Electrical apparatus for medical treatment using EMG envelope signal

• US 6,289,245 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seung Kee Mo, Soo Yeol Lee
• Original Assignee: Seung Kee Mo, Soo Yeol Lee
• Inventors: Lee, Soo Yeol, Mo, Seung Kee
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/583,696
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 607/40, 607/41, 607/138, 128/905, 600/546, 600/595, 600/587, 600/591, 600/29
• US Class Current: 607/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/391 of genito-urinary organs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36007 of urogenital or gastrointestinal organs, e.g. for incontinence control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal

Abstract

An apparatus for medical treatment is provided, which can reduce the load of signal processing and allows the patient to recognize the state of his/her muscular contraction more easily. The apparatus for medical treatment being operatively coupled to at least one electrode adapted to be contacted to a body portion or inserted into a body cavity, comprises: an EMG signal processor for performing a signal processing related to an EMG signal and including an envelope detector for receiving the EMG signal originated from the electrodes, and for producing an EMG envelope signal; a display unit for displaying information related to a medical treatment based on the EMG envelope signal; an operation unit; a memory for storing an treatment related data including the training goal waveform information; a stimulation signal generator for generating a stimulation signal; a main controller for controlling the operation of the above elements. Also, a universal connecting member is made in the cable for connecting to an electrode, so that various shape of electrodes are capable of being coupled to the main body of medical treatment apparatus. The compactness of the medical treatment apparatus reduces the cost for manufacturing and the patient is allowed to easily recognize the state of himself (or herself) during biofeedback therapy, thereby making the therapy efficient.

Claims

1. An apparatus for medical treatment, comprising:

at least one electrode adapted to be contacted to a portion of a body or adapted to be inserted into a body cavity for sensing an EMG signal therefrom;

an EMG signal processor for performing a signal processing related to an EMG signal and including an envelope detector for receiving the EMG signal from said at least one electrode, and for producing an EMG envelope signal, wherein said EMG signal processor comprises;

an incorporated EMG signal processor and a separate EMG signal processor, wherein said separate EMG signal processor comprises;

a first envelope detector for detecting an envelope from the EMG signal originated from said electrode and producing a first EMG envelope signal; and

a transmitter for transmitting an output of said first envelope detector; and

wherein said incorporated EMG signal processor comprises;

a second envelope detector for detecting an envelope from the EMG signal delivered from said electrode and producing a second EMG envelope signal;

a receiver for receiving the first EMG envelope signal transmitted from said transmitter;

a channel selector for selecting one between an output of said receiver and an output of said second envelope detector; and

an A/D converter for converting an output of said channel selector in an analog form into a digital form thereof and producing it to said main controller;

a display unit for displaying information related to a medical treatment;

an operation unit for inputting user'"'"'s manipulation data including training goal waveform information;

a memory for storing treatment related data including the training goal waveform information;

a stimulation signal generator for generating a stimulation signal based on the training goal waveform information which is applied from the operation unit or the memory; and

a main controller for controlling the operation of said display unit, said operation unit, said memory, said EMG signal processor and said stimulation signal generator.

2. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1;

wherein said separate EMG signal processor further comprises;

a first amplifier for amplifying the EMG signal sensed at said electrode;

a first noise filter for removing noise of an output of said first amplifier; and

wherein said incorporated EMG signal processor further comprises;

a second amplifier for amplifying said output of said first envelope detector; and

a second noise filter for removing noise from an output of said second amplifier.

3. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 2, wherein a communication between said transmitter and said receiver is wireless.

4. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1;

wherein said separate EMG signal processor further comprises;

an amplifier for amplifying the EMG signal sensed at said electrode;

a noise filter for filtering an output of said amplifier; and

wherein said first envelope detector detects an envelope from an output of said noise filter and produces the EMG envelope signal.

5. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication processor coupled to said main controller and adapted to be connected to at least one external information device;

wherein using said communication processor, information related to the medical treatment is communicated from the at least one information device to said memory to be stored, or from said memory to the at least one information device.

6. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises:

a digital waveform data generator for receiving information on the stimulation signal from said main controller and for generating a digital waveform data based on the information on the stimulation signal; and

a D/A converter for converting an output of said digital waveform data generator to an analogue signal.

7. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 6, wherein said stimulation signal generator further comprises:

an amplifier for amplifying an output of said D/A converter; and

a transformer for transforming an output of said amplifier, so as to produce an analog form of the stimulation signal.

8. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 7, wherein said stimulation signal generator further comprises:

a gain controller for controlling the gain of said digital waveform data generator according to the output of said D/A converter; and

a noise filter for filtering an output of said gain controller in order to eliminate noise.

9. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1, wherein said stimulation signal generator includes a safety circuit for blocking said stimulation signal when a voltage and/or current of said stimulation signal exceeds a predetermined value.

10. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 9, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises:

a digital waveform data generator for receiving stimulation signal-related information from the main controller and for generating digital waveform data based on the information;

a D/A converter for converting the output of said digital waveform data to an analog signal;

a gain controller coupled to the output of said D/A converter;

a noise filter for filtering noise from the output of said gain controller;

an amplifier for amplifying the output of said noise filter; and

a transformer for transforming the output of said amplifier,

and wherein said safety circuit comprises;

a comparator for detecting that the output of said D/A converter is greater than a predetermined value; and

a reference voltage controller for controlling the reference voltage applied to said D/A converter in response to the output of said comparator.

11. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 9, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises:

a digital waveform data generator for receiving stimulation signal-related information from the main controller and for generating digital waveform data based on the information;

a D/A converter for converting the output of said digital waveform data into an analog signal;

a gain controller coupled to the output of said D/A converter;

a noise filter for filtering noise from the output of said gain controller;

an amplifier for amplifying the output of said noise filter; and

a transformer for transforming the output of said amplifier,

and wherein said safety circuit comprises;

a over-voltage detector for detecting that the output of the gain controller is greater than a predetermined voltage value; and

a power breaker for shutting off power delivered to said gain controller according to the output of said over-voltage detector.

12. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 9, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises:

a digital waveform data generator for receiving stimulation signal-related information from the main controller and for generating digital waveform data based on the information;

a D/A converter for converting the output of said digital waveform data into an analog signal;

a gain controller coupled to the output of said D/A converter;

a noise filter for filtering noise from the output of said gain controller;

an amplifier for amplifying the output of said noise filter; and

a transformer for transforming the output of said amplifier,

and wherein said safety circuit comprises;

a fuse disposed between said amplifier and said transformer to break when the output of said amplifier is greater than a predetermined value.

13. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 12, wherein said fuse is a polymer switch which is restored when the power is reset.

14. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 9, wherein said stimulation signal generator comprises:

a digital waveform data generator for receiving stimulation signal-related information from the main controller and for generating digital waveform data based on the information;

a D/A converter for converting the output of said digital waveform data into an analog signal;

a gain controller coupled to the output of said O/A converter;

a noise filter for filtering noise from the output of said gain controller;

an amplifier for amplifying the output of said noise filter;

a transformer for transforming the output of said amplifier; and

a pair of signal lines connecting said transformer to said electrode,

and wherein said safety circuit comprises;

an over-current detector for detecting that the output current of the transformer is greater than a predetermined current value; and

a switch for shutting off the stimulation signal delivered to said electrode by shorting said pair of signal lines from the transformer to said electrode, in response to the output of said over-current detector.

15. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1,

wherein said stimulation signal generator further comprises:

a switching signal generator for receiving information related to the stimulating signal and for generating a plurality of switching signals, wherein said switching signals activate alternately based on the information related to the stimulation signal; and

a transformer for transforming an output of said waveform generator, so as to produce the stimulating signal in analog form.

16. The apparatus for medical treatment according to claim 1, wherein said envelope detector included in the EMG signal processor further comprises:

a small-signal full wave rectifier for inputting said EMG signals; and

a low-pass filter for filtering an output of said small-signal full-wave rectifier.