Tremor reduction systems suitable for self-application and use in disabled patients

• US 20070123951A1
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leon Boston
• Original Assignee: Leon Boston
• Inventors: Boston, Leon
• Granted Patent: US 7,643,882 B2
• 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 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• 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

Abstract

A system and apparatus for enabling independent, highly reliable and accurate self-application of an anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, without requirement for application fixtures, wherein anti-tremor means comprises a single unit, self adhesive stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated supply of energy and a control unit, further comprising an alignment, and application means for applying said anti-tremor means configured to enable independently self application by a severely handicapped patient, wherein system and method for tremor reduction is by means of closed-loop functional electrical stimulation, including a sensor for sensing muscle movements, and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing FES to a muscle, the FES apparatus being in communication with the sensor via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enabling self-application of an anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the apparatus comprising;

a single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated control means; and

and an alignment and application means which is configured to enable independent application and use by said disabled patient.

2. The apparatus described in claim 1 further comprising:

the single unit stimulation and recording electrode with integrated control means wherein the single unit stimulation and recording electrode has a self adhesive thereon.

3. The apparatus described in claim 1 further comprising:

the single unit stimulation and recording electrode with integrated control means wherein the single unit stimulation and recording electrode has an internal power source contained thereon wherein the power source may be turned off and on by the user.

4. The apparatus described in claim 1 further comprising:

the alignment and application means wherein the alignment and application means is configured to allow the disabled patient to enter a body part into the application means for attachment of the stimulation electrode to the body part.

5. The apparatus described in claim 1 further comprising:

a power supply means contained within the electrode unit.

6. An apparatus for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the apparatus comprising:

an alignment application unit having a narrow pathway extending from an outside surface of the alignment application unit to an interior portion of the alignment application unit; and

an electrode application niche contained in the interior portion of the alignment application unit for placement of the electrode within the application unit.

7. The apparatus described in claim 6 further comprising:

the alignment application unit wherein the unit has a channel for insertion of the patient'"'"'s body part into the application unit.

8. The apparatus described in claim 6 further comprising:

the alignment application unit wherein the unit has sponge walls.

9. The apparatus described in claim 6 further comprising:

the alignment application unit wherein the unit has a cylindrical cavity wherein the cylindrical cavity receives the body part of the user when inserted into the alignment application unit.

10. The apparatus described in claim 6 further comprising:

the alignment application unit wherein the niche has an attachment means wherein an electrode complex may be attached thereto for proper alignment with the inserted body part of the user.

11. An apparatus for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor for sensing muscle movements; and

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing FES to a muscle, said FES apparatus being in communication with said sensor via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

12. The apparatus described in claim 11 further comprising:

an accelerometer to measure the acceleration of the arm and muscle movement.

13. The apparatus described in claim 11 further comprising:

a microprocessor to analyze the data received from the functional electric stimulation apparatus for proper response to involuntary movement in a patient.

14. The apparatus described in claim 11 further comprising:

a microprocessor utilizing calibration algorithms to determine stimulation feedback and movements relating to the functional electrical stimulation apparatus.

15. A system for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the system comprising:

a single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated control means;

and an alignment and application means which is configured to enable independent application and use by said disabled patient;

an alignment application unit having a narrow pathway extending from an outside surface of the alignment application unit to an interior portion of the alignment application unit;

an electrode application niche contained in the interior portion of the alignment application unit for placement of the electrode within the alignment application unit;

a sensor for sensing muscle movements; and

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing FES to a muscle, said FES apparatus being in communication with said sensor via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

16. A method for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a self adhesive single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated control means;

providing an alignment and application means which is configured to enable independent application and use by said disabled patient wherein the alignment application unit has a narrow pathway extending from an outside surface of the alignment application unit to an interior portion of the alignment application unit; and

placing an electrode application niche in the interior portion of the alignment unit for placement of the electrode within the alignment application unit.

17. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

allowing the patient to place the affected body part into the narrow pathway of the alignment application unit.

18. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

allowing the self adhesive single unit stimulation and recording electrode to contact with the affected body part in the interior portion of the alignment application unit.

19. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

placing a sensor for sensing muscle movements on the patients affected body part.

20. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

attaching the electrode to the external body part of the patient.

21. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

allowing for easy removal of the electrode by the use of a liquid thereon.

22. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

providing a power supply means whereby the electrode may be activated and deactivate by the user when needed.

23. The method described in claim 16, the method further comprising the step of:

providing a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing stimulation to a muscle wherein the FES apparatus is able to communicate with the electrode via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.