Electrical stimulation for treatment of incontinence and other neuro-muscular disorders

• US 5,702,428 A
• Filed: 08/01/1996
• Issued: 12/30/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Tippey, Keith Edward, Axelgaard, Jens
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US08/694,458
• Time in Patent Office: 516 Days
• Field of Search: 607/39-41, 607/73, 607/74, 607/115, 607/138, 607/143, 607/148, 607/152
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/227 of constricting muscles, i.e. sphincters
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0512 Anal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0524 Vaginal electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control

Abstract

Electrical stimulation for the treatment of neuro-muscular disorders, in particular incontinence. A portable electrical stimulation apparatus for treatment of incontinence, comprising one or more electrodes (302) for applying one or more electrical stimulation signals to a patient'"'"'s body, a signal generator for generating the electrical stimulation signal(s), one or more conductive leads for connecting the signal generator to the electrode(s), to deliver the electrical stimulation signal to the electrode(s); and a power supply, characterized in that the apparatus includes an instruction storage or a programming device for imparting a set of instructions to the signal generator, the signal generator being responsive to the instruction storage or programming device so that the generated signal adopts signal waveform characteristics selected in accordance with said set of instructions.

Claims

1. A sacral surface electrode for application of electrical stimulation to patients suffering from incontinence, said sacral electrode comprising:

a conductive material;

means, defining a shape of said conductive material, for fitting said sacral electrode to a surface sacral region of said patients for stimulating nerves in the sacral region wherein said conductive material has a shape of a generally truncated triangle and wherein the conductive material includes an apex plateau region and means, defining a dipped portion, for facilitating finger placement of the sacral surface electrode over the sacral region; and

means for connecting said conductive material to a source of electrical stimulation pulses.

2. Apparatus for application of electrical stimulation to patients suffering from incontinence, said apparatus comprising:

generator means for providing a series of electrical stimulation pulses;

tampon electrode means, responsive to said series of electrical stimulation pulses, for causing muscle contraction in order to reduce patient incontinence, said tampon electrode means comprising an electrically conductive outer sheath and means for expanding and contracting the outer sheath to enhance conduction of the electrical stimulation pulses into a vaginal or anal wall of the patient by conforming the outer sheath to the vaginal or anal wall; and

sacral surface electrode means, shaped for fitting to a sacral region of said patient and responsive to said series of electrical stimulation pulses, for stimulating nerves in the sacral region.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the means for expanding and contracting the outer sheath comprises means for pneumatically expanding and contracting the outer sheath.