Device for verifying the electrical output of a microcurrent therapy device
A device and method verifies the electrical output of a microcurrent therapy device. The current and/or voltage of an electrical pulse, being supplied to an electrode adapted to contact tissue, is measured by a control unit. The current and/or voltage is supplied by the control unit according to a predefined waveform. Any difference in the current or voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied with respect to the current or voltage of the predefined waveform is detected.
1. A microcurrent therapy device, comprising:
a control unit adapted to output an electrical signal to an electrode adapted to contact tissue, the current and voltage of the electrical signal being supplied according to a predefined treatment waveform selected by a user,
wherein the control unit comprises a current generator, connected to the electrode,
wherein the control unit is further adapted to:
measure the current and voltage of the electrical signal being supplied,
detect a lowering in the current of the electrical pulse being supplied by the current generator below a first threshold, which is defined as being a value lower than the expected current of the predefined waveform, and a lowering in the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied below a second threshold which is defined as being a value lower than the expected voltage of the predefined waveform; and
generate a warning when the current or voltage deviates from the current or voltage of the predefined waveform by an amount which is greater than the predefined thresholds in a predefined number of successive pulses in a predefined time period,
wherein the current supplied by the control unit is in the range of 0 to 1000 μA.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the warning includes activating a visual warning, such as illuminating a light emitting diode, or an audible warning, or a mechanical warning, such as a vibration.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect a rise in the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied above a threshold which is defined as being a value higher than the expected voltage of the predefined waveform.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect that the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied has reached a set maximum threshold voltage.
5. The device of claim 4 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect the voltage supplied to a current generator and comparing it to the threshold.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is adapted to detect the difference in the current and/or voltage within a predefined time from the end of the electrical pulse.
7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is a microprocessor or an ASIC.
8. A tissue dressing comprising the microcurrent therapy device of any one of the preceding claims.
9. A method for verifying the electrical output of a microcurrent therapy device, comprising:
measuring the current and/or voltage of an electrical pulse being supplied to an electrode adapted to contact tissue, the current and/or voltage being supplied according to a predefined treatment waveform selected by a user; wherein the control unit comprises a current generator, connected to the electrode,
detecting a lowering in the current of the electrical pulse being supplied by the current generator below a first threshold, which is defined as being a value lower than the expected current of the predefined waveform, and a lowering in the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied below a second threshold which is defined as being a value lower than the expected voltage of the predefined waveform; and
generating a warning when the current or voltage deviates from the current or voltage of the predefined waveform by an amount which is greater than the predefined threshold in a predefined number of successive pulses in a predefined time period
wherein the current supplied by the control unit is in the range of 0 to 1000 μA.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the warning includes activating a visual warning, such as illuminating a light emitting diode, or an audible warning, or a mechanical warning, such as a vibration.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting the current output by a current generator and comparing it to the threshold.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the output of the current generator is connected to an electrode in contact with tissue.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting a rise in the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied above a threshold which is defined as being a value higher than the expected voltage of the predefined waveform.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting that the voltage of the electrical pulse being supplied has reached a set maximum threshold voltage.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting the voltage supplied to a current generator and comparing it to the threshold.
16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting the difference in the current and/or voltage within a predefined time from the end of the electrical pulse.
17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of detecting comprises digitally filtering the electrical pulse being supplied, prior to the detecting step.
18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the electrical pulse of the predetermined waveform comprises a square-tooth pulse.