Electrode for muscle stimulation

• US 6,567,706 B2
• Filed: 03/20/2001
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: N.E.S.S. Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation Systems Ltd. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Bar-Or, Jonathan, Arbel, Giora
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg; Teresa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAHBOUR, HENRY
• Application Number:
  US09/811,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20010039444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 607/152,139,140,149,153,134 600/391,392,395,396,397 602/2,5
• US Class Current: 607/152
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0472 Structure-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0496 characterised by using specific chemical compositions, e.g. hydrogel compositions, adhesives

Abstract

The invention provides an electrode kit for muscle stimulation to be used in conjunction with a splint, the kit including an electrode carrier attachable to an interior surface of the splint and consisting of a relatively thin, flexible, tray-like member; a thin, flexible electrode member fixedly attached to the electrode carrier, and a skin-contacting pad member consisting of a piece of medium-absorptive material fixedly mounted on a rigidifying frame attachable to, and removable from, the electrode carrier.

Claims

1. An electrode kit for muscle stimulation to be used in conjunction with a splint, said kit comprising:

an electrode carrier consisting of a relatively thin, flexible, tray-like member having holding means, said carrier being attachable to an interior surface of said splint;

a thin, flexible electrode member fixedly attached to said electrode carrier, and

a skin-contacting pad member consisting of a piece of medium-absorptive material fixedly mounted on a rigidifying frame attachable to, and removable from, said holding means of the electrode carrier.

2. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means is a plurality of slits into which said tab means can be slid and from which they can be withdrawn.

3. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tab means are integral parts of the rigidifying frame of said pad member.

4. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrode carrier is attached to the interior surface of said splint by means of a double-sided adhesive patch.

5. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible electrode member is made of a stainless-steel wire mesh attached to said tray-like member by ultrasonic welding.

6. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medium-absorptive material is viscose.

7. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the skin-contacting surface of said pad member is impregnated with a synthetic rubber solution to prevent said surface from fuzzing.

8. The electrode kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holding means are engageable by tab means.