Apparatus and method for treatment of pain with body impedance analyzer
Inventors
Crosson, John • Weinkle, David
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11547316-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-10
Expiration Date
Abstract
A patient treatment unit and method analyzes and treats pain in tissues by applying an electrical pulse train to the affected tissue. The impedance of the affected tissue is measured, and the measured impedance is correlated to a level of pain in the patient. The pulse train is further applied in response to the measured impedance to reduce the patient's pain. The patient treatment unit includes a probe stimulus generator that outputs the pulse train. The treatment unit also includes a pair of probes for contacting the patient's body and receiving the pulse train. The pulse has improved shaping based on isolation of high voltage from a low voltage control. The unit further includes a body impedance analysis circuit that senses voltage and current via the probes when the probes are contacting the patient and observe the impedance. A monitor is electrically coupled to the body impedance analysis circuit and provides an indication of the measured impedance indicative of the patient's level of pain in real-time.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an apparatus configured to deliver a sequence of electrical pulses to a body during a treatment. The apparatus includes a generator circuit that outputs electrical pulses having a pulse width and a pulse frequency, with a peak pulse amplitude and a maximum output current, and the generator circuit controls the pulse frequency and the pulse width. Electrical pulses are applied to the body through first and second conductors contacting first and second trigger or motor points.
The apparatus further includes an intensity adjustment circuit configured to adjust an intensity of the electrical pulses in response to intensity inputs, together with a plus/minus control. A display is configured to display status information and a timer showing in real time an indication of a duration of time that the electrical pulses have been delivered, and also displays an indication of the intensity of the electrical pulses being applied. The controller ends delivery of the electrical pulses in response to pressing an end button.
The apparatus includes an operating constraint relating to resistance across the first and second conductors, wherein the pulse frequency does not exceed 490 Hz ± 6% with 500 ohms to 1 mega-ohm of resistance across the first and second conductors. In the described patient unit, real-time sensed voltage/current are converted to impedance and used to drive or monitor treatment efficacy, including a measurement and treatment mode alternation based on impedance change.
The described unit includes probe stimulus generation and safety-isolated high-voltage generation with separated high-voltage control circuitry isolated from low-voltage control circuitry via isolation components. The unit is further described with graphical real-time impedance/current/voltage displays plus storage/data logging and clinician interfaces, including comparison to historical data and probe placement guidance.
Claims Coverage
The claims cover five inventive features.
Pulse sequence with controlled pulse width and frequency
A generator circuit configured to output a sequence of electrical pulses, the electrical pulses having a pulse width and a pulse frequency, controlling the pulse frequency and the pulse width of the electrical pulses.
Intensity adjustment with plus/minus control and display
An intensity adjustment circuit configured to adjust an intensity of the electrical pulses in response to intensity inputs, a plus/minus control, and a display configured to display status information, a timer showing in real time duration of time that the electrical pulses have been delivered, and an indication of the intensity of the electrical pulses being applied.
Controlled delivery termination by end button
A controller configured to end delivery of the electrical pulses to the body in response to pressing an end button.
Pulse frequency bounded by resistance across conductors
The pulse frequency of the electrical pulses does not exceed 490 Hz ± 6% with 500 ohms to 1 mega-ohm of resistance across the first conductor and the second conductor.
Dual-contact conductors at first and second trigger or motor points
A first conductor for contacting a first trigger or motor point of a body and electrically coupled to the generator circuit to receive therefrom the sequence of electrical pulses, and a second conductor for contacting a second trigger or motor point of the body and electrically coupled to the generator circuit.
The independent claim centers on an apparatus delivering a controlled sequence of electrical pulses with adjustable intensity, real-time status/timer display, user-controlled termination, and a specified pulse-frequency limitation tied to resistance across first and second conductors contacting trigger or motor points.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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