Electro-stimulation apparatus using electrode matrix and a counter electrode

An electro-stimulation apparatus comprising:

• an electrode system for measuring local electrical impedance including
• a multitude of electrode pads, and
• a separate counter electrode held at a reference voltage, wherein
• the electrode pads and the counter electrode are assembled into an electrode unit, and
• the counter electrode is positioned between individual electrode pads.

An electro-stimulation apparatus comprising:

• an electronic system including;
• a source group of electrode pads and a sink group of electrode pads,
• a source conductor for applying a first electrical quantity to electrode pads of the source group,
• a sink conductor for receiving a second electrical quantity from electrode pads of the sink group,
• a first group of switching elements coupling individual electrode pads of the source group to said source conductor, and
• a second group of switching elements coupling individual electrode pads of the sink group to said sink conductor.

An electronic circuit, comprising:

• a source group of electrode pads and a sink group of electrode pads,
• a source conductor for applying a first electrical quantity to electrode pads of the source group,
• a sink conductor for receiving a second electrical quantity from electrode pads of the sink group,
• a first group of switching elements coupling individual electrode pads of the source group to said source conductor, and
• a second group of switching elements coupling individual electrode pads of the sink group to said sink conductor.

An electro-stimulation apparatus comprising:

• an electrode unit including an electrode system for measuring local areas of electrical impedance on a body to be electrically stimulated, said electrode system including a plurality of electrode pads at least one of which is a counter electrode,
• a flexible substrate which supports said electrode system,
• first means for selectively coupling a plurality of the electrode pads to a source of electric energy, and
• second means for coupling the at least one counter electrode of the plurality of electrode pads to a point of reference voltage and to a means for measuring a current received from selected electrode pads.