Patent US2270260A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4620543A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4620543A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Enhanced fracture healing and muscle exercise through defined cycles of electric stimulation
Assignee: Smith and Nephew Inc
•
Filing: 1984-06-15
•
Granted: 1986-11-04
•
Expires: 2004-06-15
Abstract
Abstract Method for applying electro-muscular stimulation within a specific range of on/off cycle wherein the length of the on/off cycle is related to the level of phosphocreatine within the muscle. The on cycle is for a period of from one to three seconds followed by an off cycle of from 50 to 110 seconds in order to reduce the level of phosphocreatine in the muscle during the on period and allow subsequent recovery during the off period. The cycle is repeated for any desired period.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Bruce Heppenstall
- 👤 David W. Shenton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:40
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/326; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/3603; A61N1/36034; A61N1/36003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of enhancing fracture healing and muscle vitality through on/off duty cycles of electric stimulation comprising: providing a therapeutic electric charge to a muscle group for an on period of electrical stimulation by applying said electrical stimulation in galvanic power of: a. pulses at 25 to 150 Hz; b. having a pulse width of 40 to 400 microseconds; and c. having an amplitude of current between 0 and 80 milliamps for a period of 1-3 seconds to substantially deplete the energy of the muscle group; providing an off period of at least 50 seconds and not more than 110 seconds duration to allow the muscle group to regain a substantial amount of energy depleted during stimulation; and sequentially applying said on and off duty cycles to such muscle group.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of enhancing fracture healing and muscle vitality through on/off duty cycles of electric stimulation comprising: providing a therapeutic electric charge to a muscle group for an on period of electrical stimulation by applying said electrical stimulation in galvanic power of: a. pulses at 25 to 150 Hz; b. having a pulse width of 40 to 400 microseconds; and c. having an amplitude of current between 0 and 80 milliamps for a period of 1-3 seconds to substantially deplete the energy of the muscle group; providing an off period of at least 50 seconds and not more than 110 seconds duration to allow the muscle group to regain a substantial amount of energy depleted during stimulation; and sequentially applying said on and off duty cycles to such muscle group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, including: providing said on period for said 1-3 seconds to reduce the phosphocreatine/phosphocreatine plus inorganic phosphorate ratio to below approximately 0.8 during the on period of muscle stimulation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 in which: allowing the phosphocreatine/phosphocreatine plus inorganic phosphorus ratio to return to at least 0.8 during the off period of said 50 seconds to 110 seconds of relaxation of the muscle group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method set forth in claim 1, including: providing said off period for at least 60 seconds and not more than 80 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which: providing said electric charge in a substantially rectangular wave form during said on period.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of electrical stimulation recited in claim 1 in which: a. the on duty cycle is two seconds; and b. the off duty cycle is 80 seconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2434497A
Cited
DE840420C
Cited
US3185939A
Cited
US3783880A
Cited
US3918440A
Cited
US4266533A
Cited
US4105017A
Cited
US4266532A
Cited
US4315503A
Cited
US4147171A
Cited
US4177819A
Cited
US4510925A
Cited
US4372319A
Cited
US4326534A
Cited
US4342317A
Cited
US4412540A
Cited
US4492233A
Cited
US4467809A
Cited
US4467808A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-11-03 | 1990-05-05 | 1990-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-11-03 | 1994-05-05 | 1994-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-11-03 | 1998-05-05 | 1998-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |