Method and apparatus for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation
First Claim
1. A method for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, which method comprises:
- providing a device for generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes attached to an agonist muscle of an agonist/antagonist muscle pair and a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes attached to an antagonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair;
automatically generating, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle;
(i) at a constant first current amplitude level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle;
(ii) consecutive to the period of the first current amplitude level, at a constant second current amplitude level less than the first current amplitude level for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle;
automatically generating, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle;
(i) at a constant third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb;
(ii) consecutive to the period of the third current amplitude level, at a constant fourth current amplitude level less than the third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb;
wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods;
(i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and(ii) is followed by a predetermined rest period during which electrical stimulation is not applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint includes generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes and generating a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes. The first pair of electrodes are attached to the agonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and the second pair of electrodes are attached to the antagonist muscle. A first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses is transmitted through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle at a first intensity level to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle, and then at a second intensity level which is less than the first intensity level to continue contraction of the agonist muscle. A second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses is transmitted through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle at a first intensity level to reduce the acceleration of the limb, and then at a second intensity level which is less than the first intensity level to regulate the movement of the limb.
142 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, which method comprises:
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providing a device for generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes attached to an agonist muscle of an agonist/antagonist muscle pair and a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes attached to an antagonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair; automatically generating, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle; (i) at a constant first current amplitude level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle; (ii) consecutive to the period of the first current amplitude level, at a constant second current amplitude level less than the first current amplitude level for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle; automatically generating, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle; (i) at a constant third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb; (ii) consecutive to the period of the third current amplitude level, at a constant fourth current amplitude level less than the third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb; wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods; (i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and (ii) is followed by a predetermined rest period during which electrical stimulation is not applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, which method comprises:
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providing a device for generating a first pattern of neuromuscular electrical stimulation pulses for output through a first channel to a first pair of electrodes attached to an agonist muscle of an agonist/antagonist muscle pair and a second pattern of neuromuscular stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for output through a second channel to a second pair of electrodes attached to an antagonist muscle of the agonist/antagonist muscle pair; automatically generating, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, a first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle; (i) at a constant first intensity level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle; (ii) consecutive to the period of the first intensity level, at a constant second intensity level, less than the first intensity level, for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle, the second intensity level period consecutive to the first intensity level period; (iii) consecutive to the period of the second intensity level, at a constant third intensity level, greater than the second intensity level, for a period sufficient to complete contraction of the agonist muscle, the third intensity level period consecutive to the second intensity level period; automatically generating, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, a second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle; (i) at a constant fourth intensity level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb; (ii) consecutive to the period of the fourth intensity level, at a constant fifth intensity level, less than the fourth intensity level, for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb, the fifth intensity level period consecutive to the fourth intensity level period; (iii) consecutive to the period of the fifth intensity level, at a constant sixth intensity level, greater than the fifth intensity level for a period sufficient to stop the movement of the limb, the sixth intensity level period consecutive to the fifth intensity level period; wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods; (i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair; and (ii) includes generating the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a first burst period and generating the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a second burst period that begins after the beginning of the first burst period and ends no later than the end of the first burst period. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A device for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint, said device comprising a main simulator controller and a pulse pattern generating circuitry in communication with the main stimulator controller, wherein the main stimulator controller is configured to control said pulse pattern generating circuitry to:
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automatically generate, for each burst period of a plurality of burst periods, a first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses for transmission through a first pair of electrodes to the agonist muscle; (i) at a constant first intensity level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle; (ii) at a constant second intensity level, less than the first intensity level, for a period sufficient to continue contraction of the agonist muscle, the second intensity level period consecutive to the first intensity level period; (iii) at a constant third intensity level, greater than the second intensity level, for a period sufficient to complete contraction of the agonist muscle, the third intensity level period consecutive to the second intensity level period; automatically generate, for each burst period of the plurality of burst periods, a second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses, different from the first pattern, for transmission through the second pair of electrodes to the antagonist muscle; (i) at a constant fourth intensity level for a period sufficient to reduce the acceleration of the limb; (ii) at a constant fifth intensity level, less than the fourth intensity level, for a period sufficient to regulate the movement of the limb, the fifth intensity level period consecutive to the fourth intensity level period; (iii) at a constant sixth intensity level, greater than the fifth intensity level, for a period sufficient to stop the movement of the limb, the sixth intensity level period consecutive to the fifth intensity level period; wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods; (i) represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair, and (ii) includes generating the first pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a first burst period and generating the second pattern of electrical stimulation pulses during a second burst period that begins after the beginning of the first burst period and ends no later than the end of the first burst period. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification