Microcurrent therapy device components stack and conductive pad

• US 6,606,519 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2001
• Issued: 08/12/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newmark, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Newcare Products, LLC
• Inventors: Powell, Francis R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oropeza, Frances P.
• Application Number:
  US09/847,227
• Publication Number:
  US 20010056292A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46, 607/48, 607/50, 607/63, 607/72, 607/74, 607/75, 607/115, 607/152
• US Class Current: 607/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0408 Use-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/18 Applying electric currents by contact electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/20 continuous direct currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/205 for promoting a biological process
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 3/325 by abutting or pinching, i.e. without alloying process; mechanical auxiliary parts therefor adaptations of leads inserted in holes for press-fit connections H05K3/308

Abstract

A microcurrent therapy device (MCTD) for use in applying a DC current of less than one milliampere between two conductive pads through the tissue of a therapy recipient has an electronic stack that can be placed in electrical connection with the user'"'"'s skin and thus in electrical connection with the other skin contact plate, a profile minimizing system using an off the shelf “coin ” battery within the electronic stack, and a battery clip used in conjunction with a coin battery and the circuit board of the MCTD.

Claims

1. A stack of components for use in a microcurrent therapy device (MCTD) comprising:

a coin battery with a first terminal and a second terminal;

a circuit board with components for an electric circuit used in the MCTD;

a battery pad adjacent to the bottom of the circuit board and electrically connected to a portion of the electric circuit;

the battery pad sized to contact the first terminal without touching the second terminal of the coin battery that encircles the first terminal;

a battery clip adapted;

1) to provide an electrical connection from the second terminal of the coin battery to the top face of the circuit board; and

2) to maintain a compressive force on a subassembly of the MCTD comprising the circuit board, battery pad, coin battery, and battery clip.

2. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising

an O-ring of appropriate size to be stretched to fit over the radial perimeter of the coin battery before the application of the battery clip.

3. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising a layer of conductive epoxy used to adhere the battery pad to the circuit board.

4. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising a through connect located within the circuit board to provide an electrically conductive path from the bottom side of the circuit board to the electrical circuit on the circuit board.

5. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising

an encapsulation layer over a set of circuit elements on the top side of the circuit board.

6. The MCTD of claim 5 wherein the encapsulation layer does not fully cover an indicator element on the top side of the circuit board.

7. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising:

1) a first connection wire connected at one end to the stack and at the other end to a first electrical conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue; and

2) a second connection wire connected at one end to the stack and at the other end to a second electrical conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue

whereby the MCTD is adapted to allow a flow of current from one terminal on the coin battery to the other terminal on the coin battery through a route that includes;

A) traveling from the stack along the first connection wire;

B) through the first electric conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue;

C) through the tissue of the person receiving therapy;

D) through the second electrical conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue; and

E) through the second connection wire to the stack.

8. The MCTD of claim 1 further comprising:

1) a first connection wire connected at one end to the stack and at the other end to a first electrical conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue; and

2) a second electrical conduit path adapted to be connected to tissue is placed essentially below the stack and in electrical connection with the battery clip

whereby the a flow of current from one terminal on the coin battery to the other terminal on the coin battery includes traveling through tissue located essentially below the stack and tissue below the first electrical conduit path to tissue.

9. A MCTD pad for use in a MCTD comprisinga top layer;

2) a bottom layer;

3) a layer of one or more electrical components positioned in-between the top layer and bottom layer;

4) a carbon film conductive pad in positioned below the bottom layer but in electrical contact with the layer of one or more electrical components by an opening in the bottom layer;

5) a layer of conductive gel applied to the bottom layer of the conductive pad;

6) a layer of adhesive on the bottom of the bottom layer; and

7) a battery clip that provides;

1) a first electrical connection between a first terminal of a coin battery and the conductive pad; and

2) a second electrical connection between the first terminal of the coin battery and a battery terminal input on a circuit board containing the electrical components used in the MCTD.