Patent US6356783B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6356783B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-electrode and needle injection device for diagnosis and treatment of muscle injury and pain
Assignee: Myolink LLC
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Filing: 1997-11-20
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Granted: 2002-03-12
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Expires: 2017-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A multi electrode and needle injection device for identifying and treating muscle pain using two simultaneous electrode EMG recordings to locate an active trigger point. The two electrodes are displaced so that one electrode detects EMG activity at the trigger point and the other detects EMG activity adjacent to the trigger point, within the same muscle. The combination of the electrodes with a drug delivery system allows the user to inject a medication locally at the trigger point to block the trigger point activity and reduce or eliminate muscle pain. The electrodes are on a hypodermic needle. The needle is used to both facilitate the location of the trigger points, and for treatment, by injecting a drug into the trigger points.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Hubbard, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/25; A61B5/279; A61B5/296; A61B5/48; A61B5/4824; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/0551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An EMG needle injection device for identifying and treating sources of chronic muscle pain in a patient, comprising: a delivery system including a vessel for holding and dispensing a drug; a hypodermic needle including a hollow needle shaft having a first end and a second end, said drug delivery system attached to and in communication with said needle at the first end thereof, said second end of the needle having a sharpened tip; a first electrode attached to said hypodermic needle and having an electrical contact located at a first distance from said tip; a second electrode attached to said hypodermic needle, is and having an electrical contact located at a second distance from said tip, with said first distance less than said second distance.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An EMG needle injection device for identifying and treating sources of chronic muscle pain in a patient, comprising: a delivery system including a vessel for holding and dispensing a drug; a hypodermic needle including a hollow needle shaft having a first end and a second end, said drug delivery system attached to and in communication with said needle at the first end thereof, said second end of the needle having a sharpened tip; a first electrode attached to said hypodermic needle and having an electrical contact located at a first distance from said tip; a second electrode attached to said hypodermic needle, is and having an electrical contact located at a second distance from said tip, with said first distance less than said second distance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The device of claim 1 , wherein said first distance is about 2-4 mm less than said second distance.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 1 , further comprising: a third electrode attached to said hypodermic needle, said third electrode comprising an electrical contact located at a third distance from said tip.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for diagnosis or treatment of muscle pain comprising: a needle; a trigger point electrode on the needle; at least one adjacent electrode on the needle spaced apart from the trigger point electrode; a reference electrode; and an analyzer linked to the trigger point, adjacent, and reference electrodes, wherein the analyzer detects activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no activity is detected at the at least one adjacent electrode.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
72 words
A device for diagnosis or treatment of muscle pain comprising: a needle; a trigger point electrode on the needle; at least one adjacent electrode on the needle spaced apart from the trigger point electrode; a reference electrode; and an analyzer linked to the trigger point, adjacent, and reference electrodes, wherein the analyzer detects activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no activity is detected at the at least one adjacent electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 4 further comprising means for delivering a drug.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 5 wherein the means for delivering includes a syringe attached to the needle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 6 further comprising a holder including electrical contacts for connecting with the electrodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 7 wherein the holder is reusable and the electrodes, syringe, and needle are disposable.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the syringe and needle are separable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the trigger point electrode is spaced vertically apart from the adjacent electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 4 wherein there are two or more adjacent electrodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The device of claim 4 wherein the reference electrode is on the needle.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for diagnosing or treating muscle pain, comprising: an EMG device including a trigger point electrode, an adjacent electrode, and a reference electrode on a hypodermic needle; a holder having electrical contacts for connecting to the electrodes; and an analyzer connected to the trigger point, adjacent and reference electrodes via the contacts in the holder, for detecting EMG activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no EMG activity is detected at the adjacent electrode.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
76 words
A system for diagnosing or treating muscle pain, comprising: an EMG device including a trigger point electrode, an adjacent electrode, and a reference electrode on a hypodermic needle; a holder having electrical contacts for connecting to the electrodes; and an analyzer connected to the trigger point, adjacent and reference electrodes via the contacts in the holder, for detecting EMG activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no EMG activity is detected at the adjacent electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the trigger point electrode and the adjacent electrode are spaced apart sufficiently for identifying EMG activity localized to a trigger point.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 further comprising means for delivering a drug.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the trigger point electrode and adjacent electrode are vertically spaced apart by about 2-4 mm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 13 further comprising a drug holding vessel attached to the needle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the drug holding vessel is a syringe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the electrodes comprise electrically conductive elements.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 13 wherein the trigger point electrode is at a sharp tip on the needle.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising means for alerting the physician when spontaneous EMG activity at a trigger point exceeds EMG activity in adjacent muscle tissue by a predetermined amount.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising a display for visually displaying EMG input signals from the electrodes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of claim 13 further comprising an audio system for communicating EMG activity signals via sound.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for diagnosing or treating muscle pain comprising: a delivery system including a vessel for holding a drug; an electrically conductive hypodermic needle insulated along its entire length except for an uninsulated section at a sharp tip of the needle forming a trigger point electrode; an adjacent muscle electrode; a reference electrode; and an analyzer linked to the trigger point, adjacent, and reference electrode, wherein the trigger point, adjacent muscle and reference electrodes are separate from each other such that the analyzer detects muscle pain activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no activity is detected at the adjacent muscle electrode.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
103 words
A device for diagnosing or treating muscle pain comprising: a delivery system including a vessel for holding a drug; an electrically conductive hypodermic needle insulated along its entire length except for an uninsulated section at a sharp tip of the needle forming a trigger point electrode; an adjacent muscle electrode; a reference electrode; and an analyzer linked to the trigger point, adjacent, and reference electrode, wherein the trigger point, adjacent muscle and reference electrodes are separate from each other such that the analyzer detects muscle pain activity at the trigger point electrode while relatively no activity is detected at the adjacent muscle electrode.
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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) | 2005-03-11 | 2005-09-10 | 2006-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-03-11 | 2009-09-10 | 2010-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-03-11 | 2013-09-10 | 2014-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |