Patent ID: 6567695
Filing Date: 2003-05-20
Classification: A61H,A61N,Y10S

Abstract:
A device for applying electrical stimulation to a patient, said device comprising:a housing having an outer face and an inner face, said inner face being adapted to be applied to the patient; an electrode assembly releasably attachable to the inner face of the housing and adapted for contact with the patient; said electrode assembly comprising an electrode and having an electronically identifiable parameter; control circuitry operably connected to the electrode, said circuitry being selectively operable by the patient to generate electrical stimulation pulses and transmit those pulses through the electrodes to the body; said control circuitry being operable to sense the electronically identifiable parameter of the electrode assembly and provide electrical stimulation pulses of differing characteristics depending on the value of the sensed electronically identifiable parameter; wherein the electronically identifiable parameter is a resistance of a resistive element within the electrode assembly; and wherein the control circuitry additionally comprises a capacitor, and connection of the electrode assembly with the housing establishes an RC timing circuit comprising the resistive element and the capacitor, and the resistance is determined by the control circuitry by measuring a time constant of the RC timing circuit.