A stabilizing support device for an external stimulator

Abstract

This utility model relates to a stable support device for an external stimulator, comprising a wire combing section for transmitting electrical stimulation into the body via electrode wires, a wire guiding section for restricting the path of the electrode wires, and a wearable component worn on the human torso. The wire combing section is movably disposed on the wearable component to adjust its position along the extension direction of the wearable component on the body surface. The wire guiding section is integrally disposed with the wearable component on the back of the torso. The redundant length of the electrode wires is stored in the internal cavity of the wire combing section. When the wire combing section is adjusted, the electrode wires release or store their redundant length to adapt to the dynamically changing distance between the wire combing section and the wire guiding section. The wire combing section of this utility model can be adjusted to the chest or back according to the patient's needs, improving the flexibility of the device. The redundant length of the electrode wires can be stored in the wire combing section, effectively reducing the messy hanging of external cables.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of medical device technology, and in particular to a stable support device for an external stimulator. Background Technology

[0002] Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is an important treatment for chronic intractable pain. It achieves analgesia by stimulating relevant areas of the spinal cord with pulsed currents and has a wide range of applications. External spinal cord stimulators are typically fixed to the patient's skin surface using only medical tape or similar methods, resulting in poor stability and a tendency for displacement and entanglement of the external / internal electrode leads. This entanglement or loose arrangement can form a closed loop, increasing the electromagnetic induction area. For example, the electromagnetic field of power frequency (50 / 60Hz) or medical devices (MRI, electrosurgical unit) can induce noise voltage in the loop, which, when superimposed on the stimulation signal, may trigger abnormal nerve discharges (such as tingling sensations).

[0003] However, the methods of fixing external neurostimulators during treatment have many drawbacks. Currently, medical tape, transparent dressings, or adhesive elastic bandages are commonly used in clinical practice to fix the external neurostimulator to the patient's skin. Due to factors such as illness, the patient's skin function declines, and prolonged friction between the external neurostimulator and the skin, coupled with the traction during the patient's activities, can easily lead to skin damage, allergies, and other problems, affecting the patient's comfort and sleep quality, thus interfering with the treatment effect. Furthermore, traditional fixation methods lack stability; the stimulator is prone to displacement during the patient's daily activities, affecting the accuracy and continuity of electrical stimulation and reducing the treatment effect.

[0004] CN214912679U discloses a fixation device for a temporary external spinal cord electrical stimulation device. The device uses a combination of a substrate adhesive layer and a fixation component, along with a cross-shaped fixation wing structure, which can improve the fixation effect of the stimulator cable and reduce the risk of electrodes coming off due to traction.

[0005] However, the main drawback of this fixation device lies in its limited flexibility in cross-regional positioning. After the substrate is adhered to the skin (e.g., the back) once via adhesive, if the stimulator needs to be transferred to the chest area, the substrate must be completely peeled off and reattached. This process not only weakens the adhesive properties of the adhesive layer due to repeated peeling and pasting but may also cause skin barrier damage or contact dermatitis, making non-invasive and rapid cross-regional positioning difficult to achieve. Furthermore, although the device's split structure allows the fixation element to be connected to the substrate via Velcro and fine-tuned within a limited range on its surface, the substrate itself remains fixed in the initial adhesion position. When the substrate is adhered to the back, the fixation element cannot be detached from the substrate and transferred independently to the chest. Cross-regional adjustments require the additional adhesion of a new substrate, which not only increases the complexity of the operation but also leads to increased costs associated with the repeated consumption of consumables.

[0006] Furthermore, on the one hand, there are differences in understanding among those skilled in the art; on the other hand, the applicant studied a large number of documents and patents when making this utility model, but due to space limitations, not all details and contents were listed in detail. However, this does not mean that this utility model does not have the features of these prior art. On the contrary, this utility model has all the features of the prior art, and the applicant reserves the right to add relevant prior art to the background art. Utility Model Content

[0007] In view of the shortcomings of the prior art, this application proposes a stable support device for an external stimulator, which aims to solve one or more technical problems in the prior art.

[0008] This utility model relates to a stable support device for an external stimulator, comprising a wire combing section for transmitting electrical stimulation into the body through electrode wires, a wire orientation section for restricting the passage path of the electrode wires, and a wearable device that can be worn on the human torso. The wire combing section is movably disposed on the wearable device to adjust its position along the extension direction of the wearable device on the body surface. The wire orientation section is integrally disposed with the wearable device on the back of the torso. The redundant length of the electrode wires is stored in the internal cavity of the wire combing section. When the wire combing section is adjusted in position, the electrode wires release or store their redundant length to adapt to the dynamically changing distance between the wire combing section and the wire orientation section.

[0009] This support device achieves dynamic path management of the electrode leads through the spatial coordination of a movable, adjustable lead comb and an integrated lead orientation section. The lead comb can be adjusted to the chest or back according to the patient's needs, improving the device's flexibility. Adjusting the position of the lead comb allows the electrode leads to adaptively compensate for length changes along the shoulder strap extension path, avoiding the risk of lead pulling or tangling due to trunk movements. The storage of redundant lengths ensures signal transmission stability while effectively reducing messy hanging of external cables and lowering the probability of device damage caused by foreign object scratches. Through the spatial constraint of the back orientation section and the coordinated action of the movable comb, the electrode leads maintain a predetermined routing pattern on the body surface, thereby improving the body position adaptability during wear and the safety of long-term use of the external stimulator.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment, the wearable device includes shoulder straps spanning the chest and back, and a waistband encircling the waist. A lead guide is movably disposed on the shoulder straps to allow it to move along the straps for position adjustment. A lead directional section is disposed on the waistband to restrict the starting position of the electrode leads extending from within the body as they exit the skin. The lead directional section fixed to the waistband provides rigid constraint on the exit position of the lead extension within the body, ensuring that the lead exit point always maintains a stable skin contact angle, avoiding tissue friction or micro-motion damage caused by changes in body position. The shoulder straps provide adjustable points for the slidable guide section, which can be moved along the shoulder, facilitating the patient's daily life.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment, the wire orientation part includes two adhesive strips and an orientation member located between them, wherein the adhesive back of the adhesive strips is applied to the back skin so that the wire orientation part remains relatively stationary with respect to the body, wherein the orientation member is configured as an openable compartment structure, the interior of which is provided with a vertical wire groove, the guiding direction of which is consistent with the extension direction of the electrode wire at the point where it exits the body surface, thereby confining the electrode wire within the wire groove to prevent bending.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment, the lead combing section includes a stimulator body for generating electrical stimulation, a stimulator housing cavity for accommodating the stimulator body, and a first combing hole disposed on the side wall of the stimulator housing cavity. The electrode lead is led out from the stimulator body, passes through the first combing hole, exits the stimulator housing cavity, and then, after combing, exits through the side wall of the lead combing section. This structural design effectively reduces local stress concentration caused by external pulling or instrument movement of the lead through mechanical limiting, thereby reducing the risk of lead insulation wear and internal conductor breakage. The secondary combing of the lead after exiting the stimulator housing cavity avoids overlapping and tangling of multiple leads due to disordered distribution, ensuring that each lead maintains a relatively independent extension trajectory during operation.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the lead combing section is equipped with a combing chamber adjacent to the stimulator receiving cavity. The inner wall of the combing chamber has a second combing hole, through which the electrode lead, originating from the stimulator receiving cavity and passing through the first combing hole, can enter the combing chamber. After completing its initial exit, the electrode lead further enters the combing chamber through the second combing hole, ensuring that the electrode lead can be properly organized within the combing chamber. This reduces the risk of interference with device operation caused by electromagnetic closed loops resulting from entanglement.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment, the combing cavity is equipped with a plurality of fixed rollers and movable rollers. The electrode wires alternately travel between different fixed rollers and movable rollers, thus presenting a continuous "S"-shaped arrangement path, thereby accommodating redundant lengths. The synergistic effect of the roller assembly can dynamically adjust the local bending curvature of the wires, avoiding excessive bending or disordered stacking due to redundant length. The fixed rollers provide basic support to maintain the stability of the wire arrangement, while the movable rollers compensate for length changes in the extension direction of the wires through slight displacement, thereby achieving a uniform distribution of redundant lengths within a limited space.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the combing cavity is provided with a plurality of first grooves extending along its length, and a movable roller is slidably disposed within the first groove. The groove structure provides reliable guiding support for the movable roller, effectively preventing it from shifting laterally or wobbling when the conductor tension changes; on the other hand, it allows the movable roller to freely adjust its position within the groove coverage area according to the changing requirements of the conductor redundancy length.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable roller has a sliding rod at its rotation axis. The sliding rod extends into the first groove and has an extension direction consistent with the thickness direction of the combing cavity, allowing the movable roller to rotate around the sliding rod. The extension characteristic of the sliding rod along the thickness direction of the combing cavity ensures that the roller's rotation plane is always perpendicular to the wire arrangement direction, thereby ensuring that the electrode wires do not twist laterally when smoothly traversing the roller surface.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment, the front plate of the combing chamber has multiple second grooves along its length, the number and position of which correspond to the first grooves inside the combing chamber. A locking knob passes through the second grooves and protrudes outside the combing chamber. The design of the locking knob protruding outside the combing chamber allows the operator to intuitively judge the real-time status of the movable roller by the knob position and directly complete the position locking operation outside the device.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment, the shoulder strap has a storage groove along its length, the width of which matches the outer diameter of the electrode wire. After the wire combing section completes the position adjustment, the electrode wire between the wire combing section and the wire orientation section can be pressed into the storage groove. When the wire is pressed into the groove, the radial restraint force generated by the interference fit can effectively limit the lateral displacement and swing amplitude of the wire during wear. This structure avoids disorderly shaking of the wire caused by human movement, reduces the risk of wear caused by friction between the wire and clothing, and significantly improves the overall wearing comfort and reliability of the device. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is a simplified overall structural diagram of a preferred stabilizing support device of this utility model;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a partial schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the wire combing part and the wire orientation part jointly fix the electrode wire;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a partial structural schematic diagram of a preferred conductor orientation section of this utility model;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a preferred wire combing section of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a disassembly diagram of a preferred wire combing section of this utility model;

[0024] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred wire combing section of this utility model from a frontal view.

[0025] Figure 7 This is an axial side view of a preferred wire combing section of this utility model in its first use state;

[0026] Figure 8 This is an axial side view of a preferred wire combing section of the present invention in its second usage state;

[0027] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the locking knob is located at the first slide groove receiving end;

[0028] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which the locking knob is located at the release end of the first slide groove.

[0029] List of reference numerals

[0030] 100: Lead combing section; 110: Elastic clip; 120: Front plate; 121: Second slide groove; 130: Stimulator storage cavity; 131: Stimulator body; 132: Sliding cover; 133: First combing hole; 140: Combing cavity; 141: Second combing hole; 142: First slide groove; 143: Fixed roller; 144: Movable roller; 150: Locking knob; 151: Sliding rod; 152: Limiting element; 153: Stop; 200: Lead orientation section; 210: Adhesive tape; 211: Vent hole; 220: Orienting element; 300: Wearing element; 310: Shoulder strap; 311: Storage groove; 320: Waist belt; 321: Adjustment element; 400: Electrode lead. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0032] This embodiment relates to a stable support device for an external stimulator, such as... Figure 1As shown, it comprises three main components: a lead combing section 100, a lead orientation section 200, and a wearable component 300. The wearable component 300, through the configuration of a diagonally across shoulder strap 310 and a horizontally wrapping waist belt 320, forms a support system that surrounds the human torso. The lead combing section 100 is disposed on the wearable component 300 and houses a stimulator body 131 for generating stimulation electrical signals (see [reference]). Figure 4 The lead orientation section 200 is located at the starting position where the electrode lead 400 extending from the patient's body emerges from the body surface. Through a limiting effect, it ensures that the electrode lead 400 travels along a predetermined path and finally enters the lead combing section 100. After the wiring is combed, it is connected to the stimulator body 131.

[0033] like Figure 1 As shown, the two ends of the belt 320 are connected by adjusting members 321. The adjusting members 321 can be of the buckle or Velcro type, allowing for flexible adjustment of the belt length to suit different body types. Combined with... Figure 2 The structure shown has the wire guiding part 200 and the waist belt 320 integrally formed in the area corresponding to the patient's back. Preferably, as... Figure 3 As shown, the lead alignment section 200 includes two adhesive strips 210 and an alignment member 220 between them. The adhesive strips 210 are made of a block-shaped flexible material (such as latex or silicone), and their adhesive back can be applied to the patient's back skin to ensure that the lead alignment section 200 remains relatively stationary with respect to the body. The alignment member 220 adopts an openable and closable compartment structure with a vertical lead groove inside. The guiding direction of this lead groove is consistent with the extension direction of the electrode lead 400 when it exits the body surface. When the electrode lead 400 is placed in the lead groove and the alignment member 220 is closed, the lead is clamped and confined within the compartment, maintaining its vertical extension direction and preventing bending at the point of exit on the back, which would affect stability. Figure 3 As shown, the surface of the adhesive tape 210 may also have several ventilation holes 211 to enhance breathability and reduce discomfort on the patient's back skin.

[0034] like Figure 4 As shown, the lead wire combing section 100 has a box-shaped structure, with an elastic clip 110 on its back to clamp and fix itself to the shoulder strap 310. Although this embodiment provides a clamping and engaging method between the elastic clip 110 and the shoulder strap 310, it should be noted that, although not specifically shown in the drawings, those skilled in the art can conceive of using other detachable connection structures, such as snaps or adhesives, to achieve the same function, as long as it is ensured that the lead wire combing section 100 can be fixed at different positions on the shoulder strap 310 according to the patient's needs. The box surface of the lead wire combing section 100 is provided with a slidable cover 132. Figure 4As shown, when the sliding cover 132 is slid to the open state, the internal structure of the lead combing section 100 is exposed, including a stimulator body 131 that transmits stimulation electrical signals to the patient, a stimulator housing cavity 130 that houses the stimulator body 131, and a first combing hole 133 located on the side wall of the stimulator housing cavity 130. The electrode lead 400 is led out from the stimulator body 131, passes through the first combing hole 133 and exits the stimulator housing cavity 130, then enters the remaining area of ​​the lead combing section 100, and finally exits from the side wall of the housing after being combed.

[0035] like Figure 5 As shown, the electrode wire 400, originating from the stimulator receiving cavity 130 and passing through the first combing hole 133, can enter the combing cavity 140 adjacent to the stimulator receiving cavity 130. The combing cavity 140 is used to organize the arrangement of the electrode wire 400, so that the electrode wire 400 can form an "S" shaped circuit in a predetermined manner within the combing cavity 140. This arrangement can effectively avoid unwanted tangling, preventing the electrode wire 400 from causing electromagnetic closed loop interference with the operation of the equipment. At the same time, this regular circuit arrangement makes it easy to adjust its length.

[0036] like Figure 5 As shown, to ensure that the electrode wires 400 are completely contained within the combing chamber 140 without being exposed, the combing chamber 140 is equipped with a front plate 120 that acts as a baffle to cover it. To clearly demonstrate the internal structure of the combing chamber 140, Figure 5 The front panel 120 is shown in a state where it has been detached from the surface. In fact, the front panel 120 is integrally formed with the wire combing section 100 as one surface of the wire combing section 100 (see [reference]). Figure 4 ).

[0037] like Figure 6 As shown, a plurality of fixed rollers 143 are disposed within the combing cavity 140. These fixed rollers 143 are connected to the inner wall of the combing cavity 140 via a rotating shaft and can rotate freely around the shaft. A plurality of first sliding grooves 142 are provided between adjacent fixed rollers 143 within the combing cavity 140. These first sliding grooves 142 extend along the length direction of the combing cavity 140, and a movable roller 144 is slidably disposed within each first sliding groove 142. A sliding rod 151 is provided at the rotation axis of the movable roller 144. The sliding rod 151 can extend into the first sliding groove 142 and has an extension direction consistent with the thickness direction of the combing cavity 140, thereby allowing the movable roller 144 to both rotate freely around the sliding rod 151 and slide along the first sliding groove 142 with the help of the sliding rod 151. Guided by the first sliding groove 142, the movable roller 144 can slide back and forth within the combing cavity 140, thereby moving closer to or away from the fixed rollers 143.

[0038] Combination Figure 5 and Figure 6The combing cavity 140 of the wire combing section 100 has a second combing hole 141 on the back side opposite to the front plate 120 for the electrode wire 400 to pass through. The electrode wire 400, which originates from the stimulator receiving cavity 130 of the wire combing section 100 and passes through the first combing hole 133, can pass through the second combing hole 141 from the space adjacent to the back side of the combing cavity 140 into the combing cavity 140. When the movable roller 144 slides to the end of the first groove 142 away from the fixed roller 143, the electrode wire 400 can form a continuous "S"-shaped winding path by alternately winding between different fixed rollers 143 and movable rollers 144 (see...). Figure 6 This allows for the storage of excess length of the electrode wire 400. Furthermore, the movable roller 144 adjusts the length of the electrode wire 400 via a sliding mechanism of the first groove 142. Figure 7 As shown, when the movable roller 144 slides toward the fixed roller 143, the length of the electrode wire 400 stored in the combing chamber 140 will be shortened, and this part of the electrode wire 400 will be released to the outside of the wire combing section 100. Figure 8 Further demonstrating that when multiple sets of movable rollers 144 slide toward the side where the fixed roller 143 slides, a longer electrode wire 400 is released outward.

[0039] like Figure 9 As shown, a locking knob 150 is provided at the shaft end of the movable roller 144 inside the combing chamber 140. By rotating the locking knob 150, the movable roller 144 can be switched between locked and unlocked states. Locking and unlocking are achieved through the cooperation between the limiting member 152 on the side wall of the sliding rod 151 and the stop block 153 at the end of the first slide groove 142, that is: when the locking knob 150 is rotated to the point where the limiting member 152 abuts against the stop block 153 ( Figure 9 In the locked state, the displacement of the sliding rod 151 along the first slide groove 142 is constrained, and the movable roller 144 is fixed; when the locking knob 150 is turned away, causing the limiting member 152 to disengage from the stop block 153 ( Figure 9 In the unlocked state, the displacement constraint of the sliding rod 151 is released, and the movable roller 144 can slide along the first slide groove 142. Figure 10 As shown, after the movable roller 144 slides along the first groove 142 to the end where the fixed roller 144 is located, the cooperation between the limiting member 152 and the stop block 153 can ensure that the movable roller 144 is restricted to this position, preventing the electrode wire 400 from deviating due to accidental contact.

[0040] like Figure 5 As shown, the front plate 120 of the wire combing section 100 has multiple second grooves 121 along its length, the number and position of which correspond to the first grooves 142 in the combing cavity 140. Figure 4As shown, the locking knob 150 on the movable roller 144 passes through the second slide groove 121 and is exposed on the outside of the combing cavity 140, which facilitates the patient to perform locking / unlocking operations.

[0041] like Figure 2 As shown, the shoulder strap 310 has a storage groove 311 along its length, the width of which matches the outer diameter of the electrode wire 400, forming a channel for temporary storage of the electrode wire 400. After the wire combing section 100 is positioned and its length adjusted, the electrode wire 400 between the wire combing section 100 and the wire orientation section 200 can be pressed into the storage groove 311. The interference fit between the groove wall and the electrode wire 400 eliminates the shaking interference of the electrode wire 400, ensuring that the electrode wire 400 has a stable path.

[0042] It should be noted that the above specific embodiments are exemplary. Those skilled in the art can devise various solutions inspired by the disclosure of this utility model, and these solutions all fall within the scope of this utility model and its protection scope. Those skilled in the art should understand that this utility model specification and its drawings are illustrative and do not constitute a limitation on the claims. The protection scope of this utility model is defined by the claims and their equivalents. Throughout the text, features introduced by "preferred" are merely optional and should not be construed as mandatory. Therefore, the applicant reserves the right to abandon or delete relevant preferred features at any time.

Claims

1. A stabilizing support device for an external stimulator, comprising a wire combing section (100) for transmitting electrical stimulation into the body via electrode wires (400), a wire orientation section (200) for restricting the passage of the electrode wires (400), and a wearable component (300) wearable on the human torso, characterized in that, The wire combing part (100) is movably disposed on the wearable piece (300) to adjust its position along the extension direction of the wearable piece (300) on the body surface; the wire guiding part (200) is integrally disposed with the wearable piece (300) on the back of the torso. The redundant length of the electrode wire (400) is stored in the internal cavity of the wire combing section (100). When the wire combing section (100) is adjusted in position, the electrode wire (400) adapts to the dynamically changing distance between the wire combing section (100) and the wire orientation section (200) by releasing or storing its redundant length.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The wearable device (300) includes shoulder straps (310) that cross the front and back and a waist belt (320) that wraps around the waist. The wire combing part (100) is movably disposed on the shoulder strap (310) so that it can move along the shoulder strap (310) to adjust its position; The wire orientation part (200) is disposed on the waist belt (320) to limit the starting position of the electrode wire (400) extending from the body surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, The conductor orientation section (200) includes two adhesive tapes (210) and an orientation member (220) located between them. The adhesive back of the adhesive tape (210) is applied to the skin on the back so that the wire orientation portion (200) remains relatively stationary with respect to the body. The directional component (220) is configured as an openable compartment structure, which has a vertical wire groove inside. The guiding direction of the wire groove is consistent with the extension direction of the electrode wire (400) at the point where it exits the body surface. The electrode wire (400) is confined within the wire groove to prevent bending.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The wire combing section (100) includes a stimulator body (131) for generating electrical stimulation, a stimulator receiving cavity (130) for accommodating the stimulator body (131), and a first combing hole (133) provided on the side wall of the stimulator receiving cavity (130). The electrode wire (400) is led out from the stimulator body (131), passes through the first combing hole (133) and exits the stimulator receiving cavity (130), and after being combed, it passes through the side wall of the wire combing part (100).

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The lead combing section (100) is provided with a combing cavity (140) adjacent to the stimulator receiving cavity (130). The inner wall of the combing cavity (140) is provided with a second combing hole (141). The electrode lead (400) that originates from the stimulator receiving cavity (130) and passes through the first combing hole (133) can enter the combing cavity (140) through the second combing hole (141).

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The combing chamber (140) is equipped with several fixed rollers (143) and movable rollers (144). The electrode wire (400) alternately winds around different fixed rollers (143) and movable rollers (144) to present a continuous "S" shaped arrangement path, thereby accommodating redundant length.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The combing chamber (140) is provided with a plurality of first grooves (142) extending along its length direction, and the movable roller (144) is slidably disposed in the first grooves (142).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The movable roller (144) has a sliding rod (151) at its rotation axis. The sliding rod (151) extends into the first groove (142) and has an extension direction consistent with the thickness direction of the combing cavity (140), so that the movable roller (144) can rotate around the sliding rod (151).

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The front plate (120) of the combing cavity (140) has multiple second grooves (121) along its length, the number and position of which correspond to the first groove (142) in the combing cavity (140). The locking knob (150) located at the shaft end of the movable roller (144) passes through the second groove (121) and is exposed outside the combing cavity (140).

10. The apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The shoulder strap (310) has a storage groove (311) along its length, the width of which matches the outer diameter of the electrode wire (400). After the wire combing section (100) completes its position adjustment, the electrode wire (400) between the wire combing section (100) and the wire orientation section (200) can be pressed and embedded into the storage groove (311).

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