Resonant muscle stimulator

• US 20040243196A1
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Therapeutic Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Therapeutic Solutions LLC
• Inventors: Rowe, Bruce D., Campos, James M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,254,447 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for walking assistance
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/36034 specified by the stimulation parameters

Abstract

A method and apparatus include a therapeutic or developmental apparel that includes hardware and/or software for stimulating a muscle. Such apparel may comprise, for instance, of: a glove, a uniform, a shoe, a sock, a vest, a sleeve, a shirt, a hat, a helmet, a brace, a suspender, eye wear, a pad, jewelry, a watch and pants. A muscle of a user may be stimulated by the garment as the user moves, such as a when a golfer practices her swing. Combining such muscle stimulation with the act of practicing the movement of the swing has a synergistic effect of training the muscle as it builds strength. Similarly, a partial paralytic may regain strength in their hand by wearing a vest or other garment configured to transcutaneously deliver a stimulating signal. Where desired, the garment may include at least one electrode configured to deliver a stimulating signal to the wearer. In another or the same embodiment, wired electrodes may extend from the garment or an adjacent signal generator to the wearer. This configuration may allow other, targeted muscles to be concurrently stimulated while the user wears the garment.

Claims

1. A method of stimulating a muscle, comprising applying a stimulating signal to a user wearing a garment that includes an electrode configured to apply the signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal further includes applying the signal to the user in contact with a garment comprising a glove.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal further includes applying the signal to the user in contact with a garment comprising a vest.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal further includes applying the signal to a user in contact with at least one garment selected from a list consisting of:

a glove, a uniform, a shoe, a sock, a vest, a sleeve, a shirt, a hat, a helmet, a brace, a suspender, eye wear, a pad, jewelry, a watch and pants.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal further includes applying the signal to the user while the user moves while wearing the garment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the signal further includes applying a signal comprising a resonant sequence that includes at least three pulses, and wherein the pulses of the resonant sequence are spaced relative to one another such that each pulse subsequent to a first pulse in the sequence is effective to progressively stimulate and create tension in a musculature that includes the muscle inwardly from the electrodes and towards the center of the musculature while maintaining the tension created in at least a portion of the musculature by each preceding pulse in the resonant sequence.

7. An apparatus for stimulating a muscle, comprising:

a wearable item;

a stimulator in communication with the wearable item configured to produce a signal for transcutaneous delivery to the muscle,

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the signal is delivered as the user moves the moveable instrument.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wearable item includes an electrode configured to deliver the signal from the stimulator.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wearable item comprises a glove.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wearable item is selected from a group consisting of:

a glove, a uniform, a shoe, a sock, a vest, a sleeve, a shirt, a hat, a helmet, a brace, a suspender, eye wear, a pad, jewelry, a watch and pants.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the application of the signal is affected by input from an input device selected from a group that consists of:

a button, a switch, a motion sensor, a voice sensor and a dial.