Wireless Electrical Stimulation Units for Multi-Site Electrode Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical stimulation systems are inconvenient due to their tethered control units, allowing only one treatment at a time and lacking user feedback, and struggle with treating spaced-apart body parts effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wireless electrical stimulation system with a remote controller that can control multiple units, featuring fasteners for attaching electrode pads, and cables for extending electrode placement, enabling flexible and simultaneous treatment of multiple body parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tethered control units are used, then the system provides stable electrical stimulation control, but the system becomes inconvenient to use and allows only one treatment at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into separate functional modules: a wireless controller unit and one or more electrical stimulation units. The controller transmits wireless signals to control the stimulation units, eliminating the need for physical tethers and allowing independent placement of each unit for greater convenience and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical tether connecting the control unit to the stimulation unit is replaced with a wireless communication system. The controller uses wireless signals (such as radio frequency communication) to control the stimulation units, eliminating physical constraints and improving ease of operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrodes are connected directly to a single stimulation unit, then the system structure is simple, but it becomes very difficult to treat parts of the body spaced apart from the stimulation unit
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless controller can control multiple electrical stimulation units simultaneously or independently. Each stimulation unit can be placed near different body parts, allowing the system to treat multiple areas with a single controller, thereby increasing treatment coverage and versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point stimulation unit to a distributed multi-unit configuration. By spreading multiple stimulation units across different locations on the body and controlling them wirelessly from a central controller, the system adds spatial dimensionality to its operation, enabling treatment of spaced-apart body parts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems use fixed electrode placement, then the system structure is simple, but treatment flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic reconfiguration of electrode placement and stimulation parameters. Users can easily attach electrode pads to different body locations and the wireless controller can adjust stimulation settings in real-time, providing both treatment flexibility and ease of operation through adaptable configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling the electrical stimulation system is provided. The method includes a controller transmits signals to an electrical stimulation unit, and the electrical stimulation unit generates electrical pulses based on the signals. The electrical stimulation unit delivers the electrical pulses to an electrode pad attached to the electrical stimulation unit. The electrical stimulation unit includes at least one first fastener. The at least one first fastener is configured to attach to the electrode pad via at least one second fastener located within the electrode pad, and the electrode pad includes at least one electrode.