Electrical Stimulation-Based Weight Management System

Abstract

The disclosed electrical stimulation system generates interventions to assist patients in complying with a diet. The wearable device includes a microprocessor, electrical stimulator and at least one electrode configured to deliver electrical stimulation to the epidermis, through a range of 0.1 mm to 10 mm or a range of 0.1 mm to 20 mm of the dermis, of a T2 dermatome to a T12 dermatome or meridian of the patient, a C5 to a T1 dermatome across the hand and/or arm, and/or the upper chest regions. The device is adapted to provide electrical stimulation as per stimulation protocols and to communicate wirelessly with a companion control device configured to monitor and record appetite patterns of the patient and deliver titrated therapy. The control device is also configured to monitor, record, and modify stimulation parameters of the stimulation protocols.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A weight management system comprising:
 an electrical stimulator comprising a housing, a controller configured to generate an electrical pulse train and positioned within the housing, and at least one electrode in electrical communication with the controller; and   a computer program product adapted to be stored and executed on a mobile device, wherein the computer program product, when executed by the mobile device:
 generates data representative of a first graphical user interface, wherein the first graphical user interface is adapted to prompt a user to input two or more mealtimes; 
 receives data representative of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a first on-time based on a first of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a first off-time based on the first of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a second on-time based on the first of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a second off-time based on the first of the two or more mealtimes; and 
 causes a signal representative of the first on-time, first off-time, second on-time, and second off-time to be communicated to the electrical stimulator. 
   
     
     
         2 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the electrical pulse train based on the first on-time and configured to turn off the electrical pulse train based on the first off-time. 
     
     
         3 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the electrical pulse train based on the second on-time and configured to turn off the electrical pulse train based on the second off-time. 
     
     
         4 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a third on-time based on a second of the one or more mealtimes. 
     
     
         5 . The weight management system of  claim 4 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a third off-time based on the second of the one or more mealtimes and communicates a signal representative of the third on-time and third off-time to the electrical stimulator. 
     
     
         6 . The weight management system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the electrical pulse train based on the third on-time and configured to turn off the electrical pulse train based on the third off-time. 
     
     
         7 . The weight management system of  claim 5 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a fourth on-time based on the second of the one or more mealtimes. 
     
     
         8 . The weight management system of  claim 7 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a fourth off-time based on the second of the one or more mealtimes and communicates a signal representative of the fourth on-time and fourth off-time to the electrical stimulator. 
     
     
         9 . The weight management system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the electrical pulse train based on the fourth on-time and configured to turn off the electrical pulse train based on the fourth off-time. 
     
     
         10 . The weight management system of  claim 8 , wherein the first graphical user interface is adapted to prompt the user to input at least three mealtimes. 
     
     
         11 . The weight management system of  claim 10 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a fifth on-time based on a third of the at least three mealtimes. 
     
     
         12 . The weight management system of  claim 11 , when executed by the mobile device, the computer program product further determines a fifth off-time based on the third of the at least three mealtimes and communicates the fifth on-time and fifth off-time to the electrical stimulator. 
     
     
         13 . The weight management system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the electrical pulse train based on the fifth on-time and configured to turn off the electrical pulse train based on the fifth off-time. 
     
     
         14 . The weight management system of  claim 12 , when an amount of time between the first on-time and first off-time is between 10 minutes and 60 minutes, an amount of time between the second on-time and second off-time is between 10 minutes and 60 minutes, an amount of time between the third on-time and third off-time is between 10 minutes and 60 minutes, an amount of time between the fourth on-time and fourth off-time is between 10 minutes and 60 minutes, and an amount of time between the fifth on-time and fifth off-time is between 10 minutes and 60 minutes. 
     
     
         15 . The weight management system of  claim 12 , when an amount of time between the first off-time and second on-time is between 15 minutes and 120 minutes, an amount of time between the second off-time and third on-time is between 2 hours and 8 hours, an amount of time between the third off-time and fourth on-time is between 15 minutes and 120 minutes, and an amount of time between the fourth off-time and fifth on-time is between 2 hours and 8 hours. 
     
     
         16 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer program product is further adapted to receive data indicative of an authenticity or validity of the at least one electrode. 
     
     
         17 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulator is configured to turn on based on the signal representative of the first on-time and is configured to turn off based on the signal representative of the first off-time. 
     
     
         18 . The weight management system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to be programmed based on at the signal representative of the first on-time and the first off-time. 
     
     
         19 . A weight management system comprising:
 an electrical stimulator comprising a housing, a controller configured to generate an electrical pulse train and positioned within the housing, and at least one electrode in electrical communication with the controller; and   a computer program product adapted to be stored and executed on a mobile device, wherein the computer program product, when executed by the mobile device:
 generates data representative of a first graphical user interface, wherein the first graphical user interface is adapted to prompt a user to input two or more mealtimes; 
 receives data representative of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a first on-time based on a first of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a first off-time, wherein the first off-time is in a range of 10 minutes to 60 minutes after the first on-time; 
 determines a second on-time based on the first of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a second off-time, wherein the second off-time is in a range of 10 minutes to 60 minutes after the second on-time; 
 determines a third on-time based on a second of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a third off-time, wherein the third off-time is in a range of 10 minutes to 60 minutes after the third on-time; 
 determines a fourth on-time based on the second of the two or more mealtimes; 
 determines a fourth off-time, wherein the fourth off-time is in a range of 10 minutes to 60 minutes after the fourth on-time; and 
 causes a signal representative of at least one of the first on-time, the first off-time, the second on-time, the second off-time, the third on-time, or the third off-time to be communicated to the electrical stimulator and wherein the electrical stimulator is configured to start or stop the electrical pulse train based on the at least one of the first on-time, the first off-time, the second on-time, the second off-time, the third on-time, or the third off-time. 
   
     
     
         20 . The weight management system of  claim 19 , wherein the computer program product is further adapted to receive data indicative of an authenticity or validity of the at least one electrode.