Patent ID: RE39359

Claim:
A portable muscle stimulator for generating a plurality of muscle stimulating signals for application to a patient using a plurality of electrodes, comprising: a plurality of independently driven channels connected respectively to a like plurality of electrodes for independently treating a like plurality of separate muscle groups of a patient, each of said plurality of independently driven channels including its own drive circuit; a digital data processor connected to each of said drive circuits for each providing a drive control signal for causing each of said drive circuits to generate said plurality of muscle stimulating signals; each of said drive control signals causing its respective drive circuit to generate a muscle stimulating signal as a series of on and off pulses over a given time period; and said pulses having a predetermined constant voltage and an intensity and a waveform shape such that the beginning of said pulse has a ramp portion from zero to maximum intensity, a middle portion constant at maximum intensity, and an end ramp portion from maximum intensity to zero, such that there is a smooth transition from no pulses to the maximum pulse intensity and then back to no pulses in order to provide smooth muscle contractions and release of contractions.