# US 10,946,185 B2 · Topical neurological stimulation

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- Number: US 10,946,185 B2
- Document ID: US10946185B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/385,361
- Filed: 2019-04-16
- Published: 2019-08-08
- Granted: 2021-03-16
- Earliest claimed: 2013-05-30
- Assignees: Neurostim Solutions, LLC
- Applicants: Neurostim Solutions LLC
- Inventors: Graham H. Creasey; Hoo-Min D. Toong
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10946185B2

## CPC

- A61N 1/0452: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]}
- A61B 5/388: Nerve conduction study, e.g. detecting action potential of peripheral nerves
- A61N 1/0456: {Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]}
- A61N 1/0476: {Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)}
- A61N 1/0492: {Patch electrodes (A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence)}
- A61N 1/36003: {of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance}
- A61N 1/36007: {of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control}
- A61N 1/36031: {using physiological parameters for adjustment}
- A61N 1/36034: {specified by the stimulation parameters}
- A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)}
- A61N 1/36021: {for treatment of pain}
- A61N: ELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY (measurement of bioelectric currents A61B; surgical instruments, devices or methods for transferring non-mechanical forms of energy to or from the body A61B18/00; anaesthetic apparatus in general A61M; incandescent lamps H01K; infrared radiators for heating H05B)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)

## Abstract

A topical nerve stimulator patch and system are provided including a dermal patch; an electrical signal generator associated with the patch; a signal receiver to activate the electrical signal generator; a power source for the electrical signal generator associated with the patch; an electrical signal activation device; and a nerve feedback sensor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A topical nerve stimulation system for externally stimulating a nerve of a user, the system comprising:
a flexible substrate comprising adhesive on a first side adapted to adhere to a dermis of the user;
an electronic package directly coupled to the substrate, the electronic package comprising a control unit and one or more stimulators; and
electrodes directly coupled to the substrate and the electronic package and disposed between the adhesive and the dermis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, further comprising a power source coupled to the electronic package and an antenna coupled to the electronic package.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising adhesive conductive pads.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electronic package further comprising sensing circuits and an electronic switch to alternate between stimulating and sensing, the electrodes providing the stimulating and the sensing.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the substrate comprising a first end and a second end, a first electrode disposed on the first end and a second electrode disposed on the second end, the electronic package disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 5, the first electrode having a plurality of first electrode contacts and the second electrode having a plurality of second electrode contacts, the control unit adapted to apply an electrical signal to only the first electrode contacts or to both the first electrode contacts and the second electrode contacts simultaneously.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising a plurality of electrode contacts in a concentric arrangement.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising a plurality of electrode contacts arranged as parallel strips.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising a plurality of electrode contacts arranged as a matrix.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the control unit adapted to apply an electrical signal via the stimulators to the electrodes to generate electrical stimuli of varying tissue depths based on a variation of power.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising a pair of interlocking electrodes, the control unit adapted to apply a time-varying voltage signal via the stimulators to the interlocking electrodes to generate a beam forming electrical stimuli.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the control unit adapted to apply an electrical signal via the stimulators to the electrodes to cause an electrical stimuli to pass from the electrodes to the dermis.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 12, the electrical stimuli comprising voltage-regulated square waves having frequencies between 15 Hz and 50 Hz, and having currents between 20 mA and 100 mA.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 1, the electrodes comprising a beam forming array.

### Claim 15 (depends on 2)

The topical nerve stimulation system of claim 2, the antenna adapted to communicate with a remote control device configured to provide a signal to start or stop electrical stimuli via the electrodes.

### Claim 16

A method for externally stimulating a nerve of a user, the method comprising:
fastening to the user a flexible substrate comprising adhesive on a first side adapted to adhere to a dermis of the user;
initiating electrical stimuli using an electronic package directly coupled to the substrate, the electronic package comprising a control unit and one or more stimulators; and
applying the electrical stimuli via electrodes directly coupled to the substrate and the electronic package and disposed between the adhesive and the dermis.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, the electrodes comprising a pair of interlocking electrodes, the control unit adapted to apply a time-varying voltage signal via the stimulators to the interlocking electrodes to generate a beam forming electrical stimuli.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, the electrodes comprising a beam forming array.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, the electronic package further comprising sensing circuits and an electronic switch, further comprising:
alternating between stimulating and sensing, the electrodes providing the stimulating and the sensing.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, the electrodes comprising a plurality of electrode contacts arranged as a matrix, further comprising:
the applying the electrical stimuli using a first pattern of the matrix;
sensing an activity of tissues within the user in response to the applying; and
re-applying the electrical stimuli using a second pattern of the matrix based on the sensing.