Source: https://patents.justia.com/patent/6885896
Timestamp: 2019-06-26 02:10:09
Document Index: 759651256

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 83', 'arts 84', 'arts 83', 'art 83', 'art 83', 'art 83', 'art 83', 'art 84', 'arts 83']

US Patent for Electrotherapy device and method Patent (Patent # 6,885,896 issued April 26, 2005) - Justia Patents Search
Justia Patents Directly Or Indirectly Stimulating Motor MusclesUS Patent for Electrotherapy device and method Patent (Patent # 6,885,896)
Jul 10, 2001 - Bio-Medical Research Ltd.
Latest Bio-Medical Research Ltd. Patents:
Electrotheraphy device and method
In known electrotherapeutic devices and methods, in order to stimulate these three muscles, namely, the rectus abdominis muscles 15, the transversalis muscles 16 and the oblique muscles 17 pulsed signals are applied to the abdomen of the subject through four electrode pairs 20a and 20b, 21a and 21b, 22a and 22b, 23a and 23b arranged as illustrated in FIG. 1. The electrode pairs 20a and 20b and 21a and 21b stimulate the rectus abdominis muscles 15, while the electrode pairs 22 and 23a and b stimulate the transversalis muscles and oblique muscles for toning thereof.
The main locating marks 29 define two opposite peripheral sides of the central electrode 26 for defining a main locating area 31 for receiving and locating the central electrode 26 for accurately locating the central electrode 26 on the belt 25 to in use lie centrally over the umbilicus 12. In this embodiment of the invention each set of secondary locating marks 30a, 30b and 30c define three respective secondary locating areas 32a, 32b and 32c at which the respective side electrodes 27 may be selectively attached to the belt 25 so that in use the side electrodes preferably lie centrally over the corresponding one of the left and right mid-axillary lines 13 and 14 of the subject and on a mid-point which is substantially midway between the rib cage 6 and the corresponding one of the left and right iliac crests 8 and 9. Although in practice while it is desirable that the side electrodes 27 should line on the corresponding mid-axillary lines, it has been found that, in general, adequate stimulation of the muscles is achieved if the side electrodes 27 are located on the belt 25 to lie on respective lines extending from the umbilicus to the mid-point of the corresponding mid-axillary lines and towards the mid-axillary lines. In this embodiment of the invention the secondary locating marks 30a, 30b and 30c define a periphery 33 of one end of the corresponding side electrode 27 for indicating the three secondary locating areas 32a, 32b and 32c at which the side electrodes 27 may be located on the belt 25 for accommodating torsos of different girth about the waist.
The main locating area 31 and the secondary locating areas 32a, 32b and 32c are arranged on the belt 25 so that when the central electrode 26 is located in the main locating area 31, and the side electrodes 27 are located in the appropriate one of the secondary locating areas 32a, 32b or 32c, and when the belt 25 is secured around the torso 3 with the central electrode 26 located centrally over the umbilicus 12 the respective side electrodes 27 are located over the left and right mid-axillary lines 13 and 14, respectively, between the rib cage 6 and the left and right iliac crests 8 and 9, or relatively close to the mid-axillary lines.
In order that the belt 25, and in turn the central and side electrodes 26 and 27 are tightly secured to the subject, and also to further accommodate varying girths of torso 3, the belt 25 is of a resilient elasticated material for facilitating stretching of the belt 25 between the respective ends 35 and 36. However, to further facilitate in accommodating torsos 3 of different girths, portions 47 between broken lines 48, see FIG. 3 of the belt 25 on respective opposite sides of the main locating area 29 and between the nearest secondary locating areas 32a are more resilient than the rest of the belt 25 for accommodating extra stretchability of the belt 25 in the resilient portions 47. This, further facilitates in aligning the side electrodes 27 with the respective left and right mid-axillary lines 13 and 14.
Referring now to FIGS. 13 to 18 various pulsed signals which can be generated by the signal generator 28 and various connections of the main and central electrodes 26 and 27 to the pulse generator 28 will now be described. Referring initially to FIGS. 13 and 14 in this connection configuration the respective left and right side electrodes 27a and 27b which are also designated with the reference letters L and R, respectively, are independently connected to the pulse generator 28, and independently apply respective pulsed signals I1 and I2 to the subject which are generated by the pulse generator 28. The central electrodes 26 which is designated in the reference letter U, acts as a common return electrode for returning the sum I3 of the pulsed signals I1+I2 to the signal generator 28, where I3=I1+I2. Accordingly, in this configuration the electrodes 26 and 27 are selected in pairs where one pair is formed by the central electrode 26 and one of the side electrodes 27, and the other pair is formed by the central electrode 26 and the other of the side electrodes 27. In other words the electrode pairs are the pairs R-U and L-U.
FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate an alternative connection configuration of the central and side electrodes 26 and 27 to the signal generator 28. In this configuration the electrodes 26 and 27 are selected in similar pairs as those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, namely, the pairs R-U and L-U. However, only one pulsed signal I3 is generated by the signal generator 28 and is applied to the two side electrodes 27a and 27b, and returned through the central electrode 26 which acts as a common return. In this embodiment of the invention the respective proportion I1 and I2 of the pulsed signals flowing through the side electrodes 27a and 27b may be similar or different, depending on the impedance between the respective side electrodes 27 and the central electrode 26 through the subject, and the impedance between the respective side electrodes 27 and the skin of the subject. The magnitude of the pulses are varied by one of the buttons 62 on the signal generator 28.
