Non-invasive neuro stimulation system

Abstract

A device is used to apply an electric pulse or spike to a patient to treat the patient. The device can have a series of preset treatments programmed therein. A user can select a treatment from menus displayed on a display. The impedance of the skin and underlying tissue to be treated can be measured prior to the treatment to locate active areas on the skin for treatment. The impedance measurement can be made at a sufficiently low level to avoid treatment of the patient that could cause a change in the impedance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating a patient, comprising:
 a device having a pulse generator for generating a pulse train and a control for controlling the pulse generator; the control having at least one preset treatment for controlling the pulse generator to generate a set of one or more pulses and providing for a graphical selection of said at least one preset treatment.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface to allow the operator of the device to select a preset treatment. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the device has a display illustrating a series of stages of progression of a condition of an area to be treated, the control permitting operator selection of a stage in initiate a preset treatment specific to that selected stage. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further having a plurality of electrodes connected to the device, the control having a first preset treatment for controlling the pulse generator to generate a first set of pulses for delivery to the patient through a first set of said electrodes and a second preset treatment for controlling the pulse generator to generate a second set of pulses for delivery to the patient through a second set of said electrodes. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein each of said set of electrodes has at least four electrodes. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a display illustrating a series of stages of progression of a condition of an area to be treated, the control permitting operator selection of a stage in initiate a preset treatment specific to that selected stage. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an impedance sensing pulse to a skin of the patient and a control for controlling the pulse generator, the impedance sensing pulse at a level below the level necessary for treatment, the impedance sensing pulse applied to the skin at selected locations to measure the impedance of the body to find active areas. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an audio or visual feedback circuit to indicate a relative impedance sensed by the device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an impedance sensing circuit with a phase detector to evaluate a capacitance of a skin of the patient. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a circuit to measure the capacitance of the skin, the control varying an output of the pulse generator to maintain a uniform charge delivered to the patient as an impedance of the skin varies. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a circuit for sensing an effect of the set of one or more pulses on the patient, the control varying an output of the pulse generator to maintain a uniform effect as the patient is treated. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus for treating a patient, comprising:
 a device having a pulse generator for generating a pulse to a skin of the patient and a control for controlling the pulse generator, the device further including a probe having a plurality of electrodes for delivering the pulse to the skin, the control sensing selected parameters of the probe and adjusting the pulse generated by the pulse generator in response to the one or more sensed parameters.   
     
     
         13 . A device, comprising:
 a pulse generator for generating a pulse train;   a control for controlling the pulse generator whereby the pulse is delivered to a patient by a circuit which includes an impedance of a skin of a patient;   whereby the control has a display displaying an injury curve and the control has one or more preset treatment parameters for controlling the pulse generator.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13 , whereby an operator of the device can select a stage of the injury curve whereby the control initiates a preset treatment specific to that stage of injury. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13 , where each stage of the injury curve has a default preset and other presets are accessible from the display screen of the default preset. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 13  where the preset parameter chosen is displayed on a screen of the device with controls that trigger treatment to begin immediately by increasing a strength of a pulse applied to the patient. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 13 , wherein the control has a display displaying words which define one or more stages of the injury curve and the control having two or more preset treatment parameters for controlling the pulse generator. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one probe that has more than four electrodes for delivering pulses to the skin electrically connected in parallel so that adjacent electrodes are of different polarities so that the electrodes nearest lower skin impedances will deliver more energy to those areas. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , whereby the probe is connected to the skin to provide skin contact with the electrodes. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18 , whereby the electrodes are equally spaced between adjacent electrodes. 
     
     
         21 . A method for treating a patient, comprising:
 providing a device having a pulse generator and a control for the pulse generator;   generating a pulse to the skin of a patient for controlling the pulse generator, the device further including a probe having a plurality of electrodes; and   delivering the pulse from the electrodes to the skin, the control sensing selected parameters of the probe and adjusting the pulse generated by the pulse generator in response to the parameters sensed by the probe.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising connecting an interface to allow the operator of the device to select a preset treatment. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising displaying a series of stages of progression of a condition of an area to be treated on a display, the control permitting operator selection of a stage in initiate a preset treatment specific to that selected stage. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising connecting a plurality of electrodes connected to the device to the patient, the control having a first preset treatment for controlling the pulse generator to generate a first set of pulses for delivery to the patient through a first set of said electrodes and a second preset treatment for controlling the pulse generator to generate a second set of pulses for delivery to the patient through a second set of said electrodes. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein each of said set of electrodes has at least four electrodes. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising measuring an impedance sensing pulse at the skin of the patient, wherein the impedance sensing pulse is at a level below the level necessary for treatment, and wherein the impedance sensing pulse is applied to the skin at selected locations to measure the impedance at the skin to find active areas. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising providing an audio or visual feedback circuit to indicate a relative impedance sensed by the device.