Abdominal binder for effectuating cough stimulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for inducing coughing by electrical stimulation resulting from increasing intrathoracic pressures in a human with a physical disability comprising:
- an electrode belt having at least one electrode for attachment to the abdominal area of a person;
means coupled to said at least one electrode for providing at least one pulse train of a predetermined duration with pulses having a given amplitude for stimulating the abdominal muscles of the person, wherein said pulse train providing means includes a pulse generator for generating said pulse train and a stimulator circuit means for converting said pulses to stimulus pulses of a specified amplitude and duration; and
control means coupled to said pulse generator and stimulator circuit means for controlling the amplitude and width of said pulses.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for stimulating coughing in quadriplegic patients comprises an electrode belt that is attached in close contact and located in a given area of the abdomen of a patient. Pulse trains of specified duration and frequency having specified amplitudes and pulse widths are applied to the belt electrodes to provide momentary spasm-inducing stimulation to effectuate coughing and to clear the respiratory channels of the patient.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for inducing coughing by electrical stimulation resulting from increasing intrathoracic pressures in a human with a physical disability comprising:
-
an electrode belt having at least one electrode for attachment to the abdominal area of a person; means coupled to said at least one electrode for providing at least one pulse train of a predetermined duration with pulses having a given amplitude for stimulating the abdominal muscles of the person, wherein said pulse train providing means includes a pulse generator for generating said pulse train and a stimulator circuit means for converting said pulses to stimulus pulses of a specified amplitude and duration; and
control means coupled to said pulse generator and stimulator circuit means for controlling the amplitude and width of said pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for stimulating coughing comprising the steps of:
-
attaching an electrode belt having at least one electrode to the abdomen of the patient so that said at least one electrode of the belt is located in close contact with the abdominal area beneath the xiphoid process and costal margins of the patient; and depressing a momentary push button switch to activate a pulse generator and stimulus pulse circuit and directing stimulus pulses from said stimulus pulse circuit to said at least one electrode of the belt while the patient is exhaling so that an electrical stimulus is delivered to the abdominal area of the patient thereby increasing the intrathoracic pressures to produce coughing by the patient.
-
Specification