DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NEURAL STIMULATION

• US 20080215113A1
• Filed: 01/31/2008
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John S. Pawlowicz
• Original Assignee: John S. Pawlowicz
• Inventors: Pawlowicz, John S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain

Abstract

In an inventive method of performing transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation on a human patient, first and second input electrodes are secured over left and right trapezius muscle regions of the patient. Third and fourth input electrodes are secured over left and right posterior cervical and suboccipital muscle regions of the patient. Fifth and sixth input electrodes are secured over left and right preauricular areas of the patient. A first electrical current is supplied to each of the first and second electrodes. A second electrical current is supplied to each of the third and fourth electrodes. A third electrical current is supplied to each of the fifth and sixth electrodes.

Claims

1. A method of performing transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation on a human patient, the method comprising:

securing a first input electrode over a left trapezius muscle region of the patient;

securing a second input electrode over a right trapezius muscle region of the patient;

securing a third input electrode over a left posterior cervical and suboccipital muscle region of the patient;

securing a fourth input electrode over a right posterior cervical and suboccipital muscle region of the patient;

securing a fifth input electrode over a left preauricular area of the patient;

securing a sixth input electrode over a right preauricular area of the patient;

supplying a first electrical current to each of the first and second electrodes;

supplying a second electrical current to each of the third and fourth electrodes; and

supplying a third electrical current to each of the fifth and sixth electrodes.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third electrical currents are each at substantially the same frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein frequencies of the first, second, and third electrical currents are synchronized.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first, second, and third electrical currents are each at a frequency of approximately 0.67 Hz.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the intensity of one or more of the first, second, and third electrical currents to a patient desired intensity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising securing a first output electrode in electrical communication with each of the first and second input electrodes;

securing a second output electrode in electrical communication with each of the third and fourth input electrodes; and

securing a third output electrode in electrical communication with each of the fifth and sixth input electrodes.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising securing the first, second, and third output electrodes along a spinal portion of the patient, such that each of the first, second, and third output electrodes are positioned between the corresponding input electrodes.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right suboccipital muscles of the patient comprises securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right Suboccipital Triangles of the patient.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right suboccipital muscles of the patient comprises securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right stemocleidomastoid muscles of the patient.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right suboccipital muscles of the patient comprises securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right rectis muscles of the patient.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right suboccipital muscles of the patient comprises securing the third and fourth input electrodes over the left and right posterior cervicalis muscles of the patient.

12. The method of claim 1, comprising supplying the first, second and third electrical currents simultaneously.

13. A device for performing transcutaneous electrical neural stimulation, the device comprising:

a power source;

a first set of electrodes in electrical communication with the power source, the first set of electrodes comprising first and second input electrodes and a first output electrode;

a second set of electrodes in electrical communication with the power source, the second set of electrodes comprising third and fourth input electrodes and a second output electrode;

a third set of electrodes in electrical communication with the power source, the third set of electrodes comprising fifth and sixth input electrodes and a third output electrode;

a current generating mechanism electrically connected to the power source for generating a first electrical current between each of the first and second input electrodes and the first output electrode, for generating a second electrical current between each of the third and fourth input electrodes and the second output electrode, and for generating a third electrical current between each of the fifth and sixth input electrodes and the third output electrode; and

an amplitude control mechanism for selectively controlling intensity any one or more of the corresponding first, second, and third electrical currents.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the amplitude control mechanism comprises first, second, and third amplitude control members for separately controlling intensity of the corresponding first, second, and third electrical currents.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein the current generating mechanism is configured to synchronize the frequencies of the first, second, and third electrical currents.

16. The device of claim 13, further comprising a balance control mechanism for selectively adjusting distribution of each of the first, second, and third electrical currents between the input electrodes of the corresponding set of electrodes.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the balance control mechanism comprises first, second, and third balance control members for separately adjusting distribution of each of the first, second, and third electrical currents between the input electrodes of the corresponding set of electrodes.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the current generating mechanism is configured to provide the first, second, and third electrical currents at a fixed frequency of approximately 0.67 Hz.