Electrode System for Transcutaneous Nerve and/or Muscle Stimulation

• US 20090118789A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DJO Global Switzerland SARL (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Compex Medical S.A. (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Rigaux, Pierre, Buhlmann, Felix, Schonenberger, Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/046 Specially adapted for shock therapy, e.g. defibrillation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36021 for treatment of pain
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3625 External stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/372 Arrangements in connection with the implantation of stimulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3904 External heart defibrillators [EHD]

Abstract

An electrode system for transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation that includes a pair of stimulating electrodes and a stimulation current generator for generating a nerve and/or muscle stimulation current between the stimulating electrodes. The system also includes a current-injecting electrode arranged in proximity to one of the stimulating electrodes, and an injection-current generator located in the area of the current-injecting electrode. The current-injecting electrode and the corresponding injection-current generator reduce, or even eliminate, undesirable sensations resulting from an excitation of subcutaneous receptors by the stimulation current.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. An electrode system for transcutaneous nerve and/or muscle stimulation, comprising:

a pair of stimulating electrodes;

a stimulation current generator for generating a nerve and/or muscle stimulation current between said stimulating electrodes;

a current-injecting electrode arranged in proximity to one of the stimulating electrodes;

current-generating means in the area of said injecting electrode,

whereby the current-injecting electrode and the corresponding injection-current generator reduce, or even eliminate undesirable sensations resulting from an excitation of subcutaneous receptors by said stimulation current.

10. The electrode system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the current-injecting electrode is arranged around the stimulating electrode.

11. The electrode system as claimed in claim 9, wherein each stimulating electrode is surrounded by a current-injecting electrode.

12. The electrode system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stimulating electrode comprises at least a first part surrounded by a first part of the current-injecting electrode, itself being surrounded by a second part of the stimulating electrode, which is itself surrounded by a second part of the current-injecting electrode.

13. A method of use of the electrode system as claimed in claim 9, wherein a form of the current generated by the current-generating means in the area of said injecting electrode is chosen in such a way as to reduce, or even eliminate, the undesirable sensations possibly resulting from the excitation of the subcutaneous receptors by said stimulation current.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, in which a form of injection current is chosen in such a way as to reduce or, annul the total current circulating in the area of the subcutaneous receptors.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, in which a form of injection current is chosen in such a way as to induce a blockage (anesthetizing effect) of the nerve transmission between the subcutaneous receptors and the brain.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, in which a form of current is chosen in such a way as to obtain an effect of the TENS type, that is to say a painless excitation of the area surrounding the receptors.