A disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device

Abstract

This invention aims to provide a miniaturized, low-cost, disposable electroosmotic and electrostimulation device. To solve the aforementioned technical problems, the technical solution of this invention is: a disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device, including a battery, a control chip, a flexible circuit, several stimulation electrodes, and a conductive gel; the control chip has several stimulation pins, which are connected to the stimulation electrodes one by one through the flexible circuit; the control chip is also connected to the battery through the flexible circuit; each stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel; all the above components are integrally packaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of medical devices, specifically to a low-cost, disposable electroosmotic and electrostimulation device. Background Technology

[0002] Iontoosmosis is a physical process in which ion currents diffuse directionally through a medium under the influence of an electric field. This phenomenon directly or indirectly establishes a method for the active transport of substances under the action of an electric field. In the early 20th century, iontoosmosis began to gain popularity in the field of drug delivery, commonly used in local drug administration, local anesthesia, or analgesia.

[0003] Transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) is a relatively common treatment method in recent years, widely used in various fields such as the treatment of neurological diseases, muscle rehabilitation, and analgesia. Common modes include TENS and NMES.

[0004] Iontoosmosis and transcutaneous electrostimulation (TCE) share many similarities in the equipment used, generally consisting of electrode contacts at the treatment site and a main control unit that generates electrical signals. The difference lies in the voltage and waveform of the electrical signals required. Therefore, products integrating both signal generation modes into a single main control unit have existed for some time. However, early main control units were too bulky, making them inconvenient for patients to carry and hindering real-time drug administration and pain relief.

[0005] In recent years, with technological advancements, many products have miniaturized their main control devices. These devices can be tightly connected to the electrodes and powered by batteries, allowing users to replace the electrodes only after a period of time, and enabling long-term, repeated use. While these products achieve real-time drug delivery and pain relief to some extent, they remain unsuitable for applications frequently involving electroosmotic drug delivery or transdermal electrostimulation. For example, in scenarios involving the chest, back, or shoulders, while the main control device can be concealed under clothing, it creates a significant protrusion, hindering user movement. Furthermore, its size and weight can impede movement or even cause the device to fall during exercise or other activities. Moreover, these products often require a trade-off between component complexity and functionality, making it difficult to achieve both simultaneously. For instance, the main control for electroosmotic and transdermal electrostimulation is limited by component layout, making integration into a single device challenging. Patent application number 201180009247.4 provides a patch for iontosmotic therapy, but its structure suffers from the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to further miniaturize these electroosmotic stimulation devices to adapt to more usage scenarios and maximize user convenience. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The present invention aims to provide a miniaturized, low-cost, disposable electroosmosis and electrostimulation device.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention is: a disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device, including a battery, a control chip, a flexible circuit, a plurality of stimulation electrodes, and a conductive gel; the control chip is provided with a plurality of stimulation pins, and the stimulation pins are connected to the stimulation electrodes one by one through the flexible circuit; the control chip is also connected to the battery through the flexible circuit; each stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel; the above components are integrally packaged.

[0009] By integrating various conventional components onto a single chip, the electronic components are greatly simplified and costs are reduced while maintaining electroosmosis and electrostimulation functions, making this invention suitable for disposable use. The flexible circuit, with its deformation and rotation characteristics, allows the invention to conform more closely to the human body during use, without hindering the user's activities. The conductive gel prevents direct contact between the human body and the metal electrodes, and its adhesive properties allow the invention to adhere to the human body surface, preventing detachment and maintaining sufficient contact and electrical signal conduction. Encapsulating these components integrally on a flexible substrate or in a single plastic encapsulation further enhances the fit to the human body during use, and the entire device consists of only one component from production to final use, facilitating packaging, transportation, use, and recycling after disposal.

[0010] Preferably, the control chip includes a control module, a drive module, and a power management module; the drive module and the power management module are respectively connected to the control module, and the drive module is also connected to the stimulation pin.

[0011] In the chip, the driver module is mainly responsible for outputting electrical signals suitable for different needs; the control chip remains in a low-power standby state after packaging. When it receives the working signal from the power management module, it enters the normal working mode. In this way, the battery consumption of the present invention is reduced from the time after packaging to the time of user use. Combined with the integrated packaging mentioned above, it can effectively reduce production, storage and transportation costs.

[0012] Preferably, the driving module includes an iontophoresis driving module and an electrostimulation driving module.

[0013] The iontophoresis driving module can output electrical signals for iontophoresis; the electrical stimulation driving module can output electrical signals for transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

[0014] Preferably, the electrical stimulation driving module can be a muscle electrical stimulation, vagus nerve electrical stimulation, or peripheral nerve electrical stimulation mode.

[0015] Multiple stimulation modes can be used to address different treatment needs.

[0016] Preferably, the electrical signal generated by the electrical stimulation driving module can be a direct current signal, a triangular wave, a sine wave, a square wave, or a combination of the above waveforms.

[0017] Multiple electrical signals are suitable for different electrical stimulation modes.

[0018] Preferably, the control chip is further provided with a pair of stimulation trigger pins and a pair of electroosmotic trigger pins, and the power management module is also connected to the stimulation trigger pins and the electroosmotic trigger pins respectively.

[0019] By setting two trigger pins, users can select different working modes when using this invention.

[0020] Preferably, the ends of the pair of stimulation trigger pins are both in contact with wire A, and wire A is also connected to adhesive tape A; the ends of the pair of electroosmotic trigger pins are both in contact with wire B, and wire B is also connected to adhesive tape B.

[0021] To achieve miniaturization and disposable design, this invention minimizes the number of components, reduces costs, and simplifies user operation. As a disposable device, it eliminates the need for switches or control mechanisms. Users simply peel off the corresponding adhesive tape according to the desired operating mode. The tape also removes the corresponding wires, disconnecting the electrical conduction between a pair of stimulation trigger pins or a pair of electroosmotic trigger pins. The power management module then sends a corresponding operating signal to the control module via its built-in discharge control circuit, and the device enters the corresponding electroosmotic or electrostimulation operating mode.

[0022] Preferably, each of the pair of stimulation trigger pins is provided with a conductive disk A1 and a conductive disk A2 at its end, and an insulating paper A is provided between the conductive disks A1 and A2; each of the pair of electroosmotic trigger pins is provided with a conductive disk B1 and a conductive disk B2 at its end, and an insulating paper B is provided between the conductive disks B1 and B2.

[0023] To achieve miniaturization and disposable design, this invention minimizes the number of components, reduces costs, and simplifies user operation. As a disposable device, it does not require switches or control mechanisms. When in use, the user removes the corresponding insulating paper according to the desired operating mode, which closes the electrical conduction of a pair of stimulation trigger pins or a pair of electroosmosis trigger pins. At this time, the power management module sends the corresponding operating signal to the control module, and the device enters the corresponding electroosmosis or electrostimulation operating mode.

[0024] Preferably, the conductive gel is further provided with an iontophoresis drug.

[0025] The DC signal generated by the iontophoresis driving module of this invention can be used to enhance the permeability of drugs through the membrane into the subcutaneous tissue. If the drug is negatively charged or has a negative polarity, it is placed at the negative electrode and, driven by the negative electrode, moves towards any direction with a positive electrode in the body. If a positively charged drug is to be introduced, the configuration is exactly the opposite.

[0026] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0027] The disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device described in this invention has the advantage of high integration, which minimizes the use of electronic components and mechanical structures. The production, packaging and transportation costs are lower than existing products, making it suitable for single-use disposable applications.

[0028] The disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device described in this invention integrates two working modes, meeting two usage requirements with one device, simplifying the production process and reducing production costs.

[0029] The disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device described in this invention is smaller and lighter than existing products, making it convenient for users to use in various environments and greatly simplifying user operation. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device according to the present invention;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a disposable patch-type electroosmosis and electrostimulation device according to the present invention;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a module diagram of the control chip described in this invention.

[0034] The components are as follows: 1. Control chip, 2. Flexible circuit, 3. Stimulating electrode, 4. Conductive gel, 5. Wire A, 6. Adhesive tape A, 7. Wire B, 8. Adhesive tape B, 9. Conductive disk A1, 10. Conductive disk A2, 11. Insulating paper A, 12. Stimulation trigger pin, 13. Electroosmotic trigger pin, 14. Control module, 15. Power management module, 16. Drive module, 17. Ion electroosmotic drive module, 18. Electrical stimulation drive module, 19. Stimulation pin, 20. Battery. Detailed Implementation

[0035] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0036] Example 1

[0037] Combination Figure 1 , 2 4. A disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device, comprising a battery, a control chip 1, a flexible circuit 2, a plurality of stimulation electrodes 3, and a conductive gel 4; the control chip 1 is provided with a plurality of stimulation pins 19, and the stimulation pins 19 are connected to the stimulation electrodes 3 one by one through the flexible circuit 2; the control chip 1 is also connected to the battery 20 through the flexible circuit 2; each stimulation electrode 3 is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel 4; the above components are integrally packaged.

[0038] The device initially operates in a low-power standby state. When the user needs to perform electrical stimulation, the device is attached to the area requiring stimulation using conductive gel 4. Then, the user removes adhesive tape A6, which simultaneously pulls wire A5 away from the stimulation trigger pin 12. At this time, the power management module 15, connected to the stimulation trigger pin 12, sends a signal for low-to-medium frequency electrical stimulation to the control module 14 via its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module 14 then sends a working signal to the electrical stimulation drive module 18 in the drive module 16, and the electrical stimulation drive module 18 begins to emit:

[0039] A. The waveform is a square wave;

[0040] B. The pulse interval is 15ms, and the pulse width is 200μs;

[0041] C. Maximum current is 0.3-70mA;

[0042] The low-to-medium frequency electrical signals are used for TENS treatment.

[0043] The electrical signal reaches the human body through stimulation pin 19 and conductive gel 4, performing low- to medium-frequency electrical stimulation.

[0044] Once the user has used the device for a sufficient period of time or the battery 20 has run out of power, the device can be removed and discarded for recycling. From the moment the user begins using the device until the very end, there is only one complete device, requiring only one simple operation.

[0045] Example 2

[0046] Combination Figure 1 , 34. A disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device, comprising a battery, a control chip 1, a flexible circuit 2, a plurality of stimulation electrodes 3, and a conductive gel 4; the control chip 1 is provided with a plurality of stimulation pins 19, and the stimulation pins 19 are connected to the stimulation electrodes 3 one by one through the flexible circuit 2; the control chip 1 is also connected to the battery 20 through the flexible circuit 2; each stimulation electrode 3 is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel 4; the above components are integrally packaged.

[0047] The device initially operates in a low-power standby state. When the user needs to perform electrical stimulation, the device is attached to the area requiring stimulation using conductive gel 4. Then, the user removes insulating paper A11, and conductive disks A19 and A210 make contact and conduct electricity due to their elasticity. At this time, the power management module 15, connected to the stimulation trigger pin 12, sends a signal to the control module 14 to initiate electrical stimulation. The control module 14 then sends a working signal to the electrical stimulation drive module 18 in the drive module 16, and the electrical stimulation drive module 18 begins to emit:

[0048] A. The waveform is a square wave;

[0049] B. The pulse interval is 15ms, and the pulse width is 200μs;

[0050] C. Maximum current is 0.3-70mA;

[0051] The electrical signals are used for TENS treatment.

[0052] The electrical signal reaches the human body through stimulation pin 19 and conductive gel 4, performing low- to medium-frequency electrical stimulation.

[0053] Once the user has used the device for a sufficient period of time or the battery 20 has run out of power, the device can be removed and discarded for recycling. From the moment the user begins using the device until the very end, there is only one complete device, requiring only one simple operation.

[0054] Example 3

[0055] The other steps are the same as in Example 1, except that when the user needs to administer electroosmotic drug, the device of the present invention is attached to the area requiring electrical stimulation using conductive gel 4. Then, the user peels off the adhesive tape B 8, which simultaneously pulls the wire B 7 away from the electroosmotic trigger pin 13. At this time, the power management module 15 connected to the electroosmotic trigger pin 13 sends a signal to the control module 14 to perform iontophoresis through its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module 14 then sends a working signal to the iontophoresis drive module 17 in the drive module 16, and the iontophoresis drive module 17 begins to output 3-12V DC power to administer the drug via electroosmosis.

[0056] Example 4

[0057] The other steps are the same as in Example 2, except that when the user needs to administer electroosmotic drug, the device of the present invention is attached to the area requiring electrical stimulation using conductive gel 4. Then, the user removes the insulating paper B, and conductive disks B1 and B2 make contact due to their elasticity. At this time, the power management module 15, connected to the electroosmotic trigger pin 13, sends a signal for iontophoresis to the control module 14 through its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module 14 then sends a working signal to the iontophoresis drive module 17 in the drive module 16, and the iontophoresis drive module 17 begins to emit 3-12V DC power to administer the drug via electroosmosis.

[0058] The structural relationship between insulating paper B, conductive disk B1 and conductive disk B2 is the same as that between insulating paper A11, conductive disk A110 and conductive disk A211, so the attached diagram will not be repeated.

Claims

1. A disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device, comprising a battery, characterized in that, It also includes a control chip, a flexible circuit, several stimulation electrodes, and a conductive gel; the control chip has several stimulation pins, which are connected to the stimulation electrodes one by one through the flexible circuit; the control chip is also connected to a battery through the flexible circuit; each stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel; all the above components are integrally packaged; the control chip includes a control module, a drive module, and a power management module; the drive module and the power management module are respectively connected to the control module, and the drive module is also connected to the stimulation pins; the drive module includes an iontophoresis drive module and an electrostimulation drive module. The control chip also includes a pair of stimulation trigger pins and a pair of electroosmotic trigger pins. The power management module is connected to the stimulation trigger pins and the electroosmotic trigger pins respectively. The electrical signal generated by the electrical stimulation drive module can be a DC signal, a triangular wave, a sine wave, a square wave, or a combination of the above waveforms. The ends of the pair of stimulation trigger pins are in contact with wire A, and wire A is also connected to adhesive tape A. When the user peels off the adhesive tape A, the adhesive tape A simultaneously pulls the corresponding wire A away from the stimulation trigger pin. The power management module connected to the stimulation trigger pin sends a signal for low-to-medium frequency electrical stimulation to the control module through its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module then sends a working signal to the electrical stimulation drive module in the drive module to activate the electrical stimulation mode, or... The ends of the pair of electroosmotic trigger pins are both in contact with wire B, which is also connected to adhesive tape B. When the user tears off the adhesive tape B, the adhesive tape B simultaneously pulls the corresponding wire B away from the electroosmotic trigger pin. At this time, the power management module connected to the electroosmotic trigger pin sends a signal to the control module to perform iontophoresis through its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module then sends a working signal to the iontophoresis drive module in the drive module, and the iontophoresis drive module starts to output 3-12V DC power to perform electroosmotic drug delivery, thereby activating the electroosmosis mode.

2. A disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device, comprising a battery, characterized in that, It also includes a control chip, a flexible circuit, several stimulation electrodes, and a conductive gel; the control chip has several stimulation pins, which are connected to the stimulation electrodes one by one through the flexible circuit; the control chip is also connected to a battery through the flexible circuit; each stimulation electrode is connected to the stimulated area through the conductive gel; all the above components are integrally packaged; the control chip includes a control module, a drive module, and a power management module; the drive module and the power management module are respectively connected to the control module, and the drive module is also connected to the stimulation pins; the drive module includes an iontophoresis drive module and an electrostimulation drive module. The control chip also has a pair of stimulation trigger pins and a pair of electroosmotic trigger pins. The power management module is connected to the stimulation trigger pins and the electroosmotic trigger pins respectively. The electrical signal generated by the electrical stimulation drive module can be a DC signal, a triangular wave, a sine wave, a square wave, or a combination of the above waveforms. Each pair of stimulation trigger pins has a conductive disk A1 and a conductive disk A2 at its end. An insulating paper A is placed between the conductive disks A1 and A2. When the user removes the insulating paper A, the conductive disks A1 and A2 make contact and conduct electricity due to their elasticity. At this time, the power management module connected to the stimulation trigger pins sends a signal to the control module to initiate electrical stimulation. The control module then sends a working signal to the electrical stimulation drive module in the drive module to activate the electrical stimulation mode; or Each of the pair of electroosmosis trigger pins has a conductive disk B1 and a conductive disk B2 at its end, with an insulating paper B between them. When the user removes the insulating paper B, the conductive disks B1 and B2 make contact due to their elasticity. At this time, the power management module connected to the electroosmosis trigger pins sends a signal to the control module to initiate ion electroosmosis through its built-in discharge control circuit. The control module then sends a working signal to the ion electroosmosis drive module in the drive module, and the ion electroosmosis drive module starts to output 3-12V DC power to start the electroosmosis mode.

3. The disposable patch-type electroosmotic and electrostimulation device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive gel is also provided with iontophoresis drugs.

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