ELECTRODE FOR MUSCLE STIMULATION

• US 20120330394A1
• Filed: 06/27/2011
• Published: 12/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bioness Neuromodulation Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Bioness Inc. (Smith & Nephew PLC)
• Inventors: Dar, Amit, Springer, Shmuel, Rubin, Mark, Cohen, Amir
• Granted Patent: US 8,868,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0452 Specially adapted for transcutaneous muscle stimulation [TMS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0456 Specially adapted for transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation [TENS]
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0484 Garment electrodes worn by the patient

Abstract

Devices and methods of treating a targeted body tissue by stimulating the body tissue with an electric current. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an electrode carrier configured to be removably coupled to an interior surface of an orthosis. The electrode carrier includes a recess configured to matingly receive a portion of an electrode. The electrode carrier is electrically coupled to the electrode when the portion of the electrode is disposed within the recess. A connection member is electrically coupled to the electrode carrier and is configured to be releasably coupled to a surface of the orthosis. The electrode carrier is electrically coupled to the orthosis when the connection member is coupled to the orthosis. In some embodiments, the electrode carrier is configured to be removably coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the electrode is constructed of an absorptive material.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an electrode frame having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface configured to be releasably coupled to an electrode carrier electrically coupled to an orthosis, the electrode frame being electrically coupled to the electrode carrier;

a conductor coupled to the second surface of the electrode frame; and

a pad having a first portion configured to contact a skin surface and a second portion coupled to a portion of the second surface of the electrode frame such that the conductor is disposed between the second surface of the electrode frame and the second portion of the pad, at least a portion of the pad including an absorptive material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first surface of the electrode frame includes a protrusion configured to be releasably coupled to the electrode carrier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode frame is electrically coupled to the electrode carrier when the protrusion is coupled to the electrode carrier.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electrode frame is substantially rigid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first surface of the electrode frame is configured to be matingly received within a recess of the electrode carrier such that the electrode frame is releasably coupled to the electrode carrier via a snap fit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the pad is coupled substantially around the perimeter of the second surface of the electrode frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the pad is coupled to the second surface of the electrode frame via ultrasonic welding.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductor is positioned between the pad and the electrode frame such that electrical stimulation is substantially evenly distributed across the pad via the conductor when the electrode frame is electrically coupled to the electrode carrier.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductor is a thin, flexible electrode.

10. An apparatus comprising:

an electrode base having an electrode carrier and a connection member electrically coupled to the electrode carrier, the electrode carrier configured to be removably coupled to an interior surface of an orthosis, the connection member configured to be releasably coupled to a surface of the orthosis, the electrode carrier being electrically coupled to the orthosis when the connection member is coupled to the surface of the orthosis; and

an electrode assembly having an electrode frame, a pad coupled to the electrode frame, and a conductor disposed between the electrode frame and the pad, a portion of the pad configured to contact a skin surface, the electrode frame configured to be releasably coupled to the electrode carrier such that the electrode assembly is electrically coupled to the orthosis when the connecting member is coupled to the surface of the orthosis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode assembly is a disposable electrode assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode assembly is configured to be operatively coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis when the electrode carrier is coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode carrier is configured to maintain a position of the electrode assembly relative to the interior surface of the orthosis when the electrode carrier is coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis and the electrode frame is coupled to the electrode carrier.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode carrier is physically separated from the connection member by a distance.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode carrier is configured to be removably coupled to the interior surface of the orthosis at more than one location.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the connection member is configured to be removably coupled to the surface of the orthosis via a snap connection.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the electrode frame is configured to be releasably coupled to the electrode carrier via a snap connection.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the pad includes an absorptive material.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

an electrode base;

a first conductor member coupled to the electrode base;

a second conductor member coupled to the electrode base;

a first pad coupled to the electrode base such that the first conductor member is disposed between the electrode base and the first pad, a portion of the first pad configured to contact a skin surface; and

a second pad coupled to the electrode base such that the second conductor member is disposed between the electrode base and the second pad, a portion of the second pad configured to contact the skin surface.

the electrode base being releasably couplable to an orthosis such that the first conductor member and the second conductor member are each electrically coupled to the orthosis and not electrically coupled to each other.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad has a width between 30 mm and 75 mm and a length of about 95 mm, and the second pad has a width between 30 mm and 75 mm and a length of about 95 mm.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad and second pad are each coupled to the electrode base such that there is a gap between the first pad and the second pad.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad and second pad are each coupled to the electrode base such that there is a non-zero distance between the first pad and the second pad of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a panel member configured to be coupled to the orthosis between the electrode base and the orthosis.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad has a substantially rectangular shape and the second pad has a substantially rectangular shape.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad has a first shape and the second pad has a second shape, the first shape being different than the second shape.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first pad is has a first width and a first length, the second pad has a second width and a second length, the first width being larger than the second width, the first length being substantially the same as the second length.