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Patent landscapes › Fitness & health

Is a tens unit patented?

Short answer: specific designs of a tens unit have been patented many times, but "a tens unit" as a general idea is not what is protected. What matters is the exact combination of features in your version.

What our index shows
  • 32,999 US and WO patent publications since 2000 have a title matching “tenstranscutaneous electrical nerve” or a close variant (our index of 9.7 million patent families; one publication per family).
  • Among the 192 best keyword matches we examined, 81 were published in 2020 or later, and the earliest was published in 2000.
  • Most frequent assignees in those matches: NEUROMETRIX INC (20), NEURODAN AS (4), ELECTROCORE LLC (3), SYNAPTIC CORP (2).
  • Most common patent classes (CPC subclasses): A61N (97), A61B (27), G06F (12), A61F (8).

Counts come from keyword matching on titles and abstracts, so they are indicative, not a legal count. Some matches are different products that share a word.

14 real patent publications related to a tens unit

  1. System for producing somatotopic sensations using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) US-2026137935-A1 2026 · ETH ZUERICH
    System for producing somatotopic sensations using Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in the lower limbs is provided, the system comprising a wearable device to be attached to a lower limb of an individual, the wear…
    View on Google Patents
  2. Apparatus and method for relieving pain using transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation US-2026151625-A1 2026 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    Apparatus for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in humans, the apparatus comprising: a housing; stimulation means mounted within the housing for electrically stimulating nerves; an electrode array releasably…
    View on Google Patents
  3. “Smart” electrode assembly for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) US-12133979-B2 2024 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    Apparatus for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in a user, the apparatus comprising: a stimulation unit for electrically stimulating at least one nerve using electrical pulses; an electrode assembly connectable to the st…
    View on Google Patents
  4. Electrical stimulation adjustment and control apparatus and method for abnormal muscle tension in patient with spastic cerebral palsy WO-2023142659-A1 2023 · UNIV SHANGHAI JIAOTONG
    Disclosed is an electrical stimulation adjustment and control apparatus for abnormal muscle tension in a patient with spastic cerebral palsy. The apparatus (100) comprises: an electrical stimulation unit (110) and a control unit (…
    View on Google Patents
  5. Apparatus and method for automated control of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) device based on tens user's activity type, level and duration US-2022355107-A1 2022 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    Apparatus for providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy to a user, said apparatus comprising: a stimulation unit for electrically stimulating at least one nerve of the user; a sensing unit for sensing bo…
    View on Google Patents
  6. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation electrode needle and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device US-10874846-B2 2020 · BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO LTD
    The present disclosure provides a TENS electrode needle and a TENS device. The TENS electrode needle includes: a needle handle having a first electrode and a second electrode for providing pulse current signals with different pola…
    View on Google Patents
  7. Measuring the “on-skin” time of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator (TENS) device in order to minimize skin irritation due to excessive uninterrupted wearing of the same US-10293159-B2 2019 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    Apparatus for providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising: a stimulation unit for electrically stimulating at least one nerve of the user; an electrode array connectable…
    View on Google Patents
  8. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation using novel unbalanced biphasic waveform and novel electrode arrangement WO-2018089655-A9 2019 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    The present invention is directed to transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) devices which utilize novel stimulation waveforms and novel arrangements of TENS electrodes to improve the efficiency of power consumption whi…
    View on Google Patents
  9. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) apparatus US-2017209693-A1 2017 · MI TECH CO LTD
    Provided is a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) apparatus, which includes an electric signal generator configured to generate an electrical stimulation signal, an electrode configured to transmit an electrical sti…
    View on Google Patents
  10. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator with automatic detection of leg orientation and leg motion for enhanced sleep analysis, including enhanced transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) using the same US-9731126-B2 2017 · NEUROMETRIX INC
    Apparatus for providing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy to a user, the apparatus comprising: a housing; an application unit for providing mechanical coupling between the housing and the user's body; …
    View on Google Patents
  11. Thermal wrap with integral thermal media array and support for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation US-9572708-B2 2017 · PETITT STEVEN
    A wrap has a thermal media laminate containing an array of spaced apart cells of thermal media sandwiched between a plastic film and fabric. Areas in the laminate are provided for attaching electrodes. The laminate is attached to …
    View on Google Patents
  12. Wireless delivery of transcutaneaous electrical nerve stimulation (tens) treatments US-2016096027-A1 2016 · ASSEO YAAKOV
    A method and system for performing transcutaneaous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) via a portable mobile device. The TENS system includes a wireless radio, a microcontroller, and a switch. The wireless radio is compliant with …
    View on Google Patents
  13. Electrodes for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator US-7729779-B2 2010 · BACOUSTICS LLC
    A transcutaneous electric nerve stimulator (TENS) electrode that comprises a conductive layer containing both an inner perimeter(s) and an outer perimeter(s) is disclosed. When used with TENS treatment protocols and devices or oth…
    View on Google Patents
  14. Electrodes for a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator US-6907299-B2 2005
    A TENS electrode formed by multiple layers, wherein a layer of self-adhesive conductive gel base onto which the conductive body is mounted. An isolating pad mounted on the conductive body, and a lead wire securely sandwiched in be…
    View on Google Patents

What this means for your idea

Because patents cover specific combinations of features, the useful question is not “has a tens unit been patented?” but “has my combination of features been described before?” Health and fitness devices are dense with sensor and wearable patents; compare the sensing method, mounting, and what feedback is given.

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First-look landscape. Not exhaustive. Not legal advice. This page lists keyword-matched publications from a limited database; it does not say whether any product is or isn't covered by a patent, whether a patent is still in force, or whether your idea is patentable. Consult a registered patent attorney or agent.