DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ACTIVATION OF ELECTRODES
Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), a method of stimulating nerves using electrical current applied through the skin for therapeutic purposes, has been in use since the late 1970's, as have electronic units for self-administration of TENS therapy. With the recent increase in popularity of mobile devices with processing capabilities (smart phones, portable computing devices, MP3 players etc.), most TENS users already carry consumer electronic equipment capable of providing instruction to another device via its audio port or a wireless link. A TENS unit designed to: (a) be coupled with a personal mobile computing device, (b) rely on it for user interaction and, optionally, (c) make use of its power, provides a smaller, less expensive and more convenient portable treatment solution. This approach can be extended to other electrotherapy forms utilizing similar power budgets: Microcurrent Electrical Nerve Stimulation (MENS), Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS), Electrical Muscle Stimulation/Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (EMS/NMES).