IP Library Granted Patent US 12,042,652
Granted Patent B2
US 12,042,652 · App. 17/188,598 · Granted Jul 23, 2024

Electrical current stimulator apparatus

Inventors: David Mason (Oakland, CA); Melanie Simon (Oakland, CA); Ron Lisiecki (Oakland, CA)
Assignee: ZIIP, INC.
A61N1/36021A61H23/0263A61N1/0452A61N1/0456A61N1/328A61N1/37282A61H39/002A61H2201/0153A61H2201/0188A61H2201/5038A61H2201/5097
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,042,652
App. No.
17/188,598
Granted
Jul 23, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for providing electrical current treatment by an apparatus having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a processor is provided. The method includes delivering an electric current through an object in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode; controlling, by the processor, the electric current delivered by the first electrode and the second electrode to have a specific waveform; and providing a notification at a predetermined time to notify a user to move the apparatus.

Claims (35)

1. A method for providing electrical current treatment of skin by an apparatus having a first electrode and a second electrode extending from a housing and a processor, the method comprising:

receiving programmable instructions from an external device;

delivering an electric current to a first area of the skin in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially identical convex curved surfaces, wherein the electric current is less than one milliampere;

controlling the electric current delivered by the first electrode and the second electrode to have a specific waveform while the first electrode and the second electrode are moved across the first area of the skin to improve cosmetic appearances of the skin; and

controlling a notification by the apparatus, the controlling of the notification configured to notify a user to move the apparatus to another area of the skin so that the first electrode and the second electrode are moved across the another area of the skin, wherein at least one of the electric current and the notification is controlled based on the programmable instructions from the external device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes an audio clip.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the audio clip is output by a sound output unit, wherein the audio clip includes at least one of a tone, buzz, beep, ring, musical piece, and/or song.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programmable instructions are received wirelessly through a wireless network interface.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the wireless network interface is at least one of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, radio frequency, and near-field communication.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programmable instructions are received from a software application for the external device, the external device being at least one of a mobile device, a personal computer, or a tablet device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the programmable instructions are received through an electrical connector.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

executing automatically by the processor, when a power button is actuated, the programmable instructions.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

controlling, by the processor, a light emitter to emit light when both the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with the object.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specific waveform includes at least one of a square, sine, triangle, positive/negative ramp, positive/negative unipolar pulse, positive/negative bipolar pulse, trapezoidal alternating current (AC).

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the specified waveform includes a direct current (DC) offset.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting, by the apparatus, a notification in response to completion of the programmable instructions.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the notification includes an audio clip output through a sound output unit.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the notification includes automatically adjusting a power setting of the apparatus to an off state.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electric current is one of a microcurrent, a nanocurrent, or a picocurrent.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein a lower surface of the apparatus is a concave surface.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

modifying, by the processor, a light emitter when both the first electrode and the second electrode are in contact with the skin.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the notification includes a vibration.

19. An apparatus for providing electrical current treatment to skin, the apparatus comprising:

an enclosure body;

a first electrode and a second electrode extending from the enclosure body for delivering an electric current through skin in contact with the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are substantially identical convex curved surfaces; and

a processor configured to:

receive programmable instructions from an external device;

control the electric current delivered by the first electrode and the second electrode to have a specific waveform while the first electrode and the second electrode are moved across a first area of the skin to improve cosmetic appearances of the first area of the skin, wherein the electric current is less than one milliampere; and

control a notification by the apparatus, the controlling of the notification configured to notify a user to move the apparatus to another area of the skin so that the first electrode and the second electrode are moved across the another area of the skin,

wherein at least one of the electric current and the notification is controlled based on the programmable instructions from the external device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 , further comprising a sound output unit in communication with the processor, wherein the notification includes an audio clip.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2022
From: MASON, DAVID; SIMON, MELANIE; LISIECKI, RON
To: ZIIP, INC.
Reel/Frame 062013/0634 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 15855282 · Dec 27, 2017
Continuation 14587638 · Dec 31, 2014
Related Publication 20210178159A1 · Jun 17, 2021