Biofeedback device for an incontinent person
First Claim
1. A biofeedback device for signaling an impending elimination of bodily waste, the biofeedback device comprising:
- a) a sensing element adapted to be in contact with a body so as to detect an electrical activity of a sphincter muscle surrounding a bodily opening;
the sensing element comprising a receiving unit adapted to;
(i) establish a basal electrical activity for the sphincter muscle by monitoring the electrical activity over a specified time period;
(ii) identify a correlation between a change in the basal electrical activity and an impending elimination of bodily waste, the change constituting a specified electrical activity;
(iii) determine whether the specified electrical activity recurs during continued monitoring; and
b) a signaling element operatively connected to the receiving unit, the signaling element adapted to provide a signal upon the determination by the receiving unit that the specified electrical activity has recurred.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A biofeedback device for predicting an impending elimination of bodily waste in an incontinent person includes a sensing element in contact with an area of a user so as to detect electrical activity of a sphincter muscle associated therewith and a signaling element operatively connected to the sensing element that provides a signal upon an occurrence of a predetermined electrical activity for the sphincter muscle. The biofeedback device is able to predict an impending elimination of bodily waste for an incontinent person, as well as assist the incontinent person in achieving a contraction of his/her sphincter muscle.
146 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A biofeedback device for signaling an impending elimination of bodily waste, the biofeedback device comprising:
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a) a sensing element adapted to be in contact with a body so as to detect an electrical activity of a sphincter muscle surrounding a bodily opening;
the sensing element comprising a receiving unit adapted to;
(i) establish a basal electrical activity for the sphincter muscle by monitoring the electrical activity over a specified time period;
(ii) identify a correlation between a change in the basal electrical activity and an impending elimination of bodily waste, the change constituting a specified electrical activity;
(iii) determine whether the specified electrical activity recurs during continued monitoring; and
b) a signaling element operatively connected to the receiving unit, the signaling element adapted to provide a signal upon the determination by the receiving unit that the specified electrical activity has recurred. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of predicting an impending elimination of bodily waste in a person, comprising the following steps:
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a) identifying a specified electrical activity for a sphincter muscle of said person correlating to a contraction thereof;
b) monitoring electrical activity of said sphincter muscle;
c) determining whether said specified electrical activity occurs for said sphincter muscle; and
d) predicting the impending elimination of bodily waste based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
a) sensing electrical activity of said sphincter muscle for a specified time period;
b) establishing a basal electrical activity for said sphincter muscle;
c) identifying changes in said basal electrical activity for said sphincter muscle correlating to said contraction of said sphincter muscle.
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23. The method of claim 22, wherein said specified electrical activity corresponds to an increase in the basal electrical activity of said sphincter muscle in a range of at least 2-5 times.
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24. The method of claim 22, wherein said specified electrical activity corresponds to a decrease in a range of at least about 50-95% of said basal electrical activity for said sphincter muscle.
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25. The method of claim 22, wherein said sensing step occurs at a perianal area of said person to detect electrical activity of an external anal sphincter muscle.
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26. The method of claim 22, wherein said sensing step occurs at a urethral area of said person to detect electrical activity of an external urethral sphincter muscle.
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27. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of providing a signal upon the occurrence of said prediction of the impending elimination of bodily waste.
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28. The method of claim 27, wherein the signal provided upon the occurrence of said prediction of the impending elimination of bodily waste is at least one of the following:
- a visual signal, an aural signal, and a tactile signal.
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29. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal provided upon the occurrence of said prediction of the impending elimination of bodily waste increases and decreases in intensity as said sphincter muscle increases and decreases, respectively, in electrical activity.
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30. The method of claim 28, wherein the signal provided upon the occurrence of said prediction of the impending elimination of bodily waste is provided at a location remote from said person.
Specification