US4411268A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Muscle stimulator
Assignee: Medtronic Inc
•
Filing: 1982-02-10
•
Granted: 1983-10-25
•
Expires: 2002-02-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for inducing a desired functional contraction in muscle tissue while conditioning the contractile properties of that tissue for the desired functional contraction. Pacing stimulation signals are generated having parameters established by a desired functional contraction of particular muscle tissue, the signals being applied to the body to initiate the contraction. A conditioning stimulation signal is also generated having parameters established by the desired functional contraction and applied to the body to condition the contractile properties of the particular muscle tissue. The conditioning stimulation signal may transform the contractile properties of the tissue or maintain those properties, which may also include the responsiveness of the tissue to pacing stimulation signals. In a preferred embodiment, the conditioning stimulation signal is a signal having a frequency from about 1.5 hertz to about 20 hertz and most preferably about 10 hertz. In another preferred embodiment, the conditioning stimulation signal has a frequency from about 80 hertz to 2,000 hertz and most preferably about 100 hertz. In all preferred embodiments, the signal may be continuous or discontinuous.
Inventors
- 👤 James A. Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 19:58
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/3603; A61N1/36034; A61N1/362; A61N1/365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for inducing a desired functional contraction in muscle tissue while conditioning the contracile properties of said tissue for said functional contraction which comprises: means for generating pacing stimulation signals having parameters established by a desired functional contraction of particular muscle tissue including means applying said pacing stimulation signals to the body for initiating said desired functional contraction of said particular muscle tissue; and means for generating a conditioning stimulation signal having parameters established by said desired functional contraction including means applying said conditioning stimulation signals to the body for conditioning the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
100 words
A system for inducing a desired functional contraction in muscle tissue while conditioning the contracile properties of said tissue for said functional contraction which comprises: means for generating pacing stimulation signals having parameters established by a desired functional contraction of particular muscle tissue including means applying said pacing stimulation signals to the body for initiating said desired functional contraction of said particular muscle tissue; and means for generating a conditioning stimulation signal having parameters established by said desired functional contraction including means applying said conditioning stimulation signals to the body for conditioning the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a signal having a frequency from about 1.5 Hz to about 20 Hz.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a continuous signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 5 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a discontinuous signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a signal having a frequency of about 10 Hz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a continuous signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 11 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a discontinuous signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 15 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a signal having a frequency from about 80 Hz to about 2000 Hz.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a continuous signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 19 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a discontinuous signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a signal having a frequency of about 100 Hz.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a continuous signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 25 wherein said conditioning stimulation signal comprises a discontinuous signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for transforming the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 29 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means for maintaining the contractile properties of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for conditioning comprises means applying said conditioning stimulation signal directly at the site of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said particular muscle tissue comprises innervated muscle tissue, said means for conditioning comprising means applying said conditioning stimulation signal to a nerve of said particular muscle tissue.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said means for conditioning conditions the responsiveness of said particular muscle tissue to said pacing stimulation signals.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for inducing a functional contraction in muscle tissue functionally associated with said particular muscle tissue, said pacing stimulation signals generating means comprising means responsive to said functional contraction inducing means for generating said pacing stimulation signals in predetermined time relationship with the functional contraction of said functionally associated muscle tissue.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 1 further comprising means for sensing a functional contraction in muscle tissue functionally associated with said particular muscle tissue, said pacing stimulation signals generating means comprising means responsive to said functional contraction sensing means for generating said pacing stimulation signals in predetermined time relationship with the functional contraction of said functionally associated muscle tissue.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3364929A
Cited
US3344792A
Cited
US3433228A
Cited
US3933147A
Cited
US3851651A
Cited
US3983881A
Cited
US4157087A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-10-24 | 1987-04-25 | 1987-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-10-24 | 1991-04-25 | 1991-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-10-24 | 1995-04-25 | 1995-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |