Interface apparatus for stimulation of biological tissue

• US 9,950,153 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2014
• Issued: 04/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Highland Instruments, Inc.,
• Original Assignee: Highland Instruments, Inc.,
• Inventors: Wagner, Timothy Andrew, Eden, Uri Tzvi
• Primary Examiner(s): BOCKELMAN, MARK
• Application Number:
  US14/520,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 607 3, 607 45, 607139, 601 2
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0408 Use-related aspects
• 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 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/40 Applying electric fields by inductive or capacitive coupling microwave apparatus A61N5/00; Applying radio-frequency signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 7/00 Ultrasound therapy lithotripsy A61B17/22, A61B17/225; massage using supersonic vibration A61H23/00 ; using ultrasound for introducing media into the body A61M37/0092

Abstract

An apparatus for interfacing between tissues being stimulated is provided. The apparatus includes an electric source capable of generating an applied electric field across a region of tissue and/or a means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue relative to the applied electric field and an interface component, such interface component creating an interface between the region of tissue and the applied electric field or the means for altering at least one electromagnetic characteristic of the region of tissue.

Claims

1. A stimulation apparatus comprising:

a wearable item configured to be worn on a head of a user;

one or more stimulation sources coupled to the wearable item comprising one or more electrodes; and

circuitry operably coupled to the wearable item and operably connected to the one or more stimulation sources, the circuitry being configured to receive a signal from a telecommunication device that activates use of the one or more stimulation sources to provide stimulations to the user and in response to receiving the signal, limit a number of times the one or more stimulation sources are used on the user or a number of stimulations that are provided to the user per session;

wherein the wearable item further comprises at least one material that acts as a bridging medium and wherein the wearable item is configured such that when worn on the head of a user, at least one of the electrodes is positioned in an area around a scalp of the user.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stimulation sources are embedded in the wearable item.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stimulation sources are fastened to the wearable item.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material matches electromagnetic properties of the one or more stimulation sources with the tissue.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises multiple removable parts.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wearable item is a helmet.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wearable item is a wrap.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the wearable item is adjustable.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the material matches acoustic properties of the one or more stimulation sources with the tissue.