Patent ID: 7991476

Claim:
A non-invasive method for promoting a localized change in a flow of blood through a blood vessel in a limb segment on a lower leg of a body by a series of electrically stimulated contractions of muscle tissue in the limb segment, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a device including: (i) at least a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, each of said electrodes adapted to operatively contact the limb segment; (ii) a signal generator, operatively connected to each said electrode, adapted to produce a series of electrical impulses to the limb segment via said plurality of electrodes, said signal generator connecting to a power supply, and (iii) a control unit, associated with said signal generator, adapted to control said signal generator to produce said series of electrical impulses, said impulses being of pre-determined voltage differential, form, and duration; (b) positioning said plurality of electrodes on the limb segment, wherein said first electrode is positioned on a lower end of the lower leg, said second electrode is positioned on the lower leg, and said third electrode is positioned on an upper end of the lower leg, whereby said first electrode and said third electrode are disposed on opposite ends of the lower leg, and said second electrode and one of said first and third electrodes are disposed on a same end of the lower leg; (c) applying at least a first electrical impulse of said electrical impulses between said electrodes on said same end of the lower leg to induce a first muscular contraction of a first portion of the tissue in the lower leg; (d) applying at least a second electrical impulse of said electrical impulses between said first and third electrodes to induce a longitudinal muscular contraction of a second portion of the muscular tissue in the lower leg, whereby the muscular tissue acts upon the blood vessel to produce the localized change in the flow of blood through the lower leg, and wherein steps (c) and (d) are performed whereby said longitudinal contraction is induced while said first portion of the muscular tissue remains at least partially contracted by said first muscular contraction, and (e) delivering said electrical signals to said at least first, second, and third electrodes, whereby a repeating sequence of muscular contractions is effected, said repeating sequence including said muscular contraction of said first portion of the tissue and said longitudinal contraction.