Electrical Muscle Stimulator with Nerve-Mediated Electrode Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrical muscle stimulators for masticatory and facial muscles require impractical numbers of electrodes for direct muscle stimulation and are inefficient in energy usage, necessitating stimulation of nerve fibers instead to achieve balanced muscle closure and therapeutic effects.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using four output electrodes placed near the ears and upper back, with at least one common electrode on the neck, to stimulate muscles/nerves simultaneously with controlled amplitude pulses, reducing the need for direct muscle stimulation and optimizing energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If direct muscle stimulation of masticatory and facial muscles is used, then muscle stimulation effectiveness is improved, but the number of electrodes required increases impractically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses nerve fibers as intermediaries to achieve muscle stimulation. Instead of directly stimulating multiple muscles with multiple electrodes, the invention stimulates the motor nerves that control these muscles, allowing a single electrode to indirectly stimulate multiple target muscles through the nervous system. This resolves the contradiction by reducing electrode count while maintaining stimulation effectiveness.
2Reliability
If direct muscle stimulation is used, then muscle coverage is improved, but energy consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The nervous system serves as an energy-efficient intermediary that amplifies the stimulation effect. By stimulating motor nerves, a small electrical signal can trigger muscle contractions across multiple muscles simultaneously, achieving broad muscle coverage with minimal energy input compared to direct muscle stimulation which would require high energy to activate each muscle individually.
3Use of energy by moving object
If nerve fiber stimulation is used, then energy efficiency is improved, but stimulation precision for specific muscles decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the stimulation system into separate channels, each targeting specific nerve fibers or muscle groups. By segmenting the stimulation into distinct pathways, the invention maintains energy efficiency through nerve-mediated stimulation while achieving precision by directing specific channels to specific target areas, thus resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and stimulation precision.
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 allows for effective and efficient stimulation of masticatory, facial, shoulder, and back muscles, achieving balanced muscle closure, relaxation, and therapeutic benefits with reduced fatigue and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The stimulation of muscles in the human body by way of electrical stimuli to provide involuntary muscular response
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and apparatus for stimulating the masticatory, shoulder, or back, and facial muscles. This is achieved by way of placing four output electrodes and at least one common electrode in the vicinity of the head, neck, and shoulder or back of a subject. In particular, two output electrodes are placed adjacent to the ears of the subject and two output electrodes are placed along the upper back of the subject. The at least one common transmitting electrode is placed on the back of the neck of the subject, generally just below the hairline. Stimulation of muscles/nerves in the vicinity of each output electrode is achieved substantially simultaneously by way of the current produced by the output electrodes.