Multi-functional portable electro-medical device

• US 6,393,328 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 05/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Rehabilitative Sciences, Inc. (RS Medical Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Rehabilitative Sciences, Inc. (RS Medical Corp.)
• Inventors: Carroll, William J., Terrell, Richard M., Rux, William A., Murphy, Randy Alan, McGraw, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/566,081
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 607/72, 607/63, 607/64, 607/59, 607/66, 607/48, 607/67
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A multi-functional portable electro-medical device that is capable of providing muscle stimulation and interferential current stimulation. The multi-functional portable electro-medical device includes a multitude of safety features which are designed to prevent injury to the user while at the same time to ensure that the portable power electro-medical device is easy to use. The portable electro-medical device can be programmed to impart any combination of wave therapy to the patient.

Claims

1. A portable electro-medical device, comprising:

at least one independently driven channel in communication with at least one electrode for independently treating at least one muscle group of a patient, said at least one independently driven channel including a drive circuit; and

,

a control system in communication with said drive circuit to control said drive circuit to selectively provide signals to said at least one electrode to provide one of a plurality of muscle treatments.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a high voltage supply circuit in selective communication with said drive circuit and wherein said control system is adapted to control said high voltage supply circuit to said drive circuit in response to a user selection that indicates a high voltage muscle treatment.

3. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system.

4. The portable electro-medical device of claim 3, wherein said maximum pulse intensity determination system is determined by said patient.

5. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said signals provide a pulsed muscle treatment, said signals being a series of on and off pulses over a period of time, said pulses having a predetermined constant voltage and an intensity and a waveform shape such that the beginning of said pulse has a ramp portion from zero to maximum intensity, a middle portion constant at a maximum intensity, and an end ramp portion from maximum intensity to zero, such that there is a smooth transition from no pulses to the maximum pulse intensity and then back to no pulses in order to provide smooth muscle contractions and release of contractions.

6. The portable electro-medical device of claim 5, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are symmetrical to each other.

7. The portable electro-medical device of claim 5, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are asymmetrical.

8. The portable electro-medical device of claim 5, wherein the time period during which said drive circuit provides said signals and does not provide said signals is selectable by said patient.

9. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said signals have a first phase imparting muscle stimulation and a second phase corresponding to a relax period.

10. The portable electro-medical device of claim 9, wherein the first phase exceeds a stimulation threshold and the second phase is below the stimulation threshold.

11. The portable electro-medical device of claim 9, wherein the first phase may be separated from the second phase by an interval.

12. The portable electro-medical device of claim 9, wherein said signals are sinusoidal.

13. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said control system is controllable so that the signals have different waveforms.

14. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, further comprising a load detection circuit for said channel between said at least one electrode and said drive circuit, said load detection circuit responsive to a load on said drive circuit to generate a load signal.

15. The portable electro-medical device of claim 14, further comprising a short circuit detection system in communication with said load detection circuit to receive said load signal.

16. The portable electro-medical device of claim 15, wherein the control system is responsive to the receipt of a load signal that indicates a short circuit by said short circuit detection system to terminate one of said muscle stimulation signals and interferential signals by said drive circuit.

17. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said at least one independently driven channel comprise a plurality of independently driven channels respectively in communication with a plurality of electrodes for independently treating a plurality of muscle groups of said patient, each of said plurality of independently driven channels including its own drive circuit, said control system is in communication with each of said drive circuits.

18. The portable electro-medical device of claim 17, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system that is responsive to a selection by said patient to separately select a pulse intensity for each driven channel.

19. The portable electro-medical device of claim 17, wherein said control system controls said drive circuits to synchronously drive each of said driven channels.

20. The portable electro-medical device of claim 17, wherein said plurality of independently driven channels comprise a plurality of pairs of independently driven channels and each pair of independently driven channels is driven synchronously within each pair and asynchronously with respect to each other pair of driven channels.

21. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, further comprising:

an average intensity value determination system that determines an average value of the intensity of said signals; and

a removable data storage that stores said determined average value.

22. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said interferential current signals in one of a continuous mode and a variable mode.

23. The portable electro-medical device of claim 22, wherein when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode the interference frequency is adjustable between 0 and 200 beats per second.

24. The portable electro-medical device of claim 22, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode, the control system modulates the amplitude of the interferential current signal.

25. The portable electro-medical device of claim 24, wherein the amplitude modulation repeatedly reduces the amplitude to 50 percent of a user selected value over a five second period and returns the amplitude to the user selected value.

26. The portable electro-medical device of claim 22, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a variable mode, the control system controls said drive circuit to provide one of a low range beats per second, a high range of beats per second and a wide range of beats per second, each range varying over a time period.

27. The portable electro-medical device of claim 26, wherein the low range is 1-10 beats per second, the high range is 80-150 beats per second and the wide range is 1-150 beats per second and wherein each range varies over a ten second time period.

28. The portable electro-medical device of claim 1, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and wherein said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said signals in one of a four pad mode and a pre-mixed two pad mode, said four pad mode providing a carrier frequency signal and an interference frequency signal such that they are mixed in the patient and said pre-mixed two pad mode pre-mixing said carrier frequency signal and said interference frequency signal in said device.

29. A portable electro-medical device, comprising:

at least one independently driven channel in communication with at least one electrode for providing signals that independently treat at least one muscle group of a patient, said at least one independently driven channel including a drive circuit; and

a control system that determines which of a plurality of muscle treatments that said at least one electrode provides to said patient.

30. The device of claim 29, further comprising a high voltage supply circuit in selective communication with said drive circuit and wherein said control system is adapted to control said high voltage supply circuit to said drive circuit in response to a user selection that indicates a high voltage muscle treatment.

31. The device of claim 29, wherein said control system comprises:

a programmable logic device in selective communication with said at least one independently driven channel;

at least one wave generator in selective communication with said at least one independently driven channel; and

a processor controlling said programmable logic device and said at least one wave generator to provide said determined muscle treatment.

32. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system.

33. The portable electro-medical device of claim 32, wherein said maximum pulse intensity determination system is determined by said patient.

34. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said signals provide a pulsed muscle treatment, said signals being a series of on and off pulses over a period of time, said pulses having a predetermined constant voltage and an intensity and a waveform shape such that the beginning of said pulse has a ramp portion from zero to maximum intensity, a middle portion constant at a maximum intensity, and an end ramp portion from maximum intensity to zero, such that there is a smooth transition from no pulses to the maximum pulse intensity and then back to no pulses in order to provide smooth muscle contractions and release of contractions.

35. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are symmetrical to each other.

36. The portable electro-medical device of claim 35, wherein the time period during which said drive circuit provides said signals and does not provide said signals is selectable by said patient.

37. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are asymmetrical.

38. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said signals have a first phase imparting muscle stimulation and a second phase corresponding to a relax period.

39. The portable electro-medical device of claim 38, wherein the first phase exceeds a stimulation threshold and the second phase is below the stimulation threshold.

40. The portable electro-medical device of claim 38, wherein the first phase may be separated from the second phase by an interval.

41. The portable electro-medical device of claim 38, wherein said signals are sinusoidal.

42. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said control system is controllable so that the signals have different waveforms.

43. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, further comprising a load detection circuit for said channel between said at least one electrode and said drive circuit, said load detection circuit responsive to a load on said drive circuit to generate a load signal.

44. The portable electro-medical device of claim 43, further comprising a short circuit detection system in communication with said load detection circuit to receive said load signal.

45. The portable electro-medical device of claim 44, wherein the control system is responsive to the receipt of a load signal that indicates a short circuit by said short circuit detection system to terminate one of said muscle stimulation signals and interferential signals by said drive circuit.

46. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said at least one independently driven channel comprise a plurality of independently driven channels respectively in communication with a plurality of electrodes for independently treating a plurality of muscle groups of said patient, each of said plurality of independently driven channels including its own drive circuit, said control system is in communication with each of said drive circuits.

47. The portable electro-medical device of claim 46, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system that is responsive to a selection by said patient to separately select a pulse intensity for each driven channel.

48. The portable electro-medical device of claim 46, wherein said control system controls said drive circuits to synchronously drive each of said driven channels.

49. The portable electro-medical device of claim 46, wherein said plurality of independently driven channels comprise a plurality of pairs of independently driven channels and each pair of independently driven channels is driven synchronously within each pair and asynchronously with respect to each other pair of driven channels.

50. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, further comprising:

an average intensity value determination system that determines an average value of the intensity of said signals; and

a removable data storage that stores said determined average value.

51. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said interferential current signals in one of a continuous mode and a variable mode.

52. The portable electro-medical device of claim 51, wherein when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode the interference frequency is adjustable between 0 and 200 beats per second.

53. The portable electro-medical device of claim 51, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode, the control system modulates the amplitude of the interferential current signal.

54. The portable electro-medical device of claim 53, wherein the amplitude modulation repeatedly reduces the amplitude to 50 percent of a user selected value over a five second period and returns the amplitude to the user selected value.

55. The portable electro-medical device of claim 51, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a variable mode, the control system controls said drive circuit to provide one of a low range beats per second, a high range of beats per second and a wide range of beats per second, each range varying over a time period.

56. The portable electro-medical device of claim 55, wherein the low range is 1-10 beats per second, the high range is 80-150 beats per second and the wide range is 1-150 beats per second and wherein each range varies over a ten second time period.

57. The portable electro-medical device of claim 29, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and wherein said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said signals in one of a four pad mode and a pre-mixed two pad mode, said four pad mode providing a carrier frequency signal and an interference frequency signal such that they are mixed in the patient and said pre-mixed two pad mode pre-mixing said carrier frequency signal and said interference frequency signal in said device.

58. A portable electro-medical device, comprising:

at least one independently driven channel in communication with at least one electrode for independently treating at least one muscle group of a patient, said at least one independently driven channel including a drive circuit;

a pulsed muscle stimulation system in selective communication with said drive circuit;

an interferential current stimulation system in selective communication with said drive circuit;

a processor that selectively connects one of said pulsed muscle stimulation system and said interferential current stimulation system to said drive circuit and that controls said selected system to provide signals that treat said at least one muscle group; and

a case enclosing said pulsed muscle stimulation system, said interferential current stimulation system, said at least one independently driven channel and said processor.

59. The device of claim 58, further comprising a high voltage supply circuit in selective communication with said drive circuit and wherein said processor selectively connects one of said pulsed muscle stimulation system, said interferential current stimulation system and said high voltage supply circuit, said processor controlling said high voltage supply circuit to said drive circuit in response to a user selection that indicates a high voltage muscle treatment.

60. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, further comprising removable data storage.

61. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system.

62. The portable electro-medical device of claim 61, wherein said maximum pulse intensity determination system is determined by said patient.

63. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said signals provide a pulsed muscle treatment, said signals being a series of on and off pulses over a period of time, said pulses having a predetermined constant voltage and an intensity and a waveform shape such that the beginning of said pulse has a ramp portion from zero to maximum intensity, a middle portion constant at a maximum intensity, and an end ramp portion from maximum intensity to zero, such that there is a smooth transition from no pulses to the maximum pulse intensity and then back to no pulses in order to provide smooth muscle contractions and release of contractions.

64. The portable electro-medical device of claim 63, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are symmetrical to each other.

65. The portable electro-medical device of claim 63, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are asymmetrical.

66. The portable electro-medical device of claim 63, wherein the time period during which said drive circuit provides said signals and does not provide said signals is selectable by said patient.

67. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said signals have a first phase imparting muscle stimulation and a second phase corresponding to a relax period.

68. The portable electro-medical device of claim 67, wherein the first phase exceeds a stimulation threshold and the second phase is below the stimulation threshold.

69. The portable electro-medical device of claim 67, wherein the first phase may be separated from the second phase by an interval.

