Expandable vaginal electrode
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A vaginal electrode, including:
- a sheet of material having a first surface and windable into a spiral, the sheet of material tending to unwind after insertion into a woman'"'"'s vagina to force the first surface against the vaginal wall;
a plurality of electrically isolated conductive electrode elements on the first surface of the sheet of material so as to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and
leads for coupling electrical signals to the electrode elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vaginal electrode adapted to be inserted into a woman'"'"'s vagina and used as part of a stimulation system to stimulate and constrict muscles surrounding the vagina to prevent the flow of urine through the urethra. The electrode includes a nonconductive sheet of material formed into a diametrically compressible spiral tending to unwind. An exterior surface of the sheet contacts the interior vaginal wall after the electrode is inserted into a vagina. Conductive electrode elements circumferentially oriented on the exterior surface of the sheet are thereby forced into electrical contact with the vaginal wall. Leads couple electrical stimulation signals to the electrode elements.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A vaginal electrode, including:
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a sheet of material having a first surface and windable into a spiral, the sheet of material tending to unwind after insertion into a woman'"'"'s vagina to force the first surface against the vaginal wall; a plurality of electrically isolated conductive electrode elements on the first surface of the sheet of material so as to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and leads for coupling electrical signals to the electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A vaginal electrode, including:
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a nonconductive sheet of material formed into a diametrically compressible spiral constructed to unwind, with a first surface contacting a vaginal wall after insertion into the vagina; conductive leads woven into the sheet having contact portions exposed on the first surface of the sheet; conductive electrode elements extending along the first surface of the sheet and in electrical contact with the contact portions so as to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and nonconductive strips extending along the first surface of the sheet between the electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A vaginal electrode, including:
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a nonconductive sheet of material wound to form a diametrically compressible spiral having several layers and constructed to unwind, with a first surface contacting a vaginal wall after insertion into the vagina; a plurality of electrically isolated conductive electrode elements positioned on the first surface of the nonconductive sheet to contact the vaginal wall after insertion; and leads for coupling electrical signals to the electrode elements. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification