Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device and method using microcurrent

• US 7,187,977 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Atlantic Medical Incorporated
• Inventors: Paul, Edward L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzuto; Robert E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gedeon; Brian T.
• Application Number:
  US10/457,857
• Publication Number:
  US 20030233137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,365 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48, 607/68, 607/69, 607/71, 607/76
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/326 for promoting growth of cells, e.g. bone cells

Abstract

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device and method using a microcurrent with a carrier signal and a square wave form for promoting cell repair and/or healing. It has been found that applying particular wave forms of direct current with a carrier wave signal with specified intervals promotes cell healing especially in treatment of macular degeneration. This method and nerve stimulation device is packaged to require no input from a user and a user must only apply the electrodes to the correct part of the body and start the preprogrammed sequence of electrical currents. The method involves applying bursts of direct current at higher frequencies for shorter periods of time followed by lower frequency bursts of electrical current for longer periods of time.

Claims

1. A method for applying microcurrent electrical stimulation to a body, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching at least a first electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching at least a second electrode on the body at a point away from said specific body part;

(b) applying a microcurrent across said first and said second electrode wherein said microcurrent is greater than 900 microampere and less than 1 millampere;

(c) using a direct current carrier signal for said microcurrent, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz; and

(d) modulating said carrier signal on and off at at least first, second and third preset frequencies during at least first, second and third preset time periods, respectively, each of said preset frequencies being lower than said carrier signal frequency, the first preset frequency being higher than the second preset frequency, the second preset frequency being higher than the third preset frequency, the third preset time period being greater than the second preset time period, the second preset time period being greater than the first preset time period, the second preset time period beginning when said first preset time period ends, said third preset time period beginning when said second preset time period ends.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of modulating said carrier signal on and off further includes applying said preset frequencies in a square wave form.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first preset frequency is higher than 200 Hz but lower than or equal to 300 Hz, and wherein said first preset time period is from one second up to 120 seconds.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second preset frequency is higher than 10 Hz but lower than or equal to 200 Hz, and wherein said second preset time period is from one second up to 240 seconds.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said third preset frequency is higher than 1 Hz but lower than or equal to 10 Hz, and wherein said third preset time period is from 10 seconds up to 800 seconds.

6. The method of claim 5 further includes steps of modulating said carrier signal on and off at at least a fourth preset frequency for at least a fourth preset time period, wherein said fourth preset frequency is higher than 0.1 Hz but lower than or equal to 1 Hz, and wherein said fourth preset time period is from 10 seconds up to 500 seconds.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said first preset frequency is approximately 292 Hz, said second preset frequency is approximately 30 Hz, said third preset frequency is approximately 9.1 Hz, and said fourth preset frequency is approximately 0.3 Hz.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein further includes said step of reversing the polarity of said microcurrent at an interval from one to three seconds.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of reversing the polarity of said microcurrent occurs at an interval of two seconds.