Multiple stimulation electrodes
First Claim
1. An apparatus for stimulating contractions of a muscle with reduced fatigue comprising:
- a. means for providing a train of stimulation pulses at a rate sufficient to produce contraction of said muscle;
b. a first electrode for electrical coupling to said muscle at a first location;
c. a second electrode for electrical coupling to said muscle at a second location; and
d. conducting means coupled to said means for providing a train of stimulation pulses, to said first electrode, and to said second electrode, for conducting one pulse of said train of stimulation pulses to said first electrode and for conducting any next pulse of said train of stimulation pulses to said second electrode, without regard to the timing relationship between said one and next stimulation pulses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for reducing fatigue associated with artificially stimulated contractions of muscle tissue. The stimulation of the muscle tissue is associated with treatment of a particular medical condition, such as obstructive sleep apnea. For this application, the muscles of the upper airway are stimulated to relieve or prevent obstruction to normal respiratory activity during sleep.
Fatigue is reduced by stimulating the subject muscles from multiple rather than a single electrode. This ensures that successive depolarizations are not produced from the same focus, and that different motor units are successively depolarized.
Each electrode is placed at the muscle nerve interface to recruit the assistance of the nerve tissue in conducting the stimulation signals throughout the muscle. The conductors coupling the individual electrodes share a common cable structure to produce ease in the implant procedure. The electronics of the stimulation pulse generator is conveniently demultiplexed to eliminate excess hardware.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for stimulating contractions of a muscle with reduced fatigue comprising:
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a. means for providing a train of stimulation pulses at a rate sufficient to produce contraction of said muscle; b. a first electrode for electrical coupling to said muscle at a first location; c. a second electrode for electrical coupling to said muscle at a second location; and d. conducting means coupled to said means for providing a train of stimulation pulses, to said first electrode, and to said second electrode, for conducting one pulse of said train of stimulation pulses to said first electrode and for conducting any next pulse of said train of stimulation pulses to said second electrode, without regard to the timing relationship between said one and next stimulation pulses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for reducing fatigue of a muscle undergoing stimulation comprising:
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a. electrically coupling a plurality of electrodes to said muscle; b. generating a series of stimulation pulses at a rate sufficient to cause contraction of said muscle; and c. coupling different individual pulses of said series of stimulation pulses to different electrodes of said plurality of electrodes, without regard to the timing relationship between said different individual pulses. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification