Electrotherapy device

Abstract

An electrotherapy device for delivering electrical energy to subcutaneous, excitable tissues in and around the joints of the human body for the purposes of pain control and the promotion of tissue healing post injury is provided. The device includes a housing containing at least one pair of electrodes connected to an electronics unit. The device is specifically designed to be small, potable and lightweight so as to not interfere with user movements and/or function. The electronics unit consists of a housing that contains batteries, a microcontroller integrated circuit (including associated control software) coupled to a transistor-based intensity stage, which is then coupled to a transformer-based output stage coupled to subminiature jacks used to connect the electronics unit to the electrodes. Control software monitors user-controlled mechanical switches for the selection of one of six operational modes (TENS, MENS, or iontophoresis) and one of six discrete intensity levels within each operational mode. The housing is a flexible, elastic sleeve that conforms to joint anatomy and has the electrodes sewn into specific positions such that when the user puts on the sleeve, the electrodes are placed at the correct anatomic position over the affected joint.