Electrical stimulation of a human knee

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of a human knee. In one example embodiment, a method for electrical stimulation of a human knee may include positioning first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes on the skin over acupuncture points Stomach 34, Stomach 36, Spleen 9, and Spleen 10, respectively, and sending, to the first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes, during a single treatment, a first current followed by a second current. The first current may be sent at a first frequency for a first time period and the second current may be sent at a second frequency for a second time period. The first frequency may be different from the second frequency.

1 . A method for electrical stimulation of a human knee, the method comprising:
 positioning first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes on skin over acupuncture points Stomach 34, Stomach 36, Spleen 9, and Spleen 10, respectively; and   sending, to the first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes, during a single treatment, a first current followed by a second current, the first current being sent at a first frequency for a first time period, the second current being sent at a second frequency for a second time period, the first frequency being different from the second frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency is between 90 and 160 Hz; and   the second frequency is between 2 and 6 Hz.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency is approximately 150 Hz; and   the second frequency is approximately 2 Hz.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first time period is between 15 and 30 minutes; and   the second time period is between 15 and 30 minutes.   
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first time period is approximately 15 minutes; and   the second time period is approximately 15 minutes.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds; and   the second current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first current is sent at a pulse width of approximately 180 microseconds; and   the second current is sent at a pulse width of approximately 180 microseconds.   
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency is between 90 and 160 Hz;   the second frequency is between 2 and 6 Hz;   the first time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the second time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the first current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the second current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         10 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first frequency is approximately 150 Hz;   the second frequency is approximately 2 Hz;   the first time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the second time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         11 . A system comprising:
 a body configured to be placed in a particular position over a human knee, the body including first, second, third, and fourth electrode location indicators; and   an electrical control,   wherein the body and the electrical control are configured to perform the method as recited in  claim 1  while:
 the first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes are attached to the first, second, third, and fourth electrode attachment locations, respectively; 
 the body is properly placed in the particular position over the human knee; and 
 the electrical control is in electrical communication with the first, second, third, and fourth surface electrodes. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a positioning indicator included in the body and configured to be positioned over a specified portion of the human knee in order to properly place the body in the particular position over the human knee.   
     
     
         13 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the body includes first and second configurations, with the first configuration corresponding to a right human knee and the second configuration corresponding to a left human knee. 
     
     
         14 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode location indicators includes:
 a small human knee electrode location indicator configured for use where the human knee is relatively small-sized;   a medium human knee electrode location indicator configured for use where the human knee is relatively medium-sized; and   a large human knee electrode location indicator configured for use where the human knee is relatively large-sized.   
     
     
         15 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the body is a body of a wrap that is configured to be wrapped around the human knee; and   each of the first, second, third, and fourth electrode location indicators is an electrode locator configured to have one of the first, second, third, or fourth surface electrodes attached thereto.   
     
     
         16 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first frequency is between 90 and 160 Hz;   the second frequency is between 2 and 6 Hz;   the first time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the second time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the first current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the second current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         17 . The system as recited in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the first frequency is approximately 150 Hz;   the second frequency is approximately 2 Hz;   the first time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the second time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         18 . The system as recited in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the body is a body of a template.   
     
     
         19 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first frequency is between 90 and 160 Hz;   the second frequency is between 2 and 6 Hz;   the first time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the second time period is between 15 and 30 minutes;   the first current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the second current is sent at a pulse width of between 180 and 250 microseconds;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.   
     
     
         20 . The system as recited in  claim 18 , wherein:
 the first frequency is approximately 150 Hz;   the second frequency is approximately 2 Hz;   the first time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the second time period is approximately 15 minutes;   the first surface electrode has a negative polarity;   the second surface electrode has a positive polarity;   the third surface electrode has a negative polarity; and   the fourth surface electrode has a positive polarity.