Apparatus and method for transcranial electrotheraphy

• US 5,332,401 A
• Filed: 06/15/1992
• Issued: 07/26/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SPES Patents Limited
• Original Assignee: Ifor D. Capel, Ronald W. Davey
• Inventors: Davey, Ronald W., Capel, Ifor D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Application Number:
  US07/859,478
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 128/784, 128/785, 128/789, 128/791, 128/802, 128/419 S, 128/421, 128/422, 128/907, 606/204, 607/46, 607/58, 607/72, 607/74, 607/76, 607/116, 607/139, 607/149, 607/900
• US Class Current: 607/116
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0502 Skin piercing electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 607/90 Substance abuse therapy

Abstract

An electrode for providing TCET, especially via the earlobes of the patient, comprises an electrical conductor for application to the skin, connected to a lead for supplying the TCET signal from a signal generating device, characterized in that the conductor comprises a generally conical needle point capable of penetrating the epidermis so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area. The electrode can be used in the impedance of less than 100 kΩ; and with apparatus for generating an electrical signal for use in TCET, adapted to provide a signal at a current of less than 200 μA (0.2 mA), especially when adapted to provide an AC signal in which each positive pulse is relatively short and high without being spiked and the following negative pulse is relatively wide and low, the total amount of positive and negative charge being balanced. Methods of providing TCET treatment to patients using the electrode and apparatus are also provided.

Claims

1. An electrode for providing TCET, comprising:

an electrical conductor for application to an ear of a patient, connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprises a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating the epidermis, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; and

means on the conductor for controlling the pressure at which the needle point penetrates into the epidermis.

2. An electrode according to claim 1, including means adapted to provide an overall impedance of less than 10 kΩ

when connected to the ear of a patient so as to complete a circuit with the cranium in an operating TCET arrangement.

3. An electrode according to claim 2, wherein the means is adapted to provide an impedance of about 65-90 kΩ

or 25-35 kΩ

.

4. Apparatus for use in TCET comprising means for generating an electric signal at a current of less than 200 μ

A (0.2 mA), operatively connected to an electrode according to claim 1.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means is adapted to provide a current of 1 to 30 μ

A.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means is adapted to provide a current of 5 to 20 μ

A.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said means is adapted to provide a current of 10-15 μ

A.

8. An electrode for providing TCET, comprising:

an ear clip comprising a bifurcated or generally U-shaped holder capable of being located around an ear lobe or other desired part of the ear;

an electrical conductor mounted on the holder, in the form of a conically pointed electrode needle arranged to press against the ear part located between arms of the U-shaped clip to only penetrate outer layers of the skin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the skin;

adjustable means on the electrode needle for controlling the pressure at which the point of the electrode needle presses into the outer layers of the skin; and

means provided on the electrode needle for electrical connection to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generator.

9. An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising:

an electrical conductor for application to skin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the skin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis;

means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μ

A (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide an AC signal in which each positive pulse is relatively short and high without being spiked and the following negative pulse is relatively wide and low, the total amount of positive and negative charge being balanced.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said means is adapted to provide a signal in which each negative pulse is 5-10 times as wide as the positive pulse.

11. An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising:

an electrical conductor for application to sin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the sin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis;

means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μ

A (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide a prescription signal selected from;

(1) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μ

A or 10-15 μ

A;

(2) 9-13 Hz in packets of 70-800 pulses separated b pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 10-15 μ

A;

(3) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated b pauses of about 100 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μ

A or 10-15 μ

A;

(4) 9-13 Hz in packets of 700-800 pulses and some of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by tests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μ

A or 10-15 μ

A;

(5) about 2 Hz in packets of about 200 pulses or about 1000 pauses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, at 10-12 μ

A in one continuous train;

(6) about 500 Hz in packets of about 1000 pulses with 9-11 second pauses of 200-300 pulses with about 100 second pauses at 10-15 μ

A in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of 3-23 hours;

(7) about 0.1 Hz at 10-12 μ

A with no pauses or rests;

(8) about 2000 Hz continuously for up to 40 minutes at 10-15 μ

A; and

(9) about 1.2 or about 50 MHz in packets of about 100 seconds with 10 second pauses, in trains of 20-40 minutes.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means is adapted to provide a prescriptive signal selected from (1) to (5), (7) and (9) with a positive pulse width of about 2 milliseconds.

13. A method of providing TCET to a patient, comprising the steps of:

applying percutaneous electrodes having conical needle points to a head of the patient, such that the needle points only penetrate the epidermis, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; and

applying a series of electric signals of defined amplitude and duration to said electrodes to supply a TCET signal across the head of the patient by means of said percutaneous electrodes.

14. In a method of providing TCET to a patient according to claim 13, further comprising generating the series of signals at a current of less than 200 μ

A (0.2 mA).