Device and method for the treatment of pain with electrical energy

Abstract

An electronic pain treatment device delivering electrical energy to the tissue of a patient in pain is provided which includes a variable wave generator, an impedance measurement circuit, and at least one electrode probe. Associated methods for treating pain are also disclosed.

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A method for relieving pain comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing means for locating first and second trigger points on painful innervated tissue of a patient;   (b) placing a first electrode on the first trigger point and a second electrode on the second trigger point;   (c) measuring an impedance of the tissue between the two electrodes;   (d) providing means for determining a treatment time period;   (e) treating the patient by supplying electrical energy to the tissue via the electrodes in the form of a pulsed electric waveform during the treatment time period;   (f) measuring an impedance of the tissue between the two electrodes;   (g) evaluating an impedance change; and, (h) providing means for determining whether steps e-g are repeated.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for locating the trigger points further comprises the steps of:
 palpating areas indicated by the patient to elicit the patient's qualitative indication of the most painful spots; and, 
 confirming the qualitative indication of the most painful spots by measuring the impedance there between and comparing it with impedance readings taken for other nearby spots. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining whether steps e-g are repeated further comprises the step of comparing the last measured impedance to a first pre-selected impedance value and ending the treatment when the measured impedance falls below the first pre-selected impedance value. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining whether steps e-g are repeated further comprises the step of comparing the impedance change during the last treatment to the impedance change during the treatment immediately prior to the last treatment and ending the treatment when the difference between the two impedance changes falls below a second pre-selected impedance value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining whether steps e-g are repeated further comprises the step of comparing at least two impedance measurements taken after the last treatment to determine the tendency of the impedance to increase between measurements and ending the treatment when the rate of change of impedance between measurements falls below a pre-selected impedance rate of change value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the means for determining whether steps e-g are repeated further comprises the steps of:
 comparing the last measured impedance to a first pre-selected impedance value and ending the treatment when the measured impedance falls below the first pre-selected impedance value; 
 comparing the impedance change during the last treatment to the impedance change during the treatment immediately prior to the last treatment and ending the treatment when the difference between the two impedance changes falls below a second pre-selected impedance value; and, 
 comparing at least two impedance measurements taken after the last treatment to determine the tendency of the impedance to increase between measurements and ending the treatment when the rate of change of impedance between measurements falls below a pre-selected impedance rate of change value. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising: placing two electrodes on the skin of the patient adjacent to a site of a medical procedure selected from the group consisting of injection, incision, and surgery: supplying electrical energy to the site of the medical procedure via the electrodes for treating pain caused by the medical procedure. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the treatment for pain begins before said medical procedure. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising: placing two electrodes on the skin of the patient adjacent to a site of an injury; supplying electrical energy to the site of the injury via the electrodes for treating pain caused by the injury. 
     
     
         20 . A method for relieving pain comprising the following steps:
 providing means for locating first and second trigger points on painful innervated tissue of a patient;   placing a first electrode on the first trigger point and a second electrode on the second trigger point;   treating the patient by supplying electrical energy to the tissue via the electrodes in the form of a pulsed electric waveform;   providing means for identifying the shape of the waveform;   identifying a transition of a portion of the waveform from a square-like wave having two peaks to a triangle-like wave having a single peak; and,   ending treatment after the transition to the triangle-like wave has occurred.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising; locating the electrodes at trigger points identified by the patient; and, confirming the location of the trigger points based on one or more impedance measurements.