ADJUSTABLE HEADBAND CARRYING ELECTRODES FOR ELECTRICALLY STIMULATING THE FACIAL AND MANDIBULAR NERVES

• US 3,659,614 A
• Filed: 12/29/1969
• Issued: 05/02/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard Jankelson
• Original Assignee: Bernard Jankelson
• Inventors: Jankelson, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaudet, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McGowan, J. C.
• Application Number:
  US04/888,272
• Time in Patent Office: 855 Days
• Field of Search: 128/410,2.05,2.06,404,416,418,DIG.4,405,411,417,419,421
• US Class Current: 607/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts

Abstract

Electrodes capable of conforming to irregular surfaces include a cup-shaped housing having an open end, a pad of electrically conductive coiled metallic wire in the housing, a felt of porous material over the metallic wire pad, and a mounting ring contacting the wire pad and felt around their circumference to hold the pad and felt in place in the housing. Three electrodes, two input electrodes and a dispersal electrode, of the type described are attached through electrically conductive support members to an adjustable headband. The two input electrodes are pivotally attached to the headband. Lead wires from the output of a pulse generator connect with the electrodes. The lead wires to the input electrodes are run along the surface of the headband and covered with an insulating material.

Claims

1. An assembly for electrically stimulating facial muscles with a pulsing electrical current comprising;

a single non-conductive flexible band adapted to be secured around the head of the patient, said band being adjustable in length, a pair of input electrodes pivotally attached to the head band by means of electrically conductive support means said electrodes being movable along the length of the support means and adapted to be placed in contact with the patient'"'"''"'"'s skin forward of his ears, a common dispersal electrode attached to a conductive support means, said support means secured to the band intermediate the input electrode supports and adapted to contact the skin of the patient at the nape of the neck, insulated electrically conductive means adapted to be connected to the output of a pulse generator and connected to each of the input electrodes, insulated electrically conductive means adapted to be connected to a pulse generating means and connected to the dispersal electrode, whereby the stimulating current is administered through the input electrodes and received by the dispersal electrode, the electrodes each comprising a housing of dielectric material having a bottom wall, side walls and an open end, a pad of compressible, resilient, flexible electrically conductive metallic wire mounted within and substantially filling the housing, said pad being connected to the conductive mounting means by a blot secured to the mounting means passing through the housing, the bolt including a conductive disk mounted thereon which is imbedded in the wire pad and a thin moisture retentive piece of material covering the skin contacting surface of the pad.

2. An aSsembly as in claim 1 wherein the compressible pad extends beyond the side walls of the housing.

3. An assembly as in claim 1 wherein the means for connecting the electrodes to a source of pulsing current includes separate strands of conductive wire along the surface of the headband.

4. An assembly as in claim 3 wherein the strands are covered by removable material.