Method and Apparatus for Generating Electrotherapeutic or Electrodiagnostic Waveforms

1 . A device comprising:

an input port to receive a waveform file for a waveform from a source external to said device, said waveform to be electrically applied to one or more patients via an output port; and

electronics configured to:

generate said waveform having a shape, magnitude, or frequency based, at least in part, on said waveform file; and

provide said waveform to said output port.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said electronics are further configured to:

generate said waveform having a shape, magnitude, or frequency based, at least in part, on said waveform file and on patient information regarding said one or more patients, wherein said patient information comprises one or more of: body weight, age, sex, heart condition, injury status, injury history, health history, and history of treatment using said device.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said waveform file comprises an expirable waveform file that expires after a predetermined time that said waveform is applied to said one or more patients.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said waveform file further comprises a time code that indicates an expiration time of said expirable waveform file; and said device further comprises:

a clock to measure an elapsed time that said waveform is applied to said one or more patients;

means for determining whether said elapsed time exceeds said expiration time; and

a user interface to indicate if said expirable waveform file is expired.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein said user interface allows a user to enter code to instruct said device to extend said expiration time.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said input port comprises a universal serial bus (USB) port.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises a display.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said device comprises a mobile phone.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein said waveform comprises a microcurrent waveform.

10 . A method comprising:

receiving an order from a client for a waveform file comprising code representative of a waveform to be applied by a device to one or more patients; and

electronically transmitting or mailing a digital signal representative of said waveform file via the Internet to said client.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said waveform file comprises instructions for said device to generate said waveform having a shape, magnitude, or frequency based, at least in part, on one or more characteristics of said one or more patients, wherein said one or more characteristics comprise one or more of: body weight, age, sex, heart condition, injury status, injury history, health history, and history of treatment using said device.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said waveform file comprises an address code that identifies said client.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said waveform file comprises a time code that indicates an expiration time of said waveform file.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said order comprises a renewal order to add time to said expiration time of said waveform file.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said waveform is approved by a regulatory entity.

16 . A method of updating performance characteristics of a device, the method comprising:

placing an order to a provider for a waveform to be electrically applied by a device to one or more patients;

receiving a waveform file comprising digital signals representative of said waveform;

providing said waveform file to said device; and

electrically applying said waveform using said device to said one or more patients.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said receiving said waveform file comprises receiving said waveform file via the Internet;

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said providing said waveform file to said device further comprises:

storing the received waveform file in a memory device; and

connecting said memory device to said device

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said waveform file comprises an expirable waveform file that expires after a predetermined time that said waveform is applied to said one or more patients.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said order comprises a renewal order to add time to an expiration time of said expirable waveform file.