System and method for stimulating sensory nerves
First Claim
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1. An electrotherapy system for stimulating sensory nerves within skin tissue, said system comprising:
- an electrode carrier having an external non-conductive coating;
a pulse generator electrically connected to said electrode carrier;
an array of skin-penetrating electrodes disposed on said electrode carrier, each of said skin-penetrating electrodes including a needle-like protrusion;
at least one surface skin electrode disposed on said electrode carrier, said at least one surface skin electrode being physically spaced and electrically separate from any needle-like protrusions disposed on the electrode carrier; and
a pulse conditioning circuit operatively connected between said at least one surface skin electrode and said array of skin-penetrating electrodes,wherein said pulse generator produces a biphasic pulsed current at said at least one surface skin electrode capable of passing said biphasic pulsed current through the skin tissue; and
,wherein said pulse generator and said pulse conditioning circuit collectively produce a monophasic pulsed current at each of said skin-penetrating electrodes capable of passing said monophasic pulsed current through the skin tissue.
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Abstract
An electrotherapy system for stimulating sensory nerves within skin tissue includes a electrode carrier, a pulse generator, an array of skin-penetrating electrodes and surface skin electrodes, a pulse conditioning circuit, and a power source. The system administers biphasic pulsed current at the surface skin electrodes and monophasic pulsed current at each skin-penetrating electrode. The skin-penetrating surfaces and skin contact surfaces of the electrotherapy system may be sterilized or may be replaceable for outpatient reusability.
66 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electrotherapy system for stimulating sensory nerves within skin tissue, said system comprising:
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an electrode carrier having an external non-conductive coating; a pulse generator electrically connected to said electrode carrier; an array of skin-penetrating electrodes disposed on said electrode carrier, each of said skin-penetrating electrodes including a needle-like protrusion; at least one surface skin electrode disposed on said electrode carrier, said at least one surface skin electrode being physically spaced and electrically separate from any needle-like protrusions disposed on the electrode carrier; and a pulse conditioning circuit operatively connected between said at least one surface skin electrode and said array of skin-penetrating electrodes, wherein said pulse generator produces a biphasic pulsed current at said at least one surface skin electrode capable of passing said biphasic pulsed current through the skin tissue; and
,wherein said pulse generator and said pulse conditioning circuit collectively produce a monophasic pulsed current at each of said skin-penetrating electrodes capable of passing said monophasic pulsed current through the skin tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An appliance for electro-stimulating skin tissue, said appliance comprising:
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a printed circuit board (PCB) including an external non-conductive coating; at least one surface skin electrode disposed on said PCB and configured to electrically contact the skin tissue, said at least one surface skin electrode being physically spaced and electrically separate from any needle-like protrusions disposed on the electrode carrier; an array of skin-penetrating electrodes disposed on said PCB and configured to electrically contact the skin tissue, each of said skin-penetrating electrodes including a needle-like protrusion; an electrical circuit formed or mounted on said PCB and operatively coupled to said at least one surface skin electrode and to each skin-penetrating electrode of said array of skin-penetrating electrodes, said electrical circuit including a pulse generator configured to produce a biphasic pulsed current at the skin tissue via said at least one surface skin electrode and to produce a monophasic pulsed current at each of said skin-penetrating electrodes; and a disinfecting mechanism configured to reduce microbial reproduction on said PCB when coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification