Wireless Electrical Stimulation System for Spaced-Area Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrical stimulation systems, such as TENS and EMS, are often tethered, making them inconvenient to use, limiting treatment to one area at a time, and providing minimal feedback to the user. Additionally, they struggle with treating spaced-apart areas on the body.
Innovation Solution
A wireless electrical stimulation system comprising multiple electrical stimulation units with electrodes, a wireless transmitter or controller for remote operation, and a method for wirelessly controlling the units to apply time-varying electric potentials to the electrodes, allowing for selective treatment of spaced-apart areas on the body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional electrical stimulation systems use tethered control units, then the system structure is simple and reliable, but the ease of operation deteriorates and treatment flexibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tether connection with a wireless communication system. The control unit communicates with electrode pads through wireless signals (e.g., radio frequency), eliminating the physical cable constraint. This allows users to move freely and treat multiple body areas without being bound by tether length or connection points, directly improving ease of operation while accepting increased device complexity through wireless communication modules.
Solution Approach 2:
The system divides the electrical stimulation device into separate modular components: a control unit and multiple electrode pads that can be independently positioned on different body areas. This segmentation allows simultaneous treatment of multiple spaced-apart areas, transforming a single-unit tethered system into a distributed wireless network of stimulation points.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional systems have electrodes connected directly to stimulation units, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability deteriorates for treating spaced-apart areas
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the stimulation delivery into separate electrode pads that can be independently placed on different body areas. Each electrode pad functions as an independent stimulation point, allowing the system to adapt to various treatment configurations and spaced-apart target areas, thereby significantly improving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed to universally control multiple electrode pads simultaneously through wireless communication. A single control unit can manage various electrode configurations and treat multiple body areas, making the system multi-functional and highly adaptable to different treatment scenarios without requiring separate dedicated units for each area.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless control is implemented, then the ease of operation improves and treatment flexibility increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements wireless control by replacing mechanical tether connections with electronic wireless communication systems. The control unit and electrode pads communicate through wireless signals (such as radio frequency transmission), enabling flexible positioning and simultaneous treatment of multiple body areas while accepting the increased complexity of wireless communication hardware and software protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system and method are provided for an 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 controller for 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 includes a heating device.