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Method and apparatus for stimulating or monitoring the exercise of muscles adjacent a body cavity

  • US 5,662,699 A
  • Filed: 09/08/1995
  • Issued: 09/02/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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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.

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