Electrical nerve stimulation device

An electrotherapy compliance monitoring system for incorporation with an electrical nerve stimulation device for monitoring patient compliance, the system comprising:

• at least one output channel adapted to communicate a generated electrical output;
• a processor in operable communication with the at least one channel, the processor including software for sensing changes in delivery of the generated electrical output at the at least one output channel;
• and
• non-volatile memory capable of storing selected data regarding patient compliance, the selected data including data dependant upon sensed changes of the delivery to the patient of the generated output caused by an open lead condition.

An electrotherapy compliance monitoring system for incorporation with an electrical nerve stimulation device, the compliance monitoring system comprising:

• at least one channel means for outputting a generated treatment signal;
• processing means in operable communication with the at least one channel for sensing changes in delivery to the patient of the generated treatment signal and monitoring other operating parameters of the electrical nerve stimulation device;
• and
• memory means for storing selected data regarding patient compliance including data dependant upon sensed changes in delivery to the patient of the generated treatment signal caused by an open lead condition.

A method of monitoring patient compliance for implementation with an electrical nerve stimulation device, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating an output treatment signal to at least one output channel having at least one lead wire with an electrode for attachment to the skin tissue of a patient;
• monitoring at a controller the actual delivery of the generated output treatment signal to the patient by polling the at least one output channel for an open lead condition;
• and
• storing selected data representing patient compliance at non-volatile memory, wherein the data includes a plurality of compliance data including compliance data dependant upon sensed changes in the actual delivery of the output treatment signal to the patient.

An electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising:

• a housing having
• a front panel portion;
• a back panel portion attachable to the front panel portion;
• at least one recessed lead wire connector defined by a recess in the back panel relative to an overlapping of a proximate portion of the front panel;
• a controller programmed to control and process circuitry and data in treating a user with an electrical pulse signal;
• and
• at least one output channel for communicating the electrical pulse signal to the user, the at least one output channel having at least one lead wire attachable to the at least one recessed lead wire connector of the housing such that the at least one recessed lead wire connector provides protection from inadvertent disengagement of the at least one lead wire.

An electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising:

• a housing having
• a front panel portion;
• a back panel portion attachable to the front panel portion;
• at least one recessed connector means for providing operable communication between a lead wire and the device to reduce inadvertent disengagement of the lead wire;
• control means for programmable control over input and output circuitry and data in treating a user with an electrical pulse signal;
• and
• at least one output means for communicating the electrical pulse signal to the user through the lead wire.

A method of using an electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising the steps of:

• inputting at least one operating parameter into the nerve stimulation device at a keypad;
• processing the at least one inputted operating parameter to generate an output pulse signal at an at least one output channel;
• and
• monitoring changes in the actual delivery of the generated output signal to a user through polling of the at least one output channel.

A nerve stimulation device comprising:

• at least one output channel for communicating an electrical pulse signal to a user, the at least one output channel having at least one lead wire operably connectable to the at least one output channel for communicating the electrical pulse signal;
• a high voltage level power system having at least one battery source to provide power to the nerve stimulation device;
• and
• a processor in operable communication with at least the high voltage level power system to calculate an ideal voltage level required to generate the electrical pulse signal, the processor further periodically monitoring the voltage capacity of the high voltage level power system and substantially maintaining the ideal voltage capacity during operation of the device to conserve the battery source.

A nerve stimulation device comprising:

• at least one output means for communicating a generated electrical pulse signal;
• power means for providing power to the nerve stimulation device, the power means having a circuit means for generating a voltage for the generated electrical pulse signal;
• and
• control means in operable communication with at least the power means to calculate an ideal voltage level required to generate the electrical pulse signal, the control means further periodically monitoring the voltage capacity of the circuit means and substantially maintaining the ideal voltage capacity during operation of the device to conserve the battery source.

A method of monitoring a high voltage level circuit in a nerve stimulation device to conserve battery power, the method comprising the steps of:

• processing data, including inputted treatment parameters, to calculate a required electrical treatment output;
• processing the calculated electrical treatment output to further calculate an ideal voltage level needed at a high voltage circuit to obtain the required electrical output;
• generating the required electrical output for communication through at least one output channel;
• periodically monitoring the ideal voltage level at the high voltage circuit;
• and
• substantially maintaining the ideal voltage level at the high voltage circuit if it measurably deviates to reduce overcharging of the high voltage circuit.

An electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising:

• a display screen;
• and
• a housing having
• a front panel portion;
• a back panel portion attachable to the front panel portion;
• and
• a keypad panel intermediately positionable between the front panel and the second panel, the keypad panel having a display screen frame nest adapted to securely receive the display screen to facilitate alignment of the display screen within the housing.

An electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising:

• display means for providing visual display to a user during operation of the device;
• and
• a housing having
• a front panel portion;
• a back panel portion attachable to the front panel portion;
• and
• panel means intermediately positionable between the front panel and the second panel for securely nesting the display screen to facilitate alignment of the display screen within the housing.

A method of operation for an electrical nerve stimulation device, comprising the steps of:

• inputting at least one operating parameter into the nerve stimulation device;
• processing the at least one inputted operating parameter to generate an output pulse signal at an at least one output channel;
• monitoring changes in the delivery of the generated output signal to a user's skin through polling of the at least one output channel;
• initiating a low polling signal to replace the generated output signal upon detecting an open lead condition at the at least one channel;
• and
• performing a soft recovery ramp up of the output signal when the open lead condition is removed such that the low polling signal is set to approximately zero and the output signal is ramped up to a level substantially equal to the output signal generated prior to the open lead condition.