653 results about "Electro stimulation" patented technology

An electrical stimulation lead includes a lead body insertable into a patient. Electrodes are disposed along the lead body. The electrodes include at least two sets of segmented electrodes. Each set of segmented electrodes includes a first segmented electrode and a second segmented electrode radially spaced apart from one another around a circumference of the lead body. A tab is disposed on the first segmented electrode of each set of segmented electrodes. The tabs extend into the lead body. A guide feature is disposed on the tabs. The guide features are each radially aligned with one another along the length of the lead body. Conductors extend along the length of the lead body from a proximal end to the electrodes. Each of the conductors is electrically coupled to at least one of the electrodes. At least one of the conductors extends through the radially-aligned guide features of the tabs.

A stimulator for stimulating the leg or other parts of the body e.g. the leg in a patient with drop foot is provided, the stimulator being controlled by e.g a foot switch but being reliable in use and therefore commanding acceptance by users. The foot switch has to work in adverse environmental conditions and is subject to repeated use so that its characteristics vary with time. The invention provides a functional electrical stimulator for attachment to the leg that has adaptive characteristics and comprises first and second electrodes for attachment to the leg to apply an electrical stimulus, a foot switch for sensing foot rise or foot strike, a circuit responsive to said foot switch for generating stimulation pulses; and means forming part of said circuit for responding to changes in the resistance characteristics of said switch means by adjusting a corresponding response threshold of said circuit.The invention also provides a two-channel stimulator that offers various possibilities for controlling the signals to be supplied to different muscle groups. For example, means may be provided defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of switch means associated with the other of said first and second channels. In a further embodiment means defining a signal pathway between the first and second channels is arranged so that the supply of stimulation pulses in one of said first and second channels can be controlled by the state of activity of the other of said first and second channels. In a yet further embodiment the first channel has means arranged to cause the stimulation pulses to time-out after a predetermined period and the second channel having no or disabled timing means so that supply of stimulation pulses is continuous in a predetermined state of limb position responsive switch means associated with that channel. The two-channel stimulator can be used e.g., to treat bilateral dropped foot.

An electrode assembly for delivering electrical stimulation to a vestibular system of a user or monitoring a physiological parameter of the user. The apparatus includes a body member comprising an electrode support portion and a curved portion extending from the electrode support portion, and an electrode coupled to the electrode support portion. A method of using such an apparatus is also disclosed. The present invention also provides an electrode assembly that includes a body member, an electrode coupled to the body member, a hydrogel element disposed on at least a portion of the electrode. In one embodiment, the hydrogel element includes a hydrogel material and a insulating material disposed on or in the hydrogel material such that the insulating layer disperses energy transmitted by the electrode through the hydrogel material.

In one embodiment, a malleable needle is provided at least three independent electrodes to facilitate the implantation of an electrical stimulation lead for peripheral nerve stimulation. The malleable characteristic of the needle enables the needle to be bent or shaped according to the patient anatomy. Once the needle is appropriately shaped by the physician, the physician inserts the needle into a prospective site for stimulation. The provision of the electrodes enables a suitable number of electrode patterns to be tested to determine whether the stimulation site is satisfactory. By utilizing the malleable needle in this manner, a number of stimulation sites can be tested in an efficient manner to identify an optimal location for implantation of the stimulation lead.

In one aspect the present disclosure provides a method of rehabilitating a person who has suffered central nervous system damage including the steps of providing exercise equipment capable of exercising a person's limbs, providing functional electrical stimulation to the person's limbs to be exercised in order to operate the exercise equipment, increasing the level of functional electrical stimulation; decreasing a resistance provided by the exercise equipment or providing assistance to maintain an acceptable speed of the exercise equipment as the person's muscles tire; finally completely removing functional electrical stimulation to the person's limbs and providing assistance to maintain an acceptable speed of the exercise equipment; and continuing passive exercise of the person's limbs for a period of time greater than two minutes. Also provided are apparatuses to carry out the method.

A probe system for electro-stimulation and bio-feedback training of muscles in the pelvic floor region, in particular for pelvic floor physiotherapy and diagnosis, includes a probe having a probe body which is insertable into a vagina or a rectum, and a plurality of electrodes which are positioned at several locations along the length and around the circumference on the outer surface of the probe, the probe system further includes a control unit, operationally coupled to the probe, adapted for receiving EMG signals from each of the electrodes and for processing each of the signals for mapping the response of the muscles in the pelvic floor region.

The present invention is of an apparatus and method for enhancing skin, muscle and nerve stimulation and controlled delivery of an active substance to a subject's skin. Moreover, the present invention is of an apparatus, featuring a combination of a stimulating device and an exothermic heating source. Preferably, the stimulating device is an iontophoretic device, or an electrical stimulation device, such as, but not limited to TENS, IFC and GC devices or a combination thereof. The present invention also provides a method of using such an apparatus for enhancing skin, muscle and nerve stimulation. Furthermore, the present invention provides a method of use of such an apparatus for enhancing controlled delivery of an active substance.

