Simplified transcutaneous nerve stimulating device

• US 4,632,117 A
• Filed: 08/05/1985
• Issued: 12/30/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Staodyn, Inc. (Compeq Technology Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Staodynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: James, Donald N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shein, Mitchell J.
• Application Number:
  US06/762,522
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 P, 128/419 T, 128/421-423, 128/903-904, 128/908
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/378 Electrical supply

Abstract

A simplified transcutaneous nerve stimulating device is disclosed that combines simplicity of structure with dependability of operation. The device utilizes a 45 volt battery source for circuitry simplification by eliminating the need for circuitry such as voltage multipliers, with the battery source powering an oscillator and a pair of constant current regulated drive circuits from which pulses are alternately coupled to isolated output pairs connectable with electrodes positionable on the skin of a user for imparting stimulation pulses to the body of the user for pain suppression.

Claims

1. A transcutaneous nerve stimulating device, comprising:

battery means;

oscillating means connected with said battery means, said oscillating means including first and second signal providing means with said first signal providing means providing first output pulses and said second signal providing means providing second output pulses that are timewise spaced in occurrence with respect to said first output pulses;

a first control transistor connected with said first signal providing means;

a first channel having first output means and first return means to be connected with a user;

a second channel having second output means and second return means to be connected with a user;

first and second capacitor means connected with said first and second output means, respectively;

first and second diode means connected with said first and second return means, respectively;

first constant current means including a first pair of transistors connected with said battery means, one of said transistors being a gate transistor responsive to said first control transistor the other of said pair being a regulating transistor cooperating with said gate transistor for providing a constant current at said first channel without use of inductive means, with said constant current being provided when said first control transistor is activated and otherwise isolating said first output means from said battery means;

a second control transistor connected with said second signal providing means; and

second constant current means including a second pair of transistors connected with said battery means, one of said transistors being a gate transistor responsive to said second control transistor the other of said pair being a regulating transistor cooperating with said gate transistor for providing a constant current at said second channel without use of inductive means, with said constant current being provided when said second control transistor is activated and otherwise isolating said second output means from said battery means;

whereby only substantially rectangular pulses are provided to a user when connected with said first channel through said first capacitor means and said first output means with a return from said user being provided through said first return means and said first diode means, and whereby only substantially rectangular pulses are provided to said user when connected with said second channel through said second capacitor means and said second output means with a return from said user being provided through said second return means and said second diode means, said pulse output from said first channel being timewise spaced with respect to said pulse output from said second channel so that substantially complete isolation is established between said channels including isolation between said channels through said user when connected to receive said pulse outputs from said first and second channels.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said first and second signal providing means of said oscillating means includes first and second integrating circuits with said first control transistor being connected to receive the output of said first integrated circuit and said second control transistor being connected to receive the output of said second integrated circuit.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes first and second buffer devices connected to receive the outputs from said first and second signal providing means, respectively, said first and second buffer means providing pulse outputs to said first and second control transistors, respectively.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said device includes power indicating means having visual display means and means for causing said visual display means to be alternately energized and de-energized to indicate that the device is powered, said means for causing said visual display means to be alternately energized and de-energized including a low frequency oscillator having a charging capacitor and a programmable unit junction transistor.