Method and apparatus for stimulating or monitoring the exercise of muscles adjacent a body cavity
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring electrical energy generated by exercising muscles near a body cavity by transmitting such energy from a wall of the body cavity to an electrical processor, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a substantially airtight sheath having a resilient skeleton which in the absence of opposing forces provides the sheath with a shape and size such that the sheath yieldingly impinges on the body cavity wall when the sheath is installed in the body cavity, the sheath having at least a pair of electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow aperture in the sheath;
(b) providing a pump and placing it removably in communication through the aperture with air in the sheath such that operating the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath;
(c) collapsing the sheath by operating the pump;
(d) removing the pump and closing the aperture;
(e) inserting the sheath in the body cavity;
(f) opening the aperture to allow air to return into the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands and the conductive portions yieldingly and conductively engage the body cavity wall;
(g) electrically connecting the conductive portions to the electrical processor;
(h) exercising muscles near the body cavity so that muscle-activity electrical energy flows from the body cavity wall through one conductive portion to the electrical processor and thence into the other conductive portion and back to the body cavity wall;
(i) electrically disconnecting the electrical processor from the conductive portions; and
(j) placing the pump in communication with the aperture, operating the pump to collapse the sheath and removing the insert.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, and apparatus used in the methods, for stimulating, and monitoring the exercise of, muscles near a body cavity by transmitting electrical energy between an electrical source or processor and the wall of the body cavity. A flexible airtight sheath with a resilient skeleton and outer conductive bands is collapsed by vacuum and inserted into the body cavity. Air is allowed to enter so that the skeleton expands the sheath and forces the conductive bands against the body cavity wall. The skeleton may be a foam member, internal ribs or a separate internal frame. The leads for conducting electrical energy to and from the bands may be embedded in the bands for a substantial portion of the band circumference, or the leads may be connected to the bands by piercing conductive mounds on the bands or by being joined to conductive straps on the bands.
85 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A method of monitoring electrical energy generated by exercising muscles near a body cavity by transmitting such energy from a wall of the body cavity to an electrical processor, comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a substantially airtight sheath having a resilient skeleton which in the absence of opposing forces provides the sheath with a shape and size such that the sheath yieldingly impinges on the body cavity wall when the sheath is installed in the body cavity, the sheath having at least a pair of electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow aperture in the sheath; (b) providing a pump and placing it removably in communication through the aperture with air in the sheath such that operating the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath; (c) collapsing the sheath by operating the pump; (d) removing the pump and closing the aperture; (e) inserting the sheath in the body cavity; (f) opening the aperture to allow air to return into the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands and the conductive portions yieldingly and conductively engage the body cavity wall; (g) electrically connecting the conductive portions to the electrical processor; (h) exercising muscles near the body cavity so that muscle-activity electrical energy flows from the body cavity wall through one conductive portion to the electrical processor and thence into the other conductive portion and back to the body cavity wall; (i) electrically disconnecting the electrical processor from the conductive portions; and (j) placing the pump in communication with the aperture, operating the pump to collapse the sheath and removing the insert.
-
-
2. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) wherein the resilient skeleton comprises a frame made of a plurality of resilient frame members, the frame being substantially separate from the sheath. - View Dependent Claims (3)
-
-
4. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) an elongated, substantially rigid core in the sheath, wherein the core comprises an inner tube, an outer tube located coaxially with the inner tube and a plurality of electrical conductors wound helically around the inner tube, wherein the electrical conductors are electrically insulated from each other between the inner tube and the outer tube and are adapted for electrically connecting the electrical lead with the electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
-
-
7. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; (f) an elongated, substantially rigid core in the sheath; and (g) a receptacle secured to an inner wall of the sheath and disposed to receive an end of the core.
-
-
8. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) wherein a portion of each of the leads is conductively embedded in one of the conductive portions and wherein the embedded portion extends along at least a substantial portion of the conductive portion around the sheath.
-
-
9. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) wherein a portion of each of the leads is conductively embedded in one of the conductive portions and wherein the conductive portion comprises two layers and the embedded portion of the lead is sandwiched between them.
-
-
10. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) a conductive mound formed on at least one of the conductive portions and wherein at least one of the electrical leads pierces said mound thereby forming a junction and further comprising adhesive spread on and around the junction of the conductive mounds and said at least one of the electrical leads.
-
-
11. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and an airflow port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) a conductive mound formed on at least one of the conductive portions and wherein at least one of the electrical leads pierces said mound thereby forming a junction and wherein an end of said at least one of the electrical leads through-pierces the conductive mound and is connected to a portion of said at least one of the electrical leads near the junction.
-
-
12. A body cavity insert for transmitting electrical energy between a body cavity wall and an electrical device, comprising:
-
(a) a substantially airtight, flexible sheath which comprises at least a pair of flexible, electrically conductive portions insulated from each other and a port; (b) a resilient skeleton located within the sheath and adapted to form and hold the sheath yieldingly against the body cavity wall when the insert is installed in the body cavity; (c) a plurality of electrical leads connected one to each electrically conductive portion and disposed for connection to the electrical device; (d) a pump adapted for attachment to the port such that operation of the pump evacuates air from the sheath and thereby collapses the sheath and the skeleton to facilitate insertion of the body cavity insert into and its removal from the body cavity; (e) a substantially airtight barrier adapted to be positioned to close the port to prevent inflow of air and thereby maintain the sheath in a collapsed state during insertion and removal and to be positioned to open the port to enable air to return to the sheath so that the resilient skeleton expands the sheath; and (f) an elongated, electrically-conductive strap formed on at least one of the conductive portions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
-
Specification