Muscle stimulator apparatus

• US 20030065368A1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Martin Van Der Hoeven
• Original Assignee: Martin Van Der Hoeven
• Inventors: Van Der Hoeven, Martin
• Application Number:
  US10/225,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20030065368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

A muscle stimulator apparatus having wiring pads, corresponding to anatomical positioning of muscle groups of a user, and connected to at least one actuator is used to provide electrical stimulation to selected muscles or muscle groups. These actuators have control panels which allow the user to select different modes and intensity levels to vary the electrical stimulation administered to the muscles as desired. The electrical stimulation is varied by utilizing press buttons located on the control panel.

Claims

1. An apparatus for applying electrical stimulation to a body of a user, the apparatus comprising:

a non-conducting material;

at least two pads, for transmitting electrical impulses from at least one actuator, located on the non-conducting material in an anatomic arrangement, corresponding to the symmetric muscle structure of a human body; and

at least one actuator releasably engaged on the belt for supplying the electrical impulses to the at least two pads.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-conducting material is a belt having a wide section in the middle and slender sections at each end of the belt.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one pair of power connectors on the front side of the belt for attaching the at least one actuator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is comprised of a control panel for allowing different modes and intensity of electrical impulses to be controlled by the user.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein power connectors are oriented on the top face of the belt in a diamond configuration and the at least one actuator is attached to the power connectors.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least two pads are arranged in accordance with the stomach muscle structure of the human body.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a first button and a second button located on the control panel for selecting the mode and intensity of the electrical impulses.

8. A method for applying electrical stimulation to a body of a user, comprising the steps of:

securing a non-conductive material, having at least two pads, to the body of a user so the at least two pads are placed against muscles or a group of muscles;

placing at least one actuator on the non-conductive material to provide electrical impulses to muscles or groups of muscles causing the muscles to contract and relax; and

selecting a mode and intensity level of the electrical impulses to be applied to the muscles.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the steps of pressing a first button to increase the intensity of the electrical impulses and pressing a second button to decrease the intensity of the electrical impulses.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the non-conducting material is a belt having a wide section in the middle and slender sections at each end of the belt.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein a gel is applied to the at least twp pads before the at least two pads are placed against the muscles or the group of muscles.