Portable assemblies, systems and methods for providing functional or therapeutic neuromuscular stimulation

• US 20050182457A1
• Filed: 02/11/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SPR Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: NDI Medical, LLC
• Inventors: Mrva, Joseph J., Strother, Robert B., Thrope, Geoffrey B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,376,467 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37211 Means for communicating with stimulators

Abstract

Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body. Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods may include a steerable introducer that defines an interior lumen sized and configured to shield a percutaneous electrode from contact with tissue during advancement to a desired position within tissue.

Claims

1. A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising

at least one electrode,

a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface,

circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, and

a communication bay carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, the communication bay being sized and configured to establish a wireless communication link between the circuitry and an external device.

2. A method comprising evaluating whether a person has an innervated triceps muscle which responds to electrical stimulation by using the assembly defined in claim 1.

3. A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising

at least one surface mounted electrode sized and configured for stimulation of a targeted neural or muscular tissue region,

a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface,

programmable circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse,

a power input bay carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, and

an electrode connection element carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, the electrode connection element being sized and configured to electrically couple the at least one electrode to the circuitry to apply the stimulation pulse to the tissue region.

4. An assembly according to claim 3

further including a surface mounted return electrode.

5. An assembly according to claim 3

further a communication bay carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the programmable circuitry, the communication bay being sized and configured to establish a wireless communication link between the circuitry and an external device.

6. An introducer for a percutaneous electrode comprising a body defining an interior lumen sized and configured to shield a percutaneous electrode from contact with tissue during advancement to a desired position within tissue, the body including a distal tissue penetrating region including a material that can be selectively deflected to steer the body along a chosen path, and a mechanism coupled to the distal region for altering the deflection the distal region in response to manipulation of a remote actuator.

7. An introducer according to claim 6

wherein the mechanism includes at least one linear motor assembly.

8. A method of evaluating a C5-6 tetraplegic for treatment comprising providing a neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising at least one electrode, a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, and circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, placing the carrier on an external skin surface to place the electrode in association peripheral motor nerves that innervate the triceps muscle, and operating the circuitry to determine whether the person has an innervated triceps muscle which responds to electrical stimulation.