Combined nerve fiber and body tissue stimulation apparatus and method

• US 5,117,826 A
• Filed: 05/02/1991
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Encore Medical Asset Corporation (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Staodyn, Inc. (Compeq Technology Company Limited)
• Inventors: Harris, Frank W., Bartelt, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US07/696,987
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 128/419 R, 128/420 R, 128/421, 128/422, 128/423
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

An electronic device and method are disclosed for effecting both nerve fiber and body tissue stimulation. Nerve fiber stimulation is primarily effected by application of pulses, and preferably by application of biphasic pulse pairs the pulses of which are spaced from one another in a pattern such that nerve fiber stimulation applied through plural active electrodes enhances pain suppression. Body tissue treatment is primarily effected by application of a net DC charge, and preferably by application of biphasic pulses that includes a greater number of either negative or positive pulses so that a net DC charge results. The DC charge level is maintained at a substantially constant selected value regardless of pulse variations within established broad limits, and the DC charge level is adjustable between operational modes, as needed.

Claims

1. Medical apparatus, comprising:

generating means for generating an electrical output signal having a continuous series of first and second time-wise spaced segments, said first segment including an AC signal that provides AC and a net DC charge derived from said AC signal so that said first segment is suitable both for nerve fiber stimulation and for body tissue stimulation with said AC having a direct effect to cause suppression of pain and with said net DC charge having a direct effect to cause at least one of edema reduction and wound healing, and said second segment including AC with substantially zero DC charge so that said second segment is suitable for nerve fiber stimulation with said AC with said substantially zero DC charge having a direct effect to cause suppression of pain; and

application means connected with said generating means for coupling said output signal to the body of a user to thereby utilize said first segment for suppression of pain and at least one of edema reduction and wound healing, and to thereby utilize said second segment for suppression of pain.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said generating means includes a microprocessor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said generating means produces said output signals on pulses, wherein said pulses of said first segment include a greater number of pulses of negative or positive polarity, and wherein said pulses of said second segment include an equal number of pulses of each polarity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said generating means causes said first segment of said output signals to provide a net negative DC charge.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said application means includes electrode means for noninvasively engaging the skin of a user to couple said output signals from said apparatus to the user.

6. Medical apparatus, comprising:

generating means for generating output signals having first and second segments, said first segment providing a net DC charge suitable for body tissue stimulation with said net DC charge having a direct effect of itself to cause at least one of edema reduction and wound healing, and said second segment providing a substantially zero DC charge suitable for nerve fiber stimulation to cause suppression of pain;

application means connected with said generating means for coupling said output signals to a user for causing said at least one of edema reduction and wound healing and said suppression of pain; and

control means for causing said generating means to vary at least said second segment of said output signals to thereby vary the level of pain suppression, said control means also causing said generating means to adjust said first segment to maintain said DC charge substantially constant despite variations in the level of pain suppression.

7. Medical apparatus, comprising:

generating means for generating electrical output signals having a continuous series of first and second time-wise spaced segments, said first segment including biphasic pulses providing an DC signal that has AC and a net DC charge derived from said biphasic pulses so that said biphasic pulses are suitable for both nerve fiber stimulation and for body tissue stimulation, and said second segment including biphasic pulses providing a substantially zero DC charge so that said biphasic pulses are suitable for nerve fiber stimulation;

control means for controlling said generating means whereby at least the pulses of said second segment can be varied; and

application means connected with said generating means for coupling said output signals to the body of a user whereby said first segment is utilized both for suppression of pain and for at least one of edema reduction and wound treatment, and said second segment is utilized for suppression of pain.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said generating means causes said first segment to have a greater number of negative pulses than positive pulses whereby a net negative DC charge is provided through said first segment to said application means.

