Stimulator for use with a software application
Devices, systems and methods are disclosed that allow a patient to self-treat a medical condition, such as migraine headache, by electrical non-invasive stimulation of a nerve, such as the trigeminal nerve. A system comprises one or more electrodes configured for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient and a stimulator coupled to the one or more electrodes. The stimulator is configured to transmit an electrical impulse from the electrodes through the outer skin surface to a target site within a patient. A software application coupled to the stimulator. The software application may, for example, be downloadable onto a mobile device and may allow the user to transmit data to and from the stimulator and/or control operation of the stimulator.
1 . A method comprising: coupling a stimulator with a software application; generating an electrical impulse with the stimulator; contacting an outer skin surface of the patient with one or more electrodes coupled to the stimulator; and applying the electrical impulse to the outer skin surface such that the electrical impulse passes through the outer skin surface to a target site within a patient.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising downloading the software application onto a mobile device and coupling the mobile device to the stimulator.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more electrodes are wirelessly coupled to the stimulator.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulator comprises a housing and the one or more electrodes are attached to the housing.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising wireless coupling the stimulator to a mobile phone.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulator includes a pulse generator and an energy source within the housing.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the stimulator is attached to an external port on a mobile phone.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer skin surface is a neck of the patient.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the outer skin surface is a head of the patient.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises pulses having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 KHz.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate a nerve.
12 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting data for an electrical stimulation therapy to the stimulator.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting authorization to the stimulator to enable the stimulator to operate.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting dosing information to the stimulator, wherein the dosing information comprises a duration of time in which the stimulator generates the electrical impulse.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the dosing information includes a number of treatments in which the stimulator may be applied to the patient, wherein the software application limits the number of treatments that may be applied to the patient without further authorization.
16 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting an amplitude or intensity of the electrical impulse from the mobile device.
17 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting a duration of the electrical impulse from the mobile device.
18 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising adjusting a waveform of the electrical impulse from the mobile device.
19 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising transmitting data related to the electrical impulse from the stimulator to the mobile device.
20 . A system comprising: one or more electrodes configured for contacting an outer skin surface of a patient; a stimulator coupled to the one or more electrodes, wherein the stimulator is configured to transmit an electrical impulse from the electrodes through the outer skin surface to a target site within a patient; and a software application coupled to the stimulator.
21 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the one or more electrodes are wirelessly coupled to the stimulator.
22 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the stimulator comprises a housing and the one or more electrodes are attached to the housing.
23 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application is downloadable onto a mobile device.
24 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a pulse generator and an energy source within the stimulator, wherein the pulse generator generates the electrical impulse.
25 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application is configured to transmit parameters of the electrical impulse to the stimulator.
26 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application includes data and the stimulator is configured to receive the data from the software application, the data comprising a therapy regimen for treating a medical condition in the patient.
27 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application is configured to adjust an amplitude or intensity of the electrical impulse.
28 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application is configured to adjust a duration of the electrical impulse.
29 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application is configured to adjust a waveform of the electrical impulse.
30 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the software application controls operation of the stimulator.
31 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the electrical impulse is sufficient to modulate a nerve in a patient.
32 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the electrical impulse comprises pulses having a frequency of about 1 kHz to about 20 KHz.