Method and apparatus for conditioning muscles during sleep

• US 6,658,301 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Original Assignee: The Alfred E. Mann Institute For Biomedical Engineering At The University Of Southern California (University of Southern California)
• Inventors: Richmond, Frances J. R., Loeb, Gerald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Getzow, Scott M.
• Application Number:
  US09/952,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/46-156
• US Class Current: 607/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37205 Microstimulators, e.g. implantable through a cannula
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37229 Shape or location of the implanted or external antenna
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37252 Details of algorithms or data aspects of communication system, e.g. handshaking, transmitting specific data or segmenting data
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3787 from an external energy source
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/006 for magnetic stimulation of nerve tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/02 using magnetic fields produced by coils, including single turn loops or electromagnets A61N2/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for conditioning muscles during sleep. The apparatus includes microminiature electrical stimulators that are injected into the muscles to be exercised and a system of transmission coils located in or on the mattress of a bed. The transmission coils transmit power and command signals to the implanted electrical stimulators while the patient sleeps or rests. The implanted electrical stimulators can be programmed so as to produce the desired pattern of muscle exercise without producing cutaneous sensations that would disturb the patient.

Claims

1. A method of exercising muscles during sleep, the method comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one microstimulator so as to be in contact with muscular or nerve tissue; and

externally generating power and command signals and transmitting it to the at least one microstimulator while a patient sleeps.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of externally generating further comprises transmitting the power and signal commands through at least one inductive coil positioned inside or adjacent to the mattress on which a patient sleeps.

3. The method of claim 1 whereby the command signal is selected to generate a pattern of pulses so as to therapeutically condition muscles.

4. A method of exercising muscles during sleep, the method comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one microstimulator so as to be in contact with muscular or nerve tissue;

generating a command signal within an external transmitter;

transmitting the command signal to at least one of a plurality of inductive coils;

energizing at least one microstimulator upon alignment with the at least one inductive coil by further transmitting the command signal to the microstimulator;

receiving the command signal at the microstimulator; and

generating pulses at the microstimulator in response to the received command signal thereby activating local muscle and nerve tissues.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the plurality of inductive coils are disposed within a sleeping surface in an overlapping pattern so that both vertically and horizontally oriented magnetic fields can be generated over any portion of the sleeping surface.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the microstimulator further emits a signal in response to the commands and the signal is detected by a controller.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein a controller can switch the inductive coils to find at least one which can be used successfully to transmit commands to a given microstimulator.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the inductive coils can be disposed in an overlapping pattern so that both vertically and horizontally oriented magnetic fields can be generated over different portions of the sleeping surface.

9. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of emitting a response signal from the microstimulator to the external transmitter, acknowledging receipt of the command signal.

10. A method of exercising muscles during sleep, the method comprising the steps of:

implanting at least one microstimulator so as to be in contact with muscular or nerve tissue;

generating a command signal within an external transmitter;

transmitting the command signal to at least one inductive coil;

energizing at least one microstimulator upon alignment with the at least one inductive coil by further transmitting the command signal to the microstimulator;

receiving the command signal at the microstimulator; and

generating pulses at the microstimulator in response to the received command signal thereby activating local muscle and nerve tissues.

11. A method of exercising a muscle within a body while the body is sleeping comprising:

generating an excitation signal;

delivering the excitation signal during sleep to a transmitting element that is external to the body;

receiving the excitation signal by a microstimulator implanted within the body and in electrical communication with the muscle or a nerve innervating the muscle; and

delivering an exercising signal from the microstimulator to the muscle or nerve while the body is sleeping.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the excitation signal includes a power signal.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the excitation signal includes a command signal.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising delivering a confirmation signal from the microstimulator back to the transmitting element.

15. A method of exercising a muscle within a body while the body is sleeping comprising:

transmitting a signal from a first of a plurality of transmission coils to a microstimulator implanted within the body and in electrical communication with the muscle or a nerve innervating the muscle;

detecting the absence of a confirming signal from the microstimulator to the first transmission coil;

transmitting a signal from a second of the plurality of transmission coils to the microstimulator;

detecting the presence of a confirming signal from the microstimulator to the second transmission coil; and

delivering an exercising signal from the microstimulator to the muscle or nerve while the body is sleeping.

16. A system for exercising a muscle within a body while the body is sleeping comprising:

a plurality of transmission coils external to the body;

a controller connected to the transmission coils and configured in conjunction with the transmission coils to;

transmit a signal from a first of the transmission coils to a microstimulator implanted within the body and in electrical communication with the muscle or a nerve innervating the muscle;

detect the absence of a confirming signal from the microstimulator to the first transmission coil;

transmit a signal from a second of the transmission coils to the microstimulator;

detect the presence of a confirming signal from the microstimulator to the second transmission coil; and

cause the microstimulator to deliver an exercising signal from the microstimulator to the muscle or nerve while the body is sleeping.