Treatment of oropharyngeal disorders by application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation
First Claim
1. A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscular electrical stimulation, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) selectively placing a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of the patient;
(b) providing a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases;
(c) attaching the plurality of electrodes to the pulse generator so that the series of electrical pulses may be provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes;
(d) generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases;
(e) providing said series of electrical pulses to the patient through the plurality of electrodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscular electrical stimulation includes selectively placing a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of the patient. The method also includes the steps of providing a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, and attaching the plurality of electrodes to the pulse generator so that the series of electrical pulses may be provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. According to the method, a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, is generated, and said series of electrical pulses is provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. An apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of electrical neuromuscular stimulation to a patient through a plurality of electrodes for treatment of oropharyngeal disorders includes a pulse generator which generates a series of electrical pulses, each of which pulses comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases. The apparatus includes an intensity control circuit for regulating the series of electrical pulses such that the intensity of the electrical pulses does not exceed a predetermined value, a frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency, and a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each such electrical pulse.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscular electrical stimulation, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selectively placing a plurality of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of the patient;
(b) providing a pulse generator for generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases;
(c) attaching the plurality of electrodes to the pulse generator so that the series of electrical pulses may be provided to the patient through the plurality of electrodes;
(d) generating a series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases;
(e) providing said series of electrical pulses to the patient through the plurality of electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for treating an oropharyngeal disorder in a patient by neuromuscular electrical stimulation, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) selectively placing a first pair of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of a patient;
(b) selectively placing a second pair of electrodes in electrical contact with tissue of a pharyngeal region of a patient;
(c) providing an apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the patient through said first pair of electrodes, and for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to the patient through said second pair of electrodes, said apparatus comprising;
(i) a first pulse generator for generating a first series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through a first channel;
(ii) a first output jack for electrically connecting the first pair of electrodes to the first channel;
(iii) a first intensity control circuit for regulating the first series of electrical pulses for output through the first channel such that the electrical current does not exceed a first predetermined value;
(iv) a first frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated by the first pulse generator for output through the first channel so that such pulses are generated at a first predetermined frequency;
(v) a first duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each electrical pulse generated by the first pulse generator;
(vi) a second pulse generator for generating a second series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through a second channel;
(vii) a second output jack for electrically connecting the second pair of electrodes to the second channel;
(viii) a second intensity control circuit for regulating the second series of electrical pulses for output through the second channel such that the electrical current does not exceed a second predetermined value;
(ix) a second frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated by the second pulse generator for output through the second channel so that such pulses are generated at a second predetermined frequency;
(x) a second duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each electrical pulse generated by the second pulse generator;
(d) connecting the first pair of electrodes to the first output jack;
(e) connecting the second pair of electrodes to the second output jack;
(f) generating a first series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through the first channel;
(g) generating a second series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through the second channel;
(h) providing the first series of electrical pulses through the first channel to the first pair of electrodes;
(i) providing the second series of electrical pulses through the second channel to the second pair of electrodes.
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10. An apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to a patient through a plurality of electrodes for treatment of oropharyngeal disorders, said apparatus comprising a pulse generator which generates a series of electrical pulses, each of which pulses comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, said pulse generator further comprising:
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(a) an intensity control circuit for regulating the series of electrical pulses such that the intensity of the electrical pulses does not exceed a predetermined value;
(b) a frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the series of electrical pulses is generated so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency;
(c) a duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each such electrical pulse. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for generating a series of electrical pulses for application of neuromuscular electrical stimulation to a patient for treatment of oropharyngeal disorders, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a first pair of electrodes;
(b) a second pair of electrodes;
(c) a first pulse generator for generating a first series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through a first channel;
(d) a first intensity control circuit for regulating the first series of electrical pulses for output through the first channel such that the electrical current does not exceed a first predetermined value;
(e) a first frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the first series of electrical pulses is generated by the first pulse generator for output through the first channel so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency;
(f) a first duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each electrical pulse generated by the first pulse generator;
(g) a second pulse generator for generating a second series of electrical pulses, each of which comprises a biphasic symmetrical waveform with an interval between the two phases, for output through a second channel;
(h) a second intensity control circuit for regulating the second series of electrical pulses for output through the second channel such that the electrical current does not exceed a second predetermined value;
(i) a second intensity control circuit for regulating the second series of electrical pulses for output through the second channel such that the electrical current does not exceed a second predetermined value;
(j) a second frequency controller for controlling the frequency at which the second series of electrical pulses is generated by the pulse generator for output through the second channel so that such pulses are generated at a predetermined frequency;
(k) a second duration control circuit for controlling the duration of each electrical pulse generated by the second pulse generator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification