Apparatus for electrical stimulation, in particular for bruxism
First Claim
1. A method for preventing bruxism of an individual in a period of time by application of electric stimuli in a randomly selected frequency, comprising the steps of:
- a. attaching at least one electrode assembly to the skin of the individual in a region effective to treat bruxism before occurrence of bruxism;
b. providing an electric stimulus by a processing control unit as a packet, the packet having a pulse train with predefined parameters including;
start current, end current, start voltage, end voltage, pulse width, pulse train duration, inter-pulse spacing, duty cycle of each pulse, and pulse set spacing;
c. applying the electric stimulus to the region by the at least one electrode assembly attached to the skin of the individual for relaxation of at least one of a masticatory and/or facial muscles of the individual, wherein the processing control unit is not processing monitoring signals;
d. randomly selecting by the processing control unit a packet frequency between 0.001 and 1 Hz, where the packet frequency is defined as a rate of packets during the period of time, where a time duration between two packets in the period of time defines an inter-packet interval;
e. at an end of the inter-packet interval, providing the electric stimulus with the predefined parameters in b and repeating c; and
f. repeating d and e until the period of time ends;
whereby the electric stimuli are provided to the individual where the processing control unit is not processing monitoring signals during the period of time, such that the application of the electric stimulus results in relaxation of at least one of the masticatory and/or facial muscles of the individual, thereby preventing the bruxism before occurrence of the bruxism.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for preventing, diagnosing, monitoring, and/or treating bruxism as well as related diseases of an individual. In a first aspect the invention relates to an apparatus for preventing bruxism of an individual, comprising: means for applying a plurality of stimulation signals for providing relaxation of at least one of the masticatory and/or facial muscles of said individual, means for applying said stimulations signals with a predefined setting, and means for applying said stimulations signals independent of activity of said muscle(s). The invention may be suitable for both nocturnal and awake bruxism.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for preventing bruxism of an individual in a period of time by application of electric stimuli in a randomly selected frequency, comprising the steps of:
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a. attaching at least one electrode assembly to the skin of the individual in a region effective to treat bruxism before occurrence of bruxism; b. providing an electric stimulus by a processing control unit as a packet, the packet having a pulse train with predefined parameters including;
start current, end current, start voltage, end voltage, pulse width, pulse train duration, inter-pulse spacing, duty cycle of each pulse, and pulse set spacing;c. applying the electric stimulus to the region by the at least one electrode assembly attached to the skin of the individual for relaxation of at least one of a masticatory and/or facial muscles of the individual, wherein the processing control unit is not processing monitoring signals; d. randomly selecting by the processing control unit a packet frequency between 0.001 and 1 Hz, where the packet frequency is defined as a rate of packets during the period of time, where a time duration between two packets in the period of time defines an inter-packet interval; e. at an end of the inter-packet interval, providing the electric stimulus with the predefined parameters in b and repeating c; and f. repeating d and e until the period of time ends; whereby the electric stimuli are provided to the individual where the processing control unit is not processing monitoring signals during the period of time, such that the application of the electric stimulus results in relaxation of at least one of the masticatory and/or facial muscles of the individual, thereby preventing the bruxism before occurrence of the bruxism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification