Systems and methods for treating human joints
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- a sensor in physical contact with skin of a patient and configured to obtain a galvanic reading of resistance of the skin;
control electronics in communication with the sensor to form a closed loop system via electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), the control electronics configured to receive the galvanic reading of the resistance of the skin of the patient and further configured to instruct the sensor to apply a current or voltage onto the skin based on the galvanic reading;
a support element for a body part or joint of the patient,wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors each configured to be in physical contact with different portions of skin of the patient and each configured to obtain a galvanic reading of the resistance of the corresponding portion of skin, and wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a first plurality of sensors in physical contact with a first muscle group and a second plurality of sensors in physical contact with an antagonistic muscle group to the first muscle group, the first plurality stimulating the first muscle group and the second plurality stimulating the antagonistic muscle group to result in co-coupled contraction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A brace includes a closed loop feedback system that provides electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) to a joint of a human patient in response to feedback from the joint and surrounding muscles. In one aspect, a brace for treating a human joint of a patient is provided. The brace includes one or more sensors in physical contact with the skin of the patient and configured to obtain a galvanic reading of resistance of the skin. The brace also includes brace control electronics in communication with the sensor(s) to form a closed loop system via a combination of bracing the joint and electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). The brace control electronics is configured to receive the galvanic reading of the resistance of the skin of the patient and is further configured to instruct the sensor to apply a current/voltage/power onto the skin based on the galvanic reading.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a sensor in physical contact with skin of a patient and configured to obtain a galvanic reading of resistance of the skin; control electronics in communication with the sensor to form a closed loop system via electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), the control electronics configured to receive the galvanic reading of the resistance of the skin of the patient and further configured to instruct the sensor to apply a current or voltage onto the skin based on the galvanic reading; a support element for a body part or joint of the patient, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of sensors each configured to be in physical contact with different portions of skin of the patient and each configured to obtain a galvanic reading of the resistance of the corresponding portion of skin, and wherein the plurality of sensors further comprise a first plurality of sensors in physical contact with a first muscle group and a second plurality of sensors in physical contact with an antagonistic muscle group to the first muscle group, the first plurality stimulating the first muscle group and the second plurality stimulating the antagonistic muscle group to result in co-coupled contraction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method comprising:
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providing a system for treating a human joint or body part of a patient, the system comprising; a sensor for physical contact with skin of the patient and configured to obtain a galvanic reading of resistance of the skin; control electronics in communication with the sensor to form a closed loop system via electrical muscle stimulation (EMS), the control electronics configured to receive the galvanic reading of the resistance of the skin of the patient and further configured to instruct the sensor to apply a current or voltage onto the skin based on the galvanic reading; a support element for the body part or joint of the patient; obtaining a reading of the galvanic resistance of the skin of the patient via said sensor; and applying an EMS pulse to said joint or body part of said patient via said sensor; wherein, the power of said EMS pulse is adjusted based on said galvanic resistance reading. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification