Non-invasive sensor to analyze visually the level of muscle activity

• US 20060094975A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universite libre de Bruxelles
• Original Assignee: Universite libre de Bruxelles
• Inventors: Manto, Mario
• Application Number:
  US11/251,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20060094975A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/546
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/296 for electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units

Abstract

Embodiments of a sensing device for measuring muscle activity comprise an interface with electrodes, an active amplifier, and an electronic circuit in connection with a display, said display comprising at least one semiconducting polymer LED.

Claims

1. A sensing device for measuring muscle activity comprising an interface with electrodes, an active amplifier, and an electronic circuit in connection with a display, said display comprising at least one semiconducting polymer LED.

2. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one membrane and means for circulating a liquid connected to said membrane.

3. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the active amplifier is provided with a battery.

4. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a passive filter.

5. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said semiconducting polymer LED comprises a substrate, an epoxy membrane, an anode, a conducting polymer, an emissive polymer layer and a cathode.

6. The sensing device of claim 5, wherein said substrate comprises an elastomer.

7. The sensing device of claim 1, comprising at least two polymer LEDs and wherein an inverter is arranged between the electronic circuit and one of the polymer LEDs.

8. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein an analogue converter is arranged between the electronic circuit and the display.

9. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the interface comprises fine wire electrodes.

10. The sensing device of claim 1, which is portable by a patient.

11. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein the connection between said electronic circuit and said display comprises a wireless connection.

12. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising an electrode for measuring nerve activity.

13. The sensing device of claim 1, comprising a stack of polymers LEDs, two consecutive polymer LEDs of said stack being separated from each other with a substrate arranged for preventing light to pass.

14. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising a waterproof covering.

15. The sensing device of claim 1, comprising a plurality of electrodes, said electrodes being positioned in such arrangement that information on the direction of muscular activity is derivable.

16. The sensing device of claim 1, further comprising at least one reservoir.

17. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said polymer LED comprises an enzyme for detecting nitric oxyde.

18. The sensing device of claim 17, wherein said enzyme is nitrate reductase.

19. The sensing device of claim 1, wherein said electrodes are fixed to bearings.

20. An injection needle, comprising an interface with electrodes, an active amplifier, and an electronic circuit in connection with a display, said display comprising at least one semiconducting polymer LED.

21. A method of measuring muscle activity of a patient comprising the acts of maintaining an interface with electrodes upon the patient'"'"'s skin for a sufficient time to obtain a measure of muscle activity of the patient, wherein said interface with electrodes is in connection with an active amplifier, an electronic circuit and a display comprising at least one semiconducting polymer LED.

22. The method of claim 21, additionally comprising recording the muscle activity of the patient.

23. The method of claim 21, additionally comprising diagnosing a symptom or a disease selected from the group consisting of torticolis, neuro-degenerative diseases, muscles over-activation or under-activation, primary orthostatic tremor (POT) or myoclonus.

24. The method of claim 21, additionally comprising monitoring of a muscle rehabilitation of the patient.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the monitoring of muscle rehabilitation is performed following grafting.

26. The method of claim 21, additionally comprising analyzing the intramuscular pH of a muscle, analyzing of muscle NO production, or administrating a fluid or a drug to a muscle.