Apparatus and method for button-free control of a wearable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator using interactive gestures and other means

Apparatus for delivering transcutaneous electrical stimulation to a user, said apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a stimulator for electrically stimulating the user;
• a monitor for monitoring motion of said housing;
• a remote-controller for indicating the proximity of a hand to said monitor;
• and
• a controller for automatically modifying operation of said stimulator in response to the motion of the housing and proximity indication from the remote-controller.

A method for controlling transcutaneous electrical stimulation without mechanical actuators or buttons, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing apparatus for transcutaneous electrical stimulation in a user, said apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a stimulator for electrically stimulating the user;
• a monitor for monitoring motion of said housing;
• and
• a controller for automatically transitioning at least one of said stimulator and said monitor between a standby mode and a power save mode;
• wherein said power save mode supports a subset of the functionality of said stimulator and said monitor which is available in said standby mode so as to conserve battery power in said power save mode;
• determining presence of motion based on measurements from said monitor;
• and
• transitioning at least one of said stimulator and said monitor between said standby mode and said power save mode.

A method for controlling transcutaneous electrical stimulation without mechanical actuators or buttons, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing apparatus for transcutaneous electrical stimulation in a user, said apparatus comprising:
• a housing;
• a stimulator for electrically stimulating the user;
• a monitor for monitoring motion of said housing;
• a remote-controller for indicating the proximity of a hand to said monitor;
• and
• a controller for automatically modifying operation of said stimulator in response to the motion of the housing and proximity indication from the remote-controller;
• determining the presence of an intentional hand gesture based on measurements from said monitor and proximity indication from said remote-controller;
• and
• controlling operation of said stimulator based on said intentional hand gesture.