Granted Patent B2

US 12,642,965 · App. 18/030,960 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventor: Vincent Tellenbach (Sion Valais, CH)

Assignee: NMES Group AB

A61N1/36034A61N1/0452A61N1/0456

Abstract

Claims (66)

1 . A device for providing an electrical stimulation impulse to a user, comprising:

a conductive medium configured to apply the electrical stimulation impulse to a user;

a voltage regulator, configured to regulate the voltage applied during the electrical stimulation impulse;

a current regulator, configured to regulate the current applied during the electrical stimulation impulse; and

a selector module, configured to:

determine which of voltage regulation and current regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse; and

output a result of the determination;

wherein the selector module is further configured to:

select and activate either the voltage regulator or the current regulator, selecting and activating whichever is determined will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse.

2 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises:

a display, configured to display the result of the determination; and

a user interface, configured to receive a selection of voltage or current regulation from a user, and wherein the selector module is further configured to:

activate either the voltage regulator or the current regulator, activating whichever is selected by the user via the user interface.

3 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the conductive medium comprises at least two terminals, and wherein, when determining which of voltage and current regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse, the selector module is further configured to:

calculate a resistance between the terminals; and

make the determination based on the calculated resistance.

4 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein, when calculating a resistance between the terminals, the selector module is further configured to:

select voltage regulation;

deliver a test voltage through the terminals of the conductive medium for a time period;

measure the electrical charge delivered through the terminals of the conductive medium during the time period; and

calculate the resistance between the terminals based at least on the measured electrical charge and the time period.

5 . The device according to claim 4 , wherein the test voltage is selected by the selection module to be sufficiently low so as not to be perceived by a user when delivered through the terminals of the conductive medium.

6 . The device according to claim 3 , wherein the selector module is further configured to:

calculate a resistance value, R mid , for which voltage regulation and current regulation would deliver equal charge;

compare R mid to the resistance calculated between the terminals; and

determine that voltage regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse if the resistance calculated between the terminals is lower than R mid , and determine that current regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse if the resistance calculated between the terminals is greater than R mid .

7 . The device according to claim 3 , further comprising a current integrator configured to measure the electrical charge delivered through the terminals of the conductive medium during the time period.

8 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage regulator and the current regulator share at least one electrical component with one another.

9 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one shared electrical component comprises an H-bridge and/or a boost converter.

10 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein when the voltage regulator is active:

the boost converter provides a voltage set by the device;

the voltage regulator drives switches of the H-bridge to deliver maximum electric current.

11 . The device according to claim 8 , wherein when the current regulator is active:

the boost converter provides a maximum voltage;

the current regulator drives switches of the H-bridge to maintain a constant electrical current.

12 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein the selection module comprises a plurality of switches configured selectively to connect the voltage regulator and the current regulator to the conductive medium.

13 . The device according to claim 1 , wherein, after activating either the voltage regulator or the current regulator, the device is configured to:

deliver the electrical stimulation impulse.

14 . The device according to claim 13 , wherein, after delivering the electrical stimulation impulse, the device is further configured to:

repeat the determination, output, selection, and activation of either voltage regulation or current regulation.

15 . A method for providing an electrical stimulation impulse to a user, comprising:

providing a conductive medium configured to apply the electrical stimulation impulse to a user;

providing a voltage regulator, configured to regulate the voltage applied during the electrical stimulation impulse;

providing a current regulator, configured to regulate the current applied during the electrical stimulation impulse; and

determining, at a selector module, which of voltage regulation and current regulation will deliver more charge during the stimulation impulse;

outputting a result of the determination; and

selecting and activating either the voltage regulator or the current regulator, selecting whichever is determined will deliver more charge.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

displaying the result of the determination on a user interface; and

receiving a selection of voltage or current regulation from a user via the user interface.

17 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the conductive medium comprises at least two terminals, and wherein, determining which of voltage and current regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse comprises:

calculating a resistance between the terminals; and

making the determination based on the calculated resistance.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein calculating a resistance between the terminals comprises:

selecting voltage regulation;

delivering a test voltage through the terminals of the conductive medium for a time period;

measuring the electrical charge delivered through the terminals of the conductive medium during the time period; and

calculating the resistance between the terminals based at least on the measured electrical charge and the time period.

19 . The method according to claim 17 , further comprising:

calculating a resistance value, R mid , for which voltage regulation and current regulation would deliver equal charge;

comparing R mid to the resistance calculated between the terminals; and

determining that voltage regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse if the resistance calculated between the terminals is lower than R mid , and determining that current regulation will deliver more charge during the electrical stimulation impulse if the resistance calculated between the terminals is greater than R mid .

20 . The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:

after activating either the voltage regulator or the current regulator, delivering the electrical stimulation impulse;

repeating the determination, output, selection, and activation of either the voltage regulation or the current regulation; and

delivering a further electrical stimulation impulse.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (10)