Myographic electrode
First Claim
1. An electrode assembly for electromyographic measurements of the muscles of the pelvic floor having an opening, comprising:
- an insulating support means having a first generally conical end symmetric about a longitudinal axis, the support means for being received completely through the opening in the pelvic floor muscles to allow contraction of the opening and to be positioned with the conical end facing the superior side of the pelvis floor muscles;
a first and second longitudinally extending electrode disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis on the surface of the conical end for receiving myographic electrical signals from the pelvic floor muscles when the conical end contacts the pelvic floor muscles and;
electrical signal path means for communicating the myographic electrical signals received by the first and second electrodes to myographic measuring equipment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode assembly measures myographic signals on the superior side of the pelvic floor muscles, viz., the urogenital diaphragm or the puborectalis muscle, under a state of physiological contraction for various retention forces. The electrode assembly has an insulating support having a conical end. The assembly is inserted through the vagina or anal canal so that electrodes on the conical face rest against the superior side of the pelvic floor muscles to receive electromyographic signals. The weight of the assembly may be selected to provide various amounts of muscular reaction. An insertion guide provides an indication of the orientation of the electrodes as positioned by the insertion guide.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An electrode assembly for electromyographic measurements of the muscles of the pelvic floor having an opening, comprising:
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an insulating support means having a first generally conical end symmetric about a longitudinal axis, the support means for being received completely through the opening in the pelvic floor muscles to allow contraction of the opening and to be positioned with the conical end facing the superior side of the pelvis floor muscles; a first and second longitudinally extending electrode disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis on the surface of the conical end for receiving myographic electrical signals from the pelvic floor muscles when the conical end contacts the pelvic floor muscles and; electrical signal path means for communicating the myographic electrical signals received by the first and second electrodes to myographic measuring equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An electrode assembly for electromyographic measurements of the muscles of the pelvic floor, having an opening, comprising:
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an insulating support means having a first generally conical end symmetric about a longitudinal axis, the support means for being received completely through the opening to allow contraction of the opening and to be positioned with the conical end facing to the superior side of the pelvic floor muscles; a first and second longitudinally extending electrode disposed symmetrically about the longitudinal axis on the surface of the conical end and defining a transverse axis for receiving myographic electrical signals from the opening along the transverse axis when the conical end contacts the opening; electrical path signal means for communicating the myographic electrical signals received by the first and second electrodes to myographic measuring equipment; an insertion guide having finger means for slideably receiving the insulating support means along its longitudinal axis in predetermined orientation with respect to the transverse axis, the finger means attached to a first end of a longitudinal handle for guiding the insulating support means through the opening when the insulating support means is retained in the finger means; and a tactile indicator on the second end of the handle for indicating the orientation of the transverse axis with respect to the opening. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification