APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR AUTO-REPLENISHMENT OF ELECTRODES FOR TRANSDERMAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Described herein are methods for automatically reordering, resupplying, or replenishing TES electrode apparatus units (“electrodes”) for use with a wearable neurostimulator.
1 . A method of automatically supplying an electrode apparatus for transdermal electrical stimulation (TES) to a user, the method comprising:
storing an initial estimate of TES electrode apparatus units associated with a wearable neurostimulator apparatus in the wearable neurostimulator apparatus or a handheld processor in communication with the wearable neurostimulator apparatus;
detecting use of a TES electrode apparatus unit and updating the initial estimate to a current estimate of TES electrode apparatus units associated with the wearable neurostimulator apparatus, in the wearable neurostimulator apparatus or a handheld processor in communication with the wearable neurostimulator apparatus;
comparing the current estimate to a threshold value and shipping, delivering, or otherwise supplying one or more new TES electrode apparatus units to the user if the current estimate falls below the threshold value; and
updating the current estimate to include the one or more new TES electrode apparatus units.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the current estimate comprises a fractional number to reflect a partially used TES electrode apparatus unit.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting use of the TES electrode apparatus unit comprises detecting use by the wearable neurostimulator apparatus when the TES electrode apparatus unit is coupled to the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting use comprises identifying a specific TES electrode apparatus unit by one or more of RFID, NFC, optical code sensing, QR code detection, identification chip detection.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein detecting use of the specific TES electrode apparatus unit comprises determining a remaining functional lifetime of the TES electrode apparatus unit based on a comparison of a manufacturing specification and a stimulation parameter.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stimulation parameter is total net charge transfer.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the stimulation parameter is the duration of electrical stimulation.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting use comprises indirectly detecting use based on activity of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus, wherein the TES electrode apparatus unit is coupled to the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein detecting use comprises correlating a physiological measurement with activity of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the detecting use comprises measuring activity of the wearable TES electrode using an accelerometer and/or gyroscope associated with the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the detecting use comprises an analyzing online activity of the user.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the detecting use comprises analyzing a semantic or other text or voice analysis of the user.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the current estimate of TES electrode apparatus units in a machine-readable memory of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the current estimate of TES electrode apparatus units in a smartphone or other personal computing device.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the estimate of TES electrode apparatus units remaining for the user is transmitted via the Internet and stored in a remote server.
16 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising setting, by the user, the threshold value.
17 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the threshold value for sending one or more new electrode apparatus units based on a pattern of the user's use of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising periodically updating the threshold value based on the user's pattern of use of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
19 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising allowing the user to select a number of TES electrode apparatus units supplied upon reaching the threshold value.
20 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically selecting a number of electrode apparatus units supplied to a user upon reaching the threshold value is determined based on a pattern of use of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the number of electrode apparatus units supplied to a user upon reaching the threshold value is updated periodically based on a pattern of use or delay in use of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
22 . The method of claim 1 , wherein shipping, delivering, or otherwise supplying one or more new TES electrode apparatus units to the user is achieved by a local courier or delivery service.
23 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the shipping, delivering, or otherwise supplying one or more new TES electrode apparatus units to the user is achieved by fulfillment from a regional or national warehouse.
24 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the speed of shipping, delivering, or otherwise supplying one or more new electrode apparatus units to the user is performed based on a pattern of use of the wearable neurostimulator apparatus by the user.
25 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the current estimate occurs at a fixed time after shipping based on the shipment method and speed.
26 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the current estimate occurs once a tracking, delivery signature, or other delivery notice is received.
27 . The method of claim 1 , wherein updating the current estimate occurs when a first electrode apparatus of the shipment is detected by the wearable neurostimulator apparatus or a handheld processor in communication with the wearable neurostimulator apparatus.
28 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting from a plurality of choices for shipping.