Apparatus and method for bioelectric stimulation, healing acceleration and pain relief

Abstract

An apparatus for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, including two timing blocks for generating timing intervals T 1 -T 7 , an interconnection block for combining these intervals into an output signal having predetermined relationships among the intervals, an output block for transmitting the output signal to a load, and, optionally, a filter for removing unwanted frequency components from the output signal and an adjustment block for selecting from among a plurality of output signals with predetermined characteristics. The output is a repeating succession of a burst of rectangular waves, an equalizing pulse (if needed) to cancel net DC, and a rest period of no signal.

1. An apparatus for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said signal based on at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4 , said apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a set of at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4 , said timing intervals having approximately the relationships
 (a) (2×T 2 )≦T 1 ≦(20×T 2 ). 
 (b) 50 μsec≦(T 1 +T 2 )≦5000 μsec, 
 (c) T 3 ≧(10×T 1 ), and 
 (d) 0≦T 4 ≦500 msec; and 
 
 means for combining said timing intervals into an electrical signal having an amplitude, wherein said generating means is configured to produce a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 1  and T 2 ; and 
 means for selecting one of said paired values. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means operably connected to said generating means for changing at least one of said intervals T 1  through T 4 . 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said generating means produces a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 1  and T 2 , further comprising means for selecting one of said paired values. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for transmitting said electrical signal to a load. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  An apparatus for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said signal based on at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4 , said apparatus comprising:
 means for generating a set of at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4 , said timing intervals having approximately the relationships
 (a) (2×T 2 )≦T 1 ≦(20×T 2 ), 
 (b) 50 μsec≦(T 1 +T 2 )≦5000 μsec. 
 (c) T 3 ≧(10×T 1 ), and 
 (d) 0≦T 4 ≦500 msec; and 
 
 means for combining said timing intervals into an electrical signal having an amplitude, wherein said set of at least four timing intervals further comprises at least three additional timing intervals T 5 -T 7 , said at least three additional timing intervals having approximately the relationships
 (e) 0≦T 5 ≦T 1 , 
 (f) 0≦T 6 ≦T 1 , 
 (g) 0≦T 7 ≦500 msec, and 
 (f) 5 msec≦(T 3 +T 4 +T 7 )≦500 msec. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said interval T 3  further comprises a sequence containing an interval T 5 , followed by at least one pair of intervals (T 1 , T 2 ), followed by an interval T 6 . 
     
     
       7. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said intervals T 3 , T 4 , and T 7  form a continuous sequence of repeating intervals T 3 , T 4 , T 7 . 
     
     
       8. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , further comprising means operably connected to said generating means for changing at least one of said intervals T 1 -T 7 . 
     
     
       9. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said generating means produces a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 4  and T 7 , further comprising means for selecting one of said paired values. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said amplitude of said output signal further comprises:
 a first level L 1  during said intervals T 1 , T 5 , and T 6 ; 
 a second level L 2  during said intervals T 2  and T 4 ; and 
 a third level L 3  during said interval T 7 , wherein L 3  is between L 1  and L 2 . 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , wherein a transition between any two of said levels L 1  through L 3  has a decay time constant no greater than approximately one-half a length of said interval T 2 . 
     
     
       12. The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a fourth level L 4 , said level L 4  being intermediate said levels L 1  and L 2 , wherein a transition between any of said levels L 1  through L 3  and said level L 4  has a decay time constant no less than approximately 10 times a length of said interval T 1 . 
     
     
       13. The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising means operably connected to said combining means for changing at least one of said levels L 1  through L 3 . 
     
     
       14. The apparatus as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising means operably connected to said combining means for selecting among a plurality of values for said levels L 1  through L 3 . 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said signal based on at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4 , said apparatus comprising:
 a first timing block for generating a first timing interval T 1  and a second timing interval T 2 ; 
 a second timing block for generating a third timing interval T 3  and a fourth timing interval T 4 , said intervals T 1 -T 4  having approximately the relationships
 (a) (2×T 2 )≦T 1 ≦(20×T 2 ), 
 (b) 50 μsec≦(T 1 +T 2 )≦5000 μsec, 
 (c) T 3 ≧(10×T 1 ), and 
 (d) 0≦T 4 ≦500 msec; and 
 
 an interconnection block operably connected between said first and second timing blocks, said interconnection block combining said intervals T 1 -T 4 ; and 
 means operably connected to said interconnection block for generating an output signal with said intervals T 1 -T 4 , said output signal having an amplitude. 
 
     
     
       16. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising a filter operably connected to said generating means, said filter transmitting signal components within a selected frequency range. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising power supply means operably connected to said first and second timing blocks, said interconnection block, and said signal-generating means. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising means operably connected to said generating means for changing said amplitude. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said first and second timing blocks further comprise first and second astable multivibrators, respectively. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said interconnection block uses an output of said first astable multivibrator to control said second astable multivibrator. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said set of at least four timing intervals further comprises at least three additional timing intervals T 5 -T 7 ,
 wherein said first timing block further comprises means for generating said intervals T 5  and T 6 , 
 wherein said second timing block further comprises means for generating said interval T 7 , and 
 wherein said at least four additional timing intervals have approximately the relationships
 (e) 0≦T 5 ≦T 1 , 
 (f) 0≦T 6 ≦T 1 , 
 (g) 0≦T 7 ≦500 msec, and 
 (f) 5 msec≦(T 3 +T 4 +T 7 )≦500 msec. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said interval T 3  further comprises a sequence containing an interval T 5 , followed by at least one pair of intervals (T 1 , T 2 ), followed by an interval T 6 . 
     
     
       23. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said interconnection block divides said interval T 3  into a sequence of shorter intervals, said sequence consisting of at least one interval T 5 , followed by at least one pair of intervals (T 1 , T 2 ), followed by at least one interval T 6 . 
     
     
       24. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , further comprising means operably connected to said generating means for changing at least one of said intervals T 1 -T 7 . 
     
     
       25. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said generating means produces a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 4  and T 7 , further comprising means for selecting one of said paired values. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus as recited in  claim 21 , wherein said amplitude of said output signal further comprises:
 a first level L 1  during said intervals T 1 , T 5 , and T 6 ; 
 a second level L 2  during said intervals T 2  and T 4 ; 
 and a third level L 3  during said interval T 7 , wherein L 3  is between L 1  and L 2 ; and 
 means operably connected to said combining means for changing at least one of said levels L 1  through L 3 . 
 
     
     
       27. The apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , wherein a transition between any two of said levels L 1  through L 3  has a decay time constant no greater than approximately one-sixth a length of said interval T 2 . 
     
     
       28. The apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising a fourth level L 4 , said level L 4  being intermediate said levels L 1  and L 2 , an output voltage initially set at a selected one of said levels L 1  and L 2  decaying towards said level L 4  with a time constant no less than approximately 10 times a length of said interval T 1 ;
 means operably connected to said combining means for changing said level L 4 . 
 
     
     
       29. The apparatus as recited in  claim 26 , further comprising means operably connected to said combining means for selecting among a plurality of values for said levels L 1  through L 3 . 
     
     
       30. A method for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said method comprising:
 generating at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4  having approximately the relationships
 (a) (2×T 2 )≦T 1 ≦(20×T 2 ), 
 (b) 50 μsec≦(T 1 +T 2 )≦5000 μsec, 
 (c) T 3 ≧(10×T 1 ), and 
 (d) 0≦T 4 ≦500 msec; and 
 
 combining said timing intervals into an electrical signal having an amplitude; and 
 selecting one of a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 1  and T 2 . 
 
     
     
       31. The method as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising selecting one of a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 1  and T 2 . 
     
     
       32. The method as recited in  claim 30 , further comprising the step of A method for generating an electrical signal for use in biomedical applications, said method comprising:
 generating at least four timing intervals T 1 -T 4  having approximately the relationships:
 (a) (2+T 2 )≦T 1 (20+T 2 ), 
 (b) 50 μsec≦(T 1 +T 2 )≦5000 μsec, 
 (c) T 3 ≧(10+T 1 ), and 
 (d) 0≦T 4 ≦500 msec; 
 
 combining said timing intervals into an electrical signal having an amplitude; 
 generating at least three additional timing intervals having approximately the relationships
 (e) 0≦T 5   4 ≦T 1 , 
 (f) 0≦T 6 ≦T 1 , 
 (g) 0≦T 7 ≦500 msec, and 
 (f) 5 msec≦(T 3 +T 4 +T 7 )≦500 msec; and 
 
 combining said additional timing intervals with said intervals T 1 -T 4  to produce said electrical signal. 
 
