Abstract:
A method for using electrical stimulation to achieve a physiological reaction in an individual using an electronic stimulation device is described. The electronic stimulation device is used to apply a waveform to the individual. The waveform includes at least a plurality of packets. Each of the plurality of packets includes a plurality of pulses. A plurality of variables associated with the waveform are controlled to provide a waveform shape for achieving the physiological reaction in the individual.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/203,387 “Biofeedback Electronic Stimulation Device,” and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/648,754 entitled “Device for Treating Repetitive Strain Injuries” filed on Feb. 1, 2005 which are each incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to pain management systems, and more particularly, to biofeedback electronic stimulation devices for treating injuries.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     There are many people with injuries and ailments that may be treated by electrical energy. Examples include sprained ankles, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, and numbness of extremities like neuropathy, stroke and neurological conditions such as ADD and macular degeneration. These are all ailments that the human body must work to recover from. They are not viruses or infections or any chemically related ailment. These are not instances where surgery has proven effective, such as reattaching bones or ligaments or other body parts or clearing arteries.  
         [0004]     Energetic medicine addresses these energy related ailments. There has been much research into energetic medicine and the way the body&#39;s electric and nervous system works dating back to the 1900s. Devices have been developed, such as the Rife machine, Beck&#39;s Box, infrared light therapies, and magnetic therapies used in energetic medicine. There are diagnostic tools such as MEAD machines, which measure resistance in the body&#39;s energetic pathways called energy meridians. There are also treatment machines in the category in TENS and electronic acupuncture. With respect to the use of machinery based upon TENS strategy, most of these devices utilize electronic stimulation to mask the pain of a user rather than to physically assist the body to recover from a particular injury. Thus, there is a need for devices that actively assist the body in healing from particular types of injuries using electrical energy.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a method for using electrical stimulation to achieve a physiological reaction in an individual using an electronic stimulation device. The electronic stimulation device applies a waveform to the individual. The waveform includes at least a plurality of packets. Each of the plurality of packets includes at least one pulse. A plurality of variables associated with the waveform are controlled to provide a waveform shape for achieving the physiological reaction in the individual.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the transformer circuit and associated transformer shunt;  
         [0009]      FIG. 2   a  is a schematic diagram of the level translator circuitry;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3   a - 3   b  is a schematic diagram of the microcontroller of the device;  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of the detector circuit of the device;  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram illustrating the manner in which the control processor operates within the device to provide control signals;  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flow diagram illustrating the feedback control loop of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device;  
         [0014]      FIG. 7  illustrates the stimulation signal generated by the biofeedback electronic stimulation device, and the various manners in which the packets and pulses may be controlled;  
         [0015]      FIGS. 8   a - 8   d  illustrate various output signals of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 9  illustrates a waveform for the treatment of injuries;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 10   a - 10   f  illustrate an alternative waveform for the treatment of injuries;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 11   a - 11   b  illustrate a further waveform for the treatment of injuries; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 12  illustrates yet another waveform for the treatment of injuries.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers are used herein to designate like elements throughout the various views, embodiments of the present invention are illustrated and described, and other possible embodiments of the present invention are described. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in some instances the drawings have been exaggerated and/or simplified in places for illustrative purposes only. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the many possible applications and variations of the present invention based on the following examples of possible embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0021]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a block diagram of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device of the present invention. The device includes a circuit board  102  for containing each of the electronic components. The controlling portion of the device consists of a microprocessor  104 . The microprocessor  104  contains a set of stored instructions for controlling the operation of the biofeedback device. The microprocessor  104  in conjunction with other components of the device which will be discussed herein below generate output pulse packets for application to an individual&#39;s body. The microprocessor  104  is interconnected with a number of components on the circuit board  102  from which the microprocessor  104  receives inputs from and provides outputs to. An on/off switch  106  provides the user with the ability to turn the entire biofeedback electronic stimulation device on and off. The on/off switch  106  may comprise a standard push button switch or a conventional two position switch in order to place the device in powered and non-powered states. A connector jack  108  enables external probes to be connected to the biofeedback electronic stimulation device. The device also includes a USB port  110  to enable universal serial bus connections to the microprocessor  104 . Through the USB connection  110 , a USB communications cable may be connected to enable USB communications between the microprocessor  104  and an external device.  
         [0022]     A pair of electrodes  112  provide a stimulation signal from the output circuitry  114  and provide a connection point between the biofeedback electronic stimulation device and a body of a user. The output electrodes  112  connect the device to a point on a body of a user. The pair of electrodes  112  additionally provide an input for measuring a body&#39;s response to the applied electric signals through the electrodes  112 . A connector  116  enables a battery  118  to be interconnected to the biofeedback electronic stimulation device to power the microcontroller  104  and associated circuitry. The power level selector  120  enables a user to adjust the power level applied to a transformer  122  within the output circuitry  114  by the microprocessor  104  to various levels. The applied power level alters the strength of the stimulation signal output from electrodes  112  to a user&#39;s body,  
         [0023]     Treatment selector switch  124  selects the particular mode of operation for the biofeedback electronic stimulation device. The selected treatment mode from switch  124  provides an indication to the microprocessor  104  of a particular operating mode. The microprocessor  104  configures the pulse generator circuitry  126  to provide a desired pulse output according to the selected mode of operation. A series of display LEDs and/or LCDs  128  or other visual indicator means provide a visual indication of the power level of the device, the mode of operation or other device status. Additionally, a speaker  130  may be used to provide audible indicators to a user of various operating conditions. Various visual and audible indications are provided by the LEDs and/or LCDs  128  or the speaker  130 . These instructions include a mode indication, a power level indication, a battery power indication, a sensor connection indication, a body response status, a time status, body measurement readings, USB interface status, instructional information, treatment status, or diagnosis information. The transformer circuit  122  is energized by signals from a pulse generator circuit  126   
         [0024]     The output circuitry  114  is connected to and controlled by the microprocessor  104  to generate output pulses in a stimulation signal through the electrodes  112 . The output circuitry  114  also receives feedback signals from the electrodes  112  to control the operation of the microprocessor  104 . A transformer  122  generates a signal including packets of one or more pulses responsive to removal of an applied current from the transformer  122  controlled by the microprocessor  104 . The transformer circuit  122  is energized by signals from a pulse generator circuit  126  The output pulses provided from the transformer may be clamped by damping circuitry  125 . The various characteristics of the pulse generated by the pulse generator  126  are controlled responsive to control inputs from the microprocessor  104 . A detector circuit  132  is responsible for detecting the zero crossing of the pulse signals provided at the electrodes  112 . The time between the zero crossing are used by the microprocessor  104  to determine when the device may be removed from the body. The sensor circuit  134  provides the measurements for the zero crossings.  
         [0025]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is illustrated a schematic diagram of the transformer circuitry  122  the pulse generator circuitry  126  and the damping circuitry  125 . A charging current is applied at input  202  to resistor  204 . The charging current is provided from the level translator circuit  270  ( FIG. 2   a ) under control of the microprocessor  104 . The charging current provides energy to a transformer  206  for generating the stimulation signal. Resistor  204  is also connected to node  208 . An anode of diode  210  is connected to node  208  and the cathode of diode  210  is connected to V Batt . A resistor  212  is connected between V Batt  and node  208 . The base of transistor  214  is connected to node  208  and the emitter-collector path of transistor  214  is connected between node  216  and node  218 . A diode  220  has its anode connected to V Batt  and its cathode connected to node  216 . A diode  222  has its anode connected to node  218  and its cathode connected to a center tap  224  of transformer  206 . One side of transformer  206  is connected to ground, and the opposite side of transformer  206  is connected to node  226 . When a charging current is applied to node  202 , transistor  214  is turned on causing a current to be applied to the center tap  224  of transformer  206  by the pulse generator circuitry  126  and begin energizing the transformer.  
         [0026]     A resistor  228  is connected between node  226  and node  230 . In a preferred embodiment, the resistor  228  has a value of 150 kilo ohms. A capacitor  232  is in parallel with resistor  228  between nodes  226  and  230 . In a preferred embodiment, the capacitor  232  has a value of 500 picofarads. This capacitor can eliminate the need for the damping device  246  discussed below by limiting the amplitude of pulses generated by the transformer  206 . A resistor  234  is connected between node  230  and ground. Sensor one output  236  is connected to node  226 . Sensor two output  238  is connected to node  230 . An external sensor  240  is connected between node  226  and node  230 . The transformer circuitry  122  is interconnected with the damping circuitry  125  via a capacitor  242 . The capacitor  242  is located between the center tap  224  and node  244  of the damping circuitry  125 .  
         [0027]     The damping circuitry  125  includes a clamping device  246  located between node  244  and node  226 . The clamping device  246  prevents the pulses generated when the current is released from the transformer  206  from exceeding a particular amplitude. In a preferred embodiment, the clamping device  246  comprises a bidirectional rectifying diode. The remaining portion of the pulse generator circuitry  126  consists of a transformer shunt enabling the load applied across the transformer  206  to be adjusted by switching a resistances into and out of the load applied to the transformer  206 . The transformer shunt consists of three relays  250  which switch a resistor load  254  into and out of the circuit. Each relay  250  has four connections. A first connection is connected to a resistor  252  that is also connected to the system voltage. The relays  250  have a second connection to a load resistor  254  connected between the relay and node  226 . Another connection of the relay  250  is connected to control inputs  256  from the microprocessor  104 . A light emitting diode  258  is connected between the connection to resistor  252  and the input connected to the control input  256 . The light emitting diode  258 , when lit actuates a pair of photo sensitive transistors  260  connected between third and fourth inputs of the relay  250 . When a control signal is applied to input  256  of one of the relays  250 , the light emitting diode  258  causes the actuation of the photo sensitive transistor pair  260  which switches the resistor  254  of the transformer shunt across the transformer  206 . As can be seen, there are three relays  250  enabling eight different combinations of the resistors  254  to be switched across the transformer  206  responsive to control signals applied to lines  256 a through  256 c. Using these various combinations of relays  250 , the microprocessor  104  controls the shape and configuration of the packet of pulses output by the transformer in a number of fashions which will be discussed more fully herein below such that the stimulation signal may be configured in a number of desired modes responsive to user inputs. While only three relays  250  are described with respect to the present embodiment, any number of relays  250  may be used.  
         [0028]      FIG. 2   a  illustrates the level translator circuit  270  for generating the transformer charging signal on line  202 . The transformer charging signal is generated by the level translator  270  responsive to control inputs  304  and  306  applied to first and second inputs of a NAND gate  274 . The output of the NAND gate  274  is provided to three separate inputs of the level translator  270 . A resistor  276  is connected between the input of NAND gate  274  connected to control input  304  and ground. An audio speaker  272  is connected to receive an audio signal from the level translator circuit  270  on line  278  responsive to a control input  308  from the microcontroller  104 .  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3   a - 3   b , there is illustrated the microprocessor  104  for controlling the biofeedback electronic stimulation device described herein. The microprocessor  104  provides three control outputs  256  for controlling the transformer shunt relays  250  described previously. As described herein above, these signals enable the control of the configuration of the pulse packages generated from the transformer  206 . Control outputs  304 ,  306  and  308  provide control signals to the level translator  270  to control the provision of the transformer charging signal on output  202  responsive to control signals  304  and  306  and to control the audio output to speaker  272  via control output  308 . An LED circuit  320  receives a number of control outputs  322  from the microprocessor  104  to provide various visual indicators to the user of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device.  
         [0030]     Control input  312  receives an input control signal from the detector module  132  as described in  FIG. 4 . The detector module  132  is responsible for determining the number of zero crossings for pulse signals generated within signal packets provided by the transformer  206 . The input  404  of the detector module  132  is connected to node  226  on one side of the transformer  206  through capacitor  296  and resistor  298 . The input  404  is connected to node  406  of the detector  132 . A resistor  408  is connected between node  406  and system power. A second resistor  410  is connected between node  406  and system ground. A capacitor  412  is in parallel with resistor  410  between node  406  and ground. A first input of NAND gate  414  is connected to node  406 . The second input of NAND gate  414  is connected to system power. The output of NAND gate  414  is connected to a first input of NAND gate  416 . The second input of NAND gate  416  is connected to system power. The output of NAND gate  416  is connected to control input  312  from the microprocessor  104 . A resistor  418  is connected between the input of NAND gate  414  connected to node  406  and to the output of NAND gate  416 . Control inputs  314  and  316  are connected to a battery sensor circuit.  
         [0031]     The processor may use the control signals to control a number of processes within the device. The processor may control the amount of damping applied to each pulse. The processor may also control the stimulation pulse applied by the pulse generator to the transformer and the power or pulse width of the stimulation pulse, as well as the number of pulses, spacing between pulses and patterns of presentation. Control signals may also be generated responsive to the analysis of patterns in a response signal from the body and altered in real time. The altered control signals may generate a pulse that drives the response from the body to a desired outcome. The analysis may also be communicated to the user or a data collection apparatus along with any derived information.  
         [0032]     The generation of the control signals by the microprocessor  104  is more fully described with respect to the flow diagram illustrated in  FIG. 5 . Initially, at step  502 , the microprocessor  104  determines the selected mode of operation of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device responsive to inputs received from the treatment mode selection switch  124  and the power level selection switch  120 . From the selected mode and power level, the microprocessor  104  determines the appropriate control signals to be applied to the relays  250  of the damping circuitry  125  and applies these control signals at step  504 . The microprocessor  104  also determines and applies at step  506  the appropriate control signals  125  to charge the transformer  206  via the level translator  270 . This is accomplished by applying the appropriate control signals at step  506  to the level translator circuit  270 . The charging signal is continuously applied to the transformer  206  at step  506  until inquiry step  508  determines a release point has been received responsive to the applied control signal from the microprocessor  104 .  
         [0033]     Once inquiry step  508  determines to release the charging signal, the microprocessor  104  modifies the control signals applied to the transformer shunt at step  509  to modify the stimulation signal as desired. In some embodiments, the control signals applied to the transformer shunt may remain constant and the control signals will not be modified at step  509 . The microprocessor  104  next monitors the feedback provided from the electrodes  112  that are providing the electronic stimulation signal to the body of a user. The specifics of the feedback detection will be more fully discussed with respect to  FIG. 6 . Inquiry step  512  determines if the feedback received by the microprocessor  104  has remained constant for a selected period of time. If not, the microprocessor  104  continues to detect the feedback at step  510 . Once inquiry step  512  determines that the feedback is constant for a selected period of time, some type of notification is provided at step  514  to the user of the biofeedback electronic stimulation device. This notification may take the form of an audio indicator, such as a beep played through the speaker  272  or some type of visual indicator through one of the LEDs or LCD displays  128  or a change of stimulation parameters that may be sensed by the subject being stimulated. The microprocessor  104  then monitors for a shut down indication by the user powering off the device at inquiry step  516 . Inquiry step  516  continues to monitor for some type of shut down signal until it is received. Upon receipt of a shut down signal, the microprocessor  104  turns off the device at step  518 .  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is illustrated the manner in which the microprocessor  104  monitors the feedback from the electrodes  112  which are applying the electronic stimulation signal to an individual&#39;s body and detecting feedback from the body. The feedback determined by the microprocessor  104  comprises a determination of the time between zero crossings of the electronic stimulation signal. The time between the zero crossings of the pulses will be altered based upon the resistance provided by the body to which the device has been attached. As the resistance in a person&#39;s body increases or decreases, the time between zero crossings of the pulses of a packet will alter. Once the resistance is steady, the time between zero crossings of the pulses will remain constant and the treatment regimen may be stopped.  
         [0035]     Once the time between the zero crossings of pulses is determined at step  602 , this time value is stored within a memory associated with the microprocessor  104  at step  604 . Inquiry step  606  determines if a count value is equal to a predetermined value that is used for averaging a number of time values. If not, control passes back to step  602 . Once the appropriate number of time values have been stored and count is equal to the preselected value at inquiry step  606 , the average time between the zero crossings of pulses may be determined at step  608 . This value may be compared with a previously determined value at inquiry step  610  to determine if the determined average time value is constant. If the determined average time value is not constant, count is reset to zero at step  612  and control passes back to step  602 . If it is determined that the stored time value is constant with a previously stored time value, inquiry step  614  determines if the successive number of average time values have been constant for a selected period Y. If not, count is reset to zero and control returns to step  602 . Once the average time values have been constant for a selected period of time as determined at inquiry step  614 , an indicator is generated to the user indicating the achievement of a given treatment goal. When an amount of time has passed and there has been no activity on the control signals generated by the user to control intensity, the device may be shut down at step  616 . In an alternative embodiment, the indicator could cause the device to automatically shut down rather than waiting for a user provided shut down signal.  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the control values provided to the transformer shunt circuitry and to the level translator for the generation of the transformer charging signal may be used to configure packets  702  of pulses  704  which are transmitted in an electronic stimulation signal  706 . Using the control signals, the packets  702  of pulses  704  are controlled in a number of manners. In one embodiment, a time t 1  between a first packet  702   a  and a second packet  702   b  may be controlled using the control signals applied to the level translator circuit  270 . The time t 1  between successive packets may be varied by selecting from a plurality of modalities, including but not limited to ramping up and down, ramping up and then dropping to zero, ramping down then rising to full value, being suppressed, randomly varied by one of a plurality of randomization means, or being held constant. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, that other modalities can be used as well. The microprocessor  104  may also control the number of pulses  710  located within a particular packet  702 . The number of pulses  710  may be randomly varied between packets, gradually increased/decreased between packets or maintained constant. The size of the packet  702  may be extended or reduced by altering the number of pulses  704  within a packet  702  through use of the applied control signals to the pulse generation circuitry  126 . The pulses may be varied from any number from 1−n. Within the stimulation signal the size of packets  702  may be varied or constant.  
         [0037]     The microprocessor  104  may also control the time t 2  between adjacent pulses  704  of a packet  702 . This would be an alternative way for increasing or decreasing the size of a particular packet  702  by altering the time t 2  between pulses  204  rather than changing the number of pulses per packet  710  as described previously. The time t 2  may also be varied in any number of desired fashions. The time t 2  between pulses may also be controlled using the control signals to the pulse generation circuitry  126 . Additionally, the pulses  704  may be damped such that the amplitude  714  may be increased or decreased to change the magnitude of the pulses  704  provided within the electronic stimulation signal  706 . The amplitude  714  is also controlled through the damping circuitry  125  and may be done with a combination of the relays  250  in the damping circuitry  125 .  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIGS. 8   a  through  8   d , there are illustrated a number of pulse waveforms that illustrate the variety of outputs that may be achieved from the biofeedback electronic stimulation device described herein above.  FIG. 8   a  illustrates a first pulse wherein the charging signal has been applied for a medium amount of time and released from application to the transformer at point  802 . The output of the transformer begins the fly back oscillation mode creating the oscillations in the positive and negative directions with a steadily decreasing magnitude for the oscillation. The time period that the charging signal is applied between  804  and  802  controls the amplitude of the modulations of the output. By varying the release point  802 , the amplitude of the output pulse may be increased or decreased. A situation wherein the amplitude of the output pulse is decreased is illustrated in  FIG. 8   b . In this figure, the charging time is held between points  804  and point  805 . Due to the shorter magnitude of the application of the charging signal, the amplitude of the oscillation of the output signal between  806  and  808  is decreased. Referring now to  FIG. 8   c,  there is illustrated a situation wherein the charging signal is applied between points  804  and  810  for a longer period of time, causing the amplitude of the output pulse to increase.  
         [0039]     In addition to controlling the amplitude of the output by controlling the release point of the charging signal to the transformer, the damping circuit may be used to control the output pulse in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 8   d . In this case, the charging signal is applied between points  804  and  812 . In this case, the output signal generates a single oscillation  814  in the negative direction that then approaches zero rather than oscillating in the positive direction. This may be achieved by applying the appropriate load across the output of the transformer using the damping circuitry  125 .  
         [0040]     Therefore, using the above-described device, a user may strategically apply an electronic stimulation signal to specific parts of their body and by the use of mode selection buttons, may control the configuration of the packets of pulses applied to their body. The pulses may be adjusted in any of the fashions discussed herein above.  
         [0041]     Research has indicated that waveforms of various types have differing affects upon a patient&#39;s body when an electronic stimulation signal is applied to the body. By varying the waveform of the electronic stimulation signal applied to the body, desirable recovery characteristics of an injury may be achieved. As described herein above, the biofeedback electronic stimulation device may control the configuration of the waveform applied to a patient in a number of fashions. The waveform may include a number of packets occurring at any desired frequency, and the number of pulses within these packets may be adjusted. The damping applied to the stimulation waveform may be altered to any of a number of configurations. Additionally, the amount of time that a signal is applied, i.e., the dwell time, may be altered as desired. These examples comprise only some of the alterations which may be applied to an electronic stimulation waveform in order to achieve desired healing results within a patient. Experimental results have provided particular healing results that are achieved with waveforms having characteristics as those described herein below. While the following characteristics describe specific waveforms for use in healing particular types of injuries or achieving particular types of physical results within a patient, these are not intended to indicate the only potential waveforms to be used or the only results to be achieved using the device described herein above.  
         [0042]     One treatment mode involves the treatment, relief and/or alleviation of repetitive stress injuries (RSI), strain injuries, connective tissue trauma injuries and muscle strain injuries. A waveform to treat these types of injuries may be generated by the above described device and have the following characteristics as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . The waveform generated by the device defined above includes packets of pulses, wherein each packet of pulses includes twelve biphasic dampened sinusoidal pulses. The frequency of the packets are in the range of 58-60 Hz, and the spacing between pulses in the packets is in the range of 180-220 μs. The negative value of the pulses range from −50 volts to −300 volts. The positive value of the pulses range between +50 volts to +250 volts. A variable selector of the bioelectric feedback device controls the positive and negative voltage amplitudes. Pulses can be dampened to zero within a range of 3 to 500 microseconds. The average current over the packet interval is less than 100 microamperes, and the peak current is on the order of 3 to 20 microamperes. A preferred embodiment emits packets of 12 pulses per packet, with a 200 microseconds spacing between pulses in a packet. The packets are emitted at a frequency of 59 Hz in a preferred embodiment.  
         [0043]     Another treatment mode includes a waveform for increasing the perfusion of blood through tissues, increasing vascular dilation, increasing nitrous oxide content in the tissues, increasing blood flow through capillaries, and increasing vaso-active peptides and neurotransmitters, for the treatment, relief, and/or alleviation of circulatory insufficiency, reduction of edema, increasing wound healing, and vegetative tissue dysfunction. A waveform generated by the device described herein above includes two distinct phases made up of three modalities. Examples of portions of the waveform are illustrated in  FIGS. 10   a - 10   f . Phase  1 , modality  1  emits packets at frequencies in each of the following ranges 11,22,33,44,55,66,77,88 and 99 packets per second. The packet frequencies are presented in a random order, but all nine frequencies are presented with no duplication. The dwell time for each frequency is approximately 500 ms. The dwell time comprises the amount of time for which the frequency or any other signal characteristic is applied. Thus, in the aforementioned example, each frequency would be applied for 500 ms. The dwell time for other characteristics of the electronic stimulation signal may also be adjusted as desired. The set of nine frequencies are presented three times.  
         [0044]     Additionally, in phase  1 , the damping cycles from level  3  to level  5  and back to level  3  with an approximate 700 ms dwell time for each damping level. The damping circuitry of the electronic stimulation device described herein above provides seven different damping levels indicated  0 ,  1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 , respectively. Each of these damping levels are represented by a three bit digital signal. The 0 level of damping comprises the lowest level of damping provided by the electronic stimulation device. Level  7  damping provides the highest level of damping within the electronic stimulation device. The other levels  1 - 6  provide differing levels in the range between the minimum and maximum levels associated with levels  0  and  7 , respectively. The particular levels of damping provided are, of course, not unique to the presently described waveforms and differing levels of damping may be utilized to achieve similar results. The number of pulses per packet will cycle through 4,5,6 pulses and back to 4 pulses with an approximate dwell time of 300 ms per number of pulses. The intra-pulse spacing within a packet steps from 200 to 800 microseconds by increments of 10 microseconds. The dwell time for each step is approximately 40 ms.  
         [0045]     In phase  2 , the frequency of the packets steps from 4.8 Hz to 5.5 Hz in steps of 0.1 Hz. The dwell time for this is 500 ms per step. The damping cycles from level  3  to level  5  as in phase  1  with a dwell time of 700 ms per damping level. The pulses per packet cycle from 4-6 pulses as in phase  1 , with a dwell time of 300 ms per pulse level. The intra-pulse spacing steps from 200 to 800 microseconds and back to 200 microseconds in 10 microseconds increments, with a dwell time of 40 ms between changes. After the complete cycle has taken place phase  2  shifts to a second modality, which ramps the frequency of the packets from 60-79 Hz in steps of 1 Hz, with a dwell time of 300 ms per step. Frequencies are selected from a plurality of frequencies in a table which encompasses 60-79 hz. The total time in each phase can be computed from these numbers. The average current over the interval is less than 100 microamperes with the peak current being on the order of 3 to 20 microamperes.  
         [0046]     A further mode provided by the above described device provides a damped sinusoidal waveform, as illustrated in  FIGS. 11   a - 11   e , for increasing the flow of blood through tissues, reducing inflammation, and easing pain for the treatment and relief of stress and muscle strain for connective tissue trauma and injuries, as well as blunt trauma. The waveform consists of a plurality of packets of pulses. A preferred embodiment includes 4 pulses per packet. The frequency of the packets ranges from 110 Hz to 129 Hz in 1 Hz steps. The dwell time per step is approximately 850 ms per frequency range. Damping is fixed at level 4, with an infinite dwell time. There are  4  pulses per packet, with an infinite dwell time. The time between pulses in a packet varies in a ramping fashion from 100 microseconds to 500 microseconds in steps of 10 microseconds with a dwell time between steps of approximately 10 ms.  
         [0047]     An additional treatment mode uses a damped sinusoidal waveform generated by the above described device for reducing stress, improving neural signal transmission, and increasing production of neural peptides. The waveform is illustrated in  FIG. 12 . One preferred embodiment of said waveform consisting of a varying number of pulses in each packet. The number of pulses vary in a ramping fashion from 3 pulses to 12 pulses and back to 3 pulses. The packets are emitted at a frequency that varies in a ramping fashion from about 15 Hz to about 180 Hz with a dwell time between steps of approximately 60 ms. These steps are not individual frequency steps, but represent a range of frequency indexes selected from a table of a plurality of frequencies ranging from about 15 Hz to 180 Hz. The damping circuit damps the waveform. The damping ranges from no damping (level  0 ) to maximum damping (level  7 ) by single damping level increments. The dwell time between damping levels is approximately 330 ms per step. The number of pulses per packet will change from 3 to 12 by single steps with a dwell time of 600 ms per step. The time between pulses in said packet of pulses varies in a ramping manner from 80 to 600 microseconds in 7 microsecond steps. The dwell time is approximately 200 msec per step.  
         [0048]     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this invention provides an electronic stimulation device for providing healing signals to a person&#39;s body. It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, the invention includes any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.