Method and apparatus for adaptive closed loop electrical stimulation of muscles
First Claim
1. A method of strengthening skeletal muscles, comprising the steps of:
- applying to said muscles a series of stimulation signals having predetermined signal characteristics comprising frequency, pulse-width, and amplitude so as to couple electrical energy into said muscles;
measuring work output by the muscles in response to a stimulation signal over a predetermined period N;
comparing the measured work output to a prestored work value and providing a difference therebetween; and
adjusting the energy coupled into said muscles by adjusting signal characteristics of subsequently applied stimulation signals in response to said difference.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for strengthening skeletal muscles through maximizing muscle tension in which electrical stimulation signals are applied to the selected muscles at a predetermined frequency, pulse width, and amplitude, and work output by the muscles in response to stimulation signals is determined over a fixed period of time. The work output is compared to a defined value which can be a target value or a value measured during a previous stimulation period. The amount of electrical energy coupled into the muscles by the stimulation signals is varied in response to the results of the comparison in order to maximize the amount of work output by the muscles during a treatment period. This is accomplished by adjusting the frequency or pulse width during stimulation treatment in response to the work output measured.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of strengthening skeletal muscles, comprising the steps of:
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applying to said muscles a series of stimulation signals having predetermined signal characteristics comprising frequency, pulse-width, and amplitude so as to couple electrical energy into said muscles; measuring work output by the muscles in response to a stimulation signal over a predetermined period N; comparing the measured work output to a prestored work value and providing a difference therebetween; and adjusting the energy coupled into said muscles by adjusting signal characteristics of subsequently applied stimulation signals in response to said difference. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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2. A method of strengthening skeletal muscles, comprising the steps of:
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applying a series of stimulation signals to the muscles having predetermined signal characteristics comprising frequency, pulse-width, and amplitude; measuring work output by said muscles in response to a stimulation signal; comparing the measured work output to a prestored work value and providing a difference therebetween; adjusting the frequency of subsequently applied stimulation signals in response to said difference; and returning to said measuring step. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of strengthening skeletal muscles through maximizing muscle tension, comprising the steps of:
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applying a series of stimulation signals to the muscles having predetermined signal characteristics comprising frequency, pulse-width, and amplitude; measuring work output by said muscles in response to a stimulation signal; comparing the measured work output to a prestored work value and providing a difference therebetween; and adjusting the pulse width of subsequently applied stimulation signals in response to said difference.
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16. An apparatus for exercising skeletal muscles through obtaining maximum tension, comprising:
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at least one electrode adapted to be electrically coupled to said muscles; at least one stimulation means connected to said electrode for coupling electrical energy into said muscles by generating electrical stimulation signals having predetermined characteristics comprising frequency, pulse-width, and amplitude to which the muscles are responsive; work detection means adapted to be operatively coupled to said muscles for measuring work output by said muscles during stimulation; comparison means connected to said work detection means for comparing said work measured with a prestored work value and for providing a difference therebetween; and adjustment means connected to said comparison means and said stimulation means for adjusting the signal characteristics of said stimulation signals and incrementing and decrementing the electrical energy adapted to be coupled into the muscles by said stimulation signals in response to decreases and increases respectively in said difference. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification