobile phone.

16. The method according to claim 3, wherein the headache is includes a migraine headache, and wherein treating the headache comprises treating the migraine headache, by transcutaneously stimulating the subject.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein transcutaneously stimulating the subject comprises transcutaneously stimulating the subject within two hours of the subject beginning to experience the headache.

18. The method according to claim 3, further comprising using the computer processor:

receiving feedback from the electrodes, and

controlling the stimulation of the subject in response to the feedback received from the electrodes.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving the feedback from the electrodes comprises receiving an impedance measurement from the electrodes, and wherein controlling the stimulation of the subject comprises controlling the stimulation of the subject in response to the impedance measurement.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein receiving the feedback from the electrodes comprises receiving an electromyographical measurement from the electrodes, and wherein controlling the stimulation of the subject comprises controlling the stimulation of the subject in response to the electromyographical measurement.

24. The method according to claim 3, wherein treating the headache, in response to the subject experiencing the headache comprises, using the computer processor:

receiving an input from the subject indicating that the subject is experiencing a headache; and

treating the headache, in response to receiving the input.

25. The method according to claim 3, wherein the headache includes a tension headache, and wherein treating the headache comprises treating the tension headache, by transcutaneously stimulating the subject.

5. (canceled)

21. Apparatus for use with a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a plurality of electrodes configured to be coupled to a location selected from the group consisting of;

skin of an upper arm of the subject, and skin of a leg of the subject; and

a computer software product comprising a tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a processor of a mobile device, cause the processor to;

receive an input from a subject that indicates that the subject is experiencing a headache, and

in response to the input, wirelessly communicate a control signal that causes the plurality of electrodes to transcutaneously stimulate the subject by driving an electrical current into the selected location, via the electrodes.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising an adhesive patch, the electrodes being disposed upon the adhesive patch and being configured to be coupled to the selected location by the adhesive patch being adhered to the selected location.