Electrical stimulation compress

• US 6,438,428 B1
• Filed: 10/27/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Axelgaard Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Axelgaard, Jens, Heard, Steve, Cornell, George
• Primary Examiner(s): EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US09/428,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 600/386, 600/390, 600/391, 600/393, 607/152, 607/149, 607/148
• US Class Current: 607/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0476 Array electrodes (including any electrode arrangement with more than one electrode for at least one of the polarities)

Abstract

An electrical stimulation device method provides for exact repeatable positioning of stimulation pads onto a body part. The device includes a flexible member for contacting a body part and hook/loop members for tightly supporting the flexible member against the body part. At least one electrical bus is provided which may include a connector for enabling connection of the bus to an electrical lead wire and an electrical contact disposed on the inside of the flexible member. A conductive pad is provided which has dimensions substantially smaller than the dimensions of the flexible member and includes a cover adhesive layer for removably adhering the conductive pad to the flexible member inside with a first side of the cover layer covering the bus contact and an electrical communication therewith. A current controlling media is adhered to a second side of the cover layer and a base layer disposed on the current controlling media is provided for removably adhering the conductive pad to the body part.

Claims

1. An electrical stimulation kit for application to a body part, the device comprising:

a flexible member for contacting a body part, said flexible member having an electrical contact disposed on an inside of said flexible member;

means for tightly supporting said flexible member against the body part;

an electrical bus disposed in said flexible member for enabling electrical connection to said electrical contact through said flexible member;

a first electrode, disposable between said flexible member and said body part, for providing an electrical interface between said body part and the bus, said first electrode including a first layer comprising an electrically conductive gel having a relatively high peel strength for removably contacting said body part and a second layer comprising an electrically conductive gel having a relatively low peel strength for contacting said flexible member and said electrical contact, the relative peel strengths enabling removal of said flexible member from said body part leaving said first electrode adhered to said body part; and

a second electrode, disposable between said flexible member and said body part, for providing an electrical interface between said body part and the bus, said electrode including a first layer comprising an electrically conductive gel having a relatively low peel strength for removably contacting said body part and a second layer comprising an electrically conductive gel having a relatively high peel strength for contacting said flexible member and said electrical contact, the relative peel strengths enabling removal of said second electrode from said body part by separation of said flexible member from said body part, said second electrode remaining adhered to said flexible member during separation from said body part.

2. The kit according to claim 1 wherein the relative peel strengths of the second electrode first and second layer enable sliding of said second electrode along said body part without separation of said second electrode from said flexible member.

3. The kit according to claim 1 wherein said flexible member has sufficient resiliency to act as a brace for said body part.

4. The kit according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of electrical buses disposed in a spaced apart relationship with one another in said flexible member, and a plurality of first and second electrodes each having dimension substantially smaller than flexible member dimensions.

5. The kit according to claim 4 wherein each electrode has sufficient conductivity to enable efficient electrical coupling between the buses and said body part independent of placement of each electrode on said flexible member inside, as long as each electrode covers a respective bus contact.

6. The kit according to claim 1 wherein each electrode comprises a current controlling media.

7. The kit according to claim 6 wherein said current controlling media comprises a scrim.

8. The kit according to claim 6 wherein said current controlling media comprises a third gel.