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Portable unit for treating chronic pain

a portable unit and chronic pain technology, applied in electrotherapy, therapy, etc., can solve the problems of long time-consuming and laborious treatment of chronic pain, lack of portability, and substantial and/or permanent relief of patient's pain

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-02-23
MEDFAXX
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] As a first aspect, the present invention is directed to a portable pain treatment unit comprising: a first pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in a frequency range typical for interferential treatment; a second pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in the frequency range for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) treatment; electrodes operatively connected with the first and second pulse generators that are configured for application to a treatment area; and a power source operatively connected to the first and second pulse generators. A device of this configuration enables the patient to receive either IF or TENS treatment at a location of his / her choosing rather than being forced to receive IF treatment in a clinical setting.
[0011] As a second aspect, the present invention is directed to a TENS unit comprising: a pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in the frequency range for TENS treatment; electrodes operatively connected to the pulse generator that are configured for application to a treatment area; and a power source operatively connected to the pulse generator, wherein the pulse generator has an enhanced pulse width of at least 300 microseconds. In this configuration, the device has the capability of delivering enhanced width pulses, which can result in significant pain relief, particularly for “deep” pain.

Problems solved by technology

The treatment of chronic pain has long been a troublesome area of medical practice.
The diagnosis often results after multiple interventions by licensed medical professionals using surgery, drugs, manipulation, stretching, chiropractic, and other modalities without substantial and / or permanent relief of the patient's pain.
One significant shortcoming of a conventional interferential unit is its lack of portability.
Viable interferential units have required alternating current for operation, as different batteries that have been tried that would enable the unit to be portable (typical 9 volt systems, including both disposable alkaline batteries and rechargeable Ni—Cd batteries) have been inadequate (some exhaust the system in less than one minute).
Unfortunately, a TENS unit is generally not as effective as an interferential unit and rarely has the carryover effect achieved with the IF units.
Also, in many instances patients' pain relief is limited to areas between the electrodes of the TENS unit: i.e., “deep” pain (such as sciatica or other joint pain) is not relieved.

Method used

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  • Portable unit for treating chronic pain
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Embodiment Construction

[0013] The present invention will be described more particularly hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not intended to be limited to the illustrated embodiments; rather, these embodiments are intended to fully and completely disclose the invention to those skilled in this art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Thicknesses and dimensions of some components may be exaggerated for clarity.

[0014] Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”, “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is inverted, elements described as “under” or...

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Abstract

A portable pain treatment unit includes: a first pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in a frequency range typical for interferential treatment; a second pulse generator configured to deliver pulses in the frequency range for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) treatment; electrodes operatively connected with the first and second pulse generators that are configured for application to a treatment area; and a power source operatively connected to the first and second pulse generators. A device of this configuration enables the patient to receive either IF or TENS treatment at a location of his / her choosing rather than being forced to receive IF treatment in a clinical setting.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application claims priority from U.S Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60 / 603,138, filed Aug. 20, 2004, and 60 / 629,049, filed Nov. 18, 2004, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated herein in their entireties.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is directed generally to the devices for the treatment of pain, and more particularly to devices for the treatment of pain through electrical stimulation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The treatment of chronic pain has long been a troublesome area of medical practice. “Chronic pain” is a diagnosis that is less a true diagnosis of the physiological condition than a symptomatic diagnosis describing a chronic condition. The diagnosis often results after multiple interventions by licensed medical professionals using surgery, drugs, manipulation, stretching, chiropractic, and other modalities without substantial and / or permanent relief of the patient's pain. “Chronicity...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A61N1/34
CPCA61N1/0456A61N1/378A61N1/36021
Inventor JOHNSON, ROBERT G.
Owner MEDFAXX
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