Method and apparatus for stimulating or monitoring the exercise of muscles adjacent a body cavity
US5662699A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61N1/0524
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Methods, and apparatus used in the methods, for stimulating, and monitoring the exercise of, muscles near a body cavity by transmitting electrical energy between an electrical source or processor and the wall of the body cavity. A flexible airtight sheath with a resilient skeleton and outer conductive bands is collapsed by vacuum and inserted into the body cavity. Air is allowed to enter so that the skeleton expands the sheath and forces the conductive bands against the body cavity wall. The skeleton may be a foam member, internal ribs or a separate internal frame. The leads for conducting electrical energy to and from the bands may be embedded in the bands for a substantial portion of the band circumference, or the leads may be connected to the bands by piercing conductive mounds on the bands or by being joined to conductive straps on the bands.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.