Patent ID: 8145318
Filing Date: 2012-03-27
Classification: A61N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for electrical stimulation of muscle tissue, comprising: an electrode system comprising: a flexible carrier of a flexible material which is configured to be placed against skin nearby muscle tissue to be stimulated; an electrode array arranged on the flexible carrier comprising a plurality of electrode pads positioned in rows and columns wherein the electrode pads are positioned at a surface of the flexible carrier, wherein the electrode pads are in electrical communication with said muscle tissue when the flexible carrier is placed against the skin nearby the muscle tissue; a row selector unit and a column selector unit positioned on the flexible carrier which select individual electrode pads based on their row and column location; an electrode selector which communicates to the row selector unit and the column selector unit the row and column locations of the individual electrode pads to be selected; individual electrode pads in the electrode array being selected and used to measure muscle activity of the muscle tissue based on an electrical signal received by the selected electrode pad; and a signal generator connected to said electrode array which signal generator generates an electrical signal of selected current and duration to said at least one selected electrode pad.