Systems and methods for selectively applying electrical energy to tissue
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for selectively applying energy to a patient comprising:
- an activating device comprising a source of electrical energy and at least one activating electrode for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and coupled to the source of electrical energy, the activating device being configured for applying a first electrical impulse having a first frequency to a first set of nerves in a first target region in the patient beneath the outer skin surface of the patient; and
a deactivating device positioned in close proximity to the activating device and comprising a source of electrical energy and at least one deactivating electrode for contacting the outer skin surface of the patient and coupled to the source of electrical energy, the deactivating device being configured to apply a second electrical impulse to inhibit the effect of the first electrical impulse having a second frequency on a second set of nerves located in a second target region of the patient between the outer skin surface of the patient and the first target region, wherein the first set of nerves are different nerves from the second set of nerves, the first frequency is different from the second frequency and the first target region is in a different location from the second target region.
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Abstract
Systems and devices for selectively applying electrical energy to a target region beneath a skin surface of a patient involve applying an electrical impulse to one or more electrodes on a skin surface of the patient to modulate one or more nerves at the target region, where the impulse is substantially blocked at nerves located between the target region and the skin surface such that only the nerves at the target region are modulated by the electrical impulse.
6 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for selectively applying energy to a patient comprising:
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an activating device comprising a source of electrical energy and at least one activating electrode for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and coupled to the source of electrical energy, the activating device being configured for applying a first electrical impulse having a first frequency to a first set of nerves in a first target region in the patient beneath the outer skin surface of the patient; and a deactivating device positioned in close proximity to the activating device and comprising a source of electrical energy and at least one deactivating electrode for contacting the outer skin surface of the patient and coupled to the source of electrical energy, the deactivating device being configured to apply a second electrical impulse to inhibit the effect of the first electrical impulse having a second frequency on a second set of nerves located in a second target region of the patient between the outer skin surface of the patient and the first target region, wherein the first set of nerves are different nerves from the second set of nerves, the first frequency is different from the second frequency and the first target region is in a different location from the second target region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for selectively applying energy to a patient comprising:
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one or more electrodes configured for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient; and a source of electrical energy coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply a first electrical impulse having a first frequency through the electrodes to tissue at a first target region sufficient to modulate a nerve in the first target region under the outer skin surface and a second electrical impulse having a second frequency through the electrodes to tissue at a second target region under the outer skin surface and between the outer skin surface and the first target region, wherein the second electric impulse is configured to inhibit modulation of nerves in the second target region by the first electric impulse, wherein the first target region is in a different location in the patient as the second target region and the first frequency is different from the second frequency. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for selectively applying energy to a patient comprising:
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applying a first electric impulse having a first frequency to a first target region in a patient located beneath an outer skin surface of the patient; and applying a second electric impulse having a second frequency different from the first frequency to substantially block the first electric impulse from modulating tissue in a second target region of the patient located beneath the outer skin surface and between the outer skin surface and the first target region, wherein the first target region is in a different location in the patient than the second target region. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification