Method and apparatus for stimulating pelvic floor muscles
First Claim
1. A method of stimulating pelvic floor muscles in a patient, comprising applying at least one electrode externally to each side of the patient'"'"'s body in the region of the pelvis, said electrodes cumulatively making an area of conductive contact with the body surface which substantially encircles the perineum, said area of contact including, on each side of the body, at least a part of each of the gluteal region, the hip, the upper front thigh and the upper back thigh, and energising the electrodes to apply a muscular stimulation current which flows laterally across the patient through the patient'"'"'s pelvic floor.
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for stimulating pelvic floor muscles in a patient comprises applying at least one electrode externally to each side of the patient'"'"'s body in the region of the pelvis, and energising the electrodes to apply a muscular stimulation current which flows laterally across the patient through the patient'"'"'s pelvic floor. Preferably a plurality of electrodes are applied symmetrically on each side of the body. The electrodes may be incorporated in a garment.
28 Citations
36 Claims
- 1. A method of stimulating pelvic floor muscles in a patient, comprising applying at least one electrode externally to each side of the patient'"'"'s body in the region of the pelvis, said electrodes cumulatively making an area of conductive contact with the body surface which substantially encircles the perineum, said area of contact including, on each side of the body, at least a part of each of the gluteal region, the hip, the upper front thigh and the upper back thigh, and energising the electrodes to apply a muscular stimulation current which flows laterally across the patient through the patient'"'"'s pelvic floor.
- 18. An apparatus for stimulating pelvic floor muscles in a patient, comprising at least one electrode for application externally to each side of the patient'"'"'s body in the region of the pelvis, said electrodes configured to cumulatively make an area of conductive contact with the body surface which substantially encircles the perineum, said area of contact including, on each side of the body, at least a part of each of the gluteal region, the hip, the upper front thigh and the upper back thigh, and drive circuitry arranged to energise the electrodes to apply a muscular stimulation current which flows laterally across the patient through the patient'"'"'s pelvic floor.
Specification