CUTANEOUS FIELD STIMULATION WITH DISPOSABLE AND RECHARGEABLE COMPONENTS

• US 20140236258A1
• Filed: 02/14/2014
• Published: 08/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meagan Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Meagan Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: Schoening, Mark Edward, Huseby, William Richard, Carroll, William J., Scranton, Patrick Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,962,546 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 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3603 Control systems

Abstract

A CFS system includes self-adhesive, disposable pads. Each pad is combined with a sealed, cleanable battery/controller pod and then placed on the body where needed. The battery/controller pod preferably has wireless capability, such as Bluetooth® capability. The patient can download an application to a smartphone or similar mobile device to control the pods.

Claims

1. A device for cutaneous field stimulation, the device comprising:

a sealed and cleanable battery/controller pod; and

a disposable pad that is configured such that the pod is insertable into the pad, the pad comprising;

a substrate;

a plurality of TENS pads on the substrate;

a plurality of CFS blades on the substrate; and

circuitry on the substrate for conveying power from the pod to the plurality of TENS pads and the plurality of CFS blades.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the pod comprises a battery and a microcontroller.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the pod further comprises a communication device for wireless communication between the microcontroller an external device.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a charger for the pod.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the charger is an inductive charger.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the charger comprises a component for disinfecting the pod while charging the pod.

7. A system for cutaneous field stimulation, the system comprising:

a processing device;

a plurality of sealed and cleanable battery/controller pods, each of the pods being configured for wireless communication with the processing device; and

a plurality of disposable pads that are configured such that each pod is insertable into one of the pads, each of the pads comprising TENS pads and CFS blades;

wherein the processing device is configured to control the pods over the wireless communication to implement the cutaneous field stimulation.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processing device is a smartphone or tablet running an application for controlling the pods.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the pads comprise at least two sets of pads, the at least two sets of pads being color-coded with different colors.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein each of the pods comprises:

a battery;

a microcontroller; and

a communication device for wireless communication between the microcontroller and the processing device.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a charger for the pods.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the charger is an inductive charger.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the charger comprises a component for disinfecting the pod while charging the pod.

14. A method for cutaneous field stimulation, the method comprising:

(a) providing;

a processing device;

a plurality of sealed and cleanable battery/controller pods, each of the pods being configured for wireless communication with the processing device; and

a plurality of disposable pads that are configured such that each pod is insertable into one of the pads, each of the pads comprising TENS pads and CFS blades;

wherein the processing device is configured to control the pods over the wireless communication to implement the cutaneous field stimulation;

(b) determining locations on a patient'"'"'s body where the cutaneous field stimulation is needed;

(c) selecting a set of the pads to place on the locations determined in step (b);

(d) inserting one of the pods into each of the pads selected in step (c);

(e) placing the pads selected in step (c) with the pods inserted in step (d) onto the locations determined in step (b); and

(f) controlling the pods placed in step (e) with the processing device to apply the cutaneous field stimulation through the pads.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the processing device is a smartphone or tablet running an application for controlling the pods.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the pads provided in step (a) comprise at least two sets of pads, the at least two sets of pads being color-coded with different colors.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein each of the pods provided in step (a) comprises:

a battery;

a microcontroller; and

a communication device for wireless communication between the microcontroller and the processing device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein step (a) further comprises providing a charger for the pods.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the charger is an inductive charger.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the charger comprises a component for disinfecting the pod while charging the pod.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein step (f) comprises:

(i) running an application on the processing device, the application providing a graphical user interface; and

(ii) inputting the locations determined in step (b) into the processing device through the graphical user interface.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein step (f) further comprises:

(iii) selecting treatment programs to be applied to the locations determined in step (b), using the graphical user interface.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein step (f)(iii) comprises selecting different ones of the treatment programs for different ones of the locations.

24. The method of claim 14, further comprising, after step (f):

(g) removing the pads and the pods from the locations;

(h) removing the pods from the pads; and

(i) disposing of the pads.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising, after step (h):

(j) recharging the pods.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising, after step (h):

(k) disinfecting the pods.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein steps (j) and (k) are performed concurrently, using a charging and disinfecting device.

28. A method for cutaneous field stimulation, the method comprising:

(a) providing;

a sealed and cleanable battery/controller pod; and

a disposable pad that is configured such that the pod is insertable into the pad, the pad comprising;

a substrate;

a plurality of TENS pads on the substrate;

a plurality of CFS blades on the substrate; and

circuitry on the substrate for conveying power from the pod to the plurality of TENS pads and the plurality of CFS blades;

(b) inserting the pod into the pad; and

(c) applying the pod and the pad to a part of a patient'"'"'s body where the cutaneous field stimulation is desired.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the pod comprises a battery and a microcontroller.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the pod further comprises a communication device for wireless communication between the microcontroller an external device.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

(d) supplying a charger for the pod; and

(e) charging the pod, using the charger.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the charger is an inductive charger.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the charger comprises a component for disinfecting the pod while charging the pod, and further comprising (f) disinfecting the pod, using the charger.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein steps (e) and (f) are performed concurrently.