Systems and methods for stimulation of neurological tissue generate stimulation trains with temporal patterns of stimulation, in which the interval between electrical pulses (the inter-pulse intervals) changes or varies over time. Compared to conventional continuous, high rate pulse trains having regular (i.e., constant) inter-pulse intervals, the non-regular (i.e., not constant) pulse patterns or trains that embody features of the invention provide a lower average frequency.

A device for performing chest compressions for CPR in coordination with applying electro-stimulus for additional resuscitative actions such as electro-ventilation, electro-counterpulsion, and defibrillation. The device includes a chest compression mechanism, electrodes and power supply for electro-stimulus, and a control system for applying electro-stimulus in coordination with the action of the chest compression mechanism.

An apparatus and a system can chronically and automatically measure a physiologic parameter associated with the high pressure side of the vasculature and/or regulate blood pressure based upon the measured parameter. The apparatus may be made up of a transducer, a baroreflex activation device having one or more electrodes, and a lead having two or more conductors. The system can measure a physiologic parameter and selectively administer a therapy, such as, for example, electro-stimulation of baroreceptors, based upon the measurement. The transducer for measuring the physiologic parameter can be chronically implanted in the high-pressure side of the vasculature. The implantation method may include intravascularly positioning the transducer in the external carotid artery in such a way that the transducer is first introduced into the arterial vasculature through the superior thyroid artery.

Devices and methods were discovered that successfully provided patient autonomous control of both hyolaryngeal elevation, anterior hyoid motion and opening of the upper esophageal sphincter for swallowing by intramuscular stimulation of two muscles. The technology allows patient self stimulation of swallowing and can return oral feeding to dysphagia patients. Indwelling electrode stimulation of only two muscles generated as much as 80 % of normal synergistic movement leading to swallowing. The devices and methods also are useful for control of other upper respiratory muscle groups involved in speech and voice. Calibration techniques may be used in combination for greater freedom in setting and using electrodes over extended implantation time periods. These methods and devices can control complex movements of body solids such as bone and cartilage and tissues by electro stimulation of a minimum set of muscles simultaneously.

The present invention relates to a device and system to measure and assess superficial skeletal muscle mechanical and neuromuscular contractile characteristics, and interpret the results to provide metrics with quantifiable and qualitative descriptors relating to muscle function. The present device provides a further type of mechanomyography and a new use for acceleromyography by measuring the mechanical muscle movement of an involuntary stimulated muscle from an automated electro-stimulation protocol to determine muscle contractile properties. Muscle twitch response during the latent, contraction and relaxation phase is measured using an array of multiple accelerometers on a sensor pad to assess and diagnose muscle. function from various measurements. This information is processed using algorithms to determine muscle function abnormalities, muscle activation patterns, muscle symmetry of lateral muscle pairs, muscle synchronization of antagonist muscle, muscle force, muscle acceleration, muscle speed, muscle tone, muscle fatigue, muscle power/torque and muscle efficiency.

A neurostimulation system configured for providing neurostimulation therapy to a patient. A user customizes a pulse pattern on a pulse-by-pulse basis. Electrical stimulation energy is delivered to at least one electrode in accordance with the customized pulse pattern.

An electro-stimulation system is provided with a compact power and control assembly and a plurality of shaped gel electrode patches with instructions to facilitate user administration of therapy.

A catheter set for the epidural or peripheral nerve blockade, in which a flexible catheter (20) includes a stimulation tip (22) for the localization and positioning of the catheter tip by electro-stimulation. A reinforcing stylet (40) is introducible in the catheter (20). The axial position of the reinforcing stylet (40) in the catheter (20) is so selected that the distal end area (b) of the catheter (20) is un-reinforced and remains flexible.

A compression garment and methods of forming and operating the same. In one embodiment, the compression garment includes an electrically stimulated auxetic material having a dimension responsive to an electrical signal, an electrical contact coupled to the electrically stimulated auxetic material and an electrical power source. The compression garment also includes a controller, coupled to the electrical contact and the electrical power source, configured to provide the electrical signal to control a pressure produced by the compression garment via the electrically stimulated auxetic material.

The implantable monopolar electrode assembly includes a base support structure including a layer made of a nickel titanium alloy having a temperature memory. The method is directed to electro-stimulation of muscles and to a method of implanting a monopolar electrode assembly. The method includes the steps of: first performing an endoscopic approach to the nerves and then selective electro stimulation by performing a neurolysis on nerve trunks until a desired target nerve fascicle and associated muscle is located, followed by insertion of the monopolar electrode assembly adjacent the target nerve fascicle for subsequent connection to a neurposthesis system.