Wearable medical device

Abstract

Wearable devices for providing therapy to a patient may include disposable or reusable treatment pads. The treatment pads may include electrodes and are configured to apply energy to various regions around the head and eyes. The treatment pads may provide therapy when the eyes are open or closed. The wearable device may include a battery and/or control circuitry for issuing therapy pulses through the electrodes.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for providing electrical stimulation to a patient's eye comprising:
 a mask having a left opening for the patient's left eye and a right opening for the patient's right eye, a plurality of electrodes including each of a left upper electrode positioned above the left opening, a left lower electrode positioned below the left opening, a right upper electrode positioned above the right opening, and a right lower electrode positioned below the right opening, the left opening and right opening configured to allow the patient to have open eyes while electrical stimulation is delivered with the plurality of electrodes;   a pulse generator coupled to the plurality of electrodes and containing electrical circuitry for issuing electrical stimuli using the plurality of electrodes; and   a controller containing communication circuitry for wirelessly communicating with the pulse generator and programming the electrical circuitry for issuing the electrical stimuli.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a strap attached to the mask and positioned to wrap around the head of the patient and hold the mask in a desired position on the face of the patient. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the pulse generator is carried on the mask. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mask is formed of a flexible material. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the mask comprises a malleable nosepiece. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of electrodes consists of only the left upper electrode, the left lower electrode, the right upper electrode and the left lower electrode. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of electrodes further includes a return electrode for positioning on the skin of the patient at a position selected from the back of the neck, the shoulder, torso or limb of the patient, and wherein the plurality of electrodes consists of the return electrode, the left upper electrode, the left lower electrode, the right upper electrode and the left lower electrode. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of electrodes further includes one or two return electrodes for positioning on the skin of the patient at a position behind the ear or ears, and wherein the plurality of electrodes consists of the one or two return electrodes, the left upper electrode, the left lower electrode, the right upper electrode and the left lower electrode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each of the left upper electrode, the left lower electrode, the right upper electrode and the left lower electrode have a length of about 14 to about 40 mm, and a width of about 10 to about 20 mm. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pulse generator is coupled to the mask by a wire. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pulse generator circuitry is configured to determine impedance encountered by issued stimuli. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pulse generator circuitry is configured to issue current controlled electrical stimulation with a frequency in the range of 10 Hz to 20 kHz, without a carrier signal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pulse generator is configured to issue electrical stimulation to test a phosphene threshold of the patient, and is programmed to issue electrical stimulation below the phosphene threshold of the patient to avoid generating phosphenes during therapy. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the pulse generator is configured to issue electrical stimulation to test a phosphene threshold of the patient, and is programmed to issue electrical stimulation above the phosphene threshold of the patient to thereby generate phosphenes during therapy. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is configured to program the pulse generator with multiple therapy patterns. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is a mobile phone, tablet, or computer running an application for controlling the pulse generator. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the controller communicates with the pulse generator using Bluetooth. 
     
     
         18 . A wearable device for providing therapy to a patient, the device comprising first and second treatment pads each including an electrode configured to provide therapy to the patient's eyes, a frame configured to be worn on the patient's nose and extending between and connecting the first and second treatment pads, and a first battery disposed within the first treatment pad and a second battery disposed within the second treatment pad. 
     
     
         19 . The wearable device of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second batteries are rechargeable, wherein the wearable device further comprises a charging unit configured to receive the first and second treatment pads to recharge the first and second batteries. 
     
     
         20 . A wearable device for providing therapy to a patient, the device comprising: a frame configured to be worn on the patient's face, the frame including a first and second earpiece configured to extend along each side of the patient's face and over the patient's ears, and a bridge extending between the two earpieces and over the patient's nose; a plurality of prongs extending from the frame, each prong having a contact configured to contact skin of the patient's face when the frame is in position on the patient's face; and a plurality of electrodes configured to provide therapy to the patient, one electrode disposed on each contact point.