70. The portable electro-medical device of claim 67, wherein said signals are sinusoidal.

71. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said control system is controllable so that the signals have different waveforms.

72. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, farther comprising a load detection circuit for said channel between said at least one electrode and said drive circuit, said load detection circuit responsive to a load on said drive circuit to generate a load signal.

73. The portable electro-medical device of claim 72, further comprising a short circuit detection system in communication with said load detection circuit to receive said load signal.

74. The portable electro-medical device of claim 73, wherein the control system is responsive to the receipt of a load signal that indicates a short circuit by said short circuit detection system to terminate said signals by said drive circuit.

75. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said at least one independently driven channel comprise a plurality of independently driven channels respectively in communication with a plurality of electrodes for independently treating a plurality of muscle groups of said patient, each of said plurality of independently driven channels including its own drive circuit, said control system is in communication with each of said drive circuits.

76. The portable electro-medical device of claim 75, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system that is responsive to a selection by said patient to separately select a pulse intensity for each driven channel.

77. The portable electro-medical device of claim 75, wherein said control system controls said drive circuits to synchronously drive each of said driven channels.

78. The portable electro-medical device of claim 75, wherein said plurality of independently driven channels comprise a plurality of pairs of independently driven channels and each pair of independently driven channels is driven synchronously within each pair and asynchronously with respect to each other pair of driven channels.

79. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, further comprising:

an average intensity value determination system that determines an average value of the intensity of said signals; and

a removable data storage that stores said determined average value.

80. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said interferential current signals in one of a continuous mode and a variable mode.

81. The portable electro-medical device of claim 80, wherein when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode the interference frequency is adjustable between 0 and 200 beats per second.

82. The portable electro-medical device of claim 80, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode, the control system modulates the amplitude of the interferential current signal.

83. The portable electro-medical device of claim 82, wherein the amplitude modulation repeatedly reduces the amplitude to 50 percent of a user selected value over a five second period and returns the amplitude to the user selected value.

84. The portable electro-medical device of claim 80, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a variable mode, the control system controls said drive circuit to provide one of a low range beats per second, a high range of beats per second and a wide range of beats per second, each range varying over a time period.

85. The portable electro-medical device of claim 84, wherein the low range is 1-10 beats per second, the high range is 80-150 beats per second and the wide range is 1-150 beats per second and wherein each range varies over a ten second time period.

86. The portable electro-medical device of claim 58, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and wherein said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said signals in one of a four pad mode and a pre-mixed two pad mode, said four pad mode providing a carrier frequency signal and an interference frequency signal such that they are mixed in the patient and said pre-mixed two pad mode pre-mixing said carrier frequency signal and said interference frequency signal in said device.

87. A hand-held electro-medical device, comprising:

a drive circuit adapted to be connected to at least one corresponding electrode for treating a muscle group of a patient;

a multiplexer in communication with said drive circuit;

a programmable logic device in communication with said multiplexer;

a sine wave generator in communication with said multiplexer;

a processor in communication with said sine wave generator and said programmable logic device;

an interactive liquid crystal display in communication with said processor, wherein said processor is responsive to a user selection of a muscle treatment from a plurality of muscle treatments received from said interactive liquid crystal display to control said multiplexer and at least one of said programmable logic device and said sine wave generator to generate a muscle treatment signal at said drive circuit that corresponds to said selected muscle treatment; and

a case enclosing said drive circuit, said multiplexer, said programmable logic device, said sine wave generator, said processor and said interactive liquid crystal display.

88. The device of claim 87, further comprising a load sensing circuit in communication with said drive circuit.

89. The portable electro-medical device of claim 88, wherein said signals provide a pulsed muscle treatment, said signals being a series of on and off pulses over a period of time, said pulses having a predetermined constant voltage and an intensity and a waveform shape such that the beginning of said pulse has a ramp portion from zero to maximum intensity, a middle portion constant at a maximum intensity, and an end ramp portion from maximum intensity to zero, such that there is a smooth transition from no pulses to the maximum pulse intensity and then back to no pulses in order to provide smooth muscle contractions and release of contractions.

90. The portable electro-medical device of claim 89, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are symmetrical to each other.

91. The portable electro-medical device of claim 89, wherein both of said ramp portions of said waveform are asymmetrical.

92. The portable electro-medical device of claim 89, wherein the time period during which said drive circuit provides said signals and does not provide said signals is selectable by said patient.

93. The device of claim 87, further comprising a high voltage supply circuit in selective communication with said drive circuit and wherein said processor is adapted to control said high voltage supply circuit to said drive circuit in response to a user selection that indicates a high voltage muscle treatment.

94. The device of claim 87, wherein said plurality of muscle treatments include a pulsed muscle stimulation treatment and an interferential muscle treatment.

95. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system.

96. The portable electro-medical device of claim 95, wherein said maximum pulse intensity determination system is determined by said patient.

97. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, wherein said signals have a first phase imparting muscle stimulation and a second phase corresponding to a relax period.

98. The portable electro-medical device of claim 97, wherein the first phase exceeds a stimulation threshold and the second phase is below the stimulation threshold.

99. The portable electro-medical device of claim 97, wherein the first phase may be separated from the second phase by an interval.

100. The portable electro-medical device of claim 97, wherein said signals are sinusoidal.

101. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, wherein said control system is controllable so that the signals have different waveforms.

102. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, farther comprising a load detection circuit for a channel between said at least one electrode and said drive circuit, said load detection circuit responsive to a load on said drive circuit to generate a load signal.

103. The portable electro-medical device of claim 102, further comprising a short circuit detection system in communication with said load detection circuit to receive said load signal.

104. The portable electro-medical device of claim 103, wherein the control system is responsive to the receipt of a load signal that indicates a short circuit by said short circuit detection system to terminate one of said muscle stimulation signals and interferential signals by said drive circuit.

105. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, further comprising a plurality of independent drive circuits, each drive circuit within a corresponding independently driven channel respectively connectable to a plurality of electrodes for independently treating a plurality of muscle groups of said patient, said control system is in communication with each of said drive circuits.

106. The portable electro-medical device of claim 105, further comprising a maximum pulse intensity determination system that is responsive to a selection by said patient to separately select a pulse intensity for each driven channel.

107. The portable electro-medical device of claim 105, wherein said control system controls said drive circuits to synchronously drive each of said driven channels.

108. The portable electro-medical device of claim 105, wherein each said independently driven channel comprises a pair of independently driven channels and each pair of independently driven channels is driven synchronously within each pair and asynchronously with respect to each other pair of driven channels.

109. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, further comprising:

an average intensity value determination system that determines an average value of the intensity of said signals; and

a removable data storage that stores said determined average value.

110. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said interferential current signals in one of a continuous mode and a variable mode.

111. The portable electro-medical device of claim 110, wherein when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode the interference frequency is adjustable between 0 and 200 beats per second.

112. The portable electro-medical device of claim 110, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a continuous mode, the control system modulates the amplitude of the interferential current signal.

113. The portable electro-medical device of claim 112, wherein the amplitude modulation repeatedly reduces the amplitude to 50 percent of a user selected value over a five second period and returns the amplitude to the user selected value.

114. The portable electro-medical device of claim 110, wherein, when said interferential current signals are in a variable mode, the control system controls said drive circuit to provide one of a low range beats per second, a high range of beats per second and a wide range of beats per second, each range varying over a time period.

115. The portable electro-medical device of claim 114, wherein the low range is 1-10 beats per second, the high range is 80-150 beats per second and the wide range is 1-150 beats per second and wherein each range varies over a ten second time period.

116. The portable electro-medical device of claim 87, wherein said signals provide an interferential current treatment and wherein said control system controls said drive circuit when providing said signals in one of a four pad mode and a pre-mixed two pad mode, said four pad mode providing a carrier frequency signal and an interference frequency signal such that they are mixed in the patient and said pre-mixed two pad mode pre-mixing said carrier frequency signal and said interference frequency signal in said device.