TENS with vibration and/or mechanical muscular manipulation

Abstract

A TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device and method using a micro current with a carrier signal and a square wave form combined with vibration and/or mechanical muscular manipulation for promoting the release and disbursement of lactic acid treating muscular soreness, cramping or degeneration. This method and nerve stimulation device is packaged to require no input from a user and a user must only apply the sticky electrode pad with the base unit attached on top to the correct part of the body and start the preprogrammed sequence of electrical currents, vibration and/or muscular manipulation. 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 combined with a small vibration motor and/or motorized nodes providing muscular manipulation to certain areas of the body.

Claims

1. A method for applying micro current electrical stimulation to a body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) attaching at least an electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching the base unit to sticky electrode pad on the body at a point away from said specific body part; (b) applying a micro current across said first and said second electrode wherein said micro current is greater than 900 microampere and less than 1 milliampere; (c) using a direct current carrier signal for said micro current, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz; and (d) modulating said carrier signal on and off 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. (e) using vibration at 1800 RPM's at the same time as the electrical stimulate. Vibration is a small motor mounted in the base unit. (f) and/or using the mechanical muscular manipulation portion to disperse the accruing lactic acid from muscles

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 combined with vibration and/or mechanical muscular manipulation

3. A method for applying micro current electrical stimulation to a body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) attaching at least an electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching the base unit to sticky electrode pad on the body at a point away from said specific body part; (b) Having a base unit with openings on the side that a strap can attach to and hold base unit tighter against the body and increasing the intensity of the vibration and/or the mechanical muscular manipulation. (c) applying a micro current across said first and said second electrode wherein said micro current is greater than 900 microampere and less than 1 millampere; (d) using a direct current carrier signal for said micro current, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz; and (e) modulating said carrier signal on and off 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. (f) using vibration at 1800 RPM's at the same time as the electrical stimulate. Vibration is a small motor mounted in the base unit. (g) and/or using the mechanical muscular manipulation portion at the same time, such as a small spinning attachment that spins in a circular motion with nodes protruding out, to disperse the accruing lactic acid from muscles.

4. The method of claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein said step of reversing the polarity of said micro current occurs at an interval of two seconds.

5. A method for applying micro current electrical stimulation to a body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) attaching at least an electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching the base unit to sticky electrode pad on the body at a point away from said specific body part; (b) applying a micro current across said first and said second electrode wherein said micro current is greater than 900 microampere and less than 1 millampere; (c) using a direct current carrier signal for said micro current, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz; and (d) modulating said carrier signal on and off 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. (e) using vibration at 1800 RPM's at the same time as the electrical stimulate. Vibration is a small motor mounted in the base unit. (f) and/or using the mechanical muscular manipulation portion at the same time (g) having a base unit separate from the controller unit where as the controller unit can snap into a unit that has vibration and/or mechanical muscular manipulation built into it and can attach to the arm or other body part with a strap.

6. A method for applying micro current electrical stimulation to a body, the method comprising the steps of: (a) attaching at least an electrode in proximity to a specific body part and attaching the base unit to sticky electrode pad on the body at a point away from said specific body part; (b) applying a micro current across said first and said second electrode wherein said micro current is greater than 900 microampere and less than 1 millampere; (c) using a direct current carrier signal for said micro current, said carrier signal frequency from 10,000 Hz up to 20,000 Hz; and (d) modulating said carrier signal on and off 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. (e) using mechanical vibration at 7 to 10 times per minute at the same time as the electrical stimulate. Mechanical manipulation includes protruding nodes that that spin within the base of the unit and against the user's skin. (f) and/or using the mechanical muscular manipulation portion to disperse the accruing lactic acid from muscles

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 shows the micro current stimulation device.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the essential components of the micro current stimulation device.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram of an embodiment of the current invention showing the sticky pads and the small vibration motor.

