FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a medical treatment device, a medical treatment system, and a method for operating such a device or system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a subject’s body, i.e. a human or animal body, some biological processes are known to be linked to electricity. For example, the functional basis of sensory, nerve and muscle cells is based on the generation, transmission and processing of electrical impulses containing information. By way of example, the beating of the heart is triggered by electrical impulses, the control of muscles occurs through electrical signals, and when thinking, brain currents flow more, etc. Thereby, e.g. a bloodvessel may act as a transmission line to conduct electricity.

Further, it has been found that electrical models can also be formed to tissue, bone, nerve, proteins, etc. Thereby, for example, proteins may act as a semi-conductor, tissues and bones may act as crystalline arrays, nerves and muscles may conduct electromagnetically signals, etc. Also at cell level, due to given permeability and transport properties of a cell membrane, an uneven ion distribution and thus charge distribution between a cell interior and surrounding media is maintained, resulting in a membrane potential. In this regard, it has been found that the cell membrane may be described by an electrical model, in which the cell membrane model includes various ionic conductance and electromotive forces in parallel with a capacitor. Since diseases, particularly if they are triggered by pathogens, such as bacteria, parasites, fungi, viruses, etc., in the human or animal body are based at least in part on the above structures, such as proteins, DNA, cells, etc., and/or electrical mechanisms, such as model able electrical behavior, they are likely to be subject to influence them by electrical processes.

Technically, however, it is a challenge to treat diseases electrically in a reliable way, as the requirements for the electrical process are high, such as providing a precisely controllable electrical current at a desired frequency and/or level, providing a desired voltage level, etc. This also makes it difficult, for example, to accurately control a device used for providing such a treatment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There may, therefore, be a need for providing a means for controlling a medical treatment device with improved reliability. The object of the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims, wherein further embodiments are incorporated in the dependent claims.

In a first aspect, there is provided a medical treatment device for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. The device comprises: a number of electrical drivers, each of which being configured to provide the electrically induced treatment and being assigned to a corresponding channel of the medical treatment device; a controller, configured to control, via the corresponding channel, the number of electrical drivers based on a control program comprising a channel-specific driver signal description and instructions to establish the corresponding channel; a memory, configured to store the control program; and an operator console, connected to the controller and to the memory, the operator console comprising a user interface, and being configured to access, in response to an access command input of a user via the user interface, the memory to receive the control program and to provide, in response to an execution command input from the user via the user interface, the received control program to the controller to control, upon execution of the control program by the controller, the number of electrical drivers based on the control program, the execution of which causes the channel-specific driver signal to be described and transmitted to the number of electrical drivers.

In this way, the medical treatment device consists of all the technical components to be operated with them alone as a stand-alone device, thereby providing a stable and reliable device. Further, the operator console allows a user to interact with and to control the system, particularly to select and execute the control program. When executed, the control program is applied, by generating the electrically induced treatment by the number of electrical drivers to an in-vitro substance or tissue or applied to an in-vivo subject to cause specific or multiple physiological effects induced by the driver signal generated according to the control program. This allows to precisely and reliably control the medical treatment device. Furthermore, the medical treatment device is channel-operable, wherein establishment and/or control of the one or more channels may be freely configured within the control program.

The medical treatment device may be configured to operate n and/or m channels, preferably in parallel, wherein n is an integer equal or greater than 1 (one). Further, the medical treatment device may comprise multiple channels and/or electrical drivers of a same type and, at the same time, one or more channels and/or electrical drivers of a different type. For example, there may be n channels and/or electrical drivers of the first type and m channels and/or electrical drivers of the second type, wherein n and m is an integer equal or greater than one. In this way, a free configurable treatment that combines different treatment methods and provides them simultaneously or with a time delay, in any case in a repeatable manner, may be provided and/or applied to the subject.

As used herein, the controller, which may also be referred to as a main controller, may be broadly understood and/or as an arrangement of electrical and/or electronic components and/or software components that can perform control of the medical device based on at least the control program, and optionally further based on one or more feedback signals, as described herein. Accordingly, the controller may be implemented either in hardware, in software or in a combination of hardware and software, and may be configured to control operation of hardware and/or software components of the medical device, based on the control program. It is noted that the control program, when serving therapeutic purposes, may also be referred to as therapy program, wherein the control program comprises instructions to generate the electric current signals in a way so as to influence the subject in a manner to cause specific or multiple physiological effects.

As used herein, the subject to be treated, e.g. influenced, stimulated, etc., by the medical treatment device may be broadly understood, and may, for example, be a human or animal, a body thereof or a part of it. Alternatively, the subject may also be an in vitro substance, e.g. a pathogen, an organism, or the like, such as one cultivated in a Petri dish, test tube, or the like, wherein the substance is influenced by the electrical current of the medical device.

Further, as used herein, the operator console may be understood as a commend center of the medical treatment device, configured to be operated by and displayed to a user. The functions of the operator console may be implemented in software and performed by suitable hardware. The software-implemented part of the operator console may be run by a data processing unit, e.g. by the controller. Further, for example, the operator console may be configured to perform one or more of operating, controlling, operational parameter monitoring, device or system monitoring, device or system maintaining, device or system servicing, selecting the control program, and executing the control program. Further, it provides a user interface between the medical treatment device and the user, and comprises a graphical user interface (GUI). Further, the hardware may comprise at least one display, monitor, or the like, configured to display information related to the medical treatment device to the user. The information may be provided by the controller and/or the number of electrical drivers, or other components of the medical treatment device, and/or from another entity arranged separately to the medical treatment device, such as a remote database, etc. For this purpose, the operator console may comprise at least one data interface and/or communication interface. Further, the operator console may comprise one or more input means or input devices configured to capture or receive input commands by the user, such as keyboard, touchscreen, mouse, on-screen keyboard, etc.

As used herein, the control program may also be referred to as a therapy program, as it includes the definition of the driver signal, based on which the electrically induced treatment is to be applied or applied. The control program may be created and/or provided in accordance with a therapy plan, which may be subject-specific. Further, the control program may comprise a number of channel-specific driver signal description modules. In this regard, the controller may be configured to align, in a periodic time, the channel-specific driver signal description modules of each of the number of channels with each other. It is noted that the control program may be composed for n-channels, wherein n is an integer equal or greater than one, meaning that the control program may be configured to drive one, two, three, four, five, ..., eight, ..., ten, ..., eighteen, ..., twenty-eight, or more channels. The control program may be programmable, e.g. by manipulating via an input interface, such as a data interface, user interface, etc. When executed, which execution may be started by a command, e.g. a user command, via the operator console, the control program may be provided to the controller, e.g. as control data, which may control the first and/or second current source to generate the programmed specific signal or waveform provided with the control program.

Further, the medical treatment device may optionally comprise a housing. This may be a rack or the like, in which a plurality of compartments is formed, for example, as slots for computer plug-in cards or boards, or the like. The compartments may be configured in the same way, so that a modular housing can be provided in which the electrical drivers can be freely configured and exchanged according to a treatment plan or the like.

According to an embodiment, the operator console may be arranged on-board to the medical treatment device. In other words, from a structural perspective, the operator console is embedded into the medical treatment device. For example, the operator console may be mechanically fixed to at least one other component of the device, such as the housing, etc. In this way, the operator console is integral part of the medical treatment device, providing a stable and reliable device.

In an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to generate, based on the processed control program and/or based on a feedback signal generated by and received from the controller, the user interface to display, within the user interface, a number of distinct areas, each of which is assigned to a corresponding one of the channels, wherein the operator console is further configured to generate, within the user interface and/or the number of distinct areas, at least one user control element and/or monitoring means associated with the corresponding channel. For example, the processing of the control program may further comprise compiling and/or executing it, wherein at least the execution is performed by the controller. The user interface may comprise a graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the number of distinct areas may at least be displayed as part of the GUI. The at least one user control element may also be referred to as a graphical control element and may comprise one or more of a button, a text field, a display field, a tab, etc., configured to interact with a user and to generate upon activation a user command. Further, the at least one user control element may display information associated with the corresponding channel. Furthermore, the monitoring means may comprise information on device-related and/or channel-related settings, measurements, or the like. In this way, the operator console provides full control of the corresponding channel via the user interface and/or GUI.

According to an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to receive, from the controller, one or more channel-specific system parameters of a hardware of or associated with the channel-specific electrical driver, wherein the operator console may be further configured to display the received one or more channel-specific system parameters via the user interface in a channel-specific manner. For example, the one or more channel-specific system parameters may be displayed via the GUI of the user interface. Thereby, the displaying may utilize the one or more distinct areas of the GUI to allow the single channels to be visually distinguished from each other. Further, each displayed channel may comprise one or more user control elements, e.g. one or more user control elements represented by the GUI and configured to display the one or more channel-specific system parameters and/or to be operated by the user to control the GUI, modifying the parameters, etc. In this way, each channel can be controlled and/or monitored individually via the operator console.

In an embodiment, the one or more channel-specific system parameters may comprise one or more of a temperature of an integrated circuit at least partly forming a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers, a temperature of a power supply comprised by a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers, a temperature of a current driver at least partly forming a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers, and a speed of a fan comprised by a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers. In this way, each channel can be controlled and/or monitored individually via the operator console.

According to an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to receive, from the controller, a device status information indicating whether the number of electrical drivers is operatively connected to the medical treatment device and/or to the controller, wherein the operator console may further be configured to display the received device status information via the user interface. The display may be provided as tab within the GUI. The device status information may be generated in response to e.g. inserting the hardware, e.g. a board or card, of the number of electrical drivers into the medical treatment device, e.g. into its housing, and/or connecting it to the controller or any other suitable interface, or may be generated in response to a measurement associated with a respective electrical connection between the number of electrical drivers and the controller. In this way, the operable connection may be monitored and/or verified via the operator console, thereby allowing each channel to be controlled and/or monitored individually via the console.

In an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to receive, from the controller, a channel-specific accumulated electric charge information, wherein the operator console may be further configured to display the received channel-specific accumulated electric charge information via the user interface in a channel-specific manner. For example, the user interface and/or GUI may comprise a tab, window or the like, configured to display the channel-specific accumulated electric charge information to the user. It is noted that the channel-specific accumulated electric charge may be compared, with regard to the effect to be caused at the subject, with a weight or dose of a medicine administered to the subject, and to its pharmacological effect, respectively. Therefore, the medical device may be configured to determine and set, control and/or adjust, preferably in real time, the exact dose of electric charges and/or electric current to be applied, similar to the administration of a medicine with a specific dose. In this way, the weight or dose of electrically induced treatment can be controlled and/or monitored via the operator console.

According to an embodiment, the controller may further be configured to determine the accumulated electrical charge for each channel, by detecting or recording an electric current generated or to-be-generated by the driver signal of the corresponding channel over time, or to receive a further accumulated electrical charge information for each channel from the corresponding electrical driver, wherein the further accumulated electrical charge information may be generated, by the corresponding electrical driver, by detecting or recording an electric current generated or to-be-generated by the driver signal of the corresponding channel over time. In this way, the weight or dose of electrically induced treatment can be controlled and/or monitored via the operator console.

In an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to receive, from the controller, subject measurement data collected during execution of the control program, wherein the operator console may further be configured to display the received subject measurement data via the user interface. Optionally, the subject measurement data may be used by the controller to adjust the driver signal based on this feedback. In this way, the treatment can be controlled more precisely and/or securely for the subject.

According to an embodiment, the subject measurement data may comprise one or more of a pulse oximetry, a heart rate variability, a heart rate, and a skin or tissue impedance. In an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to instruct, in response to a channel-specific electric current adjustment command input from the user via the user interface, the controller to adjust a value of the electric current controlled via the corresponding channel to be generated by the corresponding electrical driver. For example, a user control element associated with the command input may be displayed as a distinct area, a tab, a window, etc. within the GUI. Further, the value of the electric current input by the user may limit the maximum current applied, wherein e.g. a magnitude may be adjusted between 1 % and 100 %. As one person is more sensible than the other, this current adjustment allows the treatment to be adapted more precisely to a specific subject.

According to an embodiment, the operator console may further be configured to generate, in response to a side effect command input from the user via the user interface, a database entry assigned to the control program and/or to the specific subject for a side effect occurred during execution of the control program. For example, a user control element associated with the command input may be displayed as a distinct area, a tab, a window, etc. within the GUI. The command input may comprise e.g. a selection, list, or the like, of side effects that can be selected via the command input, causing the selection to be stored in the database. In this way, the operator console allows to electronically record one or more side effects in a reliable manner.

In an embodiment, the memory may be arranged on-board to the medical treatment device. In other words, from a structural perspective, the memory may be embedded into the medical treatment device. In this way, the memory is integral part of the medical treatment device, providing a stable and reliable device.

According to an embodiment, the memory may further be configured to store a plurality of control programs, wherein the operator console may be configured to provide, via the user interface, a selection comprising the stored plurality of control programs, and wherein the access command input comprises selecting one of the plurality of control programs from the provided selection of the plurality of control programs to be accessed and provided to the controller. For example, the selection may be associated with a user control element associated that may be displayed as a distinct area, a tab, a window, etc. within the GUI. Activating a specific control program from the selection may cause the controller to access the memory and/or the operator console to derive the corresponding control program. In this way, selection of a specific control program can be performed directly on-board via the operator console.

In an embodiment, the control program may be stored, in the memory, in an encrypted form, wherein the controller may be configured to decrypt, by using a key or cipher, the received control program before its execution. In this way, the control program can be stored and/or transferred, e.g. via a communication network, in a data secured manner.

According to an embodiment, the device may further comprise a subject database, configured to store subject-specific data, wherein the console and/or the controller may be configured to prohibit the execution of the control program until a release condition is met that at least requires a subject to be selected via the user interface. In other words, the control program can only be executed if the release condition is met, wherein the minimum release condition requires a subject to-be-selected. It is noted that the operator console may check, e.g. by a corresponding coding, whether or not the control program matches the selected subject. Optionally, the subject database may comprise an indicator for presence of a consent given by the corresponding subject to a medical treatment, wherein indicating the presence of the consent may be an additional requirement of the release condition. Further, the selection of the control program may be an additional requirement of the release condition. The selection may be performed by the user via one or more user control elements provided by the user interface and/or GUI.

In an embodiment, a type of the number of electrical drivers may be selected from: an electric current driver, a current-controlled magnetic field driver, a voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver. It is noted that the type and/or the number of the electrical drivers may be freely configured. In this way, the medical device provides a broad spectrum of different treatment methods, such as electric current treatment, magnetic field treatment, light treatment, ultrasonic treatment, etc. According to an embodiment, the medical treatment device may comprise a plurality of channels operable in parallel and/or simultaneously, wherein the plurality of channels may comprise at least a first type of electrical driver and a second type of electrical driver, wherein the first type and the second type of electrical driver are different to each other. In other words, the medical treatment device may comprise a plurality of channels and/or electrical drivers, wherein at least some channels and/or electrical drivers may be of different to others. It is contemplated that the device may comprise multiple channels and/or electrical drivers of a same type and, at the same time, one or more channels and/or electrical drivers of a different type. For example, there may be n channels and/or electrical drivers of the first type and m channels and/or electrical drivers of the second type, wherein n and m is an integer equal or greater than one. In this way, a free configurable treatment that combines different treatment methods and provides them simultaneously or with a time delay, in any case in a repeatable manner, may be provided to the subject.

In an embodiment, the medical treatment device may comprise a plurality of channels operable in parallel, and wherein at least two channels comprise a same type of electrical driver. In other words, the same type of treatment method may be provided to subject, using a different or a same configuration of the individual channel. Thereby, the control program may be configured to comprise driver signal definition data for each of the at least two channels. Further, the operator console may then display at least two channels within the user interface and/or the GUI, and may provide one or more channel- specific user control elements to provide channel-specific control via the operator console.

According to an embodiment, the memory may form, may be part of, or may comprise a database arranged locally in the medical treatment device. The database may be configured to store and provide one or more control programs that are available to be executed by the console locally on the medical treatment device. Further, the database and/or the console may be configured to provide one or more of a search function, import function, and remove function, associated with the one or more control programs. It is noted that, when starting or executing such a control program using the console, the corresponding control program is transferred to the controller. In this way, the medical treatment device itself carries all information needed to control its operation, so that the medical treatment device can be operated stand-alone.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a medical treatment system. The medical treatment system comprises: a medical treatment device according to the first aspect; and a remote database, configured to store a plurality of control programs and to be remotely accessed by a plurality of the medical treatment device; wherein a console of the medical treatment device is configured to receive one or more of the plurality of control programs from the remote database.

As used herein, the term remote is to be understood that the remote database is arranged at a central-site, which may be accessed by one or more medical treatment devices located at a local site that is remote to the central site, e.g. via a communication network.

In this way, the medical treatment device, e.g. the controller and/or console, and/or one or more other medical treatment device can remotely access the remote database to import one or more control programm into the local memory and/or database of the respective medical treatment device, thereby allowing utilizing a wide range of different control programs.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for operating a medical treatment device and/or system for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. The method comprises the steps of: providing a number of electrical drivers, each of which being configured to provide the electrically induced treatment and being assigned to a corresponding channel of the medical treatment device; providing a controller, configured to control, via the corresponding channel, the number of electrical drivers based on a control program comprising a channel-specific driver signal description and instructions to establish the corresponding channel; and within a user interface of an operator console: accessing, in response to an access command input of a user via the user interface, a memory to receive the control program; providing, in response to an execution command input from the user via the user interface, the received control program to the controller; and controlling, upon execution of the control program by the controller, the number of electrical drivers based on the control program.

The method may be computer-implemented and may be carried out by utilizing the medical treatment device according to the first aspect. Therefore, for embodiments and their explanation, reference is made to the first aspect.

It is noted that the above embodiments may be combined with each other irrespective of the aspect involved. Accordingly, the device may be combined with structural features of the system and/or the method and, likewise, the system and/or method may also be combined with features described above with regard to the device.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described in the following with reference to the drawings.

Fig 1 shows in a perspective front view a medical treatment device for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 shows in a schematic block diagram the medical treatment device, according to an embodiment.

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of an operator console according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of an operator console according to an embodiment. Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary section of a user interface of an operator console according to an embodiment.

