Apparatus and method for transcranial electrotheraphy

Claim 1

An electrode for providing TCET, comprising: an electrical conductor for application to an ear of a patient, connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprises a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating the epidermis, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; and means on the conductor for controlling the pressure at which the needle point penetrates into the epidermis.

Claim 11

An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising: an electrical conductor for application to skin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the skin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μA (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide an AC signal in which each positive pulse is relatively short and high without being spiked and the following negative pulse is relatively wide and low, the total amount of positive and negative charge being balanced.

Claim 12

An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising: an electrical conductor for application to skin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the skin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μA (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide an AC signal in which each positive pulse is relatively short and high without being spiked and the following negative pulse is relatively wide and low, the total amount of positive and negative charge being balanced.

Claim 14

An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising: an electrical conductor for application to sin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the sin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μA (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide a prescription signal selected from: (1) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (2) 9-13 Hz in packets of 70-800 pulses separated b pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 10-15 μA; (3) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated b pauses of about 100 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (4) 9-13 Hz in packets of 700-800 pulses and some of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by tests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (5) about 2 Hz in packets of about 200 pulses or about 1000 pauses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, at 10-12 μA in one continuous train; (6) about 500 Hz in packets of about 1000 pulses with 9-11 second pauses of 200-300 pulses with about 100 second pauses at 10-15 μA in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of 3-23 hours; (7) about 0.1 Hz at 10-12 μA with no pauses or rests; (8) about 2000 Hz continuously for up to 40 minutes at 10-15 μA; and (9) about 1.2 or about 50 MHz in packets of about 100 seconds with 10 second pauses, in trains of 20-40 minutes.

Claim 15

An apparatus for use in TCET, comprising: an electrical conductor for application to sin of a patient, the conductor being connected to a lead for supplying a TCET signal from a signal generating device, the conductor comprising a generally conical needle point capable of only penetrating an epidermis layer of the sin, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; means for generating an electric signal at a current of 200 μA (0.2 mA) operatively connected to the lead, wherein said means is adapted to provide a prescription signal selected from: (1) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (2) 9-13 Hz in packets of 70-800 pulses separated b pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 10-15 μA; (3) 9-13 Hz in packets of 200-300 pulses separated b pauses of about 100 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (4) 9-13 Hz in packets of 700-800 pulses and some of 200-300 pulses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by tests of at least 3 hours, at a current of 28-32 μA or 10-15 μA; (5) about 2 Hz in packets of about 200 pulses or about 1000 pauses separated by pauses of 9-11 seconds, at 10-12 μA in one continuous train; (6) about 500 Hz in packets of about 1000 pulses with 9-11 second pauses of 200-300 pulses with about 100 second pauses at 10-15 μA in trains of 60 minutes maximum separated by rests of 3-23 hours; (7) about 0.1 Hz at 10-12 μA with no pauses or rests; (8) about 2000 Hz continuously for up to 40 minutes at 10-15 μA; and (9) about 1.2 or about 50 MHz in packets of about 100 seconds with 10 second pauses, in trains of 20-40 minutes.

Claim 17

A method of providing TCET to a patient, comprising the steps of: applying percutaneous electrodes having conical needle points to a head of the patient, such that the needle points only penetrate the epidermis, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; and applying a series of electric signals of defined amplitude and duration to said electrodes to supply a TCET signal across the head of the patient by means of said percutaneous electrodes.

Claim 18

A method of providing TCET to a patient, comprising the steps of: applying percutaneous electrodes having conical needle points to a head of the patient, such that the needle points only penetrate the epidermis, so as to provide good electrical contact over a very small area of the epidermis; and applying a series of electric signals of defined amplitude and duration to said electrodes to supply a TCET signal across the head of the patient by means of said percutaneous electrodes.