Measurement and stimulation of muscle tissue

• US 20090118790A1
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Van Herk, Johannes Johanna
• Granted Patent: US 8,145,318 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 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient
• 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 1/3603 Control systems

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for electrical stimulation of muscle tissue. The apparatus has an electrode system (10) with an electrode array (13). The array has a plurality of electrode pads (12) and can be placed in electrical contact with the muscle tissue. The electrode system Further has a sensor (30; 31-36) for sensing a property of the muscle tissue. The property forms a measure for the activity of the muscle tissue. The apparatus (1) has an electrode selector (530) for selecting one or more stimulating electrode pads. A signal generator (531) is connected to the electrode array (13) for providing an electrical stimulation signal to the stimulation electrode pad. A signal processor (532) is connected to said sensor (30; 31-36), for determining from the sensor signal a value of the muscle activity and outputting the value in a for humans perceptible form. This reduces the accuracy required to position the electrode system (10) and increases the accuracy of measuring the muscle tissue activity.

Claims

1. An apparatus for electrical stimulation of muscle tissue, comprising:

an electrode system comprising;

an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrode pads, wherein the electrode array can be placed in electrical contact with said muscle tissue; and

a sensor for sensing a property of said muscle tissue, wherein the property forms a measure of the activity of said muscle tissue, wherein the sensor comprises a measuring circuit for measuring, for at least two of said electrode pads, the impedance between the electrode pad and a surface on which the electrode array is

an electrode selector for selecting from said plurality of electrode pads at least one stimulating electrode pad that is suitable to provide an electrical stimulation signal based on the measured impedance;

a signal generator connected to said electrode array for providing the electrical stimulation signal to said at least one selected stimulation electrode pad.

2. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein:

said electrode selector is arranged to select from said electrode pads at least one measuring electrode pad;

said sensor includes said measuring electrode pad;

said processor input is connected to said electrode array, for receiving from said measuring electrode pad an electrical signal; and

said signal processor is arranged for determining from said electrical signal a value of said measure for the activity of said muscle tissue.

4. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising an interface for outputting a value of said measure for the electrical activity of said muscle tissue or of a property derived from said measure in a perceptible form.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a measuring unit connected by an input to an output of the signal processor for determining a value of a parameter of said muscle tissue from the determined measure for the electrical activity of the muscle tissue, which measuring unit is further connected to said interface for outputting said value.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electrode system includes a carrier of a flexible material, and wherein said electrode pads are positioned at a surface of said carrier which in use is placed against the skin of a living animal in an area of the skin nearby the muscle tissue to be stimulated.

7. An apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising:

a sequence control circuit for controlling the operation of the signal processor and the signal generator such that in operation a predetermined sequence of measuring and stimulating is performed.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined sequence includes a first measuring of the measure for the activity of the muscle tissue, a stimulation of said muscle tissue after said first measuring, and a second measuring of the measure for the activity of the muscle tissue after said stimulation of said muscle tissue.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a user-interface for outputting a signal to a human being, said signal representing instructions to perform a predetermined action with a part of the body of said human being.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic circuit for measuring the impedance between at least one of the electrode pads and a surface on which the electrode array is positioned; and

a control unit connected to the electronic circuit for measuring the impedance, comparing the measured impedance with a threshold and outputting a warning signal in case the measured impedance exceeds said threshold.

11. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said signal generator is connected to an output of said signal processor, for controlling the signal generator depending on the measured activity of said muscle tissue.

12. An operation device for controlling an apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising a signal output for outputting to a user of the apparatus information about the operation of the apparatus and an input for inputting by the user information or instructions to be used by the apparatus.

17. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sensor has a sensor output for outputting a sensor signal, and the apparatus further comprises a signal processor having a processor input connected to said sensor for determining from said sensor signal a value of said measure and outputting the value in a perceptible form.

3. (canceled)

13. An electrode system, comprising:

an electrode array comprising a plurality of electrode pads, wherein the electrode array can be placed in electrical contact with muscle tissue, said electrode array being connectable to an electrode selector for selecting from said plurality of electrode pads at least one stimulating electrode pad and providing an electrical stimulation signal to said at least one stimulation electrode pad; and

a sensor for sensing a property of said muscle tissue, which property forms a measure for the activity of said muscle tissue, the sensor comprising a measuring circuit for measuring, for at least two of said electrode pads, the impedance between the electrode pad and a surface on which the electrode array is positioned.

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

16. (canceled)

18. An apparatus for electrical stimulation of tissue comprising:

an array of electrodes configured to be positionable on the tissue to be stimulated;

one or more sensors for measuring an activity of the tissue;

an electrode selector for selecting electrodes based on the activity measured; and

a signal generator that provides an electrical signal to the selected electrodes.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the activity measured is based on an impedance between one or more electrodes and a surface to which the one or more electrodes is connected.