9. Medical apparatus, comprising:

generating means for generating output signals having first and second segments, said first segment including biphasic pulses providing a net DC charge; and

said second segment including biphasic pulses providing a substantially zero Dc charge;

control means for controlling said generating means, said control means including means for controlling at least the intensity of the pulses of said second segment whereby said intensity can be varied, and said control means also including means for maintaining said net DC charge substantially constant regardless of said changes of pulse intensity; and

application means connected with said generating means for coupling said output signals to a user whereby said first segment is utilized at least for wound treatment and said second segment is utilized for suppression of pain.

10. Medical apparatus, comprising:

generating means for generating output signals having first and second segments, said first segment including biphasic pulses providing a net DC charge, and said second segment including biphasic pulses providing a substantially zero DC charge;

control means for controlling said generating means whereby at least the pulses of said second segment can be varied;

application means connected with said generating means for coupling said output signals to a user whereby said first segment is utilized at least for wound treatment and said second segment is utilized for suppression of pain; and

mode means for establishing first and second operating modes such that when said apparatus is in said first operating mode said generating means is caused to provide a large net DC charge to be coupled to a user, and such that when in said second operating mode said generating means is caused to provide a net DC charge to be coupled to a user that is less than that provided by said apparatus when in said first operating mode.

11. A method for electrical stimulation and treatment of a user for therapeutic purposes, said method comprising:

providing an output signal having first and second segments with said first segment including biphasic pulses providing a net DC charge and said second segment including biphasic pulses providing a substantially zero DC charge;

applying said first and second segments to a user whereby said first segment is utilized for wound treatment and said second segment is utilized for suppression of pain; and

controlling said pulses of said segments so that said net DC charge is maintained substantially constant.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said method includes generating a greater number of negative pulses than positive pulses at said first segment to thereby produce a net negative DC charge.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said method includes varying at least the pulse intensity of at least said second segment to thereby adjust the level of pain suppression, and maintaining said net DC charge substantially constant regardless of said variations of pulse intensity.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said method includes establishing first and second operating modes, causing, when in said first operating mode, said first segment of said output signal to provide a high DC charge to be applied to a user, and causing, when in said second operating mode, said first segment of said output signal to provide a DC charge to be applied to a user that is less than that provided when in said first operating mode that would cause an overdose of DC to be delivered to said user when operated continuously.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein said method includes varying the intensity of said pulses of said second segment, and wherein said net DC charge is maintained substantially constant by varying the duration of application of said first segment relative to said second segment when the intensity of said pulses of said second segment is varied.

16. A method for electrical stimulation and treatment of a user for therapeutic purposes, said method comprising:

providing an output signal having a continuous series of first and second time-wise spaced electrical signal segment, said first electrical signal segment including a plurality of first pulses providing an AC signal that has AC and a net DC charge derived from said plurality of first pulses so that said first electrical signal segment is suitable both for nerve fiber stimulation and for body tissue stimulation with said first plurality of pulses providing said net DC charge having a direct effect to cause suppression of pain and at least one of edema reduction and wound healing, and said second electrical signal segment including a second plurality of pulses providing a substantially zero DC charge so that said second electrical signal segment is suitable for nerve fiber stimulation to cause suppression of pain; and

applying said first and second electrical signal segments of said output signal to a user to thereby utilize said first electrical signal segment for suppression of pain and at least one of edema reduction and wound healing, and to thereby utilize said second electrical signal segment for suppression of pain.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said method includes providing a net negative DC charge suitable for at least one of wound treatment and edema reduction.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said first and second electrical signal segments include biphasic pulses.

19. A method for electrical stimulation and treatment of a user for therapeutic purposes, said method comprising:

providing a first electrical signal segment having a net DC charge suitable for at least body tissue stimulation with said net DC charge having a direct effect of itself to cause at least one of edema reduction and wound healing;

providing a second electrical signal segment having a substantially zero DC charge suitable for nerve fiber stimulation to cause suppression of pain;

controlling each segment whereby the net DC charge is maintained substantially constant regardless of level variations of at least said second segment; and

applying said first and second electrical signal segments to a user for causing said at least one of edema reduction and wound healing and said suppression of pain.