Method for the electrical stimulation of a group of muscles in order to improve their appearance, and apparatus for carrying out the method

• US 5,433,737 A
• Filed: 09/30/1992
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Medisan SRL
• Original Assignee: Medisan SRL
• Inventors: Aimone, Massimo
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamm, William E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parker, Marianne
• Application Number:
  US07/934,527
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 128/420 R, 128/421, 128/423 R, 128/423 W, 607/39-49, 607/72-76
• US Class Current: 607/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/322 Electromedical brushes, combs, massage devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A group of muscles, particularly the glutei, is stimulated electrically by the application of at least one pair of electrodes (18, 19; 20, 21) to the group and the supply of a symmetrically alternating voltage through the electrodes for equal periods of time (A) separated by intervals (B) of predetermined equal duration. In each period of time (A), the alternating voltage has a periodic behaviour with pulses of equal duration (PD) and alternating polarity symmetrical in adjacent half periods and separated by intervals (I) of equal duration. Each period (A) in which the alternating voltage is applied has a duration of between 0.5 and 1.5 s, and the intervals between the periods (A) are between 0.8 and 2 s long. The frequency of the alternating voltage is between 100 and 200 Hz, preferably 150 Hz. Each half period (T/2) in which the voltage is applied includes a pulse having a duration (PD) of between 40 and 60% of the half period.

Claims

1. Portable apparatus for electrical stimulation of a group of muscles comprising:

at least one storage battery,

at least one pair of electrodes for application to the group of muscles, and

circuit means connected to the at least one battery and to the at least one pair of electrodes to output a voltage of predetermined characteristics to the at least one pair of electrodes;

wherein the circuit means comprise voltage-booster circuit means connected to the at least one battery for boosting the voltage,

bridge circuit means comprising a plurality of electronic switches having control inputs, said electronic switches being connected to the voltage-booster circuit means and connected to the at least one pair of electrodes for providing the voltage to the at least one pair of electrodes; and

piloting circuit means connected to the control inputs of the electronic switches to pilot the electronic switches so that, in operation, a symmetrical alternating voltage is applied cyclically between the at least one pair of electrodes for time periods of equal duration separated by intervals of predetermined equal duration;

the alternating voltage in each of the time periods having periodic behaviour which is symmetrical in consecutive half periods, with pulses of equal duration and alternating polarity separated by intervals of equal duration.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piloting circuit means provides the time periods in which the alternating voltage is applied with a duration of between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds and the intervals between the time periods with a duration of between 0.8 and 2 seconds.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said piloting circuit means provides the alternating voltage in each of the time periods with a frequency of between 100 and 200 Hz.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said piloting circuit means provides each half period with a pulse whose duration is between 40 and 60% of the half period.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising manual adjustment and operating means for enabling an amplitude of the alternating voltage applied between the at least one pair of electrodes in use to be varied within a predetermined range.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the adjustment and operating means enables the amplitude of the alternating voltage to be varied between 50 and 100 volts.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the voltage-booster circuit means includes means for limiting a time for which a maximum voltage which can be set by the adjustment and operating means is supplied.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bridge circuit means is of an H type and includes four sides in each of which there is one of the electronic switches;

the bridge circuit means including first and second pairs of opposite junctions, the first pair of opposite junctions of the bridge circuit means being connected to an output of the voltage-booster circuit means and the second pair of opposite junctions being interconnected by an impedance and connected to the at least one pair of electrodes.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the bridge circuit means has associated filtering circuit means of a low-pass type, for attenuating fronts of the alternating voltage which is applied between the at least one pair of electrodes.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein respective capacitive snubber circuits are provided in parallel with two electronic switches of two adjacent sides of the bridge circuit means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voltage-booster circuit means comprises:

an output capacitor,

a storage inductor connected to the at least one battery,

an electronic switch connected between the output capacitor and the storage inductor and having a first condition in which the electronic switch disconnects the output capacitor from the storage inductor and enables current to flow from the battery to the storage inductor, and a second condition in which the electronic switch connects the storage inductor to the output capacitor to enable the output capacitor to be charged;

detector means for detecting a voltage across the output capacitor, and

a control circuit means connected to the detector means for piloting the electronic switch in an on/off manner predetermined in dependence on the voltage across the output capacitor.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control circuit means includes means for limiting a maximum time for which the electronic switch can be kept in the first condition.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the detector means for detecting the voltage across the output capacitor comprises a resistive divider and adjusting means for adjusting the amplitude of the voltage comprised of a hand-operated potentiometer which forms part of the resistive divider.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising sensor means for sensing a level of charge of the at least one battery and for activating first indicator means for indicating a low charge when the at least one battery has a low charge.

15. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a hand-operable control switch is interposed between the at least one battery and the voltage-booster circuit means, and a second indicator means is provided indicating when the hand operable control switch is closed.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising third indicator means controlled by the piloting circuit means associated with the bridge circuit means for supplying an intermittent signal whose frequency is linked to a frequency of the alternating voltage applied, in use, between the at least one pair of electrodes.

17. A method for electrical stimulation of a group of muscles in order to improve their appearance, comprising the steps of applying at least one pair of electrodes to the group of muscles;

and

generating and applying an electrical voltage of predetermined characteristics between the at least one pair of electrodes;

wherein said electrical voltage is a symmetrical alternating voltage and is applied cyclically between the at least one pair of electrodes for time periods of equal duration separated by intervals of predetermined equal length;

an alternating voltage in each of the time periods having periodic behaviour which is symmetrical in adjacent half periods, with pulses of equal duration and alternating polarity separated by intervals of equal duration and

wherein the time periods in which the alternating voltage is applied have durations of between 0.5 and 1.5 seconds and the intervals between the time periods have durations of between 0.8 and 2 seconds.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the voltage in each of the time periods alternates at a frequency of between 100 and 200 Hz, preferably 150 Hz.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein each half period includes a pulse whose duration is between 40 and 60% of the half period.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein an amplitude of the alternating voltage is variable between 50 and 100 volts.