Systems and methods for therapeutic electrical stimulation

• US 8,977,366 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DJO LLC (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: EMPI Incorporated (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Bachinski, Thomas Jerome, Shindley, Richard Paul, Lutz, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lavert, Nicole F
• Application Number:
  US14/322,838
• Publication Number:
  US 20140316507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 251 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46, 607/115, 607/117
• US Class Current: 607/115
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/025 Digital circuitry features of electrotherapy devices, e.g. memory, clocks, processors
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0412 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electroporation, e.g. including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0468 Specially adapted for promoting wound healing
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/048 Electrodes characterised by a specific connection between lead and electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/08 Arrangements or circuits for monitoring, protecting, controlling or indicating for external stimulators A61N1/3603; for implantable neurostimulators A61N1/36128; for heart stimulators A61N1/37; for defibrillators A61N1/3925
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/323 Interference currents, i.e. treatment by several currents summed in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/325 for iontophoresis, i.e. transfer of media in ionic state by an electromotoric force into the body electrodes for external use A61N1/0428
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36014 External stimulators, e.g. with patch electrodes external pacemakers A61N1/3625
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37264 Changing the program; Upgrading firmware
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3756 Casings with electrodes thereon, e.g. leadless stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/083 : Monitoring integrity of contacts, e.g. by impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation

Abstract

A patch for a therapeutic electrical stimulation device includes a shoe connected to the first side of the patch, the shoe including a body extending in a longitudinal direction from a first end to a second end, and having first and second surfaces, the first end of the shoe defining at least two ports, and the first surface of the shoe defining a connection member. The patch also includes at least one conductor positioned in the ports of the first end of the shoe. The shoe is configured for sliding insertion into a receptacle defined by a controller so that the conductor is connected to the controller to deliver electrical current from the controller, through the conductor, and to the electrodes, and the connection member is at least partially captured by a detent defined by the controller in the receptacle to retain the shoe within the receptacle.

Claims

1. A system for delivering therapeutic electrical stimulation, the system including a controller comprising:

a power source;

an electrical signal generator powered by the power source and configured to generate an electrical signal; and

a receptacle comprising at least one conductor, wherein the conductor is configured to couple to the electrical signal generator to receive the electrical signal, wherein the receptacle is configured to receive a portion of a patch so as to electrically couple a portion of the patch to the conductor, wherein the receptacle comprises a detent configured to capture the portion of the patch to retain the portion of the patch within the receptacle.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

the patch for a therapeutic electrical stimulation device, the patch comprising an insulating layer having a first side and a second side, the patch further comprising at least two electrodes adjacent the second side of the patch; and

a shoe configured for configured for insertion into the receptacle and connection to the first side of the patch, the shoe comprising at least two conductors, wherein each conductor configured for electrical coupling to one of the electrodes.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the shoe comprises a first portion that is normal to the first side of the insulating layer and a second portion that is angled from the first portion.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the second portion is angled about ninety degrees from the first portion.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the shoe includes a member that is partially captured by the detent defined by a controller in the receptacle to retain the shoe within the receptacle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller operates to generate electrical signals for at least one action selected from the group consisting of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, drug delivery, iontophoresis therapy, edema reduction, wound healing, and interferential current therapy.