Fig. 6 shows in a schematic block diagram a medical treatment system for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

Fig. 7 shows in a flow chart a method for operating a medical treatment device or system for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows in a perspective front view a medical treatment device 100 for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. The method of treatment applicable by the medical treatment device 100 is freely configurable by a user, as will be described below.

The medical treatment device 100 comprises a housing 110, a controller 120, which may also be referred to as a main controller, a number of electrical drivers 130, a number of applicators 140, a memory 150, and an operator console 160.

Thereby, an individual one of the number of electrical drivers 130 corresponds to at least one channel of the medical treatment device 100. It is noted that one individual of the number of electrical drivers 130 itself may comprise one or more channels, so that even with a single electrical driver 130 two or more separately controllable channels may be provided. That is, generally, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise a plurality of channels, each of which is operable in parallel or simultaneously with the other channels on the same subject.

The housing 110 is, for example, formed as e.g. a rack and comprises a number of compartments. Optionally, some or all of the number of compartments is of same size, i.e. of same dimension, and of a same shape, so as to provide a modular platform. Further, each of the compartments is configured to accommodate a computing board or card, i.e. an individual one of the number of electrical drivers 130. Further, the housing 1 lOmay accommodate the controller 120, as indicated by the corresponding reference sign in Fig. 1.

Each of the number of electrical drivers 130 is provided as a computing board or card, which may be selectively inserted into one of the number of compartments. When inserted into the corresponding compartment, the respective electrical driver 130 is operatively connected to the controller 120, i.e. the main controller, so that the controller has the overall control. Further, the number of electrical drivers 130 is configured to provide the electrically induced treatment, the method of which is provided in accordance with a type of the electrical driver 130. The type of electrical driver 130 may be selected from an electric current driver, a current-controlled magnetic field driver, a voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver. Accordingly, the medical treatment device 100 may be freely configured, by utilizing, i.e. operating, one or more of these types of electrical driver 130 within the same medical treatment device 100. For example, the plurality of channels comprises at least a first type of electrical driver 130 and a second type of electrical driver 130, wherein the first type and the second type of electrical driver 130 are different to each other. By way of example, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise a selection or combination of at least one electric current driver, at least one current-controlled magnetic field driver, at least one voltage-controlled magnetic field driver, at least one led light driver, at least one halogen light driver, and at least one ultrasonic driver, wherein the configuration of the electrical drivers 130 is not limited to this. Alternatively or additionally, the medical treatment device 100 may comprise at least two channels comprising a same type of electrical driver 130. For example, the medical treatment device 100 may be configured to comprise at least two electrical drivers 130 of the same type, e.g. at least two electric current drivers, at least two current-controlled magnetic field drivers, at least two voltage-controlled magnetic field drivers, at least two led light drivers, at least two halogen light drivers, and/or at least two ultrasonic drivers. It is noted that the medical treatment device 100 does not necessarily have to comprise different types of electrical drivers 130, but can be limited to one type, wherein two or more of the same type may be configured.

The controller 120, i.e. the main controller, is configured to control, via the corresponding channel, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on a control program. The control program comprises a number of channel-specific driver signal description modules. The control program and/or the channel-specific driver signal description module may comprise one or more signal parameters that comprise one or more of a signal shape or waveform, amplitude, frequency, and signal duration. These signal parameters may define a specific signal shape or waveform, which may also comprise one or more sequences of specific signal shapes or waveforms and/or one or more combinations of signal shapes or waveforms. For example, the specific signal shape or waveform may be sine, half sine, sawtooth, triangle, line, DC, square, pulse, sine-segment, trapezoidal segment, Gaussian distribution, ECG, an arbitrary waveform, or the like. Optionally, the medical device may be configured to vary one or more parameters of the specific signal shape or waveform, such as duration, frequency, phase, duty cycle, pulse and/or amplitude. It is noted that the driver signal description module of a first one of the number of channels may differ in some or all signal parameters from a second one of the number of channels, etc. Further, the controller 120 is configured to align, in a periodic time, the channel-specific driver signal description modules of each of the number of channels with each other, as will be described in more detail below.

The number of applicators 140 is operatively connected to the number of electrical drivers 130, and configured to be brought into contact with the subject. The type of applicator 140 may be selected in accordance with the selected type of electric driver 130. For example, the number of applicators 140 may be provided as a skin electrode, a head electrode, which can optionally be arranged in a kind of helmet, a coil, a needle, which may be used on the skin and/or dermis, epidermis or hypodermis, a lighting device, and/or an ultrasonic probe. The number of applicators 140 may be configured to provide the method of treatment corresponding to the type of electrical driver 130 of the corresponding channel. For example, an electric current driver may be operated by using one or more electrodes, a magnetic field driver may be operated by using one or more coils , a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver. The memory 150 is arranged on-board to the medical treatment device 100. In other words, from a structural perspective, the memory may be embedded into the medical treatment device 100. Optionally, the memory 150 is configured to store a plurality of control programs. Further optionally, the control program may be stored in the memory 150 in an encrypted form. Optionally, the memory 150 forms, is part of, or may comprise a database arranged locally in the medical treatment device 100. The database may be configured to store and provide one or more control programs that are available to be executed by the operator console 160 locally on the medical treatment device 100. Further, the database and/or the operator console 160 may be configured to provide one or more of a search function, import function, and remove function, associated with the one or more control programs. Furthermore, the control program may be stored, in the memory 150, in an encrypted form, wherein the controller 120 is configured to decrypt, by using a key or cipher, the received control program before execution.

The operator console 160 may be implemented as a software application and may be operatively connected to the controller 120, optionally also to the number of electric drivers 130. The operator console 160 comprises a user interface 161, which in turn comprises at least one graphical user interface (GUI) to be displayed to the user by utilizing e.g. a display, monitor, etc. This is illustrated in Fig. 1, where the user interface 161 and/or the GUI is displayed within an exemplary monitor of the medical treatment device 100. Further, the operator console 160 comprises input means, such as a keyboard, touchscreen, etc., configured to be operated by the user to control the operator console 160 and/or the controller 120. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the operator console may comprise or may utilize an on-screen keyboard, that may be operated using different technologies, such as a cursor, mouse, touchscreen, or the like.

Still referring to Fig. 1, the operator console 160 is configured to access, in response to an access command input of a user via the user interface 161, the memory 150 and/or the related database, to receive the control program and to provide, in response to an execution command input from the user via the user interface 161, the received control program to the controller 120 to control, upon execution of the control program by the controller 120, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on the control program. Thereby, the control program provided to the controller 120 is, upon the execution command input from the user via the user interface 161, executed to operate the medical treatment device 100.

Fig. 2 shows in a schematic block diagram the medical treatment device 100. In particular, it shows the controller 120, the number of electrical drivers 130, the memory 150, which is here optionally embodied as the above database, and the operator console 160, and will be used to explain the functions of the operator console 160 as well as interactions and/or a data flows within the medical treatment device 100. The data flow, particularly its directions, is indicated in Fig. 2 by respective arrows. Likewise, these arrows indicated data connections provided between the entities shown. In addition, Fig. 2 indicates from the dashed system or device boundary of the medical treatment device 100 that all components are located within the system or device boundary, i.e., are arranged on-board.

As explained above, the user interface 161 receives a number of command inputs Comm_In, which in Fig. 2 are represented by a number of arrows, and comprising e.g. the access command input, the execution command input, etc., which can be input into the operator console 160 by using the input means associated with the operator console 160. The number of command inputs Comm_In are configured to instruct the operator console 160 and/or the controller 120 to perform an action associated with the respective command input, such as accessing data, executing data, or in general, processing data, etc., wherein the action may also be associated with representing the data, such as the control program’s content, a channel information, etc., in a suitable designed GUI, which comprises a number of user control elements configured to display the representation and/or to be operated in response to the operating the input means to actively operate, e.g. control, the medical treatment device 100 via the operator console 160.

The operator console 160 is configured to access, in response to the access command input Comm_In via the user interface 161, the memory 150, e.g. the database, to receive the control program, wherein the received control program is, optionally first processed by the operator console 160 by compiling the control program to suitable instructions or is directly, provided to the controller 120 to control, upon execution of the control program by the controller 120, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on the control program. It is noted that the execution of the control program causes the channel-specific driver signal to be described and/or generated, and then transmitted to the number of electrical drivers 130.

Further, in at least some embodiments, the memory 150, and/or database, is further configured to store a plurality of control programs. Thereby, the operator console 160 is configured to provide, via the user interface 161, a selection comprising the stored plurality of control programs. For example, the user interface 161 may utilize one or more user control elements configured to display the selection and to allow selection by user operation.

Thereby, the access command input Comm_In comprises selecting one of the plurality of control programs from the provided selection of the plurality of control programs to be accessed and provided to the controller (120).

Fig. 3 illustrates an exemplary section of the user interface 161, wherein this may be a dedicated window, section, or the like, within the GUI, displaying at least one user control element 162-3 A configured to display the database information, e.g. database identification, the control program, etc., and displaying at least one user control element 162-3B to be operated to get access to the database, and, likewise, to select and/or receive the control program. As can be seen, user control element 162-3B provides a selection of control programs that can be selected by the user. As can be seen in Fig. 3, the operator console 160, particularly the user interfae 161 and/or Gui, may comprise an on-screen keyboard, that may be operated using different technologies, such as a cursor, mouse, touchscreen, or the like.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the operator console 160 is configured to generate, based on a read-out of the control program and/or based on a feedback signal generated by and received from the controller 160, the user interface 161 to display, within the user interface 161, a number of distinct areas. That is, by reading-out and/or processing the control program, the operator console 160 and/or the controller 120 is configured to establish the number, type, etc. of channels as defined in the control program, wherein the channel may be physically and/or in terms of circuitry established to enable driving the number of electrical drivers 130, and may also virtually established within the operator console 160, e.g. also in the user interface

160 and/or GUI. Thereby, each of the distinct areas is assigned to a corresponding one of the channels. Further, the operator console 160 is configured to generate, within the user interface

161 and/or the number of distinct areas, at least one user control element and/or monitoring means associated with the corresponding channel. In the latter, channel information, such as a type of electrical driver, channel parameters, or the like, may be displayed. Further, the one or more user control elements may be configured to control one or more channel parameters, such as a channel name, a driver signal modification, etc.

Further, in at least some embodiments, the operator console 160 is configured to receive, from the controller 120, a device status information indicating whether the number of electrical drivers 130 is operatively connected to the medical treatment device 100 and/or to the controller 120. The device status information is channel-specific and may be generated upon detecting, by e.g. pin detection, a receiving a connection indicating signal, etc., the physical connection between the corresponding electrical driver 130 and the medical treatment device 100 and/or the controller 120. Thereby, the operator console 160 is further configured to display the received device status information via the user interface 161, e.g. by utilizing one or more user control elements.

Fig. 4 illustrates an exemplary section of the user interface 161, wherein this may be a dedicated window, section, or the like, within the GUI, displaying at least one user control element configured to display e.g. the number of distinct areas 162-4A, the established channels 162-4B, channel information, device status information 162-4C, etc. For example, the user interface 161 as illustrated in Fig. 4 may be generated in response to detecting, setting up, or the like, the channel configuration. Thereby, the number of compartments may be referred to as slots. The channel information may be base on e.g. measurement, detection, or the like, and may be expressed or illustrated by an indicator, such as “OK” if positive, or “Error”, “Failure” if negative, etc. Further, on the right hand side of Fig. 4, a log file is shown, which may be displayed by the operator console 160. Referring again to Fig. 2, the operator console 160 is, in at least some embodiments, further configured to receive, from the controller 120, one or more channel-specific system parameters of a hardware of the channel-specific electrical driver 130. The one or more channel-specific system parameters comprise one or more of a temperature of an integrated circuit at least partly forming a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130, a temperature of a power supply comprised by a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130, a temperature of a current driver at least partly forming a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130, and a speed of a fan comprised by a corresponding one of the number of electrical drivers 130. Thereby, the operator console 160 is further configured to display the received one or more channel-specific system parameters via the user interface 161 in a channel-specific manner.

It is noted that the operator console 160 is generally configured to operate, e.g. startup, shutdown, setup, adjust, configure, calibrate, control, monitor, service, etc., the medical treatment device 100 in response to a corresponding operation user command input Comm_In. For this purpose, the user interface 161 utilizes one or more user control elements causing a corresponding instruction to the operator console 160, the controller 120, the one or more medical measurement devices 200, and/or the memory 150, to operate the medical treatment device 100 accordingly.

For example, the operator console 160 is further configured to instruct, in response to a channel-specific electric current adjustment command input Comm_In from the user via the user interface 161, the operator console 160 and/or the controller 120 to adjust a value of the electric current controlled via the corresponding channel to be generated by the corresponding electrical driver 130. This operating concept can be applied to all adjustable parameters, values, etc. of the medical treatment device 100, including the signal parameters contained in the control program.

Fig. 5 illustrates an exemplary section of the user interface 161, wherein this may be a dedicated window, section, or the like, within the GUI, displaying at least one user control element 162-5 A configured to display the one or more channel-specific system parameters. It is noted that the one or more channel-specific system parameters are obtained and displayed during execution of the control program, wherein the obtained and/or displayed value may be refreshed from time to time. Further, this section of the user interface 161 further displays at least one user control element 162-5B configured to be displayed and operated as a control program launcher, allowing e.g. playing, pausing, and stopping operation on the received and executed control program. Furthermore, this section of the user interface 161 further displays at least one user control element 162-5C configured to be displayed and operated as a channel-specific electric current adjustment tool, generating, when operated, the electric current adjustment command input Comm_In. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the at least one user control element 162-5C may be generated, e.g. based on the information included in the control program, etc., and displayed for each configured channel.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the operator console 160 is, in at least some embodiments, further configured to receive, from the controller 120, a channel-specific accumulated electric charge information. Thereby, the operator console 160 is further configured to display the received channel-specific accumulated electric charge information via the user interface 161 in a channel-specific manner, e.g. by utilizing one or more user control elements and/or the distinct area assigned to the specific channel. Further, the controller 120 and/or the operator 160 is further configured to determine the accumulated electrical charge for each channel, by detecting or recording an electric current generated or to-be-generated by the driver signal of the corresponding channel over time. Alternatively or additionally, it is further configured to receive a further accumulated electrical charge information for each channel from the corresponding electrical driver 130, wherein the further accumulated electrical charge information is generated, by the corresponding electrical driver 130, by detecting or recording an electric current generated or to-be-generated by the driver signal of the corresponding channel over time.

Still referring to Fig. 2, optionally, as indicated by dashed lines, the operator console 160 is further operatively connectable or connected to one or more medical measurement devices 200. Thereby, the operator console 160 is further configured to receive, from the controller 120, subject measurement data collected, by the one or more medical measurement devices 200, during execution of the control program. Further, the operator console 160 is configured to display the received subject measurement data via the user interface 161, e.g. by utilizing one or more user control elements. For example, the subject measurement data comprises one or more of a pulse oximetry, a heart rate variability, a heart rate, and a skin or tissue impedance.

Still referring to Fig. 2, in at least some embodiments, the operator console 160 is further configured to generate, in response to a side effect user command input Comm_In via the user interface 161, a database entry assigned to the currently executed control program and/or to the current subject. For this purpose, the user interface 161 utilizes one or more user control elements causing a corresponding instruction to the operator console 160 and/or the memory 150, e.g. database. The database entry is assigned to and indicative for one or more side effects occurred at the subject during execution of the control program. For example, the database entry may then be stored, e.g. externally to the medical treatment device 100, in the memory 150, and/or in a subject database, and may at least comprise a list of the occurred side effects and a subject identifier. Optionally, the database entry may further comprise a control program identifier.

In at least some embodiments, the medical treatment device comprises a subject database (not shown), configured to store subject-specific data, e.g. health data, identification data, the above side effects, an assignment to a specific control program, etc. Preferably, the subject database is implemented in or incorporated into the operator console 160, the memory 150, or an external storage reachable via a communication network, or the like. Thereby, the operator console 160 and/or the controller 120 is configured to prohibit the execution of the control program until a release condition is met that at least requires a subject to be selected via the user interface 161.

In a further embodiment, a type of the number of electrical drivers 130 is selected from: an electric current driver, a current-controlled magnetic field driver, a voltage- controlled magnetic field driver, a led light driver, a halogen light driver, and an ultrasonic driver.

In at least some embodiments, the medical treatment device 100 comprise a plurality of channels operable in parallel, wherein the plurality of channels comprises at least a first type of electrical driver 130 and a second type of electrical driver 130, wherein the first type and the second type of electrical driver 130 are different to each other. Alternatively or additionally, The medical treatment device of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of channels operable in parallel, and wherein at least two channels comprise a same type of electrical driver 130.

Fig. 6 shows in a schematic block diagram a medical treatment system 10 for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject. It comprises the medical treatment device 100 as explained above and a remote database 300, configured to store a plurality of control programs and to be remotely accessed by a plurality of the medical treatment device 100. As indicated in Fig. 6, the remote database 300 may be connected to and/or accessed, via a communication network, by two or more the medical treatment devices 100. Although Fig.

6 exemplary shows four devices 100 connecting and/or accessing the remote database 300, this is not limited herein. Thereby, the operator console 160 of the medical treatment device 100 is configured to receive one or more of the plurality of control programs from the remote database 300.

Fig. 7 shows in a flow chart a method for operating the medical treatment device 100 and/or the system 10 for providing electrically induced treatment to a subject.

Step SI requires providing a number of electrical drivers 130, each of which being configured to provide the electrically induced treatment and being assigned to a corresponding channel of the medical treatment device 100.

Step S2 requires providing a controller 120, configured to control, via the corresponding channel, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on a control program comprising a channel- specific driver signal description and instructions to establish the corresponding channel. Step S3 is carried out by using a user interface 161 of an operator console 160 and comprises: accessing, in response to an access command input of a user via the user interface 161, a memory 150 to receive the control program; providing, in response to an execution command input from the user via the user interface 161, the received control program to the controller 120; and controlling, upon execution of the control program by the controller 120, the number of electrical drivers 130 based on the control program.

It is noted that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to the device type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless otherwise notified, in addition to any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter also any combination between features relating to different subject matters is considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all features can be combined providing synergetic effects that are more than the simple summation of the features.