阅读说明：本技术 用于微电流刺激设备的自适应触发器 (Adaptive trigger for microcurrent stimulation device ) 是由 约翰·克劳德 克里斯多佛·A·威克洛夫 于 2018-04-24 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种微电流治疗设备包括自适应触发电路,该自适应触发电路被配置为动态地确定用于通过治疗电极将治疗微电流施加到在人面部上的神经节以治疗鼻窦疾病的触发阈值。(A microcurrent therapy device includes an adaptive trigger circuit configured to dynamically determine a trigger threshold for applying a therapeutic microcurrent to a ganglion on a human face through a therapy electrode to treat a sinus condition.)

1. A method for applying a therapeutic micro-current, the method comprising:

Measuring an electrical impedance between a therapy electrode of a handheld sinus therapy device in contact with a face of a user and a return electrode at a surface of the handheld device in contact with a hand of the user to produce a detected impedance;

Converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable;

Comparing the detected impedance variable to a dynamically determined treatment threshold;

Triggering application of therapeutic micro-current through the therapy electrode and a current location on the user's face if the detected impedance variance satisfies the therapy threshold, and not triggering application of the therapeutic micro-current if the detected impedance variance does not satisfy the therapy threshold; and

Updating the therapy threshold using the detected impedance change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the detected impedance to a detected impedance variable comprises performing an analog-to-digital conversion on the detected impedance.

3. the method of claim 1, wherein the dynamically determined impedance threshold comprises a dynamically determined impedance value; and

Wherein satisfaction of the impedance threshold comprises the detected impedance variable having a value equal to or less than the dynamically determined impedance value.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a first derivative of the detected impedance.

5. the method of claim 1, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a slope of the detected impedance relative to a most recently detected impedance instance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a second derivative of the detected impedance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a curvature of the detected impedance relative to a most recently detected impedance instance.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro-current is delivered from the therapy electrode to the return electrode by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro-current is delivered from the return electrode to the therapy electrode by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising alternating a direction of the microcurrent during the application of the microcurrent.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating haptic feedback of the sinus treatment device during the application of the micro-current.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising illuminating a light emitting diode of the sinus treatment device during the application of the micro-current.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the return electrode is attached to a housing of the sinus treatment device formed to be held by a hand of a user of the sinus treatment device, and wherein the return electrode is exposed to contact the hand of the user.

14. the method of claim 1, further comprising turning off the sinus treatment device when the impedance between the therapy electrode and the return electrode is greater than a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the return electrode comprises a conductive housing of the sinus treatment device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the housing comprises conductive polycarbonate.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the therapy electrode comprises at least one of: gold, silver, stainless steel, carbon fiber, and alternating bond length (electron conjugated) polymers.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro-current has a frequency of less than 1000 Hz.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the micro-current is less than 1000 μ Α.

20. A method, comprising:

Measuring an electrical impedance between a therapy electrode and a return electrode of a sinus treatment device on a face of a user as the therapy electrode moves on the face of the user and the return electrode is in contact with a hand of the user;

generating an impedance variable based on the electrical impedance;

Comparing the resistance change to a treatment threshold;

In response to the detected impedance variance satisfying the therapy threshold, passing a therapeutic micro-current between the therapy electrode and the return electrode through the user's face.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising updating the therapy threshold using the detected impedance change.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising inhibiting the therapeutic micro-current when the resistance change does not meet the therapeutic threshold.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the detected impedance to a detected impedance variable comprises performing an analog-to-digital conversion on the detected impedance.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the dynamically determined impedance threshold comprises a dynamically determined impedance value; and

Wherein satisfaction of the impedance threshold comprises the detected impedance variable having a value equal to or less than the dynamically determined impedance value.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a first derivative of the detected impedance.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a slope of the detected impedance relative to a most recently detected impedance instance.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a second derivative of the detected impedance.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein converting the detected impedance into a detected impedance variable comprises determining a curvature of the detected impedance relative to a most recently detected impedance instance.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the micro-current is delivered from the therapy electrode to the return electrode by the user.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the micro-current is delivered from the return electrode to the therapy electrode by the user.

31. The method of claim 20, further comprising alternating a direction of the microcurrent during the application of the microcurrent.

32. A microcurrent stimulation device comprising:

A current output circuit for applying a micro-current to a trigger location on a human user; and

An adaptive trigger circuit configured to:

Detecting a series of impedance values at a corresponding series of locations on a face of a person;

Dynamically establishing an impedance threshold; and

Triggering the current output circuit to apply the therapeutic micro-current when the impedance threshold is met.

33. The microcurrent stimulation device of claim 32, wherein the adaptive triggering circuit comprises an analog-to-digital converter configured to convert the impedance value from an analog value to a digital value.

34. The micro-current stimulation device of claim 32, wherein the dynamically determined impedance threshold comprises a dynamically determined impedance value, and wherein satisfaction of the impedance threshold comprises the detected impedance variable having a value equal to or less than the dynamically determined impedance threshold.

35. The microcurrent stimulation device of claim 32, wherein the adaptive triggering circuit is configured to trigger the current output circuit based on the first derivative of the detected impedance.

36. The microcurrent stimulation device of claim 32, wherein the adaptive triggering circuit is configured to trigger the current output circuit based on the slope of the detected impedance relative to the most recently detected impedance instance.

37. The micro-current stimulation device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the adaptive triggering circuit is configured to trigger the current output circuit based on a second derivative of the detected impedance.

38. The microcurrent stimulation device of claim 32, wherein the adaptive triggering circuit is configured to trigger the current output circuit based on the curvature of the detected impedance relative to the most recently detected impedance instance.

39. A handheld sinus treatment device comprising:

A housing configured to be held in a hand of a user;

A therapy electrode coupled to the housing; and

A return electrode positioned on the housing such that a hand of a user is in contact with the return electrode when the user holds the housing;

a current output circuit configured to pass a therapeutic micro-current between the therapy electrode and the return electrode during a therapy mode; and

An adaptive triggering circuit positioned within the housing and configured to detect an impedance between the return electrode and the therapy electrode as the therapy electrode moves along the user's face and to trigger the current output circuit to apply the micro-current based on the impedance.

40. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 39, wherein the adaptive trigger circuit is configured to dynamically establish a trigger condition based on the impedance and trigger the current output circuit to apply the micro-current when the trigger condition is satisfied.

41. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 40, wherein the trigger condition is a threshold slope of the impedance over time.

42. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 40, wherein the trigger condition is a threshold second derivative of the impedance over time.

43. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 40, wherein the trigger condition is a threshold curvature of the impedance with respect to time.

44. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 40, wherein the trigger condition is a threshold impedance.

45. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 40, wherein the adaptive trigger circuit is configured to establish the trigger condition in real time as the therapy electrode is moved over the face of the user during a detection mode.

46. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 45, wherein the adaptive trigger circuit is configured to override a previous trigger condition by establishing the trigger condition.

47. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 39, wherein the therapeutic micro-current comprises a series of current spikes.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the current spike has a peak magnitude of less than 1000 μ A.

49. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 48, wherein the current spike has a peak size of less than 600 μ A.

50. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein the current spikes have an average value of less than 1000 μ A.

51. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 50, wherein the current spikes have an average value of less than 600 μ A.

52. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein the current spikes alternate in direction.

53. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein the therapeutic micro-current has a frequency of less than 1000 Hz.

54. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 53, wherein the therapeutic micro-current has a frequency between 1Hz and 100 Hz.

55. the handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein the therapeutic micro-current has zero DC offset.

56. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein the current spikes account for less than 10% of a single cycle during the treatment mode.

57. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 56, wherein the current spike occupies less than 5% of a single cycle during the treatment mode.

58. The handheld sinus treatment device of claim 47, wherein applying the therapeutic micro-current further comprises applying a therapeutic stimulation voltage between the therapy electrode and the return electrode.

59. A method, comprising:

Measuring an electrical impedance between a therapy electrode of a sinus treatment device and a return electrode of the sinus treatment device while the therapy electrode is moving on a face of a user and the return electrode is in contact with a hand of the user during a detection mode of the sinus treatment device;

Establishing a trigger condition based on the impedance during the detection mode;

Triggering a therapy mode of the sinus therapy device when the trigger condition is satisfied; and

During the therapy mode, a therapeutic micro-current is passed between the therapy electrode and the return electrode through the user's face.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein said therapeutic micro-current comprises a series of current spikes.

61. the method of claim 60, wherein the current spike has a peak magnitude of less than 1000 μ A.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the current spike has a peak magnitude of less than 600 μ A.

63. the method of claim 60, wherein the current spike has an average value of less than 1000 μ A.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the current spike has an average value of less than 600 μ A.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the current spikes alternate in direction.

66. the method of claim 60, wherein said therapeutic micro-current has a frequency of less than 1000 Hz.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein said therapeutic micro-current has a frequency between 1Hz and 100 Hz.

68. The method of claim 60, wherein the therapeutic micro-current has zero DC offset.

69. The method of claim 60, wherein the current spike comprises less than 10% of a single cycle during the treatment mode.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the current spike comprises less than 5% of a single cycle during the treatment mode.

71. The method of claim 60, further comprising applying the therapeutic micro-current, further comprising applying a therapeutic stimulation voltage between the therapy electrode and the return electrode.