US4917092A
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US
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Transcutaneous nerve stimulator for treatment of sympathetic nerve dysfunction
Assignee: Sparta Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1988-07-13
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Granted: 1990-04-17
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Expires: 2008-07-13
Abstract
Abstract A transcutaneous nerve stimulator and method for using the same are provided for use in treating sympathetic nerve dysfunction. The device includes an analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converter, a non-volatile random access memory, a preprogrammed microprocessor with masked memory and two output channels with respective jacks for electrodes. A dual line data bus interconnects the microprocessor, converter and RAM.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory A. Todd
- 👤 Michael H. Southworth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/36021; A61N1/02; A61N1/025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for using one T.E.N.S. unit for efficient suppression of pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction which comprises the steps of generating pulses, modulating the pulse width and amplitude of the generated pulses over a modulation cycle to vary in a prescribed manner so as to stimulate within each modulation cycle the autonomic and central nervous systems of said person, such that said sympathetic nerve dysfunction is treated with a low frequency of pulses while through the utilization of strength-duration modulation at higher pulse rates, said person's nociceptors are addressed, such that said autonomic nervous system is stimulated for more than 5% of the amount of time as said central nervous system, and conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for using one T.E.N.S. unit for efficient suppression of pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction which comprises the steps of generating pulses, modulating the pulse width and amplitude of the generated pulses over a modulation cycle to vary in a prescribed manner so as to stimulate within each modulation cycle the autonomic and central nervous systems of said person, such that said sympathetic nerve dysfunction is treated with a low frequency of pulses while through the utilization of strength-duration modulation at higher pulse rates, said person's nociceptors are addressed, such that said autonomic nervous system is stimulated for more than 5% of the amount of time as said central nervous system, and conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said modulation cycle features generated pulses of varying values of pulse widths and amplitudes, said values of pulse widths increasing when said values of amplitude decrease and said pulse width values decreasing when said amplitude values increase, said generated pulses having a value for its pulse rate at its minimum when said value for pulse width is at its maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said stimulation is antidromic and orthodromic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said generated pulses are of specific amplitude and pulse width values which if plotted would approximate the strength-duration curve in the maximum sensory threshhold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2, wherein said modulation cycle occurs in cycles of twelve seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method according to claim 5, wherein said pulse rate decreases to 10% of its value at the maximum of said cycle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
125 words
A transcutaneous nerve stimulating device for efficient treatment of sympathetic nerve dysfunction comprising means for generating a plurality of pulses, amplitude, pulse width and rate modulation control means, which cause the amplitude, pulse width and rate of the generated pulses to vary in a prescribed manner which permits the stimulation of the autonomic and central nervous systems by generated pulses, said amplitude control means interacting with said pulse width control means so as to maintain a mode featuring strength-duration modulation such that the values associated with pulse width and amplitude vary inversely and with the pulse rate being at its minimum when said pulse width is at its maximum, and means for conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
125 words
A transcutaneous nerve stimulating device for efficient treatment of sympathetic nerve dysfunction comprising means for generating a plurality of pulses, amplitude, pulse width and rate modulation control means, which cause the amplitude, pulse width and rate of the generated pulses to vary in a prescribed manner which permits the stimulation of the autonomic and central nervous systems by generated pulses, said amplitude control means interacting with said pulse width control means so as to maintain a mode featuring strength-duration modulation such that the values associated with pulse width and amplitude vary inversely and with the pulse rate being at its minimum when said pulse width is at its maximum, and means for conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said generated pulses are of specific amplitude and pulse width values which if plotted would approximate the strength-duration curve in the maximum sensory threshhold.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said strength-duration modulation occurs in cycles of twelve seconds.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device according to claim 7, wherein said mode includes rate modulation from a maximum value, said pulse rate decreasing to 10% of its maximum value.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for using one T.E.N.S. unit for efficient suppression of pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction which comprises the steps of generating pulses, modulating the pulse width and amplitude of the generated pulses over a modulation cycle to vary in a prescribed manner so as to stimulate within each modulation cycle the autonomic and central nervous systems of said person, the stimulation being such that said sympathetic nerve dysfunction is treated with a low frequency of pulses while addressing, without manual resetting of treatment modes, a person's nociceptors through the utilization of strength-duration modulation at higher pulse rates, and conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
113 words
A method for using one T.E.N.S. unit for efficient suppression of pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction which comprises the steps of generating pulses, modulating the pulse width and amplitude of the generated pulses over a modulation cycle to vary in a prescribed manner so as to stimulate within each modulation cycle the autonomic and central nervous systems of said person, the stimulation being such that said sympathetic nerve dysfunction is treated with a low frequency of pulses while addressing, without manual resetting of treatment modes, a person's nociceptors through the utilization of strength-duration modulation at higher pulse rates, and conveying said pulses to a person experiencing pain associated with sympathetic nerve dysfunction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein stimulating said autonomic and central nervous systems occurs during the same treatment time.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 12 wherein stimulating said autonomic and central nervous systems occurs during the same mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said stimulation of both the autonomic and the central nervous systems occurs while said one T.E.N.S. unit is modulating.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-04-16 | 1993-10-16 | 1994-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-04-16 | 1997-10-16 | 1998-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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