Method and apparatus for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation
First Claim
1. 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 stimulator 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:
- 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 current amplitude level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle,(ii) 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, the second current amplitude level period consecutive to the first current amplitude 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 third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to reduce acceleration of the limb,(ii) at a constant fourth current amplitude level, less than the third current amplitude level, for a period sufficient to regulate movement of the limb, the fourth amplitude level period consecutive to the third current amplitude level period; and
wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is 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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. 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 stimulator 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: -
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 current amplitude level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle, (ii) 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, the second current amplitude level period consecutive to the first current amplitude 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 third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to reduce acceleration of the limb, (ii) at a constant fourth current amplitude level, less than the third current amplitude level, for a period sufficient to regulate movement of the limb, the fourth amplitude level period consecutive to the third current amplitude level period; and wherein each burst period of the plurality of burst periods represents a predetermined period of time during which electrical stimulation is applied to the agonist/antagonist muscle pair. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for applying neuromuscular electrical stimulation to an agonist/antagonist muscle pair to move a limb about a joint,
wherein the system includes a main stimulator controller and a stimulation module comprising a pulse pattern generating circuitry in communication with the main stimulator controller, wherein the stimulation module comprises patterns of electrical stimulation pulses, and wherein the main stimulator controller is configured to control said pulse pattern generating circuitry to: -
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 current amplitude level for a period sufficient to initiate contraction of the agonist muscle, (ii) 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, the second current amplitude level period consecutive to the first current amplitude 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 third current amplitude level for a period sufficient to reduce acceleration of the limb, (ii) at a constant fourth current amplitude level, less than the third current amplitude level, for a period sufficient to regulate movement of the limb, the fourth amplitude level period consecutive to the third current amplitude level period; and 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 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification