Safety system for electrostimulation device

• US 9,042,986 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DJO Global Switzerland SARL (Enovis Corp.)
• Original Assignee: DJO Global Switzerland SARL (Enovis Corp.)
• Inventors: Muller, Pierre-Yves, Schonenberger, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Porter, Jr., Allen
• Application Number:
  US14/161,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20140135881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 607/2, 607/4, 607/5, 607/9, 607/10, 607/33, 607/34, 607 36- 38, 607/63, 607/115, 439775-864
• US Class Current: 607/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36 for stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/3752 Details of casing-lead connections
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/453 Shutter or cover plate opened by engagement of counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/4534 Laterally sliding shutter
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0208 Interlock mechanisms; Means for avoiding unauthorised use or function, e.g. tamperproof

Abstract

A housing for an electrostimulation device comprising a charger plug and a stimulation plug, designed to receive respectively a connector linked to a charger and a connector linked to a stimulation electrode, characterized in that it comprises a mobile locking element designed to alternately lock the charger plug or the stimulation plug.

Claims

1. A housing for an electrostimulation device, comprising:

a charger plug configured to receive a connector linked to a charger;

a stimulation plug configured to receive a connector linked to a stimulation electrode; and

a locking strip comprising a series of teeth and an inclined surface, wherein the locking strip is configured to alternately lock the charger plug or the stimulation plug.

2. The housing of claim 1, comprising a plurality of stimulation plugs, wherein the locking strip is configured to alternately lock the charger plug or, in a single action, the stimulation plugs.

3. The housing of claim 1, wherein the inclined surface is located in a plug so that insertion of a connector into the plug exerts a force on the inclined surface so as to sufficiently displace the locking strip to ensure that the other plug is locked.

4. The housing of claim 3, wherein the locking strip is configured to be mobile in a direction parallel to a line passing through the plugs, each tooth being positioned on the strip so as to enable a plug to be locked by the tooth.

5. The housing of claim 4, wherein in the inclined surface is located at one end of the strip.

6. The housing of claim 3, wherein the charger plug and the stimulation plugs are located on two opposite sides of the housing, the locking strip being made mobile along a curvilinear path.

7. The housing of claim 1, wherein the locking strip is mounted in pivoting fashion.

8. The housing of claim 7, wherein the locking strip is mounted pivoting about its main axis, the teeth being located towards the ends of the strip.

9. The housing of claim 7, wherein the locking strip is mounted pivoting about an axis directed perpendicular to its main axis, the teeth being located along the locking element.

10. The housing of claim 1, wherein the locking strip is configured to be displaced in a direction perpendicular to a line on which the plugs are located.

11. The housing of claim 10, wherein the locking strip comprises a thrust element which, when activated by a user, releases a plug.

12. The housing of claim 1, further comprising a spring positioned so as to return the locking strip to its original position once the connector has been removed from its corresponding plug.