Abstract:
Electronic equipment for the production of stimuli for treatment of the human body comprises a base unit ( 11 ) and at least one satellite unit ( 13 ). The satellite unit comprises in turn a power supply battery ( 23 ) and means ( 21, 22 ) powered by this battery for producing an electric signal and applying it to a stimulus emission member ( 17 ) in response to said signal. The base unit ( 11 ) comprises means ( 28 ) for generating at least one actuation and de-actuation command for production of the electrical signal of the satellite unit ( 13 ) with the base unit and satellite units being connected by a wireless transmission for transfer of said command from one to the other.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to innovative electronic stimulation equipment for treatment of the human body. By ‘stimulation equipment’ is meant here equipment for application to the human body of stimuli produced by both direct and indirect electrical currents. The stimulus can be electrical, magnetic, luminous, heat, et cetera. Not only EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) electrostimulators or TENS (Transcutaneous Nerve Stimulation) in which the electrical current is applied directly to the body are included but also equipment whose stimulation action is obtained through electrical or electromagnetic fields or through the emission of luminous radiation with predetermined frequencies for example in the infrared range. 
     Known equipment includes a control unit to which stimuli emission members such as electrodes of the type suited for the particular desired stimuli are connected by means of electrical wires. Since the number of members or electrodes can be relatively high the difficulties which can be encountered during their application to the body are evident. For example with direct electrostimulation produced by means of the difference in potential applied to a pair of electrodes there can be up to sixteen electrode pairs and therefore thirty-two electrical conductors usually at least a couple of meters long which connect the control unit to the user&#39;s body. 
     In addition to the possibility for the wires to tangle and knot together creating considerable confusion there is the objective impossibility for the user to move with a certain freedom. In addition it becomes difficult to recognize which electrodes are associated in a pair and which of the controls at the control unit correspond to a given pair. 
     This becomes particularly important when an operator or user wishes to individually regulate operating parameters of individual electrode pairs through the controls arranged on the control unit. 
     To reduce the difficulty of identification simple solutions have been offered in the prior art such as the use of wires of different colors for each emission member or electrode or electrode pair. In the case of direct electrical stimulation it has even been proposed to begin the treatment with all intensities at zero to then increase intensity one electrode pair at a time so that the contracting muscle on which electrode pair regulation is being done would be apparent. 
     Even when the intensities have been perfectly regulated at the beginning of a treatment, during an electrostimulation cycle further regulations can become necessary even due to the only fact that skin conductivity can vary for example because of perspiration produced by the physical activity resulting from the electrostimulation or even by the mere presence of the electrode which impedes perspiration. 
     The difficulty of these further regulations is evident especially in the frequent case when the user is left alone and therefore must make the regulation himself with the obstacle of the connecting wires and the difficulty of associating an electrode pair with the corresponding regulation control. In some professional versions of electrostimulation equipment a remote control is provided through which the subject himself undergoing the session can independently regulate the intensity of the electrical impulses without having to reach the equipment control console. But the difficulty of finding the association between electrode pairs whose effect it is desired to regulate and regulation control remains. 
     The general purpose of the present invention is to overcome the above shortcomings by supplying electronic stimulation equipment in which the need for cumbersome connecting wires is eliminated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of this purpose it is sought to provide in accordance with the present invention electronic equipment for the production of stimuli for treatment of the human body comprising a base unit and at least one satellite unit with the satellite unit comprising in turn a power supply battery and means powered by this battery for producing an electric signal and applying it to a stimuli emission member in response to said signal with the base unit comprising means of generating at least one actuation and de-actuation command for production of the electrical signal of the satellite unit with the base unit and satellite units being connected by a wireless transmission for the transfer of said command from one to the other. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     To clarify the explanation of the innovative principles of the present invention and its advantages compared with the prior art there is described below with the aid of the annexed drawings a possible embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example applying said principles. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of stimulation equipment in accordance with the present invention, 
     FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of a satellite unit of the equipment of FIG. 1, and 
     FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of a base unit and a satellite unit of the equipment of FIG.  1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the figures, FIG. 1 shows electronic stimulation equipment indicated as a whole by reference number  10  comprising a base unit  11  for example equipped with a pedestal  12  and a plurality of satellite units  13  which are received in purposeful seats  14  in the base unit when not in use. The base unit comprises a control panel  15  and if necessary a closing cover  16  for the zone receiving the satellite units. 
     As shown in FIG. 2 each satellite unit  13  comprises members  17  readily imaginable by one skilled in the art for electrical, magnetic, luminous, calorific et cetera stimuli emissions to be applied to the body undergoing treatment. For the sake of simplicity the emission members will be indicated as electrodes  17  in particular for the emission of type EMS or TENS electrical stimuli. Unit  13  comprises stimuli intensity regulation controls  18 . 
     For direct electrostimuli by means of electrical current the electrodes are made up of a pair of conductive members which embody a reference electrode and an active electrode. Advantageously to allow adequate positioning of the electrodes of a pair the satellite unit  13  is made up of two parts or sub-units  13   a  and  13   b  interconnected by a short electrical wire  30  advantageously coiled. Each part of the satellite unit supports one electrode of the pair. In this manner it is possible to position the two electrodes of the pair in the most appropriate position on the body. Elastic bands not shown permit keeping the satellite unit in the selected position on the body. 
     Each satellite unit  13  has electrical contacts  19  which are paired with complementary electrical contacts  20  located in the housing seats in the base unit when the satellite unit is placed in the seat. 
     As may be seen in FIG. 3 each satellite unit includes within it an electrical battery  23  for independent powering and an electronic circuit for production of the electrical signals to be applied to the members  17 . 
     In particular the electronic circuit can advantageously be provided with an appropriately programmed microprocessor  21  for generating control signals for a power amplifier  22  with outlet connected to the electrodes. The regulation controls  18  can control the amplitude of the signals applied to the electrodes. 
     The circuit  21  can also control a display  24  for example comprising light emitting diodes. 
     The electrical contacts  19  can be employed for supplying recharging power for the batteries  23  provided in the form of accumulators when the satellite unit is in the seat  14 . For this purpose the base unit  11  comprises a battery charger  25 . 
     In addition the microprocessor  21  can receive through the contacts  19  setup instructions which are memorized in a program memory  26  in the satellite unit. For this purpose the base unit also has a microprocessor circuit  27  which receives operating commands through the control panel  15  and sends the appropriate instructions to the satellite unit through one or more of the contacts  19 . 
     In accordance with the present invention the base unit also comprises a wireless transmission circuit  28  which connects with receiving circuits  29  located in each satellite unit. If required to allow the base unit to selectively address commands to the satellite units each satellite unit has a receiver  29  with programmable identification code for example by means of microswitches  31  to respond only to a transmission addressed to it. 
     Any transmission system can be selected. For example a radio transmission system can be employed or infrared if the receivers and transmitter are within optical range. In use the satellite units are initially inserted in their respected seats in the base unit. In this manner the internal accumulators are kept charged. When it is desired to administer a treatment the operator commands on the panel  15  the settings desired for a particular treatment. For example in general the EMS or TENS applications are characterized by the wave form generated on the electrodes, its minimum and maximum amplitude and its frequency. It might be desired to insert in the microprocessor circuit  27  the description of a series of treatment programs each defining a certain correlation of operating parameters and permit controlling through the controls  15  which program to transfer or set in the satellite unit or units  13  inserted in the base. The microprocessor unit in the satellite unit is thus set to perform a particular program by memorizing in the memory  26  what is received through the electrical contacts connecting it with the base unit. 
     Once a satellite unit is withdrawn from its seat in the base unit it becomes an independent unit producing the requested treatment on command. 
     When the program is set through the keyboard  15  the operator withdraws the satellite unit and applies it in position on the user&#39;s body. Once all the units necessary for treatment have been applied the operator commands starting of the treatment by means of the keyboard  15 . In response thereto the base unit emits a start signal by means of the transmitter  28  and the satellite units receive it through the receiver  29 . In this manner all the satellite units controlled begin simultaneously to perform the programmed duty. 
     In the same manner an end-of-treatment signal emitted by the base unit in response to a manual command on the keyboard  15  or a preset condition, for example the end of a treatment period, commands simultaneously extinction of all the satellite units. 
     In the case of treatments requiring the use only of a subassembly of the satellite units available in the equipment it may be thought that from the control panel  15  the satellite units could be divided in groups so that each group would be independently employed on a different user thus optimizing the full utilization of the equipment. In this case the start and stop signals would be sent to the correct satellite unit group thanks to the coding assigned to the satellite units. 
     Of course during treatment it would be easy even for the subject himself undergoing the treatment to identify and operate the controls  18  associated with each stimuli emission member. 
     Advantageously the base unit could comprise ultraviolet sterilization lamps  32  arranged in the compartment enclosed by the cover  16  to sterilize the part of the satellite units which come into contact with the user&#39;s body. 
     Naturally the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention is given by way of non-limiting example of said principles within the scope of the exclusive right claimed here. For example the shape of the base unit and especially of the satellite units could change depending on the specific requirements and the type of stimuli produced. In particular each satellite unit could be provided as an individual member.