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US3800800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus and method for incontinence control
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus is operable to control female urinary incontinence and includes an elongated, generally finger shaped insert which is made from an electrical insulating material, which is substantially rigid, which is sized to fit completely within a vagina and which is adapted to be worn completely within a vagina for an extended period of time. A pair of electrodes are spaced apart along the length of the insert and connections are provided for connecting the electrodes to a source of electric potential located within or without the insert. Each one of the electrodes is located on the periphery of the insert so as to be in position to contact internal surface areas of the vagina when the insert is placed therein for the purpose of applying an electric signal to surface areas for tetanizing relevant muscle tissue located within the body proximate vaginal surface areas located between the surface areas contacted by the electrodes. The method includes the steps of inserting the insert completely within the vagina of an incontinent female and retaining the insert in the vagina for an extended period of time while simultaneously applying to the electrodes on the insert a signal which is defined by a plurality of pulses each having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds. Preferably the pulses are generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second.
Inventors
- 👤 D Garbe
- 👤 Donnell H Mc
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0521; A61N1/0524; A61F; A61F5/00; A61F5/48; A61H; A61H21/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/36007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the control of female urinary incontinence, said apparatus comprising: an elongate, generally finger-shaped insert which is made from an electrical insulating material, which is substantially rigid, which is generally cylindrical and has a diameter ranging from 5 millimetres to 40 millimetres and a length ranging from 3 centimetres to 12 centimetres so as to fit completely within a vagina and so as to support most vaginas against deformation by the pressure of adjacent organs, which is adapted to be worn completely within a vagina for an extended period of time and which has a pair of electrodes spaced apart along the length of said insert, means connected to said electrodes for generating a signal which is applied to said electrodes and which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds, and means for connecting said signal-generating means to a voltage source, each one of said electrodes being located on the periphery of said insert so as to be in position to contact internal surface areas of the vagina when the insert is placed therein for the purpose of applying said electric signal to said surface areas for tetanizing relevant muscle tissue located within the body proximate vaginal surface areas located between the surface areas contacted by said electrodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
Apparatus for the control of female urinary incontinence, said apparatus comprising: an elongate, generally finger-shaped insert which is made from an electrical insulating material, which is substantially rigid, which is generally cylindrical and has a diameter ranging from 5 millimetres to 40 millimetres and a length ranging from 3 centimetres to 12 centimetres so as to fit completely within a vagina and so as to support most vaginas against deformation by the pressure of adjacent organs, which is adapted to be worn completely within a vagina for an extended period of time and which has a pair of electrodes spaced apart along the length of said insert, means connected to said electrodes for generating a signal which is applied to said electrodes and which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds, and means for connecting said signal-generating means to a voltage source, each one of said electrodes being located on the periphery of said insert so as to be in position to contact internal surface areas of the vagina when the insert is placed therein for the purpose of applying said electric signal to said surface areas for tetanizing relevant muscle tissue located within the body proximate vaginal surface areas located between the surface areas contacted by said electrodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes are flush with the periphery of said insert.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert is generally cylindrical with a diameter of approxImately 16.5 millimetres.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said length of said insert is between 5.5 centimetres and 8.5 centimetres.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said length of said insert is approximately 7 centimetres.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacing between said electrodes is equal to approximately 35 percent of the length of said insert.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spacing between said electrodes is approximately 2.5 centimetres.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein each one of said electrodes is generally ring-shaped and has a width between 2 millimetres and 8 millimetres.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said electrodes totally encircle said insert and said insert includes at least two sections held together by at least one of said electrodes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said insert is rounded at one end to facilitate insertion thereof into and within a vagina.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates positive pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates pulses with a peak voltage between 0 and 10 volts.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates pulses with a peak voltage of approximately 5.5 volts positive.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates pulses with a pulse duration between 100 and 300 microseconds.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates pulses having a pulse duration of approximately 200 microseconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generating means generates said pulses for a portion of a cycle of operation of said apparatus.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling female urinary incontinence including the steps of: inserting completely within the vagina of an incontinent female, an elongate finger-shaped device having a pair of electrodes spaced apart along its length; retaining said device in said vagina for an extended period of time; and, simultaneously, applying to said electrodes a signal which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for controlling female urinary incontinence including the steps of: inserting completely within the vagina of an incontinent female, an elongate finger-shaped device having a pair of electrodes spaced apart along its length; retaining said device in said vagina for an extended period of time; and, simultaneously, applying to said electrodes a signal which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said pulses are positive pulses.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said peak voltage is between 0 and 10 volts.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said peak voltage is approximately 5.5 volts positive.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein said pulse duration is approximately 200 microseconds.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus which is utilized for controlling female urinary incontinence and which includes means for generating a signal which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds, the improvement comprising, an elongate, generally finger-shaped insert which is substantially rigid which is generally cylindrical having a diameter ranging from 5 millimetres to 40 millimetres and a length ranging from 3 centimetres to 12 centimetres such that said insert is sized to fit completely within a vagina and sized to support most vaginas against deformation by the pressure of adjacent organs, which is adapted to be worn completely within a vagina for an extended period of time, which has a pair of electrodes spaced apart along the length of said insert, each one of said electrodes being located on the periphery of said insert so as to be in position to contact internal surface areas of the vagina when said insert is placed therein, and which has means for connecting said electrodes to said signal generating means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
197 words
In an apparatus which is utilized for controlling female urinary incontinence and which includes means for generating a signal which is defined by a plurality of pulses generated at a frequency of from 25 to 200 pulses per second, each pulse having a peak voltage of up to 20 volts and a duration of from 10 to 300 microseconds, the improvement comprising, an elongate, generally finger-shaped insert which is substantially rigid which is generally cylindrical having a diameter ranging from 5 millimetres to 40 millimetres and a length ranging from 3 centimetres to 12 centimetres such that said insert is sized to fit completely within a vagina and sized to support most vaginas against deformation by the pressure of adjacent organs, which is adapted to be worn completely within a vagina for an extended period of time, which has a pair of electrodes spaced apart along the length of said insert, each one of said electrodes being located on the periphery of said insert so as to be in position to contact internal surface areas of the vagina when said insert is placed therein, and which has means for connecting said electrodes to said signal generating means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The insert as claimed in claim 22 wherein the spacing between said electrodes is equal to approximately 35 percent of the length of said insert.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The insert as claimed in claim 22 wherein the spacing between said electrodes is approximately 2.5 centimetres.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The insert as claimed in claim 22 wherein said electrodes totally encircle said insert and said insert includes at least two sections held together by at least one of said electrodes.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The insert as claimed in claim 22 wherein said insert is rounded at one end to facilitate insertion thereof into and within a vagina.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |