Electro-tactile stimulator
First Claim
1. A cutaneous stimulator for applying electricity to the skin of a user comprising:
- a flexible substrate upon one surface of which is formed a printed circuit pattern, the pattern including a plurality of electrodes and conductors connected to the electrodes;
an insulating layer contiguous with the one surface of said substrate and having a plurality of apertures each of which is aligned with one of said electrodes; and
an electrically conductive layer contiguous with said insulating layer and having a plurality of apertures therethrough each one of which being aligned with a different one of said electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for electrically stimulating the skin in response to an electrical signal includes a flexible substrate on one surface of which is formed an electrically conductive pattern having a number of electrodes. Each of the electrodes is coated with a layer of a corrosion resistive material, such as titanium. An insulating layer extends over this surface of the substrate and has apertures therethrough aligned with the electrodes. A conductive ground plane layer is then applied over the insulating layer and also has apertures therethrough which are aligned with each of the electrodes. The stimulator is placed against the user so that the coated electrodes are in contact with the skin. In response to the received electrical signal, each electrode is sequentially stimulated by a negative and a positive electrical pulse. The negative and positive pulses have magnitudes which differ in a predetermined relationship so that the pH of the skin adjacent to the electrode is not altered substantially by the electrical stimulation.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A cutaneous stimulator for applying electricity to the skin of a user comprising:
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a flexible substrate upon one surface of which is formed a printed circuit pattern, the pattern including a plurality of electrodes and conductors connected to the electrodes; an insulating layer contiguous with the one surface of said substrate and having a plurality of apertures each of which is aligned with one of said electrodes; and an electrically conductive layer contiguous with said insulating layer and having a plurality of apertures therethrough each one of which being aligned with a different one of said electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A cutaneous stimulator for applying electricity to the skin of a user comprising:
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a substrate; a plurality of first electrodes on said substrate; a second electrode surrounding each of said first electrodes and electrically isolated therefrom; means for applying to each of said first electrodes, a first charge pulse of one polarity followed by a second charge pulse of the opposite polarity, the absolute magnitude of the pulses of each polarity applied to a given electrode being unequal by a given amount so that the pH of the skin remains substantially unchanged by the application of the pulses to the electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for stimulating the skin employing a stimulator having a stimulation electrode and a ground electrode adjacent the stimulation electrode, both electrodes being in contact with the skin;
- the method comprising sequentially applying a pair of electrical pulses of opposite polarities to the stimulation electrode, the absolute magnitudes of the pulses being unequal and having a predefined relationship which does not produce a substantial change in the pH of the skin.
- View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
Specification