Portable assemblies, systems, and methods for providing functional or therapeutic neurostimulation

Abstract

Neurostimulation assemblies, systems, kits, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin or carried outside the body. Neurostimulation assemblies, systems, and methods may include a carrier and a removable electronics pod, the electronics pod including stimulation generation circuitry, a power input bay to hold a disposable power source, and user interface components. The assemblies, systems, and methods are adapted to provide coordinated neurostimulation to multiple regions of the body.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 595,556, filed 10 Nov. 2006, and entitled “Portable Assemblies, Systems and Methods for Providing Functional or Therapeutic Neurostimulation,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 801,315, filed May 18, 2006, and entitled “Portable Assemblies, Systems, and Methods for Providing Functional or Therapeutic Neuromuscular Stimulation,” which is incorporated herein by reference. [0002] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 056,591, filed Feb. 11, 2005, and entitled “Portable Assemblies, Systems and Methods for Providing Functional or Therapeutic Neuromuscular Stimulation,” which claim the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 551,945, filed Mar. 10, 2004, and entitled “Steerable Introducer for a Percutaneous Electrode Usable in Association with Portable Percutaneous Assemblies...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides improved assemblies, systems, and methods for providing prosthetic or therapeutic neurostimulation. The power source for the neurostimulation assembly is a battery that is securely sealed in a housing to prevent unauthorized use. The battery can be rechargeable or non-rechargeable, replaceable or disposable. The system includes a coordinated neurostimulation assembly with multiple electrodes that can provide coordinated neurostimulation to multiple regions of the body. The system can also include a power source organizer to manage the battery and programmable external neurostimulation assemblies. The invention also provides portable, percutaneous, or surface mounted neurostimulation assemblies that can be easily carried and used for therapeutic or diagnostic purposes. The patterns of neurostimulation can be highly selective based on the desired outcome. The controller interface can be wireless or manually entered. The invention also includes a skin-worn patch or carrier for the neurostimulation assembly that can be easily carried and used without discomfort or affecting body image."

Problems solved by technology

While existing systems and methods can provide remarkable benefits to individuals requiring neurostimulation, many quality of life issues still remain.

For example, existing systems perform a single, dedicated stimulation function, and are unable to operate in a fashion to provide coordinated stimulation to multiple regions of a body.

Furthermore, these controllers are, by today's standards, relatively large and awkward to manipulate and transport.

The power is generally not controllable, meaning that without appropriate user controls—that may or may not be used, the system could produce stimulation pulses as long as the system is connected to line power or the battery has enough capacity to operate the system, both of which could be for days, weeks, or even months.

While the existing systems and methods provide the capability of providing power and user controls, many limitations and issues still remain.

Systems and methods for providing coordinated stimulation to multiple areas of the body are not practical with known stimulators.

Multiple individual stimulators may be used to provide stimulation to multiple areas of the body, but there lacks effective systems and methods that are able to coordinate the stimulation to multiple areas throughout the body.

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