Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulator

1. A nerve stimulation system comprising:

a neurostimulator unit including:

a pulse generator for electrically coupling to a percutaneous needle electrode having a leading end for inserting adjacent a stimulation site of a patient and a transcutaneous electrode configured to be applied to skin adjacent the stimulation site of the patient, and

a microcontroller in communication with the pulse generator for monitoring a number of available treatment credits and activating the pulse generator, each available treatment credit corresponding to a treatment session and the pulse generator operable to be activated for performing the treatment session when the number of available treatment credits is at least one, the pulse generator generating current pulses during the treatment session that pass between the transcutaneous electrode and the percutaneous needle electrode for providing stimulation to the stimulation site; and

a computer system operable to communicate with the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit, the computer system for receiving a treatment credit request having purchase information including a number of treatment credits purchased, each treatment credit purchased corresponding to an available treatment credit, and transmitting the number of treatment credits purchased to the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system includes a customer interface for submitting the treatment credit request.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein each treatment credit purchased includes a unique serial number, the microcontroller being operable to transmit usage information to the computer system for monitoring usage of the purchased treatment credits by the neurostimulator unit based on the unique serial numbers.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the neurostimulator unit is linked to a unique identification number and the purchase information of the treatment credit request includes the unique identification number for authorizing the transmission of the number of treatment credits purchased to the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the neurostimulator unit is dimensioned and configured to be removeably attached to the transcutaneous electrode such that a bottom surface of the neurostimulator unit is disposed adjacent a top surface of the transcutaneous electrode.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the treatment credit request is transferred from the computer system to a portable digital storage device, the portable storage device being connectable to the neurostimulator unit for transmitting the number of treatment credits purchased to the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit from the portable storage device.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system is operable to communicate with the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit wirelessly through one of radio frequency, Bluetooth, infrared, and a wireless internet connection.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer system communicates with the microcontroller of the neurostimulator unit through a universal serial bus connection.

9. A nerve stimulation system comprising:

a plurality of neurostimulator units, each neurostimulator unit including:

a unique identification number for identifying the neurostimulator unit,

a pulse generator operable to be electrically coupled to a plurality of electrodes configured to be applied adjacent a stimulation site of a patient, and

a microcontroller in communication with the pulse generator for monitoring a number of available treatment credits and activating the pulse generator, each available treatment credit corresponding to a treatment session and the pulse generator operable to be activated for performing the treatment session when the number of treatment credits available is at least one, the pulse generator generating current pulses during the treatment session that pass between the plurality of electrodes for providing stimulation to the stimulation site; and

a computer system for receiving a treatment credit request having purchase information including the unique identification number of one of the plurality of neurostimulator units and a number of treatment credits purchased, each treatment credit purchased corresponding to an available treatment credit, the computer system being operable to communicate with the microcontroller of the neurostimulator units for transmitting the purchase information to an appropriate neurostimulator unit based on the unique identification number included in the purchase information.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each unique identification number is linked to at least one customer account and the computer system includes a customer interface for accessing the customer account and submitting the treatment credit request.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer system communicates with the microcontroller of the appropriate neurostimulator unit through a universal serial bus connection.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the computer system communicates with the microcontroller of the appropriate neurostimulator unit wirelessly through one of radio frequency, Bluetooth, infrared, and a wireless internet connection.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the neurostimulator is dimensioned and configured to be removeably attached to the transcutaneous electrode such that a bottom surface of the neurostimulator unit is disposed adjacent a top surface of the transcutaneous electrode.