WEARABLE ASSEMBLIES FOR TISSUE STIMULATION

1 . A wearable assembly configured to generate electrical pulses for transmission to an implanted tissue stimulator, the wearable assembly comprising:

a wearable docking device;

a plug-in device configured to mate with the wearable docking device;

a pulse generation module comprising:

first internal electronics configured to generate the electrical pulses and located within the wearable docking device or within the plug-in device,

second internal electronics providing a power source for the first internal electronics and located within the wearable docking device or within the plug-in device; and

a pulse transmission cable for transmitting the electrical pulses to a transmission antenna positioned adjacent the implanted tissue stimulator.

2 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first internal electronics are contained within the wearable docking device, and wherein the second internal electronics are contained within the plug-in device.

3 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second internal electronics are contained within the plug-in device.

4 . The wearable assembly of claim 3 , wherein the pulse transmission cable is attached to the plug-in device such that the plug-in device comprises a stand-alone device that is operable independently of the wearable docking device.

5 . The wearable assembly of claim 4 , wherein the wearable docking device comprises a battery and a charging port for the battery.

6 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the pulse transmission cable is attached to the wearable docking device.

7 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wearable docking device comprises a clip for grasping a wearable article.

8 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a rotary adjustment wheel that is configured to adjust an amplitude of the electrical pulses and that is carried on either the plug-in device or the docking device.

9 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wearable docking device comprises a sleeve.

10 . The wearable assembly of claim 9 , further comprising the transmission antenna, wherein the pulse transmission cable and the transmission antenna are embedded within the sleeve.

11 . The wearable assembly of claim 10 , wherein the wearable docking device further comprises a receiving antenna that is embedded within the sleeve and configured to monitor backscatter from the implanted tissue stimulator.

12 . The wearable assembly of claim 9 , wherein the wearable docking device further comprises:

a plurality of skin contacting electrodes that are attached to the sleeve and configured to sense bioelectrical signals; and

additional internal electronics contained within the sleeve for supporting functionalities of the plurality of skin contacting electrodes.

13 . The wearable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the additional electronics comprise one or more of an instrument amplifier, an A/D converter, and a DSP processor and memory.

14 . The wearable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of skin contacting electrodes are further configured to deliver transcutaneous stimulation, and wherein the wearable docking device further comprises a TENS pulse generator contained within the sleeve.

15 . The wearable assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of skin contacting electrodes are configured to sense a capacitive load to make a determination as to whether the sleeve is in contact with skin or not in contact with skin, such that either or both of the plug-in device and the docking device are controllable to turn on or turn off automatically.

16 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wearable docking device comprises additional electronics that implement a non-volatile memory for storing patient data of multiple patients.

17 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wearable docking device comprises additional electronics that implement a wireless communication module.

18 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in device comprises additional electronics that implement a wireless communication module.

19 . The wearable assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in device comprises additional electronics that implement one or more sensors.

20 . A tissue stimulation system, comprising:

a wearable assembly comprising:

a wearable docking device,

a plug-in device configured to mate with the wearable docking device,

a pulse generation module comprising:

first internal electronics configured to generate electrical pulses and located within the wearable docking device or within the plug-in device,

second internal electronics providing a power source for the first internal electronics and located within the wearable docking device or within the plug-in device, and

a pulse transmission cable for transmitting the electrical pulses to a transmission antenna; and

a tissue stimulator configured to deliver the electrical pulses from the transmission antenna to a tissue.