MODULAR STIMULUS APPLICATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20140207219A1
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carewave Medical, Inc
• Original Assignee: Carewave Medical, Inc
• Inventors: Dunbar, Peter J., Chabal, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,603,208 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0078 with a battery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0107 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0176 By stopping operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0207 heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1614 Shoulder, e.g. for neck stretching
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1623 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5028 Contact activation, i.e. activated at contact with a surface of the user to be treated
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5046 Touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5082 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/062 Shoulders
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/505 : used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0408 : Use-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0428 : Specially adapted for iontophoresis, e.g. AC, DC or including drug reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/044 : Shape of the electrode
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 : Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 : Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/322 : Electromedical brushes, combs, massage devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 : for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 : Control systems

Abstract

A modular stimulus applicator system and method are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of wirelessly controlled stimulus pods, anchored to a patient'"'"'s body, and configured to deliver stimulus to the patient'"'"'s body. The stimulus can be heat, vibration, or electrical stimulus, or any combination thereof. The stimulus pods are controlled by a control station that can include a user-interface through which the patient can control application of the stimulus.

Claims

1. A system for treating portions of a patient'"'"'s body, comprising:

a stimulus pod including a contact surface configured to contact the patient'"'"'s body, a battery, and a circuit board containing control logic for the stimulus pod;

an anchor having an adhesive surface configured to apply to the patient'"'"'s body, an aperture configured to receive the contact surface of the stimulus pod with the contact surface projecting through the aperture beyond the adhesive surface of the anchor and against the patient'"'"'s body; and

a coupler configured to attach the stimulus pod to the anchor with the contact surface of the stimulus pod contacting the patient'"'"'s body, wherein the stimulus pod is configured to deliver stimulus to the patient'"'"'s body according to the control logic as directed by the circuit board.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the stimulus pod is configured to treat the patient'"'"'s body with at least one of thermal stimulus, electrical stimulus, or vibration stimulus.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the coupler comprises at least one of a magnetic link, a resilient mechanical fastener, a hook-and-loop fastener, or a threaded fastener.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the stimulus pod comprises a wireless communication link, the system further comprising a control station configured to communicate with the stimulus pod through a wireless communication link.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a charging station having a plurality of sockets shaped to receive at least one stimulus pod and to charge the battery of the stimulus pod.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the contact surface has at least one of a flat profile, a convex profile, a series of projections, or a sinusoidal profile.

7. A therapeutic stimulus application system, comprising:

a plurality of stimulus pods, individual stimulus pods comprising a battery, a first communication link, and a stimulus delivery surface for application to selected portions of a human body through which stimulus is applied to the portions of the human body;

a base comprising a plurality of sockets configured to receive the stimulus pods, wherein the individual sockets comprise a power transmission mechanism through which electrical power is transferred to the battery of individual stimulus pods when the stimulus pods are positioned in the socket; and

a control station comprising a second communication link configured to communicate with the first communication link of individual stimulus pods, and an input device through which input commands are received, wherein the control station instructs the stimulus pods to deliver the stimulus to the human body according to the input commands.

8. The therapeutic heat application system of claim 7 wherein the control station and the base are part of a single unit.

9. The therapeutic heat application device of claim 7 wherein individual stimulus pods comprise a disk-shaped device approximately one inch in diameter, and wherein the stimulus pods are held to the human body by an anchor.

10. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7 wherein the plurality of stimulus pods comprises at least one index stimulus pod and at least one dummy stimulus pod, and wherein the index stimulus pod is configured to communicate between the dummy stimulus pod and the control station.

11. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7 wherein the stimulus comprises heat, the system further comprising a thermal limiter comprising at least one temperature sensor, the thermal limiter being in communication with the plurality of stimulus pods to instruct the stimulus pods to cease applying heat if the temperature sensor detects a temperature above a predetermined threshold temperature.

12. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 11 wherein the thermal limiter comprises a thermal fuse that interrupts power to the stimulus delivery surface if the temperature sensor detects a temperature above the predetermined threshold temperature.

13. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7 wherein the control station comprises a portable electronic device.

14. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises an induction charger, and wherein the stimulus pods comprise an induction charge receiver that transfers energy from the induction charger to the battery.

15. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7 wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a conductive charger, and wherein the stimulus pods comprise a jack for connection to the conductive charger.

16. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 7, further comprising a memory for storing a sequence of operations for the stimulus pods.

17. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 16 wherein the sequence of operations comprises a combination of ramp up operations, maximum stimulus intensity operations, ramp down operations, stimulus soak operations, and lockout period operations.

18. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 17 wherein:

the ramp up operations comprise gradually increasing a temperature applied through the heating surface of the stimulus pods;

the maximum stimulus intensity operations comprise maintaining the stimulus at a predetermined maximum energy level;

the ramp down operations comprise gradually decreasing the stimulus;

the stimulus soak operations comprise maintaining the stimulus at a predetermined soak stimulus level below the predetermined maximum energy level; and

wherein

the lockout period operations comprise interrupting stimulus from the stimulus pods.

19. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 17 wherein the input device receives a selection from between ramp up operations, maximum temperature operations, ramp down operations, temperature soak operations, and lockout period operations.

20. The therapeutic stimulus application system of claim 17 wherein the stimulus pods execute the lockout period for a predetermined time interval in response to at least one of:

a temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold temperature;

an energy delivery level exceeding a predetermined threshold energy delivery level; and

the stimulus applying stimulating the heating surface for more than a predetermined time threshold.

21. A method, comprising locating a plurality of wireless stimulus pods relative to a patient'"'"'s body;

determining a treatment plan for stimulus delivery to the patient'"'"'s body through the stimulus pods, including at least one of a ramp up operation, a ramp down operation, a stimulus soak operation, and a lockout period; and

receiving operator input directing application of the stimulus to the plurality of stimulus pods, including a selection from among the ramp up operation, the ramp down operation, the stimulus soak operation, and the lockout period; and

instructing the stimulus pods to deliver the stimulus according to the treatment plan and the operator input.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein locating the plurality of wireless stimulus pods comprises wirelessly receiving an indication of location from the stimulus pods at a control station.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein receiving the operator input comprises receiving input through a user-interface of a control station, and wherein instructing the stimulus pods comprises instructing the stimulus pods from a control station to deliver the stimulus.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of heat, vibration, and electrical stimulus.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting an energy delivery level and comparing the energy delivery level to a predetermined threshold, wherein the lockout period is applied if the energy delivery level exceeds the predetermined threshold.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the stimulus comprises at least one of heat, vibration, and electrical stimulus, and wherein the predetermined threshold includes a first threshold for heat, a second threshold for vibration, and a third threshold for electrical stimulus.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the stimulus is heat, the method further comprising detecting a temperature of the stimulus pods, and wherein the lockout period continues until the temperature of the stimulus pods falls below a predetermined threshold temperature.

28. The method of claim 21 wherein the lockout period is triggered after the stimulus has been continually applied for more than a predetermined threshold time.

29. The method of claim 21, further comprising positioning the stimulus pods on the patient'"'"'s body on or near a source of pain.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein locating the wireless stimulus pods and instructing the stimulus pods comprises communicating from a base station to an index stimulus pod and from the index stimulus pod to at least one dummy stimulus pod.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein locating the plurality of wireless stimulus pods relative to the patient'"'"'s body comprises determining an area of the patient'"'"'s body directly contacted by a stimulus pod, and determining an area of effect not directly contacted by the stimulus pod but within an effective region of the stimulus pod.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the area of effect varies according to positions on the patient'"'"'s body.

33. The method of claim 31 wherein the size of the area of effect is generally inversely proportional to a nerve density of the patient'"'"'s body contacting the stimulus pod.