Electronic stimulating device having timed treatment of varying intensity and method therefor

An electronic stimulating device for providing electrical stimulation at automatically varied intensities, said device comprising:

• generating means for generating electrical stimulation the intensity of which is variable, said generating means providing said generated electrical stimulation as an output signal suitable for application to a user receiving said output signal;
• control means connected with said generating means for automatically controlling the intensity of said generated electrical stimulation, said control means causing said generated electrical stimulation to be progressively increased during first and second successive time periods with the range of levels of intensities of said generated electrical stimulation being lower during said first period relative to the range of levels of intensities of said generated electrical stimulation during said second period, with said first time period including the sensory threshold level of a user receiving said output signal, with said second time period being suitable for user accommodation purposes, and with said intensity of said generated electrical stimulation during said first time period being increased at a rate that is greater than the rate of intensity increase of said generated electrical stimulation during said second time period;
• and
• actuating means connected with said control means to institute said automatic control of said intensity by said control means.

An electronic stimulating device for providing electrical stimulation at automatically varied intensities, said device comprising:

• generating means for generating electrical stimulation the intensity of which is variable, said generating means providing said generated electrical stimulation as an output signal suitable for application to a user receiving said output signal;
• control means connected with said generating means for automatically controlling the intensity of said generated electrical stimulation, said control means causing said generated electrical stimulation to be initially applied and abruptly increased to a first predetermined level below the sensory threshold of a user receiving said output signal during a first time period, with the intensity being caused to be progressively increased to a second predetermined level above the sensory threshold level of a user receiving said output signal during a second time period following said first time period, and with the intensity being caused to be progressively increased to a full predetermined level during a third time period following said second time period, with the rate of increase during said third time period being less than the rate of intensity increase during said second time period;
• and
• actuating means connected with said control means to initiate said automatic control of said intensity by said control means.

A method for providing electrical stimulation to a user, said method comprising:

• applying electrical stimulation to a user during a first time period at progressively increasing levels of stimulation;
• applying electrical stimulation to a user during a second time period, following said first time period, at progressively increasing levels of stimulation different from the progressively increasing levels of stimulation applied during the first time period, with substantially the entire range of levels of stimulation applied during the second time period being greater than substantially the entire range of levels of stimulation applied during said first time period, and with said applied stimulation reaching a selected full level at the end of said second time period;
• applying electrical stimulation at said selected full intensity level during a third time period;
• and
• terminating application of electrical stimulation to the user after the end of the third time period.

A method for providing electrical stimulation to a user, said method comprising:

• applying electrical stimulation to a user during a first time period at progressively increasing levels of stimulation with application of said stimulation being at the sensory threshold level of the user during a portion of said first time period;
• applying electrical stimulation to a user during a second time period, following said first time period, at progressively increasing levels of stimulation, with the levels of stimulation applied during second time period being greater than the levels of stimulation applied during said first time period, with application of said stimulation during said second time period being for user accommodation purposes, and with said applied stimulation reaching a selected full level at the end of said second time period;
• applying electrical stimulation at said selected full intensity level during a third time period;
• and
• terminating application of electrical stimulation to the user after the end of the third time period.

A method for providing electrical stimulation to a user at automatically varied intensities, said method comprising:

• generating electrical stimulation the intensity of which is variable;
• applying the stimulation to a user at near zero intensity and then abruptly increasing the intensity of the stimulation to a first predetermined intensity level that is below the sensory threshold level of the user during a first time period;
• increasing the intensity level applied to the user during a second time period to a second predetermined intensity level that is above the sensory threshold level of the user with the rate of increase of intensity being less than the rate of increase during the first time period;
• increasing the intensity level applied to the user during a third time period to a third predetermined intensity level that is equal to a selected full intensity level to be applied to the user with the rate of increase during said third period being less than the rate of increase during the second time period;
• applying stimulation to the user at the selected full intensity level during a fourth time period;
• and
• decreasing the intensity level of stimulation to zero during fifth and sixth time periods following said fourth time period with said intensity being decreased during said fifth time period to a level below the sensory threshold level of the user and thereafter abruptly decreased to zero during said sixth time period, and with the rate of decrease during said fifth time period being slow relative to said abrupt decrease in intensity that occurs during said sixth time period.