Garment for electrical muscle stimulation of muscles in the upper body and arms and legs

• US 20060247733A1
• Filed: 05/02/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salah Amer
• Original Assignee: Salah Amer
• Inventors: Amer, Salah
• Application Number:
  US11/120,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/00 Garments for children A41D11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance

Abstract

A garment, for the upper body of a wearer, includes: a covering of the upper body including sleeves for covering substantially all of the wearer'"'"'s arms; a plurality of electrodes distributed throughout the garment at locations where each electrode makes electrical contact with one or more muscles of a wearer; an electrical power source for providing an electrical current to the plurality of electrodes; a control device for controlling the amount of electrical current provided to the wearers muscles. The garment includes a material that provides a spring force on the plurality of electrodes such that electrical conductivity between the electrodes and the skin of the wearer is maintained while the garment is worn.

Claims

1. A garment, for stimulating muscles of a wearer, comprising:

a covering of the upper body including sleeves for covering substantially all of the wearer'"'"'s arms;

a plurality of electrodes distributed throughout the garment at locations where each electrode makes electrical contact with one or more muscles of a wearer;

an electrical power source for providing an electrical current to the plurality of electrodes;

a control device for controlling the amount of electrical current provided to the wearers muscles;

wherein the garment comprises a material that provides a spring force on the plurality of electrodes such that electrical conductivity between the electrodes and the skin of the wearer is maintained while the garment is worn.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the control device includes a display for providing the wearer an indication of caloric consumption.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises a battery.

4. The garment of claim 1, wherein the electrical power source comprises a connection to an electrical outlet.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the control device provides a coupling between the electrodes and the electrical power source.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the control device comprises an interface for showing the wearer an indication of the calories being consumed.

7. The garment of claim 1, further comprising legs comprising further electrodes.

8. A method for stimulating upper body muscles of a person, the method comprising steps of:

wearing a garment covering of the upper body including sleeves for covering substantially all of the person'"'"'s arms;

activating a plurality of electrodes distributed throughout the garment at locations where each electrode makes electrical contact with one or more muscles of the person such that the muscles contract while the current is applied;

wherein the garment comprises a material that provides a spring force on the plurality of electrodes such that electrical conductivity between the electrodes and the skin of the wearer is maintained while the garment is worn.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising adjusting the amount of electrical current provided to the wearers muscles based on the comfort level experienced by the person.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing feedback to the user indicating the amount of calories being consumed.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing feedback to the user indicating the level of current being applied to the muscles.