Rhythm-Synchronized Neuromuscular Stimulation System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical stimulation systems for pain relief, such as TENS, often rely on steady and linear current delivery, which can be uncomfortable and may not effectively synchronize with user preferences for frequency and intensity, lacking adaptability to individual comfort levels and musical rhythms.
Innovation Solution
A multi-sensory therapeutic system that synchronizes electrical neuromuscular stimulation with audio rhythm by encoding high-frequency, short-duration audio marks inaudible to humans within digital audio, filtering these marks to generate dynamic electrical impulses synchronized with audio tempo, allowing for user-defined pulse width adjustments and delivery through electrodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional TENS uses high stimulation frequency (50-150 Hz) and low intensity current (1-2 mA), then user comfort is improved, but therapeutic effectiveness for some users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts stimulation parameters by synchronizing electrical impulses with audio rhythm, transitioning from static conventional TENS to adaptive rhythm-modulated stimulation. The impulse frequency varies with musical tempo while intensity remains below threshold, creating a dynamic treatment that adapts to rhythmic patterns rather than using fixed parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameters of electrical stimulation by using rhythm-synchronized impulse delivery instead of conventional continuous or fixed-frequency pulses. The system modulates stimulation timing and frequency based on audio rhythm characteristics, transforming standard TENS parameters into rhythm-adaptive parameters that can achieve therapeutic effects at lower intensities
2Ease of operation
If TENS uses low intensity current (1-2 mA), then user comfort is improved, but the stimulation effectiveness for pain relief deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic electrical impulses synchronized to audio rhythm rather than continuous or fixed-frequency stimulation. By delivering impulses in rhythm-aligned periods, the system enhances therapeutic effectiveness through rhythmic modulation while maintaining below-threshold intensity levels, leveraging temporal patterning to improve efficacy without increasing intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by analyzing audio rhythm characteristics and using them to modulate stimulation parameters in real-time. The rhythm detection and synchronization create a feedback loop where the stimulation adapts to rhythmic patterns, allowing effective pain relief at lower intensities through intelligent parameter adjustment based on rhythmic feedback
3Device complexity
If conventional TENS uses steady and linear current delivery, then device simplicity is improved, but adaptability to user preferences and musical rhythms deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces audio rhythm as an intermediary that mediates between the electrical stimulation generator and the user's body. The audio signal serves as a temporal reference that translates musical rhythm into stimulation timing patterns, acting as a bridge that enables rhythmic synchronization without requiring complex direct neural feedback mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces conventional mechanical or electronic rhythm generation mechanisms with audio-based rhythm detection and synchronization. Instead of using internal oscillators or mechanical metronomes, the system extracts rhythmic information from audio signals, substituting acoustic processing for traditional timing mechanisms and enabling versatile rhythm adaptation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides a more comfortable and therapeutic pain relief experience by adapting electrical impulse frequency and intensity to audio rhythms, enhancing user comfort and therapeutic effectiveness across a range of frequencies and below threshold pulse intensities.
Implementation Method 1
The frequency of delivered electrical impulse is synchronized with audio signal tempo... filtering these marks to generate dynamic electrical impulses synchronized with audio tempo
Data Source
AI summary
A system for delivering dynamic electrical impulses to a recipient includes an audio input source, a user interface, and a control device. The audio input source provides an audio signal representing a pre-recorded audio composition and high-frequency audio marks mixed therewith. The device includes an audio circuit branch which receives the audio signal and provides a commensurate audio output. A cadence timing circuit also receives the audio signal, filters sequences of audio marks from the audio signal, and generates electrical impulses in accordance with the filtered signals. A pulse width adjustment circuit regulates pulse widths of the electrical impulses in response to a user-selectable input setting. An output circuit provides the pulse-width-adjusted electrical impulses across a plurality of output terminals. A plurality of electrode pads are shaped for positioning on the recipient's body and coupled to the plurality of output terminals to receive the electrical impulses.