Intravaginal electrode and stimulation system for controlling female urinary incontinence
First Claim
1. An intravaginal electrode assembly including:
- an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a tip at a distal end and an extended lip at a proximal end;
a pair of motor electrodes positioned adjacent one another on an exterior surface of the elongated carrier between the tip and lip approximately eight centimeters from the lip;
sensory stimulation means for stimulating sensory receptors mounted to the carrier adjacent the lip;
motor electrode terminal means coupled to the pair of motor electrodes, for receiving motor receptor electrical stimulation signals; and
sensory stimulation terminal means coupled to the sensory stimulation means, for receiving sensory receptor stimulation signals.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An intravaginal electrode and controller for preventing female urinary incontinence. The electrode includes an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a rounded tip, an extended lip, and a neck of reduced diameter located approximately eight centimeters from the lip. A pair of annular motor electrodes are positioned on an exterior surface of the carrier at longitudinally spaced locations on opposite sides of the neck. Sensory electrodes and an oscillatory transducer are mounted to the carrier adjacent the lip. Motor receptor electrical stimulation signals received from the controller are coupled to the motor electrodes and directly stimulate pelvic floor musculature. Sensory receptor electrical stimulation signals are coupled to sensory receptors through the sensory electrodes while tactile receptors are stimulated by mechanical oscillations from the oscillatory transducer. Stimulation of sensory and tactile receptors cause the central nervous system to contract the pelvic floor musculature and inhibit bladder wall muscle contraction. These stimulus combine for maximal activation of neural pathways.
197 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An intravaginal electrode assembly including:
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an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a tip at a distal end and an extended lip at a proximal end; a pair of motor electrodes positioned adjacent one another on an exterior surface of the elongated carrier between the tip and lip approximately eight centimeters from the lip; sensory stimulation means for stimulating sensory receptors mounted to the carrier adjacent the lip; motor electrode terminal means coupled to the pair of motor electrodes, for receiving motor receptor electrical stimulation signals; and sensory stimulation terminal means coupled to the sensory stimulation means, for receiving sensory receptor stimulation signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An intravaginal electrode assembly including:
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an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a tip at a distal end, an extended lip at a proximal end, and means forming a neck of reduced diameter located approximately eight centimeters from the lip; a pair of annular motor electrodes extending around a circumference of the carrier and positioned at longitudinally spaced locations on opposite sides of the means forming the neck; first and second annular sensory electrodes extending around a circumference of the carrier with the first sensory electrode located adjacent the lip; motor electrode terminal means coupled to the pair of motor electrodes, for receiving motor receptor electrical stimulation signals; and sensory electrode terminal means coupled to the sensory electrodes, for receiving sensory receptor electrical stimulation signals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An intravaginal electrode assembly including:
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an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a tip at a distal end, an extended lip at a proximal end, and means forming a neck of reduced diameter approximately eight centimeters from the lip; a pair of annular motor electrodes which extend around a circumference of the carrier and are positioned at longitudinally spaced locations on opposite sides of the means forming the neck; an oscillatory transducer mounted to the carrier adjacent the lip; motor electrode terminal means coupled to the pair of motor electrodes, for receiving motor receptor electrical stimulation signals; and oscillatory transducer terminal means coupled to the oscillatory transducer for receiving oscillatory transducer drive signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. An intravaginal electrode assembly including:
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an elongated and generally cylindrical carrier having a tip at a distal end, an extended lip at a proximal end, and means forming a neck of reduced diameter approximately eight centimeters from the lip; a pair of annular motor electrodes which extend around a circumference of the carrier and are positioned at longitudinally spaced locations on opposite sides of the means forming the neck; first and second annular sensory electrodes extending around a circumference of the carrier with the first sensory electrode located adjacent the lip; an oscillatory transducer mounted to the carrier adjacent the lip; motor electrode terminal means coupled to the pair of motor electrodes, for receiving motor receptor electrical stimulation signals; sensory electrode terminal means coupled to the sensory electrodes, for receiving sensory receptor electrical stimulation signals; and oscillatory transducer terminal means coupled to the oscillatory transducer for receiving oscillatory transducer drive signals. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification