Method and apparatus for electromedical theraphy

Abstract

An apparatus, for providing therapeutic electrical signals has a plurality of sets of electrodes, each set of electrodes comprising at least two electrodes for applying the therapeutic electrical signal to a user. The electrodes ( 60 ) are arranged on a flexible platform ( 50 ) which can substantially conform to surfaces of the user. In one embodiment, the sets of electrodes ( 60 ) comprise at least three electrodes arranged in a substantially chevron pattern with a centre electrode having the opposite potential to the side electrode. Different types of therapeutic electrical signals are generated by a signal generator ( 24 ) applying a base wave within a frequency of about 150 KHz to 180 KHz at different frequencies between about 2 to 100 times in a second. A switch selectively switches the different types of therapeutic electrical signals in the predetermined pattern and can decrease the therapeutic electrical signals from its maximum to its minimum within about 0.1 to 0.01 microseconds.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . An apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) for providing therapeutic electrical signals, said apparatus comprising: 
 signal generator means  24  for generating the therapeutic electrical signal;    a plurality of sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ), each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) comprising at least two electrodes ( 60 ) for applying the therapeutic electrical signal to a user; and    switching means ( 26 ) for selectively switching the therapeutic electrical signal to each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in a predetermined pattern characterized in that the predetermined pattern sequentially sends the therapeutic electrical signal in a first direction ( 41 ) from a first set of electrodes ( 60   a ) to a last set of electrodes ( 60   t ).    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that: 
 the plurality of sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) are arranged on a platform ( 50 ,  350 ); and  
 wherein the platform ( 50 ,  350 ) permits the electrodes ( 60 ) to substantially conform to a surface of the user, such that the electrodes ( 60 ) of the plurality of sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) are in substantial electrical contact with a surface of the user.  
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 2  characterized in that the predetermined pattern sends the therapeutic electrical signal consecutively to each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) commencing with the first set of electrodes ( 60   a ) near a first end ( 30 ) of the platform ( 50 ,  350 )and ending at a last set of electrodes ( 60   t ) near a second end ( 32 ) of the platform ( 50 ,  350 ).  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the switching means ( 26 ) will switch the therapeutic electrical signal to a next set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in the predetermined pattern within 0.5 to 2 seconds.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 4  characterized in that the signal generator means ( 24 ) generates more than one type of therapeutic electrical signal; and 
 the switching means ( 26 ) selectively switches different types of therapeutic electrical signals to each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in a predetermined pattern.  
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the predetermined pattern sequentially sends the electrical therapeutic signal in the first direction ( 41 ) consecutively commencing with a first set of electrodes ( 60   a ) near a first end ( 30 ) of the apparatus and ending at a second set of electrodes ( 60   t ) near a second end ( 32 ) of the apparatus and then send the electrical therapeutic signal in a second direction ( 42 ) consecutively commencing with a third set of electrodes ( 60   t ) at the second end ( 32 ) to a fourth set of electrodes at the first end ( 30 ); and 
 wherein the sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in the first direction ( 41 ) differ from the sets of electrodes ( 60   t  to  60   a ) in the second direction ( 42 ).  
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) comprise at least three electrodes ( 60 ) arranged in a substantially chevron pattern with at least a centre electrode ( 60   c ) and at least two side electrodes ( 60   o ); and 
 wherein the centre electrode ( 60   c ) has a potential opposite to the side electrodes ( 60   o ) when the therapeutic electrical signal is applied.  
 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 7  characterized in that the predetermined pattern comprises a first type of therapeutic electrical signal (tec a) and a second type of therapeutic electrical signal (tec b), said first type of therapeutic electrical signal (tec a) comprising a base wave (bw) applied at a first frequency and said second type of therapeutic electrical signal (tec b) comprising the base wave (bw) applied at a second frequency where the first frequency differs from the second frequency.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the therapeutic electrical signals are used in therapy selected from a group of therapies consisting of relief of pain, relief of stress, electronic acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the therapeutic electrical signals comprise a base wave (bw) having a frequency between 150 KHz to 180 KHz, said base wave (bw) being applied at a frequency of between about 2 to 100 times in a second.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 10  characterized in that the switching means ( 25 )will switch the therapeutic electrical signal to a next set of electrodes within 0.5 to 2 seconds.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 11  characterized in that the base wave (bw) of the therapeutic electrical signals decreases from a maximum to a minimum within about 0.2 to 0.01 microseconds; and 
 wherein an integral against time of the base wave (bw) of the therapeutic electric signals over a complete cycle is substantially zero.  
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the signal generator means ( 24 ) generates different types of therapeutic electrical signals by applying a base wave (bw) having a frequency between 150 KHz to 180 KHz at differing durations and at differing frequencies between 2 Hz to 100 Hz; and 
 wherein the switching means ( 25 ) selectively switches different types of therapeutic electrical signals to each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in a predetermined pattern.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method for providing therapeutic electrical signals, said method comprising the steps of: 
 a) generating a therapeutic electrical signal;    b) providing a plurality of sets of electrodes, each set of electrodes comprising at least two electrodes for applying the therapeutic electrical signal to a user; and    c) selectively switching the therapeutic electrical signal to each set of electrodes of the plurality of sets of electrodes in a predetermined pattern.    
     
     
         15 . The method as defined in  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 b1) providing the plurality of sets of electrodes on a platform that permits the electrodes to substantially conform to a surface of the user so that substantially all of the electrodes of the plurality of electrodes is in electrical contact with the surface of the user.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method as defined in  claim 15  further comprising the step of: 
 c1) selectively switching the therapeutic electrical signal to each set of electrodes consecutively commencing with a first set of electrodes near a first end of the platform and ending at a last set of electrodes at a second end of the platform.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method as defined in  claim 14  further comprising the step of: 
 b3) providing each set of electrodes with at least three electrodes arranged in a substantially chevron pattern having a centre electrode and at least two side electrodes.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method as defined in  claim 14  wherein the therapeutic electrical signals comprise a base wave having a frequency between 150 KHz to 180 KHz, said base wave being applied at a frequency of between about 2 to 100 times in a second.  
     
     
         19 . The method as defined in  claim 18 , further comprising the step of: 
 c2) selectively switching the therapeutic electrical signal to each set of electrodes in intervals of between 0.5 and 2 seconds.    
     
     
         20 . The method as defined in  claim 19  wherein the base wave of the therapeutic electrical signal decreases from a maximum to a minimum within about 0.1 to 0.01 microseconds.  
     
     
         21 . The method as defined in  claim 20  wherein an integral against time of the base wave of the therapeutic electric signals over a complete cycle is substantially zero.  
     
     
         22 . The method as defined in  claim 14  further comprising the steps of: 
 a1) generating different types of therapeutic electrical signals by generating a base wave having a frequency between 150 KHz and 180 KHz and applying the base wave for differing durations and at different frequencies between 2 Hz to 100 Hz; and  
 c1) selectively switching different types of therapeutic electrical signals to each set of electrodes in a predetermined pattern.  
 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus ( 10 ,  300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the predetermined pattern switches the therapeutic electrical signals to each set of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) in a controlled manner without causing the therapeutic electrical signal to be switched to the same set of electrodes twice.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus ( 300 ) as defined in  claim 1  characterized in that the platform ( 350 ) upon which the electrodes ( 60 ) are arranged is flexible; and 
 wherein the flexible platform ( 350 ) can substantially conform to the region of the user such that the electrodes ( 60 ) of the plurality of sets of electrodes ( 60   a  to  60   t ) are in substantial electrical contact with the surface of the user.  
 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus ( 300 ) as defined in  claim 24  characterized by: 
 a housing ( 310 ) for containing the signal generator means ( 24 ) and the switching means ( 26 ); and  
 an electrical connection ( 313 ) from the housing ( 310 ) to the flexible platform for sending the therapeutic electrical signal from the housing ( 310 ) to the flexible platform ( 350 ) located an the surface of the user.  
 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus ( 300 ) as defined in  claim 25  characterized in that the electrical connection ( 313 ) comprises a connector ( 316 ) capable of releasably electrically connecting the signal generator means  24  in the housing ( 310 ) with the electrodes ( 60 ) on the flexible platform ( 350 ).  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 26  characterized in that the connector ( 316 ) is electrically connected to the signal generator means ( 24 ) in the housing ( 310 ) and can interchangeably releasably connect other electrodes ( 60 ) of other flexible platforms ( 350 ) to the signal generator means ( 24 ).  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 26  characterized in that the connector ( 316 ) is electrically connected to the signal generator means ( 24 ) in the housing ( 310 ); and 
 wherein the flexible platform ( 350 ) is disposable such that, after a number of uses, the flexible platform ( 350 ) can be electrically disconnected from the connector ( 316 ) and the connector ( 316 ) is capable of releasably electrically connecting the signal generator means ( 24 ) to the electrodes ( 60 ) of another flexible platform ( 350 ).  
 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus as defined in  claims 24  to  28  characterized by an electroconductive substance ( 400 ) having an adhesive quality can be applied to the electrodes ( 60 ) to improve electrical contact between the electrodes ( 60 ) and the surface of the user and assists in maintaining the flexible platform ( 350 ) in place on the surface of the user.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 24  characterized in that the flexible platform ( 350 ) comprises a first surface ( 350 U) containing first electrical conductors ( 370 ) connected to a first group ( 60   c ) of the plurality of electrodes ( 60 ) and a second surface ( 350 L) containing second electrical conductors ( 371 ) electrically connected to a second group ( 600 ) of the plurality of electrodes ( 60 ); and 
 wherein the first electrical conductors ( 370 ) and the first group of electrodes ( 60   c ) are electrically insulated from the second electrical conductors ( 371 ) and the second group of electrodes ( 60   o ).