Interactive electrical stimulator device and server-based support system

Abstract

A portable electro-therapy device includes a microprocessor configured to generate and control electrical stimulation output signals, an electrode jack, a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient, a modem communication port, and a modem configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and a server-based support system. A server-based support system includes an application server configured to provide an interface to the server-based support system to authorized users, a resources server configured to securely store patient data, and a modem bank configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a portable electro-therapy device according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a system for providing electrical stimulation therapy to a patient according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process by which a portable electro-therapy device periodically and automatically connects to a server-based support system, according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the process executed by a server-based support system when portable electro-therapy device remotely connects, according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing electrical stimulation therapy to a patient according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A portable electro-therapy device comprising: a microprocessor configured to generate and control electrical stimulation output signals;an electrode jack;a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient;a modem communication port; anda modem configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and a server-based support system.

2. The portable electrotherapy device of claim 1, further comprising a cradle having a communication connector configured to be operatively coupled with the modem communication port.

3. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 2, wherein the modem of the portable electro-therapy device is located within the cradle.

4. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 2, wherein the communication connector is configured to provide power to the portable electro-therapy device.

5. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, wherein the modem communication port and the electrode jack comprise a single interface.

6. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a memory configured to store one or more of: therapy protocols, therapy programs, device data, usage data and feedback data.

7. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 6, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions for providing electrical stimulation therapy to the patient, wherein the execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the microprocessor causes the microprocessor to perform the steps of: determining a mode of electro-therapy to provide;calculating the electrical stimulation output signals based upon the determined mode of electro-therapy; andtransmitting the electrical stimulation output signals to one or more of the plurality of electrodes.

8. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 6, wherein the memory includes one or more sequences of instructions for communicating with the server-based support system, wherein the execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the microprocessor causes the microprocessor to perform the steps of: determining if a predetermined time has elapsed;establishing a connection between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system;determining if there is device data to be uploaded from the memory;uploading, if there is device data to be uploaded, device data from the memory to the server-based support system;determining if there is server data to be downloaded from the server-based support system; anddownloading, if there is server data to be downloaded, server data from the server-based support system.

9. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a load-sensing circuit configured to sense an output load to the plurality of electrodes.

10. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, wherein one of the electrode jack and the modem communication port is configured to operatively connect with an external device for communicating data to and from the external device.

11. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 10, wherein the external device is selected from the group consisting of: a computer, an external memory device and a calibration device.

12. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising a battery configured to provide power to the portable electro-therapy device and a batter charger configured to charge the battery from an external power source.

13. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, further comprising at least one of: a display, one or more interface buttons, a speaker, a clock module and a calendar module.

14. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, wherein the electrical stimulation output signals are selected from the group consisting of interferential output signals, pre-modulated interferential output signals, neuromuscular output signals, high volt pulse current output signals, trans-cutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and combinations thereof.

15. The portable electro-therapy device of claim 1, wherein an intensity of the electrical stimulation output signals is scalable to accommodate electrodes of differing sizes.

16. A system for providing electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, comprising: a portable electro-therapy device having a modem, a microprocessor configured to generate and control output signals, an electrode jack and a plurality of electrodes operatively connected to the electrode jack and configured to transmit the output signals to the patient; anda server-based support system including an application server configured to provide authorized users with an interface to the server-based support system, a resources server configured to securely store patient data and a modem bank,wherein the modem and the modem bank are configured to provide communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the application server and the resources server comprise a single server.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the resources server includes a patient information database.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the application server includes one or more of: a gateway module for interfacing with the modem bank, a web application module for allowing authorized users to access the server-based support system, and a device information database.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system communicates one or more of: usage data and feedback information uploaded from the portable electro-therapy device.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system communicates one or more of: therapy protocols, programs and inquiries downloaded from the server-based support system.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein a memory of the portable electro-therapy device includes one or more sequences of instructions for communicating with the server-based support system, wherein the execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by the microprocessor causes the microprocessor to perform the steps of: determining if a predetermined time has elapsed;establishing a connection between the portable electro-therapy device and the server-based support system;determining if there is device data to be uploaded from the memory;uploading, if there is device data to be uploaded, device data from the memory to the server-based support system;determining if there is server data to be downloaded from the server-based support system; anddownloading, if there is server data to be downloaded, server data from the server-based support system.

23. A method for providing electrical stimulation therapy to a patient, comprising the steps of: downloading a therapy protocol from a server-based support system to a portable electro-therapy device;calculating, with a microprocessor of the portable electro-therapy device, electrical stimulation output signals based upon the downloaded therapy protocol;transmitting the electrical stimulation output signals to a patient through a plurality of electrodes connected to the portable electro-therapy device;uploading device data from the portable electro-therapy device to the server-based support system; andproviding the device data to authorized users of the server-based support system through an application interface.

24. A system for maintaining therapy information about a patient, comprising: a server-based support system including an application server configured to provide authorized users with an interface to the server-based support system and a resources server configured to securely store patient data and a gateway module; anda data transceiver device operatively connected to the server-based support system and configured to receive the patient data from an external memory and to transmit the patient data to the gateway module.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein the application server and the resources server comprise a single server.