Electrical Stimulation for Isometric Muscle Contraction to Enhance Venous Blood Flow
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and superficial vein thrombosis (SVT) are inadequate, particularly during long-duration travel and immobility, as they often require cumbersome devices, have poor patient compliance, or do not effectively stimulate blood circulation in the lower limbs.
Innovation Solution
The use of electrical stimulation of lower limb muscles to induce isometric muscle contraction, promoting blood circulation through targeted nerve stimulation, such as the lateral and medial popliteal nerves, to enhance venous blood flow without causing significant limb movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrical stimulation is applied to induce muscle contraction, then blood circulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical compression devices with electrical stimulation to induce muscle contraction. The electrical stimulator delivers controlled electrical signals to leg muscles, causing them to contract and pump blood, thereby substituting a mechanical system with an electrical-biological system that achieves the same circulatory benefit with simpler device architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the patient's own muscle system to perform the blood pumping function through electrical stimulation. Rather than using an external mechanical pump or compression device, the system activates the patient's intrinsic musculature to generate the pumping action, allowing the biological system to serve its own circulatory needs.
2Ease of operation
If isometric muscle contraction is induced, then blood flow is enhanced without limb movement, but stimulation precision must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies electrical stimulation locally to specific muscle groups in the leg rather than uniformly across the entire limb. The stimulator targets particular muscles to induce localized contraction that generates blood flow without requiring overall limb movement, allowing precise control over which muscles are activated and to what degree.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses dynamic electrical stimulation parameters including variable pulse duration, frequency, and amplitude to achieve isometric contraction. The stimulation protocol can be adjusted in real-time to maintain optimal muscle contraction intensity while preventing actual limb movement, adapting the electrical parameters to the patient's physiological response.
3Reliability
If conventional DVT prevention methods are used, then thrombosis risk is reduced, but patient compliance deteriorates due to cumbersome devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a portable, battery-powered electrical stimulator that can be easily applied and removed by the patient. The device is designed to be lightweight and simple to operate, resembling consumer electronics rather than medical equipment, which encourages consistent patient use during travel or daily activities without requiring hospital-based infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrical stimulation as an intermediary mechanism between the patient and the blood circulation system. Rather than requiring direct patient effort (exercise) or complex mechanical devices (pneumatic compression), the electrical stimulator acts as a mediator that translates simple electrical signals into effective muscle pumping action, bridging the gap between patient capability and therapeutic requirement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces the risk of DVT and SVT by maintaining effective blood flow even during immobility, is comfortable, and does not require cumbersome devices, thereby improving patient compliance and reducing the risk of thrombosis.
Implementation Method 1
administering one or more electrical stimuli to a plurality of leg muscles sufficient to cause isometric contraction of the muscles
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a method and device for reduction of or treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), the method comprising causing isometric stimulation of the leg muscles to promote blood flow. Other embodiments provide treatment for other circulatory disorders of the lower limbs and/or the systemic circulation.