Transcutaneous pain reliever

• US 4,256,116 A
• Filed: 07/03/1978
• Issued: 03/17/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Original Assignee: TECHNION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, LTD.
• Inventors: Carmon, Amiram, Meretsky, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Application Number:
  US05/921,344
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 R, 128/420 R, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423 R, 128/419 PG, 128/419 PS
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

A transcutaneous pain reliever which utilizes a plurality of battery powered inductive energy generators, which are sequentially and individually activated, a clocking system which has means for automatically inhibiting pulsing of an energy generator until a previous energy generator has delivered its energy, and an antiadapt system to prevent a patient from becoming acclimated to the sensations. The invention also includes an energy absorption sensor which will indicate the amount of energy not absorbed by the electrodes, a bridged, transformerless battery charger which will permit the use of inexpensive low power diodes and a battery saver which may be used to permit excess energy to charge batteries.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly, said external electrode assembly comprising means for inductively storing energy and means for releasing said energy to the external electrodes, said inductive storage means comprising a storage winding for storing the energy and a release winding for releasing said energy to the external electrodes.

2. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 1, wherein an energy absorption assembly is provided to receive the signal if the voltage on the primary is larger than a predetermined amount.

3. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 2, wherein said energy absorption assembly comprises a zener diode assembly in circuit with the primary winding.

4. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 3, wherein said absorption sensing assembly comprises an LED in circuit with the zener diode assembly.

5. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 4, wherein said zener diode assembly comprises at least one zener diode, a resistance and a transistor.

6. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 5, wherein a diode is interposed between said primary and second LED.

7. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 6, wherein any energy exceeding accepted voltage values will pass through the LED to illuminate it.

8. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly a clocking assembly is provided, said clocking assembly being connected to means for operating the external electrodes, a multi-vibrator, the output of the mutivibrator supplying a pulse to a trigger circuit, said trigger circuit being connected to means for operating the external electrodes.

9. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 8, wherein said multi-vibrator includes a pair of gates, said gates being connected to said trigger circuit and adapted to supply pulses to said trigger circuit.

10. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 9 wherein a diode is provided with said multivibrator, and a pair of resistor means in circuit with the diode to create an asymmetric clock.

11. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 10 wherein a switch is provided in the multi-vibrator, said switch being movable into circuit with either of said resistor means to vary the repetition rate of the output.

12. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 10 wherein a potentiometer and a fixed resistor is in circuit with the diode to permit the clock to be variable.

13. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 8, wherein the said multi-vibrator includes a gate and Schmitt trigger connected to said trigger circuit and adapted to supply pulses to said trigger circuit.

112. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 11, wherein the output of said gated differentiator resets the flip-flop of said memory circuit.

113. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 112, wherein resetting of said memory circuit shuts off said current regulator circuit.

114. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 113, wherein a diode and a capacitor are provided to aid in shutting off said current regulator.

115. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 114, wherein energy stored in said inductive storage means is released when the current regulator is shut off.

116. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 115, wherein the output of the gated differentiator activates the flip-flop of the memory circuit of the next energy generator assembly.

117. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 116, wherein the gated differentiator of the last of said energy generator assemblies causes a DONE IN signal from the control transistor of said last energy generator to operate the trigger assembly.

118. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 117, wherein said inductive storage means comprises a storage winding for storing the energy and a release winding for releasing said energy to the external electrodes.

14. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitation to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly, and storage means are provided for storing energy before passage to the external electrode assembly, an absorption sensing mechanism is in circuit with said storage means to indicate the amount of energy not used by the external electrodes.

15. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly a battery charger is provided comprising a bridge assembly having a plurality of diodes arranged in a bridge, said bridge assembly having means to permit batteries to be charged to be connected thereto, a zener diode assembly across the output of the bridge assembly, means connecting the bridge assembly to a charging voltage source, said zener diode assembly breakdown voltage being greater than the battery voltage, the bridge diode assembly voltage rating being greater than the zener diode breakdown voltage, switch means being provided to connect the diode bridge assembly to batteries which are to be charged.

16. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 15, wherein switch means are provided to connect the batteries to said external electrode assemblies.

17. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 16, wherein the switch means to connect said batteries to the external electrode assemblies is the same switch means for connecting the batteries to the zener circuit, said switch means being movable from a position in circuit with said zener circuit to position in circuit with said external electrode assemblies whereby movement of the switch means into circuit with the zener circuit will automatically electrically disconnect the batteries from the external electrode assemblies, movement of the switch means into circuit with the external electrode assembly will automatically disconnect the batteries from the zener circuit.

18. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 17, wherein the output of the diode bridge assembly is absorbed by the zener diode when batteries are disconnected for the diode bridge assembly.

19. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly, an anti-adapt system being provided comprising a multi-vibrator, the multi-vibrator being connected to a clock assembly and means in said multi-vibrator for inhibiting the output of the clock assembly, a switch in circuit with said multi-vibrator with associated resistors to permit the anti-adapt clock assembly output to vary.

20. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 19, wherein said multi-vibrator comprises a pair of gates, the output of which are connected to the gates in the clock assembly to actuate them.

21. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 20, wherein capacitor means are provided in circuit with the output of said gates to control the frequency.

22. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 20, wherein means are provided to inhibit the multi-vibrator.

23. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in 22, wherein said inhibitor means comprises means for connecting a common power source, an input to the two gates one of said gate inputs being provided with means to delay a pulse from the power source from reaching said gate.

24. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 23, wherein said delay means comprises a capacitor and a resistor in circuit with said delayed gate.

25. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 24, wherein the inhibit on the multi-vibrator is released when the said delayed pulse at the input of said delayed gate rises to the condition of the input at the other gate.

26. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 25, wherein release of the inhibit on said multi-vibrator causes a pulse to be released to reset the external electrode assemblies.

27. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 26, wherein said clock assembly is in circuit with a trigger circuit, said trigger circuit connected to the external electrode assemblies and comprising a flip-flop and a TRIG OUT gate, said flip-flop being in circuit with the multi-vibrator.

28. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 27, wherein a delay circuit comprising a resistor and capacitor is associated with said trigger.

29. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 28, wherein means responsive to the completion of a pulse from the external electrode assembly will cause the clock to operate the trigger.

30. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 28, wherein said pulse from the multi-vibrator alters the condition of the flip-flop to a condition different from the condition of the clock assembly.

31. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly and a battery saver is provided comprising a storage coil, and a charge release coil, a zener diode assembly for an absorption sensor, said zener diode assembly having a capacitor which is connected to a battery to be charged, an additional inductor coil in circuit with the zener diode assembly whereby energy not used by the release coil will be supplied to the battery to charge it through the said additional inductor coil.

32. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing current through said external electrode assemblies, means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly, said external electrode assembly comprising means for inductively storing energy and means for releasing said energy to the external electrodes, a clocking assembly being provided, said clocking assembly being connected to means for operating the external electrodes and storage means are provided for storing energy before passage to the external electrode assembly, an absorption sensing mechanism is in circuit with said storage means to indicate the amount of energy not used by the external electrodes.

33. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 32, wherein a battery charger is provided comprising a bridge assembly having a plurality of diodes arranged in a bridge, said bridge assembly having means to permit batteries to be charged to be connected thereto, a zener diode assembly across the output of the bridge assembly, means connecting the bridge assembly to a charging voltage source, said zener diode assembly breakdown voltage being greater than the battery voltage, the bridge diode assembly voltage rating being greater than the zener diode breakdown voltage.

34. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 33, wherein an anti-adapt system is provided comprising a multi-vibrator, the multi-vibrator being connected to a clock assembly and means in said multi-vibrator for inhibiting the output of the clock assembly.

35. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 34, wherein a battery saver is provided comprising a storage coil, and a charge release coil, a zener diode assembly for an absorption sensor, said zener diode assembly having a capacitor which is connected to a battery to be charged, an additional inductor coil in circuit with the zener diode assembly whereby energy not used by the release coil will be supplied to the battery to charge it through the said additional inductor coil.

36. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 35, wherein said pulse preventing means comprises a control transistor.

37. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 36, wherein said control transistor is provided for each external electrode assembly and wherein the control transistors of all but the last of said external electrode assembly being inhibited from operating.

38. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 37, wherein said control transistor is inhibited because no output exists on a DONE IN line common to said plurality of control transistors.

39. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 38, wherein a trigger assembly is provided to pulse a signal through the external electrode assemblies.

40. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 39, wherein said trigger assembly is inoperative until a DONE IN signal from the control transistor is received by the trigger assembly.

41. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 40, wherein an energy generator assembly is interposed in circuit between said external electrode assembly and the trigger assembly and wherein said energy generator assembly activates said control transistor.

42. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 41, wherein a memory assembly is provided in said energy generator assembly.

43. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 42, wherein the energy generator assembly includes a gated differentiator.

44. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 43, wherein said gated differentiator supplies a pulse to said memory assembly.

45. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 44, wherein said energy generator assembly includes a current regulator assembly.

46. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 45, wherein said memory assembly comprises a flip-flop assembly including a pair of gates.

47. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 46, wherein the current regulator circuit is in circuit with the flip-flop assembly to control the release of energy from said inductive storage means.

48. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 47, wherein the condition of the output of a first gate of the flip-flop assembly is changed by a pulse from the trigger assembly.

49. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 48, wherein said current regulator circuit includes a darlington pain and a feedback transistor.

50. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 49, wherein said darlington pair having its collector load connected to the inductive storage means.

51. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 50, wherein said darlington pair is in circuit with the said first gate of the flip-flop.

52. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 51, wherein the inductor load at the collector of the darlington pair causes the feedback transistor to turn on to satisfy the current regulator.

53. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 52, wherein voltage on the inductor increases when said current regulator satisfies to cause an increase in voltage in a leg of said gated differentiator.

54. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 53, wherein said increase in voltage of said gated differentiator occurs through a capacitor and a resistor.

55. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 54, wherein the output of said gated differentiator resets the flip-flop of said memory circuit.

56. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 55, wherein resetting of said memory circuit shuts off said current regulator circuit.

57. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 56, wherein a diode and a capacitor are provided to aid in shutting off said current regulator.

58. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 57, wherein energy stored in said inductive storage means is released when the current regulator is shut off.

59. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 58, wherein the output of the gated differentiator activates the memory flip-flop of the circuit of the next energy generator assembly.

60. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 59, wherein the gated differentiator of the last of said energy generator assemblies causes a DONE IN signal from the control transistor of said last energy generator to operate the trigger assembly.

61. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 60, wherein said inductive storage means comprises a storage winding for storing the energy and a release winding for releasing said energy to the external electrodes.

62. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 61, wherein a Schmitt trigger is used with the said multi-vibrator.

63. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 61, wherein said clocking assembly multi-vibrator includes a pair of gates.

64. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 63, wherein a diode is used with said clocking assembly multi-vibrator to create an asymmetric clock.

65. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 64, wherein a potentiometer and a fixed resistor is provided to permit the clock to be variable.

66. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 64, wherein a switch is provided in the clocking assembly multi-vibrator to vary the repetition rate of the output.

67. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 66, wherein a switch is in circuit with said anti-adapt multivibrator with associated resistors to permit the clock assembly output to be inhibited.

68. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 67, wherein said anti-adapt multi-vibrator comprises a pair of gates.

69. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 68, wherein a pair of capacitors are provided to control the frequency and include a resistor to prevent reverse bias.

70. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 68, wherein a single monolithic capacitor is used to control the frequency.

71. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 68, wherein means are provided to inhibit the anti-adapt multivibrator.

72. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 71, wherein said inhibit means comprises a signal from a common power source to the two gates with the signal to one gate being delayed.

73. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 72, wherein said delay occurs by means of a capacitor and a resistor in circuit with said delayed gate.

74. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 73, wherein the multi-vibrator is released when the said delayed gate rises to the condition of the other gate.

75. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 74, wherein release of said multi-vibrator constitutes a RESET signal.

76. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 75, wherein said clock assembly is in circuit with a trigger circuit, said trigger circuit comprising a flip-flop and a TRIG OUT gate.

77. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 76, wherein a delay circuit comprising a resistor and capacitor is associated with said trigger circuit.

78. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 77, wherein a completion signal from the external electrode assembly or RESET will cause the clock to operate on the trigger.

79. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 78, wherein a RESET signal alters the condition of the flip-flop to a condition different from the condition of the clock assembly.

80. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 79, wherein switch means are provided to connect the diode bridge assembly to batteries which are to be charged.

81. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 80, wherein switch means are provided to connect the batteries to the external electrodes.

82. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 81, wherein the said switch means are the same so that connections of batteries to an external electrical automatically disconnects batteries from the diode bridge assembly or connection of batteries to the diode bridge assembly automatically disconnects the batteries for the external electrodes.

83. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 82, wherein the output of the diode bridge assembly is absorbed by the zener diode when batteries are disconnected for the diode bridge assembly.

84. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 83, wherein an LED is in circuit with the diode bridge assembly.

85. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 84, wherein a reverse voltage protective diode is in circuit with the LED.

86. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 85, wherein resistor means are connected to the diode bridge assembly and wherein switch means are associated with said resistor means to permit different charging voltages to connect to the diode bridge assembly.

87. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 86, wherein the anti-adapt assembly and the clocking assembly are connected to the segment of the switch of the battery charger which is connected to the external electrodes.

88. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 87, wherein the absorption sensing mechanism of the external electrode assembly comprises an LED and a zener diode assembly.

89. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 88, wherein said zener assembly comprises at least one zener diode, a resistance and a transistor.

90. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 89, wherein said absorption sensor comprises a diode interposed between said storage means and said LED.

91. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 90, wherein the amount of energy passing through the absorption sensor depends on whether the voltage across the electrodes exceeds accepted values.

92. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 91, wherein any energy exceeding accepted values will pass through the LED to illuminate it.

93. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 92, wherein a diode with a resistor across it is provided in circuit with the additional inductor coil of the battery saver unit.

94. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising a plurality of external electrode assemblies for supplying electric excitations to a patient, means for sequentially and individually pulsing a current through said external electrode assemblies, and means to prevent pulsing of current through one external electrode assembly, means responsive to the completion of a pulse from a previous external electrode assembly to pulse current through said one external electrode assembly, said pulse preventing means comprising a control transistor, said control transistor being provided for each external electrode assembly, means being provided whereby the control transistors of all but the last of said external electrode assemblies is inhibited from operating.

95. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 94, wherein said control transistor is inhibited because no output exists on a DONE IN line common to said plurality of control transistors.

96. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 95, wherein a trigger assembly is provided to pulse a signal through the external electrode assemblies.

97. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 96, wherein said trigger assembly is inoperative until a DONE IN signal from the control transistor is received by the trigger assembly.

98. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 97, wherein an energy generator assembly is interposed in circuit between said external electrode assembly and the trigger assembly and wherein said energy generator assembly activates said control transistor.

99. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 98, wherein a memory assembly is provided in said energy generator assembly.

100. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 99, wherein the energy generator assembly includes a gated differentiator.

101. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 100, wherein said gated differentiator supplies a pulse to said memory assembly.

102. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 101, wherein said energy generator assembly includes a current regulator assembly.

103. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 102, wherein said memory assembly comprises a flip-flop assembly including a pair of gates.

104. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 103, wherein the current regulator circuit is in circuit with the flip-flop assembly to control the release of energy from said inductive storage means.

105. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 104, wherein the condition of the output of a first gate of the flip-flop assembly is changed by a pulse from the trigger assembly.

106. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 105, wherein said current regulator circuit includes a darlington pair and a feedback transistor.

107. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 106, wherein said darlington pair having its collector load connected to the inductive storage means.

108. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 107, wherein said darlington pair is in circuit with the said first gate of the flip-flop.

109. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 108, wherein the inductor load at the collector of the darlington pair causes the feedback transistor to turn on to satisfy the current regulator.

110. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 109, wherein voltage on the inductor increases when said current regulator satisfies to cause an increase in voltage in a leg of said gated differentiator.

111. A trancutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 110, wherein said increase in voltage of said gated differentiator occurs through a capacitor and a resistor.

119. A transcutaneous pain reliever comprising an external electrode assembly, means for storing energy before passage to the external electrode assembly, in absorption sensing mechanism in circuit with said storage means to indicate the amount of energy not used by the external electrodes.

120. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 119, wherein said absorption sensing mechanism comprises an LED and a zener diode assembly.

121. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 120, wherein said zener assembly comprises at least one zener diode, a resistance and a transistor.

122. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 121, wherein said absorption sensor comprises a diode interposed between said storage means and said LED.

123. A transcutaneous pain reliever as claimed in claim 122, wherein the amount of energy passing through the absorption sensor depends on whether the voltage across the electrodes exceeds accepted values.