Tremor reduction systems suitable for self-application and use in disabled patients

• US 7,643,882 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2006
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leon Boston
• Original Assignee: Leon Boston
• Inventors: Boston, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): SCHAETZLE, KENNEDY
• Application Number:
  US11/441,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123951A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 607/48
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0492 Patch electrodes A61N1/0412, A61N1/0428 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes penetrating the skin

Abstract

A system and apparatus for enabling independent, highly reliable and accurate self-application of an anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, without requirement for application fixtures, wherein anti-tremor means comprises a single unit, self adhesive stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated supply of energy and a control unit, further comprising an alignment, and application means for applying said anti-tremor means configured to enable independently self application by a severely handicapped patient, wherein system and method for tremor reduction is by means of closed-loop functional electrical stimulation, including a sensor for sensing muscle movements, and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing FES to a muscle, the FES apparatus being in communication with the sensor via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

Claims

1. A system for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the system comprising:

a single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated control means; and

an alignment application unit which is configured to enable independent application and use by said disabled patient;

the alignment application unit having a narrow pathway extending from an outside surface of the alignment application unit to an interior portion of the alignment application unit;

an electrode application niche contained in the interior portion of the alignment application unit for placement of the electrode within the alignment application unit;

a sensor for sensing muscle movements; and

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing FES to a muscle, said FES apparatus being in communication with said sensor via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

2. A method for enabling self application of anti-tremor means by a disabled patient, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an integrated control means;

providing an alignment application unit which is configured to enable independent application and use by said disabled patient wherein the alignment application unit has a narrow pathway extending from an outside surface of the alignment application unit to an interior portion of the alignment application unit; and

placing an electrode application niche in the interior portion of the alignment application unit for placement of the electrode within the alignment application unit, and providing a Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) apparatus for providing stimulation to a muscle wherein the FES apparatus is able to communicate with the electrode via a band pass filter for filtering around a tremor frequency to ignore slow movements and high frequency noise.

3. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

the patient placing an affected body part into the narrow pathway of the alignment application unit.

4. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

contacting the single unit stimulation and recording electrode with an affected body part in the interior portion of the alignment application unit.

5. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

placing a sensor for sensing muscle movements on the patients affected body part.

6. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

attaching the electrode to the external body part of the patient.

7. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

removing the electrode by the use of a liquid thereon.

8. The method described in claim 2, the method further comprising the step of:

providing a power supply means whereby the electrode may be activated and deactivated by the user when needed.