Portable muscle stimulator with removable data storage card

• US 5,755,745 A
• Filed: 09/29/1995
• Issued: 05/26/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Rehabilitative Sciences, Inc. (RS Medical Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Rehabilitative Sciences, Inc. (RS Medical Corp.)
• Inventors: Rux, William A., McGraw, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US08/536,924
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 607/59, 607/48, 607/66
• US Class Current: 607/48
• 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 portable muscle stimulator with removable data storage card is disclosed in which the removable data storage card is secured within the power muscle stimulator on specially designed rail guides which prevent the removable data storage card from being inserted to the power muscle stimulator incorrectly and which ensure that the power muscle stimulator is secured in a removable fashion within the power muscle stimulator. The portable muscle stimulator include a multitude of safety features which are designed to prevent injury to the user while at the same time to ensure that the portable power muscle stimulator is easy to use.

Claims

1. A powered muscle stimulator for stimulating the muscles of a user, comprising:

a case for enclosing and carrying the operating circuitry of said powered muscle stimulator;

circuitry for operating said powered muscle stimulator;

said operating circuitry including an internal data storage means for monitoring usage of said powered muscle stimulator by said user; and

a removable data storage means for storing a record of the use of said powered muscle stimulator by said user.

2. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 1, further including at least one guide mounted within said case for receiving said removable data storage means.

3. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 1, further including a pair of spaced apart rail guides mounted within said case for receiving said removable data storage means.

4. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 3, wherein said removable data storage means includes elongated spaced apart slots configured to cooperate with and slide in said pair of spaced apart rail guides.

5. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 4, wherein at least one of said elongated spaced apart slots of said removable data storage means includes a positive stop such that said removable data storage means is positively secured to said pair of spaced apart rail guides within said case.

6. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 4, wherein said pair of spaced apart rail guides and said pair of elongated spaced apart slots cooperate in such a manner that said removable data storage means can only be inserted into said case in a manner that it is properly aligned and electrically operable.

7. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 1, wherein said removable data storage means includes top and bottom portions which are secured together.

8. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 7, wherein one of said portions of said removable data storage means further includes a handle.

9. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 1, where said removable data storage means includes at least one memory storage device which operates as a write-only memory in said powered muscle stimulator.

10. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 1, wherein said operating circuitry further includes memory means for storing a program for controlling the operation of said paired muscle stimulator.

11. A powered muscle stimulator for stimulating the muscles of a user, comprising:

a case for enclosing and carrying the operating circuitry of said powered muscle stimulator;

a pair of spaced apart rail guides mounted within said case;

a removable data storage means for storing a record of the use of said powered muscle stimulator by said user, said removable data storage means including elongated spaced apart slots configured to cooperate with and slide on said pair of spaced apart rail guides, at least one of said elongated spaced apart slots including a positive stop such that said removable data storage means is positively secured to said pair of spaced apart rail guides within said case; and

wherein said pair of spaced apart rail guides and said pair of elongated spaced apart slots cooperate in such a manner that said removable data storage means can only be inserted into said case in a manner such that it is properly aligned and electrically operable.

12. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 11, wherein said removable data storage means includes top and bottom portions which are secured together.

13. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 12, wherein one of said portions of said removable data storage means further includes a handle.

14. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 11, where said removable data storage means includes at least one memory storage device which operates as a write-only memory in said powered muscle stimulator.

15. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 11, wherein said operating circuitry further includes memory means for storing a program for controlling the operation of said powered muscle stimulator.

16. A powered muscle stimulator for stimulating the muscles of a user comprising:

a case for enclosing and carrying the operating circuitry of said powered muscle stimulator, said operating circuitry including on-board memory means permanently storing an operating program for said muscle stimulator;

a pair of spaced apart rail guides mounted within said case; and

a removable data storage means for storing a record of use of said powered muscle stimulator by said user, said removable data storage means including elongated spaced apart slots configured to cooperate with and slide on said pair of spaced apart rail guides.

17. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 16, wherein at least one of said elongated spaced apart slots of said removable data storage means includes a positive stop such that said removable data storage means is positively secured to said pair of spaced apart rail guides within said case.

18. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 16, wherein said pair of spaced apart rail guides and said pair of elongated spaced apart slots cooperate in such a manner that said removable data storage means can only be inserted into said case in a manner that it is properly aligned and electrically operable.

19. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 16, wherein said removable data storage means includes top and bottom portions which are secured together.

20. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 19, wherein one of said portions of said removable data storage means further includes a handle.

21. The powered muscle stimulator of claim 16, where said removable data storage means includes at least one memory storage device which operates as a write-only memory in said powered muscle stimulator.