NON-INVASIVE NERVE STIMULATION
A topical nerve stimulator patch and system are provided including a dermal patch; an electrical signal generator associated with the patch; a signal receiver to activate the electrical signal generator; a power source for the electrical signal generator associated with the patch; an electrical signal activation device; and a nerve feedback sensor.
1 . A topical nerve stimulation patch comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a malleable dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate comprising adhesive and adapted to contact the dermis;
a flexible top outer surface of the substrate approximately parallel to the bottom surface;
a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate; and
electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate, the electronic circuitry comprising:
an electrical signal generator integral to the malleable dermis conforming bottom surface configured to electrically activate the electrodes;
an antenna in communication with the electrical signal generator;
a signal activator coupled to the electrical signal generator; and
a power source in electrical communication with the electrical signal generator, the antenna and the signal activator.
2 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 1 , further comprising:
a nerve stimulation sensor that provides feedback in response to a stimulation of one or more nerves and is coupled to the flexible substrate.
3 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 2 ,
the antenna configured to communicate with a remote activation device;
the signal activator configured to activate in response to receipt of a communication with the activation device by the antenna;
the electrical signal generator configured to generate one or more electrical stimuli in response to activation by the signal activator;
the electrical stimuli configured to stimulate one or more nerves of a user wearing the nerve stimulation patch at least at one location proximate to the patch.
4 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 2 that when coupled to a user is configured to generate a treatment comprising:
determining a target charge level;
outputting a series of pulses from the electrodes;
for each pulse outputted, measuring a charge value of the pulse and compare the charge value to the target charge level;
if the charge value is greater than the target charge level, reducing a strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse; and
if the charge value is less than the target charge level, increasing the strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse.
5 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 4 , in which the series of pulses are defined based on a frequency and duration.
6 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 4 , in which determining the target charge level Q target
comprises generating an acquisition series of pulses and
Q
target
=
∑
i
=
1
T
*
f
Q
pulse
(
i
)
,
where T is a duration of the acquisition series of pulses, f is a frequency of the acquisition series of pulses and Q pulse (i) is a measured charge of each of the acquisition series of pulses.
7 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 4 , the electronic circuitry further comprising a differential integrator, the charge value of the pulse based on an output of the differential integrator.
8 . The topical nerve stimulation patch of claim 3 , further comprising a shape that is based on the location and causes the electrodes to generally be arranged along an axis of the nerves to be stimulated.
9 . A method of using a topical nerve stimulation system patch for electrical stimulation, the method comprising:
applying the patch to a dermis using adhesive, the patch comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a malleable dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate comprising adhesive and adapted to contact the dermis;
a flexible top outer surface of the substrate approximately parallel to the bottom surface;
a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate; and
electronic circuitry embedded in the patch and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate, the electronic circuitry comprising:
an electrical signal generator integral to the malleable dermis conforming bottom surface configured to electrically activate the electrodes;
an antenna in communication with the electrical signal generator;
a signal activator coupled to the electrical signal generator; and
a power source in electrical communication with the electrical signal generator, the antenna and the signal activator;
generating one or more electrical stimuli in response to activation by the signal activator; and
receiving feedback from the electrical stimuli.
10 . The method of claim 9 , the feedback provided by a nerve stimulation sensor that provides the feedback in response to a stimulation of one or more nerves and is coupled to the flexible substrate.
11 . The method of claim 10 ,
the antenna configured to communicate with a remote activation device;
the signal activator configured to activate in response to receipt of a communication with the activation device by the antenna; and
the electrical signal generator configured to generate one or more electrical stimuli in response to activation by the signal activator.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining a target charge level;
outputting a series of pulses from the electrodes;
for each pulse outputted, measuring a charge value of the pulse and compare the charge value to the target charge level;
if the charge value is greater than the target charge level, reducing a strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse; and
if the charge value is less than the target charge level, increasing the strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse.
13 . The method of claim 12 , in which the series of pulses are defined based on a frequency and a duration.
14 . The method of claim 12 , in which determining the target charge level Q target comprises generating an acquisition series of pulses and
Q
target
=
∑
i
=
1
T
*
f
Q
pulse
(
i
)
,
where T is duration of the acquisition series of pulses, f is a frequency of the acquisition series of pulses and Q pulse (i) is a measured charge of each of the acquisition series of pulses.
15 . The method of claim 12 , the electronic circuitry further comprising a differential integrator, the charge value of the pulse based on an output of the differential integrator.
16 . A topical nerve stimulation patch comprising:
a flexible substrate;
a malleable dermis conforming bottom surface of the substrate comprising adhesive and adapted to contact the dermis;
a flexible top outer surface of the substrate approximately parallel to the bottom surface;
a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch proximal to the bottom surface and located beneath the top outer surface and coupled to the flexible substrate; and
a processor coupled to the flexible substrate and a storage device that stores instructions, the processor, when executing the instructions:
determining a target charge level;
outputting a series of pulses from the electrodes;
for each pulse outputted, measuring a charge value of the pulse and compare the charge value to the target charge level;
if the charge value is greater than the target charge level, reducing a strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse; and
if the charge value is less than the target charge level, increasing the strength level of a subsequent outputted pulse.
17 . The patch of claim 16 , in which the series of pulses are defined based on a frequency and duration.
18 . The patch of claim 16 , in which determining the target charge level Q target comprises generating an acquisition series of pulses and
Q
target
=
∑
i
=
1
T
*
f
Q
pulse
(
i
)
,
where T is duration of the acquisition series of pulses, f is a frequency of the acquisition series of pulses and Q pulse (i) is a measured charge of each of the acquisition series of pulses.
19 . The patch of claim 16 , further comprising a differential integrator, the charge value of the pulse based on an output of the differential integrator.
20 . The patch of claim 16 having a shape that is based on a location on the dermis and causes the electrodes to generally be arranged along an axis of the nerves to be stimulated.
21 . A topical nerve stimulation patch for treatment of overactive bladder, comprising:
a flexible substrate comprising a dermis conforming bottom surface and a flexible top outer surface;
an adhesive for topically attaching the patch to tissue;
a plurality of electrodes positioned on the patch on the bottom surface of the substrate and located beneath the top outer surface;
electronic circuitry embedded within the patch and located beneath the top outer surface of the substrate, comprising:
an electrical signal generator providing a train of voltage regulated waves across the electrodes to generate an electric current that stimulates a nerve to inhibit a user's sensation of needing to urgently empty the user's bladder;
an antenna for communicating with a remote device and receiving a signal therefrom to activate the signal generator; and
a power source in electrical communication with the signal generator.
22 . The patch of claim 21 , the electrodes adapted to generate a current between about 20 mA and 100 mA during use.
23 . The patch of claim 22 , the voltage regulated waves comprising square waves.
24 . The patch of claim 23 , the squares waves comprising a frequency between approximately 15 Hz and 50 Hz.
25 . The patch of claim 21 , the remote device comprising a FOB and depressing a button on the FOB activates the signal generator of the patch.
26 . The patch of claim 21 , the remote device comprising a smartphone or tablet comprising software configured to allow a user to communicate, using the smartphone or tablet, with the antenna of the patch and activate the signal generator.