Referring now to FIGS. 17 and 18 there is illustrated a further alternative connection configuration of the central and side electrodes 26 and 27 to the signal generator 28, and alternative pulsed signals generated by the signal generator 28. In this configuration the electrodes 26 and 27 are selected in pairs similar to those described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, namely, the pairs R-U and L-U. The signal generator 28 generates two pulsed signals I1 and I2 which are applied respectively to the side electrodes 27a and 27b and are returned through the central electrode 26 which acts as a common return. The pulses of the pulsed signals I1 and I2 in this case are 180° out of phase with each other, however, the interval between the pulses of the respective pulsed signals is similar. The magnitude and duration of the pulses of the respective pulsed signals are independently variable, and as can be seen in FIG. 18 the pulses of the pulsed signal I1 are of greater magnitude but shorter duration than the pulses of the pulsed signal I2.
In use, with the belt 25 laid flat and the inner side 34 facing upwardly the central electrode 26 is secured centrally in the main locating area 31. The appropriate secondary locating area 32a, 32b or 32c is selected, depending on the girth of the torso 3 of the subject, and the respective side electrodes 27 are secured to the inner side 34 of the belt 25 with the peripheral edge 33 of the side electrodes 27 aligned with the appropriate secondary locating marks 30a, 30b or 30c. Remaining release sheets are then removed from the central and side electrodes 26 and 27 and the belt 25 is offered up to the torso 3 of the subject with the central electrode 26 centrally aligned with the umbilicus 12. The belt 25 is then stretched around the torso 3 of the subject until the side electrodes 27 are centrally aligned with the respective left and right mid-axillary lines centrally between the rib cage 6 and the respective left and right iliac crests or relatively close thereto. The belt 25 is then secured to the subject by the band of hooks 38 engaging the appropriate band 39 of eyes. FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate the preferable locations of the central electrode 26 and the side electrodes 27 on the torso 3 when the belt 25 is tightly secured to the torso 3.
Referring now to FIGS. 22 to 27 alternative connecting configurations for connecting the electrodes 78, 79 and 27 to the signal generator 28 are illustrated for applying the pulsed signals to the subject through the electrodes 78, 79 and 27. The left and right side electrodes 27a and 27b are designated by the reference letters L and R, respectively, and the first and second central electrodes 78 and 79 are designated by the reference letters U1 and U2, respectively. In FIG. 22 the first and second electrodes 78 and 79 and the side electrodes 27 are connected such that the side electrodes 27 and the first central electrode 78 effectively form one single electrode, while the second electrode 79 forms the other electrode, namely, the return electrode. In the connecting configuration of FIG. 23 the electrodes 78, 79 and 27 are connected such that the side electrodes 27 are connected together and the first and second central electrodes 78 and 79 are independently connected to the signal generator 28. In this way the electrodes are selected in pairs such that one selected pair of electrodes is formed by the side electrodes 27 which effectively act as one electrode and the second central electrodes 79 which acts as a return electrode, and the other selected pair of electrodes comprises the first central electrode 78 and the second electrode 79, which also acts as a return electrode for that selected pair of electrodes. In other words the pairs of electrodes are the pairs (RL)-U2 and U1-U2. A first pulsed signal is applied to the selected electrode pair comprising the side electrodes 27 and the second central electrode 79, and a second pulsed signal is applied to the selected electrode pair comprising the first and second central electrode 78 and 79. The first and second pulsed signals may be identical or different and may be independently varied as discussed with reference to FIGS. 13, 14, 17 and 18.
Referring now to FIG. 24 there is illustrated a further alternative connection configuration of the first and second central electrodes 78 and 79 and the side electrodes 27 to the signal generator 28. In this configuration the electrodes are selected in the following pairs. One selected pair comprises the side electrodes 27a and 27b whereby one of the side electrodes, namely, the left side electrode 27a acts as the return electrode, and the other electrode pair is selected from the first and second central electrode 78 and 79, whereby the second central electrode 79 acts as the return electrode. In other words the electrode pairs are the pairs R-L and U1-U2. In this connection configuration the signal generator generates two pulsed signals independently of each other, one of which is applied to the subject through the side electrodes, while the other is applied to the subject through the first and second central electrodes 78 and 79. The two pulsed signals may be the same or different, however, in order to avoid a signal which is applied to the side electrode 27b being returned through the second electrode 79, and similarly, in order to avoid a signal applied to the first central electrodes 78 being returned through the side electrode 27a, the signals are multiplexed to the electrodes, and preferably, are 180° out of phase.
R-U1 L-U2 R-U2 R-L L-U1 U1-U2
R-U1 R-U2 L-U1 U1-U2 L-U2
In this embodiment of the invention one of the female parts 83 of the secondary stud fasteners 82 is provided in each of the three secondary locating areas 32a, 32b and 32c for receiving the male parts 84 with the corresponding side electrodes 27 in the desired secondary locating area 32. The female and male parts 83 and 84 of the stud fasteners 81 and 82 are of electrically conductive material, in this case chrome plated steel. An electrically insulating coating 85 is applied over a surface 86 of each female part 83 which is exposed, and which would be likely to come into contact with the skin of a subject if it were not covered by one of the side electrodes 27. This, thus, avoids any danger of a signal applied to the female part 83 of a secondary stud fastener 82 by the signal generator 28 being transferred directly to the subject from the surface 86 of the female part 83. However, the interior of a socket 87 of each female part 83 provides good electrical continuity with a corresponding male projection 88 from the corresponding male part 84 for ensuring electrical continuity between the female and male parts 83 and 84 of the stud fasteners 81 and 82.
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Patent number: 6885896
Patent Publication Number: 20020091420
Assignee: Bio-Medical Research Ltd. (Galway)
Inventors: Michael Conor Minogue (Kinvara), Michael Louis Crowe (Dublin)
Application Number: 09/902,281
Current U.S. Class: Directly Or Indirectly Stimulating Motor Muscles (607/48); Electrical Energy Applied Through Plural Paths (607/148)