TRANSDERMAL NEUROSTIMULATOR ADAPTED TO REDUCE CAPACITIVE BUILD-UP

• US 20150335888A1
• Filed: 05/18/2015
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thync Global, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Remi Demers, Wing Law
• Inventors: DEMERS, Remi, HAMLIN, Jay Frederick, LAW, Wing, PAL, Sumon K., CHARLESWORTH, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 9,474,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36025 for treating a mental or cerebral condition

Abstract

Neurostimulators for application of transdermal electrical stimulation (TES) and methods of using them for comfortably inducing a cognitive effect. The apparatuses described herein may include hardware, software and/or firmware components that are configured to safely and effectively apply high current intensity (e.g., using a high voltage source). These apparatuses may also include circuitry configured to deliver complex (e.g., ensemble) TES current waveforms that incorporate capacitive discharge current at selected portions of the delivered waveform to enhance user comfort. Methods of operating these devices to reduce capacitance buildup on the user'"'"'s skin by delivering integrated capacitive discharging currents are also included.

Claims

1. A transdermal neurostimulator device, the device comprising:

a housing having a first surface;

a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector is configured to electrically connect with a first electrode and the second connector is configured to electrically connect with a second electrode; and

a controller within the housing, the controller comprising;

a waveform generator configured to deliver a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current between the first and second connectors, and

a capacitive discharge circuit triggered by the controller and connected to one or both of the first and second connectors and configured to deliver a gradual capacitive discharging current pulse during a portion of a cycle of the biphasic electrical stimulation signal to either or both the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive discharge circuit includes a double H-Bridge circuit configured to generate the gradual capacitive discharging pulse.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the first connector and a second connector are on the first surface.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to trigger the capacitive discharge circuit multiple times within each cycle of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic electrical stimulation signal.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the capacitive discharge circuit is configured to generate the gradual capacitive discharging pulse so that it lasts between about 1 microsecond and 1 ms.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to turn off the current source when the capacitive discharge circuit is triggered.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication module within the housing and connected to the controller.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first electrode connected to the first connector and a second electrode connected to the second connector.

9. The device of claim 1, further wherein the controller is configured to trigger the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the gradual capacitive discharging pulse at a start or an end of a positive-going portion of the biphasic electrical signal.

10. The device of claim 1, further wherein the controller is configured to activate the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the gradual capacitive discharging pulse at a start or an end of a negative-going portion of the biphasic electrical signal.

11. A transdermal neurostimulator device, the device comprising:

a housing enclosing a current source;

a first surface on the housing;

a first connector and a second connector, wherein the first connector is configured to electrically connect with a first electrode of an electrode apparatus and the second connector is configured to electrically connect with a second electrode; and

a controller within the housing, the controller comprising;

a waveform generator configured to deliver a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current between the first and second connectors, and

a capacitive discharge circuit triggered by the controller and connected to one or both of the first and second connectors and configured to deliver a gradual capacitive discharging current pulse during a portion of a cycle of the biphasic electrical stimulation signal, the capacitive discharging current pulse delivering either or both;

a first charge to counter a first capacitive charge on the first electrode, and a second charge to counter a second capacitive charge on the second electrode.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the capacitive discharge circuit includes a double H-Bridge circuit configured to generate the gradual capacitive discharging pulse.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the first connector and a second connector are on the first surface.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to trigger the capacitive discharge circuit multiple times within each cycle of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic electrical stimulation signal.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the capacitive discharge circuit is configured to generate the gradual capacitive discharging pulse so that it lasts between about 1 microsecond and 1 ms.

16. The device of claim 11, further comprising a wireless communication sub-system within the housing and connected to the controller.

17. The device of claim 11, further comprising a first electrode connected to the first connector and a second electrode connected to the second connector.

18. The device of claim 11, further wherein the controller is configured to trigger the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the gradual capacitive discharging pulse at a start or an end of a positive-going portion of the biphasic electrical signal.

19. The device of claim 11, further wherein the controller is configured to activate the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the gradual capacitive discharging pulse at a start or an end of a negative-going portion of the biphasic electrical signal.

20. A method of modulating a subject'"'"'s cognitive state with a transdermal neurostimulator, the method comprising:

delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current between a pair of electrodes of a transdermal neurostimulator attached to subject, wherein the neurostimulator comprises a first connector configured to electrically connect with a first electrode of the pair of electrodes and a second connector configured to electrically connect with a second electrode of the pair of electrodes, and a housing enclosing a controller having a waveform generator and a capacitive discharge circuit; and

applying a capacitive discharging current pulse during a portion of a cycle of the biphasic electrical stimulation signal, the capacitive discharging current pulse delivering either or both;

a first charge that counters a first capacitive charge on the first electrode, and a second charge that counters a second capacitive charge on the second electrode.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current comprises delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current between the pair of electrodes wherein the first electrode is attached to the subject'"'"'s temple or forehead.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current comprises delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current between the pair of electrodes wherein the first electrode is attached to the subject'"'"'s temple or forehead and the second electrode is attached to the subject'"'"'s neck or mastoid region.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein delivering the pulsed, asymmetric biphasic current comprises delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current of between about 3 mA to 25 mA that is between about 750 Hz and 30 kHz.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the capacitive discharging current pulse comprises the controller triggering the capacitive discharging current pulse during a cycle of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the capacitive discharging current pulse comprises activating the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the capacitive discharging current pulse before or after a positive-going pulse within the cycle of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the capacitive discharging current pulse comprises activating the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the capacitive discharging current pulse before or after a negative-going pulse within the cycle of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein applying the capacitive discharging current pulse comprises activating the capacitive discharge circuit to deliver the capacitive discharging current pulse multiple times during one or more cycles of the pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current.

28. A method of modulating a subject'"'"'s cognitive state with a transdermal neurostimulator, the method comprising:

delivering a pulsed, asymmetric, biphasic current of between about 3 mA to 25 mA that is between about 750 Hz and 30 kHz between a pair of electrodes of a transdermal neurostimulator attached to subject'"'"'s head, neck or head and neck, wherein the neurostimulator comprises a first connector configured to electrically connect with a first electrode of the pair of electrodes and the second connector configured to electrically connect with a second electrode of the pair of electrodes, and a housing enclosing a controller having a waveform generator and a capacitive discharge circuit; and

applying a capacitive discharging current pulse during a portion of a cycle of the biphasic electrical stimulation signal, the capacitive discharging current pulse delivering either or both;

a first charge that counters a first capacitive charge on the first electrode, and a second charge that counters a second capacitive charge on the second electrode.