Electrotherapeutic apparatus

• US 5,776,170 A
• Filed: 09/18/1995
• Issued: 07/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bioinduction Limited
• Original Assignee: Alexander John Ranald Macdonald, Timothy William Coates
• Inventors: MacDonald, Alexander John Ranald, Coates, Timothy William
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/500,843
• Time in Patent Office: 1,023 Days
• Field of Search: 607/72, 607/46
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

An apparatus for producing analgesia through electrical stimulation is disclosed wherein the apparatus comprises two or more electrodes adapted to supply electrical signals to two or more locations on the surface of a body overlying the central nervous system. The apparatus further comprises signal generating means connectable to the electrodes which supply electrical pulses featuring rapid rising and falling phases at parameters of pulse width, frequency and amplitude such that analgesic effects tend to be stimulated in the central nervous system or its adnexa, while stimulating peripheral nerves that lie between the electrodes and the central nervous system to a lesser extent or not all.

Claims

1. Apparatus for inducing analgesia in a patient by applying electrical pulses to the patient'"'"'s body, the apparatus comprising two or more electrodes for supplying electrical pulses to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body overlying the central nervous system, and generating means connectable to the electrodes, wherein the generating means provide continuous electrical pulses, having a pulse width of 10 μ

s or less and a frequency of greater than 100 Hz, to the electrodes on the patient'"'"'s body, the pulses having an amplitude greater than 50V, so that analgesic effects are induced in the central nervous system, while stimulating peripheral nerves that lie between the electrodes and the central nervous system to a lesser extent or not at all.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulses have an amplitude of 180V or more.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pulses have an amplitude between 450V and 1 kV.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulse width is between 1.5 and 4 μ

s.

5. A method of inducing analgesia in a patient'"'"'s body using electrical pulses, the method comprising:

applying two or more electrodes to the surface of the patient'"'"'s body overlying the central nervous system; and

providing continuous electrical pulses, having a pulse width of 10 μ

s or less and a frequency of greater than 100 Hz, to the electrodes on the patient'"'"'s body, the pulses having an amplitude greater than 50V, so that analgesic effects are induced in the central nervous system, while stimulating peripheral nerves that lie between the electrodes and the central nervous system to a lesser extent or not at all.

6. A method of inducing analgesia in a patient'"'"'s body using apparatus comprising two or more electrodes for supplying electrical pulses to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body overlying the central nervous system, and generating means connectable to the electrodes, the method comprising:

applying the electrodes to the surface of the patient'"'"'s body overlying the central nervous system; and

using the generating means to provide continuous electrical pulses, having a pulse width of 10 μ

s or less and a frequency of greater than 100 Hz, to the electrodes on the patient'"'"'s body, the pulses having an amplitude greater than 50V, so that analgesic effects are induced in the central nervous system, while stimulating peripheral nerves that lie between the electrodes and the central nervous system to a lesser extent or not at all.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the electrodes are applied to the patient'"'"'s body overlying the spinal cord between T1 and T12 vertebrae.

8. A method of inducing analgesia in a patient'"'"'s body using apparatus comprising two or more electrodes for supplying electrical pulses to two or more locations on the patient'"'"'s body overlying the central nervous system, and generating means connectable to the electrodes, the method comprising:

applying the electrodes to the surface of the patient'"'"'s body overlying the spinal cord between T1 and T12 vertebrae; and

using the generating means to provide continuous electrical pulses, having a pulse width of 10 μ

s or less and a frequency of greater than 100 Hz, to the electrodes on the patient'"'"'s body, the pulses having an amplitude greater than 50V, so that analgesic effects are induced in the central nervous system, while stimulating peripheral nerves that lie between the electrodes and the central nervous system to a lesser extent or not at all.