Portable assemblies, systems and methods for providing functional or therapeutic neuromuscular stimulation
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprisinga carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, the carrier including a tissue facing surface,at least one percutaneous electrode extending from the carrier,circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, andthe carrier tissue facing surface including a return electrode, the return electrode being coupled to the circuitry and in contact with the external skin surface.
17 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods make possible the providing of short-term therapy or diagnostic testing by providing electrical connections between muscles or nerves inside the body and stimulus generators or recording instruments mounted on the surface of the skin outside the body. Neuromuscular stimulation assemblies, systems, and methods may include a steerable introducer that defines an interior lumen sized and configured to shield a percutaneous electrode from contact with tissue during advancement to a desired position within tissue.
138 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising
a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, the carrier including a tissue facing surface, at least one percutaneous electrode extending from the carrier, circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, and the carrier tissue facing surface including a return electrode, the return electrode being coupled to the circuitry and in contact with the external skin surface.
-
5. A method of evaluating whether a person has an innervated muscle which responds to electrical stimulation comprising
providing a neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, the carrier including a tissue facing surface, at least one percutaneous electrode extending from the carrier, circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, and the carrier tissue facing surface including a return electrode, the return electrode being coupled to the circuitry and in contact with the external skin surface, placing the percutaneous electrode in association peripheral motor nerves that innervate the muscle, placing the carrier on an external skin surface so the return electrode is in electrical contact with the external skin surface, coupling the percutaneous electrode to the carrier, and operating the circuitry to determine whether the person has an innervated muscle which responds to electrical stimulation.
-
6. A neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising
at least one percutanous electrode sized and configured for stimulation of a targeted neural or muscular tissue region, a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, the carrier including a tissue facing surface, programmable circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse, the carrier tissue facing surface including a return electrode, the return electrode being coupled to the programmable circuitry and in contact with the external skin surface, a power input bay carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, and an electrode connection element carried on-board the carrier that is electrically coupled to the circuitry, the electrode connection element being sized and configured to electrically couple the at least one electrode to the circuitry to apply the stimulation pulse to the tissue region.
-
13. A method for providing a neuromuscular stimulation function comprising
providing a neuromuscular stimulation assembly comprising a carrier sized and configured to be worn on the external skin surface, the carrier including a tissue facing surface and a power input bay, the power input bay being sized and configured to hold a disposable battery for the circuitry that can be released and replaced for powering the circuitry, at least one percutaneous electrode extending from the carrier, circuitry carried on-board the carrier configured to generate a stimulation pulse to the electrode, and the carrier tissue facing surface including a return electrode, the return electrode being coupled to the circuitry and in contact with the external skin surface, providing instructions furnished by a clinician or caregiver or physician prescribing the release and replacement of the disposable battery according to a prescribed battery replacement regime, the prescribed battery replacement regime comprising the replacement of the disposable battery on a prescribed repeated basis similar to administering a pill under a prescribed pill-based medication regime, and providing a supply of disposable batteries, each battery comprising a dose of power for the circuitry for administration according to the prescribed battery replacement regime.
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeSPR Therapeutics, Inc.
-
Original AssigneeNDI Medical, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
-
InventorsStrother, Robert B., Mrva, Joseph J., Thrope, Geoffrey B.
-
Primary Examiner(s)Layno; Carl
-
Assistant Examiner(s)Patel; Natasha
-
Application NumberUS11/056,591Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,194 DaysField of Search607/149, 607/115, 607/46, 607/48, 607/50US Class Current607/48CPC Class CodesA61N 1/0558 Anchoring or fixation means...A61N 1/36003 of motor muscles, e.g. for ...A61N 1/36017 with leads or electrodes pe...A61N 1/36021 for treatment of painA61N 1/37211 Means for communicating wit...
