Wireless electrical stimulation system

Abstract

A system and method are provided for a wireless electrical stimulation. The system generally includes at least two electrical stimulation units. Each electrical stimulation unit includes electrodes connected to the unit. The system also includes a transmitter for remotely, wirelessly controlling each of the electrical stimulation units to selectively apply a time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide an electrical stimulation to tissue in electrical contact with the electrodes.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A wireless electrical stimulation system comprising:
 at least one electrical stimulation unit having electrodes connected to the at least one electrical stimulation unit and configured to deliver electrical pulses to muscle groups or nerve areas adjacent a body surface to which the electrodes are applied, wherein the electrodes are configured to be applied externally to the body; and   a transmitter for remotely, wirelessly controlling the at least one electrical stimulation unit by transmitting operating instructions corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of operating modes to the at least one electrical stimulation unit through a channel at a predetermined frequency using a remote control and matching a code sent by the at least one electrical stimulation unit with a predetermined code before sending the operating instructions to selectively apply a time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide an electrical stimulation to the muscle groups or the nerve areas through the body surface in electrical contact with the electrodes,   wherein the operating instructions corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of operating modes for a plurality of treatment patterns to the muscle groups and the nerve areas are transmitted to the at least one electrical stimulation unit, and include at least one of a plurality of pulse frequencies, a plurality of pulse-widths, a plurality of treatment pattern repetition cycles, a plurality of amplitudes, a plurality of intensities, and a plurality of time periods of operation.   
     
     
         22 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the electrodes are releasably connected to the at least one electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         23 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter includes an antenna for facilitating communication with the at least one electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         24 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 23 , wherein the transmitter further includes a radio frequency (RF) transceiver chip having an input and an output, wherein the input and the output are respectively connected to the antenna. 
     
     
         25 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit has at least two operating modes, each of which applies a time-varying electrical potential to the electrodes in a pattern, and wherein the transmitter has a mode selector for selecting one of the at least two operating modes for the at least one electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         26 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 25 , wherein the transmitter includes a display for indicating which of the operating modes has been selected. 
     
     
         27 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit is capable of operating at at least two intensities, and wherein the transmitter has an intensity selector for selecting one of the at least two intensities of operation for the at least one electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         28 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 27 , wherein the intensity selector comprises an increase control and a decrease control. 
     
     
         29 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 27 , wherein the transmitter includes a display for indicating the intensity that has been selected. 
     
     
         30 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit is capable of operating for a selectable time period, and the transmitter has a time selector for selecting the time period of operation for the at least one electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         31 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the transmitter is a smart phone running an application. 
     
     
         32 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit is carried on a flexible substrate to be applied on the body surface. 
     
     
         33 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit is carried on an article of clothing. 
     
     
         34 . A wireless electrical stimulation system comprising:
 at least one electrical stimulation unit having electrodes connected to the at least one electrical stimulation unit and configured to deliver electrical pulses to muscle groups or nerve areas adjacent a body surface to which the electrodes are applied, wherein the electrodes are configured to be applied externally to the body;   a processor for applying a time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide an electrical stimulation to the muscle groups or the nerve areas through the body surface in electrical contact with the electrodes; and   a transmitter for remotely, wirelessly controlling the at least one electrical stimulation unit, the transmitter configured to send through a channel at a predetermined frequency:
 a predetermined code to the at least one electrical stimulation unit; and 
 operating instructions corresponding to a selected one of a plurality of operating modes after matching the predetermined code with the at least one electric stimulation unit, 
   wherein the operating instructions corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of operating modes for a plurality of treatment patterns to the muscle groups and the nerve areas are transmitted to the at least one electrical stimulation unit, and include at least one of a plurality of pulse frequencies, a plurality of pulse-widths, a plurality of treatment pattern repetition cycles, a plurality of amplitudes, a plurality of intensities, and a plurality of time periods of operation.   
     
     
         35 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 34 , wherein the electrodes are releasably connected to the electrical stimulation unit. 
     
     
         36 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 34 , wherein:
 the transmitter includes a master antenna for facilitating communication with the at least one electrical stimulation unit; and   the at least one electrical stimulation unit includes a slave antenna for facilitating communication with the transmitter.   
     
     
         37 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 36 , wherein:
 the transmitter further includes a master RF transceiver chip having an input and an output, wherein the input and the output are connected to the master antenna; and   the at least one electrical stimulation unit includes a slave RF transceiver chip having an input and an output, wherein the input and the output are respectively connected to the slave antenna.   
     
     
         38 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 34 ,
 wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit has at least two operating modes each of which applies a time-varying electrical potential to the electrodes in a different pattern, and   wherein the transmitter includes:
 a mode selector for selecting one of the at least two operating modes for the at least one electrical stimulation unit, and 
 a display for indicating which of the operating modes has been selected for the electrical stimulation unit being controlled. 
   
     
     
         39 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 38 ,
 wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit is capable of operating at at least two intensities, and   wherein the transmitter includes:
 an intensity selector for selecting one of the at least two intensities of operation for the at least one electrical stimulation unit, and 
 a display for indicating the intensity that has been selected for the electrical stimulation unit being controlled. 
   
     
     
         40 . The wireless electrical stimulation system according to  claim 34  wherein the at least one electrical stimulation unit turns off a predetermined time after communication with the transmitter is interrupted.