US5038797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical stimulation treatment device and method of use
Assignee: ROMAINE Inc AN IN Corp
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Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-02-20
Abstract
Abstract An improved method and device for electrical stimulation treatment of a body part of a patient. The electrical stimulation treatment device comprises an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with the body part of a patient by being wound around the body part and an electric current source electrically connected to the strip electrode. The strip electrode is an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated and filled with a gel which is capable of adhering to itself.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Batters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:39
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/0404; A61N1/0472; A61N1/0484; A61L; A61L24/00; A61L24/001; A61L24/0031; A61N1/0408; A61N1/0456; A61N1/0492; A61N1/0496; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/321; A61N1/326; A61N1/36; A61N1/36014; A61N1/36021
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An electrical stimulation treatment device comprising: an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with a body part of a patient by being wound around said body part, said strip electrode being of a length sufficient to allow it to be wrapped totally around the body part with its adjacent convolutions being overlapped and adhered to one another so that the strip electrode will remain wrapped around the body part, said strip electrode consisting essentially of an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated with a gel, said gel containing from about 4 to 8 weight percent of polyvinyl alcohol and the balance being essentially water, said polyvinyl alcohol being coagulated with a coagulating agent to insolubilize said polyvinyl alcohol and trap the water therein, said gel being capable of adhering to itself and extending to opposite surfaces of said substrate so that said strip electrode is pressure-sensitive and will adhere to itself and can be unwound and removed from the body part without leaving a significant amount of residue thereon; current transmission means for transmitting an electrical current from an electrical current source to said strip electrode; and said electrical current source.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
203 words
An electrical stimulation treatment device comprising: an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with a body part of a patient by being wound around said body part, said strip electrode being of a length sufficient to allow it to be wrapped totally around the body part with its adjacent convolutions being overlapped and adhered to one another so that the strip electrode will remain wrapped around the body part, said strip electrode consisting essentially of an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated with a gel, said gel containing from about 4 to 8 weight percent of polyvinyl alcohol and the balance being essentially water, said polyvinyl alcohol being coagulated with a coagulating agent to insolubilize said polyvinyl alcohol and trap the water therein, said gel being capable of adhering to itself and extending to opposite surfaces of said substrate so that said strip electrode is pressure-sensitive and will adhere to itself and can be unwound and removed from the body part without leaving a significant amount of residue thereon; current transmission means for transmitting an electrical current from an electrical current source to said strip electrode; and said electrical current source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a synthetic resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said synthetic resin is a polyester resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strip is nontoxic and nonmedicated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said opposite surfaces of said substrate comprise a plasticizer in an amount effective to increase the tack of said gel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said plasticizer is glycerol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A treatment device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said strip electrode has a thickness of from about 3/16 to about 10/16 inches, a width of from about 1 inch to about 4 inches and a length of from about 4 inches to about 6 feet.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for applying electrical stimulation to a body part of a patient comprising the steps of: wrapping an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode around the body part, said strip electrode being adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with the body part and being of a length sufficient to allow it to be wrapped totally around the body part with its adjacent convolutions being overlapped and adhered to one another so that the strip electrode will remain wrapped around the body part, said strip electrode consisting essentially of an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated with a gel, said gel containing from about 4 to 8 weight percent of polyvinyl alcohol and the balance being essentially water, said polyvinyl alcohol being coagulated with a coagulating agent to insolubilize said polyvinyl alcohol and trap the water therein, said gel being capable of adhering to itself and extending to opposite surfaces of said substrate so that said strip electrode is pressure-sensitive and will adhere to itself and can be unwound and removed from the body part without leaving a significant amount of residue thereon; attaching said strip electrode to a source of an electric current; and applying an electric current to said strip electrode to treat said body part.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
214 words
A method for applying electrical stimulation to a body part of a patient comprising the steps of: wrapping an elongated, flexible, self-supporting, self-adherable strip electrode around the body part, said strip electrode being adapted to be placed in direct surface-to-surface contact with the body part and being of a length sufficient to allow it to be wrapped totally around the body part with its adjacent convolutions being overlapped and adhered to one another so that the strip electrode will remain wrapped around the body part, said strip electrode consisting essentially of an elongated, thin, substantially planar, flexible, permeable substrate which is impregnated with a gel, said gel containing from about 4 to 8 weight percent of polyvinyl alcohol and the balance being essentially water, said polyvinyl alcohol being coagulated with a coagulating agent to insolubilize said polyvinyl alcohol and trap the water therein, said gel being capable of adhering to itself and extending to opposite surfaces of said substrate so that said strip electrode is pressure-sensitive and will adhere to itself and can be unwound and removed from the body part without leaving a significant amount of residue thereon; attaching said strip electrode to a source of an electric current; and applying an electric current to said strip electrode to treat said body part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, additionally comprising the step of cooling said strip electrode before it is wrapped around the body part.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said strip electrode is cooled by water rinsing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, additionally comprising the step of cooling said strip electrode after it is removed from the body part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said strip electrode is cooled by water rinsing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, additionally comprising the step of storing said strip electrode in a refrigerator after it is removed from the body part.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electric current is in the range of 1-3 milliamps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said electric current is in the range of 1-100 milliamps.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said body part is exercised during said electrical stimulation treatment.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |