Patent No. 4503863 Method and apparatus for transcutaneous electrical stimulation

 

Patent No. 4503863  Method and apparatus for transcutaneous electrical stimulation (Katims, Mar 12, 1985)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for monitoring and obtaining actual bio-electrical characteristics of a subject under predetermined conditions of evoked response stimuli, and by interaction with a computer, applying cutaneous electrical stimulation to the subject, using a signal generator to modify current amplitude and frequency in a direction to achieve bio-electrical characteristics in the subject related to the actual bio-electrical characteristics monitored. The signal generator uses a sinusoidal waveform output, with battery power passed through a transformer to power a transconductance amplifier to obtain constant current output despite resistance changes in the line with the subject, and with the transformer not placed in the signal path of the sinusoidal waveform. The signal may be obtained from a sinusoidal oscillator of wide frequency having switched integrator sections connected to an inverting amplifier, pulse generator and gating.

Notes:

The present invention is used to induce different psychological states but due to the apparatus of this invention such states can be reached more quickly and with less current, thus reducing the danger from such currents to the subject.

The present invention has numerous practical applications dependent on attainment of these psychological states and controlled maintaining of such a state.

The subject first performs an act or is subjected to evoked response system 15. Such evoked response could include listening to certain sounds, seeing certain pictures, stimulation of the skin, subjection to a particular environment, or taking of a drug, such as by an addict. The monitoring system 17 receives electro-physiological parameters monitored from the subject and feeds this information to computer 13. Using this information, the electrical parameters of stimulation by the signal generator electrical stimulator apparatus 10 to electrically mimic the effects of the evoked response system in the subject can be determined. Computer 13 can be connected to control stimulation apparatus 10 to vary in accordance with maintaining a particular state based on information being received from monitoring system 17.

An important aspect of such a system is that by cutaneous electrical stimulation to produce particular psychological states, the need of the original evoked response system may be then eliminated and the subject may then be subjected or brought to the desired psychological state without repeating of the evoked response system which system as originally applied to the subject, may have deleterious effects on the subject. One such case may be in respect to additive drugs where their effect on the body may be simulated by cutaneous electrical stimulation at the point where the electrodes 18 of the present invention are placed on the subject. Such electrical stimulation being possible of close control may help in overcoming withdrawal symptoms without the use of the deleterious drug. Concomitantly with the cutaneous electrical stimulation for attenuation of withdrawal symptoms the subject may self-administer nitrous oxide gas (N.sub.2 O) (or a similar type cognitive activator) at physiological concentrations of approximately 60% N.sub.2 O and 40% oxygen where conscious awareness is maintained. Such self-administration of N.sub.2 O is to facilitate the formation of neuronal connections and the consolidation of the memory of the experience and should lessen the time needed for withdrawal than use of cutaneous stimulation alone. This process will serve to permit the former drug addicts to have conscious awareness of their natural electro-cotical and electro chemical state which they had been artificially inducing with the drugs. By sensitizing these natural systems within the brain through the use of cutaneous electrical stimulation, this process will induce an antibuse type of physiological state in the event of further drug use. Since the effects of cutaneous electrical stimulation involve primarily regions of the brain involved with non-verbal conscious stages of awareness, this therapy should include psychotherapy to bring to the subject's conscious awareness, through verbal communication, the effects of the electrical stimulation being administered. This may be done by electronically inducing a hypnotic state of awareness in the subject at which time a trained psychotherapist can explain to the subject that future self-administration of the drug is not necessary. If the desire for the drug again should occur, this desire can be relieved by the electrical stimulator which would reduce the physiological craving for the drug as well as evoking a psychoelectrical stimulus which is associated with a psychological state in which the drug is unnecessary.

Other uses may be made of the apparatus of the present invention and the method of the present invention may be applied to obtain other therapeutic results.

The words "cutaneous" and "cutaneously" to be correctly interpreted as to where electrical stimulation may be applied in the present invention includes the application of electrical stimulation on surfaces of the body even where such surfaces may extend into orifices of the body.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification.