Method and apparatus for electrical current therapy of biological tissue

Abstract

A method and device for performing electrical current therapy on biological tissue. The device can operate continuously as a bio-energetic thermostat to continuously provide electrical current therapy, or based on sensing parameters and providing electrical current therapy only when the parameters indicate that the electrical current therapy is to be applied.

1 . A method for performing electrical current therapy on biological tissue, comprising:
 administering the electrical current therapy to the biological tissue.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sensing at least one parameter of the biological tissue; and   determining, based on the at least one parameter, whether to administer electrical current therapy to the biological tissue.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current therapy is below a depolarization threshold of cells of the tissue. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes an anodal signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes a cathodal signal. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes a biphasic signal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 2  wherein the biological tissue is a heart, and the method further comprises preconditioning damaged myocardial tissue of the heart by applying the electrical current therapy to damaged myocardial tissue to ensure that a pacing pulse will pace the damaged myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the biological tissue includes pancreatic tissue, and the method further comprises increasing insulin production of the pancreatic tissue by applying the electrical current therapy. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrical current therapy increases Adenotriphosphate (ATP) production in cells of the biological tissue. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising increasing mobility of stem cells in the biological tissue via the electrical current therapy. 
     
     
         11 . A device for providing electrical current therapy to biological tissue, comprising:
 a generator circuit configured to generate the electrical current therapy administered to the biological tissue via at least one electrode.   
     
     
         12 . The device according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a sensor configured to sense at least one parameter of the biological tissue; and   a control circuit configured to determine, based on the at least one parameter, whether to administer electrical current therapy to the biological tissue.   
     
     
         13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the electrical current therapy is below a depolarization threshold of cells of the tissue. 
     
     
         14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes an anodal signal. 
     
     
         15 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes a cathodal signal. 
     
     
         16 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein a signal used in the electrical current therapy includes a biphasic signal. 
     
     
         17 . The device according to  claim 12  wherein the biological tissue is a heart, and control circuit is further configured to precondition damaged myocardial tissue of the heart by causing the generator circuit to generate and apply the electrical current therapy to damaged myocardial tissue to ensure that a pacing pulse will pace the damaged myocardial tissue. 
     
     
         18 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the biological tissue includes pancreatic tissue, and the control circuit is further configured to increase insulin production of the pancreatic tissue by causing the generator circuit to generate and apply the electrical current therapy to the pancreatic tissue. 
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the electrical current therapy increases Adenotriphosphate (ATP) production in cells of the biological tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to increase mobility of stem cells in the biological tissue by causing the generator circuit to generate and apply the electrical current therapy to the biological tissue.