Transcutaneous stimulation method and system

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a method of treating a waste evacuation dysfunction, comprising administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation to at least one lumbar or abdominal region for at least one treatment period per day over a treatment term of at least one week.

1 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . A method of treating constipation, the method comprising:
 administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to deliver crossing currents between at least one lumbar region and at least one abdominal region of a user, wherein the TES is administered for at least one treatment period per day for a treatment term of at least one week,   wherein the crossing currents of the TES produce interferential electrical stimulation between the at least one lumbar region and the at least one abdominal region.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the treatment period is longer than about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the treatment period is longer than about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the stimulation is administered for two or more treatment periods per day. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the treatment term is at least two weeks. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the treatment term is repeated multiple times over the course of a year. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the TES comprises current provided at a carrier frequency of between about 1 kHz and about 10 kHz, with a modulated frequency from about 20 Hz to about 300 Hz. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the carrier frequency is about 4 kHz and the modulated frequency is from about 80 Hz to about 150 Hz. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) comprises delivering the current to at least two pairs of electrodes carried by a belt secured to the user. 
     
     
         48 . A method of treating constipation, the method comprising:
 administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to deliver crossing currents between at least one lumbar region and at least one abdominal region of a user, wherein the TES is administered for more than 12 sessions in a 4 week period, each session lasting at least about 10 minutes,   wherein the crossing currents of the TES produce interferential electrical stimulation between the at least one lumbar region and the at least one abdominal region.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein each session is longer than about 20 minutes. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the TES is administered for at least one session per day. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the TES comprises current provided at a carrier frequency of between about 1 kHz and about 10 kHz, with a modulated frequency from about 20 Hz to about 300 Hz. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein administering transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) comprises delivering the current to at least two pairs of electrodes carried by a belt secured to the user. 
     
     
         53 . A system for transcutaneously treating constipation, comprising:
 at least one first pair of electrodes configured to be positioned at a lumbar region of a user;   at least one second pair of electrodes configured to be positioned at an abdominal region of the user; and   a portable stimulation device configured to administer transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES) to deliver crossing currents between at least one lumbar region and at least one abdominal region of a user, wherein the TES is administered for at least one treatment period per day for a treatment term of at least one week,   wherein the crossing currents of the TES produce interferential electrical stimulation between the at least one lumbar region and the at least one abdominal region   
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the treatment period is longer than about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the stimulation is administered for two or more treatment periods per day. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the treatment term is at least two weeks. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 53 , further comprising a belt configured to carry the first and second pairs of electrodes. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 53 , wherein the portable stimulation device is further configured to administer the TES with current provided at a carrier frequency of between about 1 kHz and about 10 kHz, with a modulated frequency from about 20 Hz to about 300 Hz.