Wireless Electrical Stimulation System for Spaced-Apart Body Areas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical stimulation systems, such as TENS and EMS, are often tethered, inconvenient, and limited in treating spaced-apart body areas, lacking user feedback and flexibility in operation modes and intensity control.
Innovation Solution
A wireless electrical stimulation system with multiple units controlled by a transmitter that allows for remote, wireless operation of electrodes via a radio frequency protocol, enabling flexible mode selection, intensity adjustment, and timed stimulation, with the option to integrate heating devices for enhanced therapy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional tethered control units are used, then electrical stimulation can be delivered to muscle groups, but the system is inconvenient to use and allows for only one treatment at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the electrical stimulation delivery into separate modular units: a control unit that generates stimulation signals and multiple independent electrode units that can be placed on different body parts. This segmentation allows multiple treatments to occur simultaneously while maintaining ease of operation through wireless communication between units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary between the control unit and electrode units, replacing physical tethers. This wireless link maintains control and coordination while eliminating the mechanical constraints that limited convenience and simultaneous treatment capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If electrodes are connected directly to stimulation units, then electrical stimulation can be applied, but it is very difficult to treat parts of a subject's body spaced apart from the electrical stimulation unit and from each other
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the stimulation generation function from the electrode application function into distinct units. The control unit remains simple while multiple electrode units can be independently positioned on spaced-apart body areas, reducing the complexity at each individual component while enabling versatile multi-location treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the treatment capability from a single localized area to multiple spatial dimensions by enabling simultaneous stimulation at different body locations through wireless coordination, effectively adding a spatial distribution dimension to the treatment capability.
3Ease of operation
If wireless controls are used, then convenience is improved, but they function similarly to tethered control units and provide little information to the user regarding the therapy being delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information to the user about the therapy being delivered, including stimulation parameters, electrode placement verification, and treatment progress, while maintaining wireless control convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The wireless control unit is designed to perform multiple functions: generating stimulation signals, wirelessly communicating with electrode units, providing user feedback, and enabling various treatment modes, thereby delivering comprehensive functionality without requiring physical tethers.
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
Enables convenient, flexible, and efficient electrical stimulation of spaced-apart body areas with user-friendly control, improving treatment efficacy and comfort by allowing wireless operation and integration of heating for enhanced therapeutic effects.
Implementation Method 1
The transmitter wirelessly transmits operating instructions to each of the plurality of electrical stimulation units on separate channels using a single remote control
Implementation Method 2
a processor may be used to apply the time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide the electrical stimulation to tissue in electrical contact with the electrodes
Implementation Method 3
A heating device is operatively coupled to the receiver of the electrical stimulation unit. The heating device comprises one or more heating pads configured for generating heat in response to a second set of one or more control signals received from the remote controller
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method are provided for a wireless electrical stimulation. The apparatus generally includes at least two electrical stimulation units. Each electrical stimulation unit includes electrodes connected to the unit. The apparatus also includes a receiver configured for receiving the one or more control signals from a remote controller for remotely, wirelessly controlling each of the electrical stimulation units to selectively apply a time-varying electric potential to the electrodes to provide an electrical stimulation to tissue in electrical contact with the electrodes. The apparatus generally applies to a foot of a human body.