Interferential and neuromuscular electrical stimulation system and apparatus

A method of providing therapeutic electrical stimulation by having a multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation system perform the steps of:

• providing an operator interface of a multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation system;
• accepting a first set of data via the operator interface;
• providing a user interface of the stimulation system while restricting access to the operator interface;
• accepting a second set of data via the user interface;
• defining a stimulation treatment program based at least in part on the first set of data and the second set of data;
• applying a plurality of electrodes to a target treatment area of a user;
• automatically switching an electrical configuration of the plurality of electrodes;
• and
• delivering the stimulation treatment program to the target treatment area.

A multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation system comprising:

• an electrical therapeutic stimulation device comprising a first output channel and a second output channel;
• a first electrode assembly electrically connected to the first output channel;
• and
• a second electrode assembly electrically connected to the second output channel;
• wherein the electrical stimulation device comprises automatically reconfigurable internal switching circuitry electrically coupled to the first and second electrode assemblies, the switching circuitry having a first configuration for a first stimulation treatment mode and a second configuration for a second stimulation treatment mode,
• and wherein first and second stimulation treatment modes each comprise one of an interferential (IF) mode, a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) mode, a combination IF/NMES mode, or a pulsed direct current (PDC) mode.

A method of delivering a multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation treatment program comprising the steps of:

• providing a multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation system having first and second output channels and first and second electrode assemblies, the first and second electrode assemblies respectively associated with the first and second output channels;
• storing in the stimulation system at least one electrical therapeutic stimulation treatment program comprising a first stimulation treatment mode portion and a second stimulation treatment mode portion;
• delivering the first stimulation treatment mode portion of the selected muscle stimulation treatment program to a target treatment area of a user via the first and second electrode assemblies;
• automatically switching the first and second output channels internal to the stimulation system;
• and
• delivering the second stimulation treatment mode portion of the selected electrical therapeutic stimulation treatment program to a target treatment area of a user via the first and second electrode assemblies.

A multi-mode electrical therapeutic stimulation device comprising:

• a case housing a stimulator, the case including an output channel interface operable to electrically couple a cable, electrode or other treatment applicator to the stimulator;
• an interface including an input portion and an output portion, wherein the output portion comprises a display screen for displaying options of a first and a second electrostimulation treatment mode, or a combination of the first and second electrostimulation treatment modes, to a user or operator, and the input portion is operable to receive input from a user or operator for selecting the first or the second electrostimulation treatment mode displayed via the output portion;
• a stimulator adapted to deliver a first and a second electro stimulation signal corresponding, respectively, to the first and second electro stimulation treatment modes, the stimulator comprising a first output channel having first and second electrical nodes, and a second output channel having first and a second electrical nodes, and channel switching circuitry, wherein the channel switching circuitry is adapted to enable delivery of the first electrostimulation signal though the first and second electrical nodes of the first output channel, and the second electrostimulation signal though the first electrical node of the first output channel and the first electrical node of the second output channel.

A stimulation device providing electrical stimulation therapy, comprising:

• a set of electrodes comprising a first pair of electrodes and a second pair of electrodes, the set adapted for placement on a treatment area of a patient to form a placement position;
• a first output circuit for delivering a first electrical stimulation treatment to the set of electrodes and comprising a first output portion and a second output portion;
• a second output circuit for delivering a second electrical stimulation treatment to the set of electrodes and comprising a first output portion and a second output portion;
• a first channel output electrically connected to the first pair of electrodes;
• a second channel output electrically connected to the second pair of electrodes;
• and
• a switching circuit operably connected to the first and second output circuits and the first and second channel outputs and having a first selectable switching position and a second selectable switching position, wherein:
• the first switching position completes an electrical connection between the first output portion of the first output circuit and the first pair of electrodes and between the second output portion of the first output circuit and the second pair of electrodes, thereby forming a first electrical electrode configuration and delivering a first stimulation treatment to the treatment area, and
• the second switching position completes an electrical connection of the first output portion of the second output circuit and one electrode of the first pair of electrodes and one electrode of the second pair of electrodes and an electrical connection of the second output portion of the second output circuit and one electrode of the first pair of electrodes and one electrode of the second pair of electrodes, thereby forming a second electrical electrode configuration and delivering a second stimulation treatment to the treatment area;
• such that electrical stimulation therapy may be automatically switched between a first stimulation treatment utilizing a first electrical electrode configuration and a second stimulation treatment utilizing a second electrical electrode configuration without changing the placement position of the set of electrodes.