Electrical stimulation device with additional sensory modalities
View Patent ↗A therapeutic apparatus includes an electrical stimulation delivery device, and at least one secondary modality delivery device, wherein the secondary modality delivery device is in an active state during at least a portion of a refractory period of the electrical stimulation delivery device.
1. A therapeutic apparatus comprising:
an electrical stimulation delivery means, and at least one secondary modality delivery means, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is selected from the group consisting of vibration, heat, light, chemical sensate, and combinations thereof, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state when electrical stimulation is de-activated, wherein the secondary modality means informs a user that the therapeutic apparatus is in a refractory period for electrical stimulation, and wherein the secondary modality delivery means is activated by a user.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller to switch from the electrical stimulation delivery means to the secondary modality delivery means.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides therapeutic pain relief.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is a vibratory modality that has a frequency between about 1Hz and about 30 kHz and an amplitude from about 1 micron to about 3 mm as measured from peak to peak.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means includes an integrated power source and at least two electrodes.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is an electrical heating device, an electrical cooling device, or combination thereof
7. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the power source delivers an electrical stimulation current greater than about 1 milliampere or less than about 1 milliampere.
8. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is directionally positioned in-between the at least two electrodes.
9. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is adjacently positioned to the at least two electrodes.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is integrated into an article of clothing or footwear.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides a treatment that includes heating and vibration.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a controller that controls the electrical stimulation delivery means and the secondary modality delivery means.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller enables a user to operate the apparatus remotely, wirelessly, or a combination thereof.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, wherein the secondary modality delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, and wherein the electrical stimulation refractory cycle overlaps with the secondary modality delivery means treatment cycle.
15. A therapeutic apparatus comprising:
an electrical stimulation delivery means, and at least one secondary modality delivery means, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is selected from the group consisting of vibration, heat, light, chemical sensate, and combinations thereof, wherein the secondary modality delivery means is in an active state when electrical stimulation is de-activated, wherein the secondary modality means informs a user that the therapeutic apparatus is in a refractory period for electrical stimulation, wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, wherein the secondary modality delivery means operates with a treatment cycle and a refractory cycle, and wherein the electrical stimulation refractory cycle overlaps with the secondary modality delivery means treatment cycle.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a controller to switch from the electrical stimulation delivery means to the secondary modality delivery means.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides therapeutic pain relief.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is activated without input from a user.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is a vibratory modality that has a frequency between about 1 Hz and about 30 kHz and an amplitude from about 1 micron to about 3 mm as measured from peak to peak.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the electrical stimulation delivery means includes an integrated power source and at least two electrodes.
21. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is an electrical heating device, an electrical cooling device, or combination thereof.
22. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the power source delivers an electrical stimulation current greater than about 1 milliampere or less than about 1 milliampere.
23. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is directionally positioned in-between the at least two electrodes.
24. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means is adjacently positioned to the at least two electrodes.
25. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the apparatus is integrated into an article of clothing or footwear.
26. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the secondary modality delivery means provides a treatment that includes heating and vibration.
27. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a controller that controls the electrical stimulation delivery means and the secondary modality delivery means.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 , wherein the controller enables a user to operate the apparatus remotely, wirelessly, or a combination thereof.