     
     
       33. The apparatus method as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising selecting one of a plurality of paired values of said intervals T 4  and T 7 . 
     
     
       34. The method as recited in  claim 32 , further comprising:
 adjusting said amplitude to a first level L 1  during said intervals T 1 , T 6 , and T 7 ; 
 adjusting said amplitude to a second level L 2  during said intervals T 2  and T 4 ; and 
 adjusting said amplitude to a third level L 3  during said interval T 7 , wherein L 3  is between L 1  and L 2 . 
 
     
     
       35. The apparatus as recited in  claim 34 , further comprising means operably connected to said combining means for selecting among a plurality of values for said levels L 1  through L 3 . 
     
     
       36. A method comprising:
 placing at least one electrically conductive body in contact with skin of a human or animal and applying a waveform of voltage or current to the electrically conductive body,   wherein the waveform comprises a first interval wherein the waveform is held substantially at zero polarity interspersed with a second interval wherein the waveform comprises a burst of pulses, the burst of pulses alternating between opposite polarities, the waveform at each polarity having a given duration that produces a substantially flat-topped waveform, the first interval being longer than the second interval, and wherein the duration of a first polarity of the opposite polarities comprises at least twice but not more than twenty times the duration of the opposite polarity.   
     
     
       37. The method of claim 36,
 wherein each pulse of the second interval comprises a substantially rectangular waveform.   
     
     
       38. The method of claim 36, wherein the polarities are equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       39. The method of claim 36, wherein the polarities are non-equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       40. The method of claim 36, wherein the skin contact is through gel. 
     
     
       41. The method of claim 36, wherein the waveform is for electrotherapeutic treatment of the human or animal. 
     
     
       42. The method of claim 41, wherein the electrotherapeutic treatment is selected from the group consisting of stimulating fracture healing, stimulating wound healing, relieving acute pain, relieving chronic pain, treating osteoporosis, stimulating healing acceleration, relieving swelling, relieving inflammation, treating tendonitis, treating repetitive stress injuries, treating carpal tunnel syndrome, treating osteoarthritis, modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       43. The method of claim 36, wherein the waveform is
 produced from a battery-operated, portable device suitable to be worn by a human or animal, and   applied to the human or animal with at least two electrically conductive bodies in contact with the skin of the human or animal.   
     
     
       44. The method of claim 36, wherein the method further comprises removing or minimizing unwanted components of the waveform through means selected from the group consisting of DC-blocking capacitors, an equalizing pulse to remove or minimize a DC component, and filtering means to remove or minimize unwanted AC frequencies. 
     
     
       45. The method of claim 44, wherein the waveform is applied for electrotherapeutic treatment to the human or animal. 
     
     
       46. The method of claim 45, wherein the electrotherapeutic treatment is selected from the group consisting of stimulating fracture healing, stimulating wound healing, relieving acute pain, relieving chronic pain, treating osteoporosis, stimulating healing acceleration, relieving swelling, relieving inflammation, treating tendonitis, treating repetitive stress injuries, treating carpal tunnel syndrome, treating osteoarthritis, modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       47. The method of claim 44, wherein the waveform is
 produced from a battery-operated, portable device suitable to be worn by a human or animal, and   applied to the human or animal with at least two electrically conductive bodies in contact with skin of the human or animal.   
     
     
       48. The method of claim 36, wherein the electrically conductive body is selected from the group consisting of an electrode and gel. 
     
     
       49. A method comprising:
 applying a waveform to a human or animal,   wherein the waveform comprises a first interval wherein the waveform undergoes no transition interspersed with a second interval wherein the waveform includes a burst of pulses,   the first interval being longer than the second interval,   the waveform including an equalizing pulse at the end of a cycle to remove a DC component.   
     
     
       50. The method of claim 49,
 wherein each pulse of the second interval comprises a substantially rectangular waveform.   
     
     
       51. The method of claim 49, wherein the burst of pulses alternates between two polarities. 
     
     
       52. The method of claim 51, wherein the polarities are opposite. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 51, wherein the polarities are equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       54. The method of claim 51, wherein the polarities are non-equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       55. The method of claim 51, wherein one polarity is zero in magnitude. 
     
     
       56. The method of claim 51, wherein the duration of a first polarity of the opposite polarities comprises at least twice but not more than twenty times the duration of the opposite polarity. 
     
     
       57. The method of claim 49, wherein the waveform is applied to skin of the human or animal. 
     
     
       58. The method of claim 49, wherein the waveform is applied to human or animal skin for electrotherapeutic treatment of the human or animal. 
     
     
       59. The method of claim 58, wherein the skin contact is through gel. 
     
     
       60. The method of claim 58, wherein the electrotherapeutic treatment is selected from the group consisting of stimulating fracture healing, stimulating wound healing, relieving acute pain, relieving chronic pain, treating osteoporosis, stimulating healing acceleration, relieving swelling, relieving inflammation, treating tendonitis, treating repetitive stress injuries, treating carpal tunnel syndrome, treating osteoarthritis, modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       61. A method comprising:
 placing at least one electrically conductive body in contact with a medium containing isolated cells or cultured tissue and applying a waveform of voltage or current to the electrically conductive body,   wherein the waveform comprises a first interval wherein the waveform is held substantially at zero polarity interspersed with a second interval wherein the waveform comprises a burst of pulses, the burst of pulses alternating between opposite polarities, the waveform at each polarity having a given duration that produces a substantially flat-topped waveform, the first interval being longer than the second interval.   
     
     
       62. The method of claim 61,
 wherein each pulse of the second interval comprises a substantially rectangular waveform.   
     
     
       63. The method of claim 61, wherein the duration of a first polarity of the opposite polarities comprises at least twice but not more than twenty times the duration of the opposite polarity. 
     
     
       64. The method of claim 61, wherein the polarities are equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       65. The method of claim 61, wherein the polarities are non-equal in magnitude. 
     
     
       66. The method of claim 61, wherein the waveform is applied to isolated cells or cultured tissue for electrostimulation of the isolated cells or cultured tissue. 
     
     
       67. The method of claim 66, wherein the electrostimulation results in an effect selected from the group consisting of modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       68. The method of claim 67, wherein the method further comprises removing or minimizing unwanted components of the waveform through means selected from the group consisting of DC-blocking capacitors, an equalizing pulse to remove or minimize a DC component, and filtering means to remove or minimize unwanted AC frequencies. 
     
     
       69. The method of claim 61, wherein the waveform is
 produced from a battery-operated, portable device,   and applied to the isolated cells or cultured tissue with at least two electrically conductive bodies.   
     
     
       70. The method of claim 69, wherein the waveform is applied to isolated cells or cultured tissue for electrostimulation of the isolated cells or cultured tissue. 
     
     
       71. The method of claim 70, wherein the electrostimulation results in the effect selected from the group consisting of modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       72. The method of claim 61, wherein the electrically conductive body is selected from the group consisting of an electrode and gel. 
     
     
       73. An apparatus comprising:
 a means for placing at least one electrically conductive body in contact with skin of a human or animal and applying a waveform of voltage or current to the electrically conductive body,   wherein the waveform comprises a first interval wherein the waveform is held substantially at zero polarity interspersed with a second interval wherein the waveform comprises a burst of pulses, the burst of pulses alternating between opposite polarities, the waveform at each polarity having a given duration that produces a substantially flat-topped waveform, the first interval being longer than the second interval, wherein the duration of a first polarity of the opposite polarities comprises at least twice but not more than twenty times the duration of the opposite polarity.   
     
     
       74. The apparatus of claim 73,
 wherein each pulse of the second interval comprises a substantially rectangular waveform.   
     
     
       75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the waveform is applied to human or animal skin for electrotherapeutic treatment. 
     
     
       76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the electrotherapeutic treatment is selected from the group consisting of stimulating fracture healing, stimulating wound healing, relieving acute pain, relieving chronic pain, treating osteoporosis, stimulating healing acceleration, relieving swelling, relieving inflammation, treating tendonitis, treating repetitive stress injuries, treating carpal tunnel syndrome, treating osteoarthritis, modifying the rate of cell metabolism, modifying cell secretion, modifying cell replication, modifying cell proliferation and modifying cell differentiation. 
     
     
       77. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the waveform is
 produced from a battery-operated, portable device suitable to be worn by a human or animal, and   applied to the human or animal with at least two electrically conductive bodies in contact with the skin of the human or animal.   
     
     
       78. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the apparatus further comprises removing or minimizing unwanted components of the waveform through means selected from the group consisting of DC-blocking capacitors, an equalizing pulse to remove or minimize a DC component, and filtering means to remove or minimize unwanted AC frequencies.