[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart that demonstrates the method of the invention of applying a micro current across the electrodes using a direct current carrier signal having a frequency between 10,000 Hz and 20,000 Hz, which is modulated on and off at preset frequencies for preset periods of time in a sequence in which the preset frequencies sequentially decrease and the preset time periods sequentially increase.

[0014] FIG. 5 illustrates the embodiment attached to an arm.

[0015] FIG. 6 illustrates the embodiment with the strap to attach to the users arm.

[0016] FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment with the strap attached to the users arm.

[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram for the operations.

[0018] FIG. 9 illustrates the embodiment with the manual manipulation spinning part attached.

[0019] FIG. 10 illustrates the embodiment with the vibration separate and the base unit snaps into the embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 11 illustrates the embodiment which has the vibration built into it and the base unit snapped in attached to a users arm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the micro current stimulation device, base unit only (10). Inside there is a box (30) shown on FIG. 3 with various components and controls. Connected to the box (10) is an electrode pad (22) that connects to the box (10) as part of the micro current nerve stimulation device (10). If the polarity of the current is reversed as part of a treatment method, then more than two electrodes may be employed. Electrode (22) connects by means of snap pin (20) to electrode jacks located on the back of component (10). An on/off switch is (14) on the front of the box (10). Embodiment (16) is an illuminator led light which shows when the unit is operating for the user. Electrode (20) will be applied to a user completing an electrical circuit which allows a micro current to pass from one electrode through the body of the user to the other electrode to complete the circuit. Contained within the box (10) are control circuitry and microprocessors which may be programmed to provide particular types of current in particular wave forms, as will be explained later in the application. On the front of the box (12) show the unit attached to the electrode. Ordinarily, batteries will supply the power, which are contained in the unit.

[0022] To use the micro current nerve stimulation device (10), the user will ordinarily apply the electrode pad (22) to a prescribed place as determined by a health care provider. The on/off switch (14) will turn the device on to the appropriate amount of current. The micro current nerve stimulation device (10) will then begin to follow a pre-programmed sequence in which current will be provided with a particular frequency and wave form in the preferred program.

[0023] FIG. 2 is a block chart showing operating characteristics of the embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows the inside of the unit (30) the pc board parts and component that drive the units operations. The vibration unit is embodiment (40). The vibration (40) operates when switched on, the vibration unit will oscillate at 1800 RPM's. The electrode (22) is shown with the sticky side shown (24). The pad (22) has sticky conducting material adhered to the pad (22) on the back side and (24) sticks to the skin when unit is on or off and can be easily removed by hand.

[0025] FIG. 4 current flows through an on/off switch (205) to voltage convertor (210) to a regulator (220) and to an oscillator (230). Current flows from the regulator (220) and oscillator (230) to a frequency divider (250). A constant current source (260) receives current from the frequency divider (250) and from the voltage convertor (210) then passes from the constant current source to a first electrode (260). A circuit is completed from the first electrode (260) through the patient (not shown) to a second electrode (265). Current returns to the constant current source (260) to the voltage convertor (210) through an amplitude control (70) and then to the power source (200) to complete the circuit.

[0026] FIG. 5 is a diagram of an arm showing the unit (10) attached to someone's arm. FIG. 5 shows the embodiment attached to an arm not using the strap. Base unit (10) is snapped on (22) and sticky pad (22) is adhered to the skin.

[0027] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the second way to attach unit to the body. Embodiment (10) has two molded brackets (60) these brackets hold a strap (70) with Velcro tips (72) which can wrap around (60) and secure the unit to an individual's body part. The strap (70) gives the user the added benefit of increasing the vibration waves and/or mechanical muscular manipulation through the body because it allows the user to apply pressure.

[0028] FIG. 7 is a diagram of an arm showing the unit (10) with embodiment (70) attached to someone's arm. Unit is shown with (20) electrode attached to body with strap (70) over the top of (20) to create more pressure and increase the amount of vibration and/or mechanical muscular manipulation a user can feel and absorb.

[0029] The treatment protocol employing the embodiment described in FIGS. 1 through 7 can be used for example, to treat carpel tunnel in the forearm and hands, planter fasciitis in the foot, or back pain. It is believed this operates, at least in part, by stimulating cell activities producing an increased ATP concentration. In this specific treatment protocol, a patient will first prepare the appropriate skin area by careful washing and drying to remove skin oils, cosmetics, or other foreign materials from the skin surface. A patient will connect the electrode pads (20) to the base unit (10), and if desired, the attach strap (70) over the electrode pads (20) ordinarily have a sticky surface so that they will adhere to the skin. If the micro current nerve stimulation device (10) is not already turned on, the control switch (14) will be turned to on and operated to a set of instructions provided with the unit. Only current in a predetermined micro amperage is applied.

[0030] The micro current nerve stimulation device (10) is programmed to deliver 20 minutes of treatment per treatment. The micro current nerve stimulation device (10) is also programmed to audibly notify a user as the treatment proceeds at each stage of the treatment. During the treatment the micro current nerve stimulation device (10) will reverse the polarity of the electrodes every two seconds. The treatment is ordinarily administered twice a dayonce in the morning and once in the evening. It has been found in practice that stimulating with a square wave form for the intervals and frequencies described above is an effective treatment for carpel tunnel syndrome, planter fasciitis in the foot, or back pain.

[0031] FIG. 8 shows a treatment progression (501) the user presets their desired mode. The unit operates for the preset period (502) after the first period a second period is employed (503) and a third and final mode is operated in (504) all this transpires within one twenty minute session.

[0032] FIG. 9 shows the micro current stimulation device with a mechanical muscular manipulation component. The manual manipulation version can be used in conjunction with the electrotherapy and the vibration. The muscular manipulation component is made into the base unit (10) and is illustrated as (100) with in this small area there are 3 protruding nodes (65) that spin in a clockwise direction at 7 to 10 revolutions per minute. Base unit (10) includes open area for strap to attach (60) which strap (70) can slide through and hold the unit so user can strap it to their arm, foot or back (wrapping the strap (70) around their waist or shoulders. Inside base unit (10) there includes a vibration box (40) on FIG. 3 and muscular manipulation component (100) all the units can be operated independent and dependant on each other. To use electronic and vibration they are detailed in previous FIGS. 1 through 8. Electrode (22) connects by means of snap pin (20) to electrode jacks located on the back of component (10). An on/off switch is (14) on the front of the box (10). Embodiment (16) is an illuminator led light, detailed in FIG. 1 which shows when the unit is operating for the user. Electrode (20) will be applied to a user completing an electrical circuit which allows a micro current to pass from one electrode through the body of the user to the other electrode to complete the circuit. The user can connect to the arm, foot or back with strap (70) through (60) the hooks protruding from the base unit (10). Velcro is used to secure strap (72) FIG. 10 shows another way to attach the base unit with the micro current stimulation device a second way to attach to the body, base unit only (10) snaps into base unit (90) which permanently houses the vibration unit alone. Inside (90), there is a vibration box (40), base unit (10) can snap into (90) so the user can remove the microprocessor and use with just the vibration (40) or use together in combination base (10). Connected to the box (10) are is an electrode pad (22) which is discussed in detail in the previous FIGS. 1 through 9. The base unit (10) connects to (90) which can be attached to strap (70) and attached to the users arm or other parts of the body like feet or the back. If the polarity of the current is reversed as part of a treatment method, then more than two electrodes may be employed. As discussed in previous FIGS. 1 through 8 in more detail electrode (22) connects by means of snap pin (20) to electrode jacks located on the back of component (10). An on/off switch is (14) on the front of the box (10).

[0033] FIG. 11 shows base unit (90) with base unit (10) that snaps into base unit (90) and strap (70) attached to a users arm with sticky pad (20). Base unit (90) with vibration unit (40).