Patent ID: 7171266

Claim:
A device for applying electrical stimulation to a patient having a body having skin, 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 having a releasable connection 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 having a value, wherein the electronically identifiable parameter is resistance, said electrode having a coating of an impedance matching film, said impedance matching film positioned so as to be able to come into direct contact with the skin of the patient when the device is applying electrical stimulation to the patient; control circuitry operably connected to the electrode, said circuitry being operable to generate electrical stimulation pulses and transmit those pulses through the electrodes to the body of the patient; said control circuitry being operable to sense the electronically identifiable parameter of the electrode assembly and provide electrical stimulation pulses where the value of the electronically identifiable parameter falls within a predetermined range.